Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena

No tuition fees are charged for standard bachelor's and consecutive master's programmes at FSU Jena. Thuringia has not introduced non-EU tuition fees (unlike Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria). All enrolled students pay a semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag): €335.05 for Summer Semester 2026; the Winter Semester 2026/27 amount was to be published in mid-June 2026. The semester contribution includes the regional public transport semester ticket. Monthly living costs in Jena are estimated at €750–900 (rent, health insurance, food, books, and personal items). Non-EU students must maintain a blocked account (Sperrkonto) of approximately €11,904–€13,092 per year for visa purposes.

International applicants must hold a secondary or higher education qualification recognised for German university entrance; FSU Jena references the KMK anabin database for assessment of foreign credentials. Applicants whose school-leaving certificate does not directly qualify for university admission are required to complete a one-year Studienkolleg (preparatory college): the public Studienkolleg Thüringen in Nordhausen (free of charge) or the private International Study Centre Thuringia in Jena (fee-based). Studienkolleg admission requires at least B2 German. Applicants from India, China (PR, HK, Macau), and Vietnam must obtain an APS certificate (Akademische Prüfstelle) before applying, including for Studienkolleg admission. For direct bachelor's admission, school-leaving certificates that are equivalent to the German Abitur allow entry without Studienkolleg; individual assessment via anabin is required. German-taught degree programmes require DSH-2, TestDaF TDN 4, Goethe C2, DSD II, or telc C1 Hochschule. Conditional admission is possible for applicants who can show enrolment in a C1 German course, with full certification required by enrolment. For English-taught master's programmes, English proficiency requirements are set at the individual programme level. Non-EU applicants should verify their qualification recognition via anabin or the DAAD database before applying.

Studienkolleg (preparatory college) applications: Winter Semester — 1 April to 31 May; Summer Semester — 1 October to 30 November. For degree programmes, the university runs a standard German higher education application cycle: Winter Semester (October start) applications typically close in July; Summer Semester (April start) applications typically close in January. Enrolment for Winter Semester 2026/27 closes 30 October 2026. Master's programme deadlines vary; consult the individual programme page on uni-jena.de for exact dates. Studierendenwerk Thüringen dormitory applications should be submitted by 15 January (summer) or 15 July (winter).

German is the primary language of instruction. Admission to German-taught programmes requires DSH-2 or equivalent (TestDaF TDN 4 in all four sections, Goethe C2 (GDS), DSD II, or telc C1 Hochschule). DSH-1 alone is not accepted. Of 223 degree programmes, 25 are taught in English, concentrated primarily at master's level. The University Language Centre offers German courses for all levels, including an intensive pre-semester course in September (€80 fee; top performers receive a refund).