Hiking trail on one of the hills on the edge of the city, with a view of Jena

Studying in Jena

Jena offers you 16 degree programmes in English at 2 higher education institutions.

Jena is a quintessential student town. When about one out of five residents are enrolled in a higher education institution, you know the city is tailored for students. When you’re not at a café, museum, or pub, you can walk the same paths as Goethe and Schiller, who both studied in Jena, or hike where Napoleon marched. The town is rife with cultural features.

Almost hidden in the wooded hilly landscape in the middle of Thuringia lies a small town: the student city of Jena. Around 110,000 people live here, 21,000 of whom are students. With this size, you will find an optimal mix of big-city flair and the cosiness of a small town in Jena.

There are many castles and fortresses in the hilly landscape around Jena. They are easy to reach and can be explored in half a day. Alternatively, you can enjoy a picnic at the Napoleonstein with your friends after your courses. Especially on a clear day, the sunsets here are worth seeing. Or you can try out one of the exciting hiking trails that lead through the Kernberge and the Saale Valley. On many of these trails, you will also pass spectacular vantage points from which you can admire the city and the surrounding nature from above.

By the way, Jena is also well suited for wine growing: the many slopes and high expanses together with the mild local climate create optimal conditions for the vines. This is also why the area is called the "Tuscany of the East". The picturesque vineyards also influenced Jena's Romanticism period as well as its thinkers and poets.

Life in Jena

111,000 residents

High-speed train connections
Erfurt train station in 39 km distance
International airport
Leipzig/Halle airport in 71 km distance
Coast
Baltic Sea in 400 km distance
Mountain range
Thuringian-Franconian Highlands in 50 km distance
Other countries
Czech Republic in 100 km distance
Attractions within 100 km
- Schiller's summer house in close vicinity
- Saale biking route near Jena in close vicinity
- Dornburg Castles in 11 km distance
- Weimar in 20 km distance

Study in Jena

2 higher education institutions in Jena

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Subject groups of degree programmes in Jena

There is a wide range of degree programmes in Jena. Here you can see the main subject groups. Currently, degree programmes in Jena are mainly offered in the subject group Language and Cultural Studies, followed by Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Humanities and Social Sciences. Find out more information here about the subject groups and degree programmes offered in Germany.

0
Agricultural and Forest Sciences
39
Humanities and Social Sciences
58
Mathematics, Natural Sciences
5
Art, Music, Design
90
Language and Cultural Studies
12
Medicine, Health Sciences
35
Economic Sciences, Law
32
Engineering Sciences
38
Teaching Degrees

The Jentower with surrounding buildings and green hills on the outskirts of the city

Every one of the many hills around Jena offers its own perspective of the city.

In Jena, there are many different wild orchid species due to the location and climate.

Research and innovation have a long tradition in Jena. In the City of Light, as Jena calls itself, research was conducted early on in optics and photonics, and currently in health and the life sciences as well. The numerous research institutes based in Jena make the city an internationally renowned science location, and the local higher education institutions are well-known in Germany. Of course, this makes Jena popular among students – unfortunately, this is why the cost of living here is a little higher than usual, and you might also need to plan a little more time when looking for a place to live. But no matter where you end up in the city, you don't have to worry about the distance to your higher education institution or leisure activities. Everything is within easy reach on foot or by bike.

You can also quickly get to the city's green spaces between your courses. The Jena Paradise nature reserve – the name given to the parks lined up in the middle of the city – is particularly popular among students. Here you can relax, get active or enjoy one of the many events in the warm months.

Jena also has a lively city centre with charming cafés and a wide variety of pubs. You'll probably meet most students in the evening in Wagnergasse, which is considered Jena's pub alley. Here you can toast to a successful exam with fellow students and make new friends. And if you want to experience the whole city partying, then you shouldn't miss the summer festival Kulturarena. The music festival takes place every summer and captivates the whole city for six weeks with its numerous artists.

Of course, culture is not neglected in Jena. There is a culture ticket for students which lets you explore the many exhibitions and various institutions as well as get carried away by the musical and cultural events. It only costs a few euros per semester and is paid directly with your semester contribution. You’ll be able to discover a lot of new things for free!

You can find more information at study-in-germany.de

For more information on living and studying in Jena, visit the city portraits at study-in-germany.de

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