Pharmacy
How can an active ingredient be administered? What needs to be taken into account when manufacturing and testing medicines? And how can we boost our immune system? If you are interested in these questions, this is the programme for you!
Student drops blood into a sample container with a pipette
Key facts
- Degree
- state examination
- Admission restriction
- with Numerus Clausus (NC)
- Duration
- 8 Semesters
- Credits/ECTS
- None
- Teaching language
- German
- Tuition fee
- None
- Semester contribution
- € 272,65
- Start of studies
- Winter semester
- Part-time possible
- No
- Institutions
- Faculty of Biological Sciences
- Institute of Pharmacy
Cough, runny nose, hoarse voice? Most pharmacies have their work cut out when autumn sets in. But pharmacists don’t just take prescriptions and dispense medication – there is much more variety and responsibility in their specialist profession. They also create individual formulas in the laboratory and carefully consider interactions with other medication – and a large part of their work involves advising customers. This allows various diseases to be detected at an early stage or prevented in the first place. As a pharmaceutical expert, however, there will be an incredible number of career paths open to you after your studies. For example, you will also find employment opportunities in hospitals, in medicinal research, in the pharmaceutical industry or with health insurance companies.
During your ‘Pharmacy’ studies, you will often swap the lecture theatre for laboratory work. This is the only way to consolidate your theoretical knowledge. If you want to successfully complete your studies, you will really need a thirst for knowledge, research and experiments. For example, you will make your own creams, eye drops, ear drops and suppositories during your studies. You will also need a broad interest in science to make it through the day in a white lab coat and protective goggles.
Our degree programme in ‘Pharmacy’ also focuses on how medicines work, how they are tested, stored and dispensed, how risk assessments are conducted, and how the relevant information and advice is provided. You will also learn about certain legal and clinical aspects.
Please note: From the winter semester 2024/25, the results of the admission test for the Pharmacy programme (PhaST)External link will be considered both in the Aptitude Quota and the University of Jena’s Selection Procedure.
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Foundation studies
1st semester
- General and Analytical Chemistry of Inorganic Medicinal Substances, Excipients and Harmful Substances
- Mathematical and Statistical Methods for Pharmacists
- Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Terminology
2nd semester
- Quantitative Determination of Medicinal Substances, Excipients and Harmful Substances
- Physics Exercises for Pharmacists
- Medicinal Plant Excursions and Identification Exercises
- Chemical Nomenclature
3rd semester
- Physics and Chemistry Exercises for Pharmacists
- Chemistry of Inorganic Medicinal Substances, Excipients and Harmful Substances
- Cytological and Histological Fundamentals of Biology
- Physiology Course
- Stereochemistry
4th semester
- Drug Development
- Instrumental Chemistry
- Microbiology
- Pharmaceutical Biology I
- Pharmaceutical Biology II
You will complete your foundation studies (Grundstudium) by taking a pharmaceutical examination (1st state examination). An 8-week clinical internship (Famulatur) must be completed by the end of the first part of the degree programme. This is done during non-teaching periods.
You can find more detailed information in the syllabus de.
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Advanced studies
5th semester
- Drug Analysis with Special Consideration of Pharmacopoeias
- Biochemical Testing Methods (incl. Clinical Chemistry)
- Quality Assurance in Pharmaceutical Production and Testing
6th semester
- Drug Analysis and Monitoring, Toxicological and Environmental Studies
7th semester
- Pharmaceutical Biology III
- Pharmaceutical Technology
- Pharmacotherapy
8th semester
- Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Demonstration
- Clinical Pharmacy (incl. Pharmaceutical Epidemiology and Pharmaceutical Economics)
- Biogenic Substances in Medicine
- Biopharmaceuticals (incl. Pharmacokinetics in Drug Development)
- Required elective module: research project at an institute of the University of Jena or a non-university institution
You will complete your advanced studies by taking a pharmaceutical examination (2nd state examination).
You can find more detailed information in the syllabus de.
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Practical year
Your degree programme will be followed by a twelve-month internship, at least half of which will have to be done in a public pharmacy. You will be able to do the other half in a hospital pharmacy or military pharmacy, in the pharmaceutical industry or at university institutes.
You will finish your practical training (and become a fully qualified pharmacist) by taking a pharmaceutical examination (3rd state examination).
After graduating from the degree programme, you will be able to apply for an official licence to practice pharmacy. This licence is valid throughout Germany and in all other EU countries.
You can find more detailed information in the Licensing Regulations for Pharmacists de.
Image: Sebastian Reuter
Welcome to the Institute!
The degree programme is organized and run by the Institute of Pharmacy, which is based at Philosophenweg 14. As teamwork is essential in the world of pharmacy, our institute is also supported by institutes from other faculties in many subjects.
in conversation
Pharmacists work in public pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, the pharmaceutical industry, chemical and drug testing agencies, administration, specialist publishing houses, and environmental health and environmental protection. They can also go into teaching at universities and technical colleges.
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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.
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language requirements
At the moment of application, you have to prove your knowledge of the German language at level DSH-2 (German Language Test for Admission to Higher Educationpdf, 61 kb · de). You cannot start your studies at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena if you have only passed the DSH-1 exam! The following certificates accredited by the German Rectors Conference will be recognized as equivalents:
- Goethe Certificate C2 (GDS)
- German Language Diploma Level II of the KMK (DSD II)
- TestDaF, at least TDN 4 in all four parts of the examination
- telc Certificate C1 German for Higher Education
- German exam as part of the assessment test at a Studienkolleg
If you do not have sufficient knowledge of German yet, the Friedrich Schiller University Jena offers you a preparatory language course for the DSH exam. To attend the course, your German knowledge must be at least on level B1.
Dr Andreas Seeling (Academic Advisor)
Room 403
Philosophenweg 12
07743 Jena
Google Maps site planExternal link
State Examination Office for Academic Healthcare Professions
Weimarplatz 4
99423 Weimar
Google Maps site planExternal link
Student Representatives for Pharmacy
Fürstengraben 26
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: Zoom – Video chat 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