Economics and Business Administration – Standard Focus

How can we minimize costs and maximize profits? What marketing strategies lead to success? And what is the definition of ‘competition’ in business? If you are interested in these questions, this is the programme for you!
Student in the library
Image: Sebastian Reuter
Key facts
Degree
Bachelor of Science
Admission restriction
without admission restriction (without NC)
Duration
6 Semesters
Credits/ECTS
180
Teaching language
German
Tuition fee
None
Semester contribution
€ 272,65
Start of studies
Winter semester, Summer semester
Part-time possible
No
Institutions
Faculty of Economics and Business Administration
Economics chairs
Application & Deadlines

Programme content

Calculating prices, making forecasts, preparing balance sheets, developing a corporate strategy and working through numerous tables… You might learn about all those things in Economics and Business Administration, but your studies will teach you much more than that! An entrepreneurial mindset and economic decision-making skills have become essential qualities for managers and specialists in the world of business.

If you browse the programmes offered by our faculty, you will come across the terms ‘Business Administration’ and ‘Economics’. But do you know the difference? Business Administration mainly deals with processes involving companies, such as planning, logistics, marketing and computational models for decisions and actions.

Economics looks at the bigger picture by studying macroeconomic relationships. Why do petrol prices fluctuate so much? Is the German pension system sustainable in the long term? These are some of the questions addressed by economists. In addition to these two traditional disciplines, you will also learn about business information systems during your studies.

This degree will lay broad and solid foundations for your further education, opening up our full range of master’s programmes for you to become specialized. You can also sharpen your focus by choosing an area of specialization from Business Administration or Economics (see table below). But it’s completely up to you! You can choose any combination of specialization modules.

Business Administration Economics
  • Finance, Accounting & Taxation
  • Decision and Risk
  • International Management
  • Strategy, Management and Marketing
  • Supply Chain Management
  • Business Information Systems
  • Economics, Strategy, and Institutions
  • Innovation and Change
  • Public Economics
  • World Economy

Digital discovery tour with free app: Would you like to solve some fun puzzles and learn more about studying at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration? Click here for our interactive discovery tour app.

Structure

Our bachelor’s programme is the first degree qualifying graduates to work in their profession. The standard length of the study programme is six semesters, and different types of courses are offered for each module (e.g. seminars, lectures or exercises).

If you take this single-subject bachelor’s programme, your field of study will comprise 180 credits (ECTS for short; 1 ECTS = 30 hours for attendance, preparation and follow-up work, private study, assessed coursework and examinations).

You can choose from eight focus areas within the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration at Friedrich Schiller University Jena. The standard focus is a basic course that will give you a solid knowledge of all sub-areas and their interrelationships. The focus is structured as follows:

Overview of the study profile

Picture: Sophie Bartholome

You can complete the internship either before the start of your studies, during one of your mid-term breaks or during a semester (by applying for a semester on leave).

Our university also offers the following focus areas: Business Administration, Economics, Business Information Systems, Information and Management Sciences, Business Analytics, Business and Economics Education Studies I and Business and Economics Education Studies II. You can change your focus during your studies.

By the way: There is a mathematics bridging course to help you prepare for your studies. We strongly advise all students to attend.

How might your degree programme shape up?

1st semester 2nd semester 3rd semester 4th semester 5th semester 6th semester
Accounting
(3 ECTS)		 Statistics
(6 ECTS)		 Foundations of Economic Policy
(5 ECTS)		 Management
(6 ECTS)		 Integrated Information Processing (4 ECTS) Choice of specialization module*
(6 ECTS)
Financial Accounting and Controlling
(6 ECTS)		 Taxation / Auditing
(6 ECTS)		 Foundations of Marketing Management
(6 ECTS)		 Investment, Financing and the Capital Market
(6 ECTS)		 Foreign Languages for Economists
(6 ECTS)
Operations Management
(6 ECTS)		 Organization, Leadership and Human Resource Management
(6 ECTS)		 Planning and Decision-Making
(6 ECTS)		 Market, Competition and Regulation
(5 ECTS)		 Choice of specialization module*
(6 ECTS)		 Bachelor’s dissertation
(10 ECTS)
Introduction to Economics (5 ECTS) Macroeconomics
(5 ECTS)		 Foundations and Perspectives of Economic Studies
(3 ECTS)		 Choice of specialization module*
(6 ECTS)		 Choice of specialization module*
(6 ECTS)		  
Microeconomics
(5 ECTS)		 Introduction to Business Information Systems
(6 ECTS)		 Finance
(5 ECTS)		   Seminar for specialization module*
(6 ECTS)		  
Mathematics for Economists
(6 ECTS)		 Empirical and Experimental Research in Economics
(6 ECTS)		 Law for Economists
(6 ECTS)		  
Vocational learning content (16 ECTS)

Abbreviations: ECTS = European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (credit points)

* Over 25 elective modules are offered (e.g. Structural Change of the World Economy, E-Commerce, Taxation; and Software and IT Management).

More detailed information can be found in the module catalogue for the study programmeExternal link.

