Studying internationally and interculturally

The Department of German as a Foreign Language at the University’s Language Centre offers a wide range of language courses for international students covering levels A1 to C2 in accordance with the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

What they offer:

• semester-long basic courses
• intensive courses at selected levels—during the semester or as block courses in September
• complementary and intensive courses with a specific skill focus
• subject-specific courses
• self-learning tutorial

The Language Centre of the University of Jena offers language courses for students in about 20 languages and at different levels.

You can find the latest course schedule in the online course catalogue FriedolinExternal link. The language courses are subject to course fees with payment deadlines.

In addition to regular language courses, students have the opportunity to take internal university tests and obtain international certificates.

As part of the campaign ‘Study in Germany—Land of Ideas’External link, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) provides basic information for international prospective students and students planning to study at a University in Germany.

You can find further information and contact persons for studying at the University of Jena hereExternal link.

Have you grown up in Germany in a family from a migrant background? Then you may be confronted with very specific questions, challenges, and problems before or during your studies.

The Central Student Advisory Service will help you with any questions you may have about our study and examination requirements.

If you are experiencing other challenges or problems in your everyday study life, please contact the University’s Diversity Office.

An overview of foundations that offer scholarships for students from a migrant background is available hereExternal link.

Going further, you may also be interested in information on topics such as first-generation studentsExternal link and studying without a university entrance qualificationExternal link.

Friedrich Schiller University Jena can also support you in setting up an (online) network for exchanging experiences on everyday study life. If you are planning to realize such an initiative, please contact the University’s Diversity Office.

The Hilde Domin Programme of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers scholarships for students and doctoral candidates from across the globe who are demonstrably at risk of being formally or de facto denied a right to education in their home countries as a result of their race, religion, sex or gender identity, or as a result of their political or civic engagement.

Interested candidates cannot apply on their own accord. The application for the programme requires a nomination by the future university. The University of Jena nominates only those candidates who can prove their academic suitability and language capacity for one of the degree programmes at the University of Jena and who fulfil the following DAAD nomination criteria.

Learn more

Scholarships are available for undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes and for candidates who:

• study any subject area, except for Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine, Pharmacy (admission restricted nationwide) and for the degree programme Law with a state examination degree;
• can prove or credibly demonstrate to the nominating entity that they face a threat to their personal well-being or safety (e.g. physical violence, arrest, denial of civil or educational rights);
• hold an educational certificate that gives them access to higher education institutions and allows for the completion of an intended course of study or research project in accordance with the anabinExternal link database;
• at the time of the application deadline, reside abroad or who, in principle, have not resided in Germany for more than 15 months.

Every year, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) provides universities with funding to award the DAAD Prize for outstanding achievements of international students. The award includes EUR 1,000 in prize money and can only be granted to one person. Candidates who are currently enrolled at the University of Jena and wish to apply need to fulfil different criteria.

Learn more dehttps://www.uni-jena.de/en/daadprize

Friedrich Schiller University Jena supports refugees in gaining a foothold in Germany and offers them new prospects. The International Office at the University provides counselling and advice about study opportunities, requirements and individual possibilities. 

The workshop is considered culture- and religion-sensitive parental training, especially for immigrant women. The Arabic-speaking participants talk to each other as well as to German native speakers about different questions of being a parent.

The content is based on questions of everyday parenting and the participation of parents in the educational institutions of their children. Through participatory methods and mutual exchange, the participants strengthen their parenting skills and feel encouraged to successfully handle the demands of parental guidance in their children's more formal educational processes.

Int.Ro Jena is an international meeting place located at the Haus auf der Mauer. It also acts as the Department for Intercultural Exchange of the University’s Student Representative Council. German and international students are involved in the Int.Ro on a voluntary basis. Our goal is to bring students of different nationalities together and thus improve intercultural understanding. Int.Ro offers advice, active support and regular events, such as the International Café which takes place on every first Thursday of the month during term time.

The Welcome Unisport initiative offers a diverse range of joint sports activities for people with a migration background and the residents of Jena.

In the Abbe-MensaExternal link at Ernst-Abbe-Platz 8 (campus), you can of course sit down at any table, but: at the EAT & MEET tables all diners are open to talking to others!