Friedrich Schiller University Jena

About: 

Established in 1558, FSU, or the University of Jena, is counted among the ten oldest German universities. The university welcomes around 18,000 students, making up around 20% of the population of Jena, of which 2,500 are international students. FSU is known for research in both the sciences and the humanities, and collaborates with renowned research centres such as the Max Planck Institute and the Leibniz Institute.

Highlights: 

Counting 6 Nobel prize winners among its alumni, FSU boasts an impressive teaching and research record. During the 19th century, the university attracted some of the most influential minds, including Hegel, making it the heart of German philosophy. The city of Jena is known for its research institutions and high-technology industry, as well as its diverse natural landscapes thanks to the forest and hill landscape that surround it.

Location: 

Jena, Thuringia, Germany

Courses / Modules: 

To find out more about the modules on offer for Biology students at FSU, please consult the course catalogue (in German).

Some German language courses are on offer for students at the university's Language Centre.  

Credit (Full-time Load per semester): 

You must take a full credit load while on exchange.  FSU uses the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) to show credit values.  30 ECTS is the equivalent to 60 York credits, and 60 ECTS is the equivalent to 120 York credits.  

Teaching Periods: 

The academic year at FSU is split into two semesters. Teaching in the winter semester starts in the beginning of November and ends in mid-February. Teaching in the summer semester begins in early April and ends in mid-July. 

There is a two-week Christmas break and a break between the two semesters.

Please take a look at the academic calendar to find out more.

Language: 

B2 German is required.  There may be opportunities for exchange students to take part in German classes from the university's Language Centre - check with your department if you are able to take such courses for credit. 

Accommodation: 

The university recommends that all students apply for a room in their student residences. This can be done at the same time as filling in the application to study. Most students live in shared flats with around eight other people who share a kitchen and a bathroom. The rent is approximately 200-350 EUR per month over a period of six months. 

The student residences requires a deposit of €300 after concluding the tenancy agreement. The application deadlines are in mid January and mid July for the first spring and winter semester respectively. However, as there are only a few rooms available, apply as soon as possible.  

FSU provides all international students with a service package, which covers the overhead expenses for accommodation in advance, meaning the costs during the semester will be significantly lower.

Please note that it is difficult to find private accommodation in Jena from abroad. If you would like to rent privately, the university recommends looking at neighbouring cities such as Erfurt and Weimar. Please take a look at the university's  housing information to find out about advice for private rentals.

Orientation / Welcome week:  

There are orientation  and welcome days at the start of each semester for international students to find out about their academic courses, meet other international students and get to know the campus and city.

Support Services: 

FSU organises mentoring programmes for international exchange students, one upon arrival and one throughout the year, focusing on academic support. 

The International Office puts on events throughout the academic year to help international students get to know each other and their new city and culture. Some of the events include the Intercultural Café, city tours, hikes, cultural visits and sports activities in the local area. 

Visas: 

You may need a visa to study in Germany.  If you are a UK National you must refer to the Travel Advice page for Germany and its Living in Germany guide to check on any visa requirements, and raise any queries directly with the relevant embassy/consulate.   If you are not a UK national you should check equivalent advice for your home country.

For more information, you can also visit the university's Living in Jena advice page.

Travel insurance:  

If you complete the Travel Authorisation process and are approved by the University of York to participate in this programme, you will be covered by the University's Travel Insurance Policy. This is a complimentary policy to cover you for the duration of your University of York mobility experience. Please refer to the Insurance website for all travel insurance queries.  You may be required to obtain health insurance valid during your exchange. 

Health insurance: 

Students travelling to Europe may be able to apply for a free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or in some circumstances a new UK-issued European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which gives the right to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in the EU. You are strongly recommended to obtain a GHIC / EHIC if eligible. To check your eligibility and find out how to apply if you are eligible, go to the NHS page on Applying for healthcare cover abroad (GHIC and EHIC).

Ben, Biology, Year Abroad 2023/24

"It's all very different! The country has been fantastic - everyone is willing to speak English and helpful. The amount of authority each lecturer has is much different than that at York - they can reject module choices, for example! Be prepared to change your plans a lot in the first few weeks. They also work on semesters, so you won't have a clue what summer looks like until late February! My days out have been fabulous but trains are not quite as good as everyone is led to believe."

Marian, Study Abroad in Germany 2019/20

'I had a very positive experience in Aachen. I met a lot of new friends around the world which was a big achievement for me as I struggle is social situations. By not staying in York I was able to break out of my comfort zone and I'm incredibly happy about that.'

Anna, Study Abroad in Germany, 2019/20

'My Erasmus year was one of the most difficult, but also amazing, years of my life. I made lots of new friends from all over the world. From these friends, I learnt about all different kinds of cultures and languages, and came to understand how learning about other cultures can teach us a lot about our own culture. I also learnt a lot about working in scientific research (the aim of my Erasmus year) and developed my German language skills. However I also had to learn how to push myself out of my comfort zone to meet new people and do new things. As I was one of the only native English speakers, I also experienced some isolation, which I learnt to deal with, and cultural or language misunderstandings meant that I sometimes felt left out. However I learnt that people are generally good and want to involve others, but cultural, or personal, reasons may mean they don't know how to or whether to invite you.'

Have a look at some more student stories on the Global Opportunities website. 

• International Study Exchange at University of Jena 

• Global Graduates

• Numbeo - cost of living comparison site

• Expatistan - cost of living comparison site

• University of Jena Fact Sheet

If you find any broken links, please email us at global-opportunities@york.ac.uk

Global Opportunities - Find us in Derwent College

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Email global-opportunities@york.ac.uk to make an appointment with one of our advisors.