Why study in Jena?

  • High flexibility: Shape your studies according to your personal strengths and interests. You can always change direction during your studies by choosing a new focus or switching to a similar study programme.
  • Research focus: The chairs of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration de conduct research in various areas that are covered by the degree programme, such as ‘Finance, Accounting & Taxation’, ‘Corporate Governance: Management and Corporate Control’ and ‘Decision and Risk’.
  • Close cooperation: Make the most of our extensive network of business contacts in Thuringia, e.g. by completing an internship during your studies.
  • Adventures abroad: The University and the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration de promote and encourage intercultural exchange through a wide range of programmes and initiatives. The faculty has a global network of over 50 renowned partner universities, and more first-class institutes are added on a regular basis.
  • Excellent supervision: As we want our new students to feel comfortable and find their feet right from the start, the Orientation Days at the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration de provide more information on the organization of studies, institutions and university services.

A look behind the scenes

  • Gruppenfoto der Professoren und Professorinnen
    Image: A. Hessmer
    Leading the way!

    The Faculty of Economics and Business Administration always does well in inspections. Why’s that? It’s simple: Our students have a great relationship with their supervisors, and our faculty has highly qualified specialists in teaching and research. You can see our professors here.

Pagination Page 1 of 4
Page 1 of 4

What can you do after your studies?

Areas of employment for graduates

Depending on your chosen area of specialization, you can look forward to a wide range of career opportunities in various fields of business and economics:

  • in commerce (e.g. accounting, controlling, management, human resources, production, logistics, taxes)
  • in all areas of the private sector with a high demand for analytical skills (e.g. consulting firms, banks, insurance companies)
  • in the public sector (e.g. administration, statistical offices, authorities and ministries, associations, chambers)
  • in the IT sector (e.g. as a business analyst)
  • in science and research (e.g. as a teaching associate at a university, generally with a master’s degree)
  • as a teacher of economics, business administration or law at vocational colleges
  • in a newspaper’s editorial department for business and economics

Postgraduate master’s programmes at our University

  1. Business Administration Master of Science
    • Faculty of Economics and Business Administration
  2. Business Information Systems Master of Science
    • Faculty of Economics and Business Administration
  3. Economics Master of Science
    • Faculty of Economics and Business Administration
All degree programmes

Downloads and links for the degree programme

What are we looking for in prospective students?

  • An interest in current affairs in business and economics
  • Good knowledge of German (language of instruction: German) and a good grasp of mathematical concepts
  • Good organization skills and time management
  • A good general education (to understand how the economy is interlinked with all other areas of society)

Admission requirements

  • University entrance qualification

    A university entrance qualification, such as a general secondary school leaving certificate, is required for admission onto the study programme.

    More information on university entrance qualifications can be found here.

  • Language requirements

    Admission and language requirements for applicants of foreign nationality and without German Abitur: www.uni-jena.de/en/study-orientation-international

Contacts

Office of Student Affairs / Internship Office - Dr Katja Zeidler

Room 4.97
Carl-Zeiß-Straße 3
07743 Jena Google Maps site planExternal link

Opening hours:
Monday - Friday 08:30a.m. - 11:30a.m.

Examination Office

Carl-Zeiß-Straße 3
07743 Jena Google Maps site planExternal link

Opening hours:
Monday: closed
Tuesday: 08.30 to 11.30
Wednesday: 14.00 to 16.00
Thursday: 08.30 to 11.30
Friday: 08.30 to 11.30

Student Representatives Economics

Room 4.128
Carl-Zeiß-Straße 3
07743 Jena Google Maps site planExternal link

Central Student Advisory Service

University Main Building / SSZ
Fürstengraben 1
07743 Jena Google Maps site planExternal link

Office hours:
We offer consultations in person, by telephone, and via Zoom. You can make an appointment by calling us on +49 3641 9-411111 (Mondays to Fridays from 9:00 to 11:00) or outside these office hours on +49 3641 9-411200. You can also use our remote help desk.

Consultation hours:
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays (9:00 to 12:20), Tuesdays (14:00 to 18:00), and Wednesdays and Thursdays (14:00 to 16:00).

Video chat: To the video chat – Zoom Videochat ZeitenMondays to Fridays (12:30 to 13:00) Password ZSB2020 Data protection informationpdf, 101 kb

Student Service Centre

University Main Building, Room E065
Fürstengraben 1
07743 Jena Google Maps site planExternal link

Opening hours:
Mondays (10:00 – 12:00)
Tuesdays (13:00 – 15:00)
Wednesdays (10:00 – 12:00)
Thursdays (13:00 – 15:00)
Fridays (10:00 – 12:00)

You can also use our remote help desk at
www.uni-jena.de/service-ssz
or send us your enquiries by post.

Telephone hours:
Mondays to Fridays
(9:00 – 11:00)

Postal address:
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Studierenden-Service-Zentrum
07737 Jena

International Office - International students

University Main Building
Fürstengraben 1
07743 Jena Google Maps site planExternal link