About the university
Friedrich Schiller University Jena was founded in 1558 and is one of Germany's older universities. It is a public comprehensive university in Thuringia with 75 master's programmes, and it charges no tuition fees, only a semester contribution.
Jena is closely tied to optics and photonics: its Abbe School of Photonics runs the English-taught MSc Photonics and Quantum Science and Technology, and the university also offers Medical Photonics. Life sciences are another strength, with English-taught master's in Microbiology, Molecular Life Sciences, Molecular Medicine and Evolution, Ecology and Systematics.
For Indian students, Jena is a good fit for physics, photonics and life-science graduates who want research-led study without tuition fees. Many master's ask for a good bachelor's grade (often 2.5 or better on the German scale, and 2.0 for some), so check how your marks convert. Note that popular-sounding programmes such as Computer Science, Computational and Data Science and Business Administration are taught in German.
Jena is a small university city on the Saale river in Thuringia. The university suggests a budget of about €750–€900 a month, one of the lower figures among German university cities.
- Founded
- 1558
- Type
- Public comprehensive university in Thuringia
- International students
- More than 2,400 students from around the world (university figure)
- Programmes
- 75 master's programmes, 24 of them listed with English as a teaching language
- Tuition
- No tuition fee; semester contribution €333.05 (shown on programme pages)
- Intakes
- October (winter) for the English-taught master's listed here; some German-taught programmes also start in April
Rankings
QS World University Rankings 2027
=567 in the world
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €666
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters, 120 ECTS)
- Intakes
- October (winter semester)
- English
- B2: IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 85, TOEIC 780 or Cambridge CAE/CPE
- Postgraduate
MSc Quantum Science and Technology
- Fee / year
- €666
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters, 120 ECTS)
- Intakes
- October (winter semester only)
- English
- B2: IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 85, TOEIC 780 or Cambridge CAE/CPE
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €666
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter semester)
- English
- Good English; a certificate is not compulsory
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €666
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter semester)
- English
- B2: IELTS Academic 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 90, or an official English-medium certificate
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €666
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters, 120 ECTS)
- Intakes
- October (winter semester)
- English
- Good English; a certificate is not compulsory
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €666
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters, 120 ECTS)
- Intakes
- October (winter semester)
- English
- Good English; a certificate is not mandatory
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €666
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters, 120 ECTS)
- Intakes
- October (winter semester)
- English
- B2 (CEFR); proof is not mandatory
- Postgraduate
MSc Evolution, Ecology and Systematics
- Fee / year
- €666
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters, 120 ECTS)
- Intakes
- October (winter semester only)
- English
- Good English; a certificate is not compulsory
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (EUR) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSc Photonics | 2 years (4 semesters, 120 ECTS) | €666 | ≈ ₹70,607 |
| MSc Quantum Science and Technology | 2 years (4 semesters, 120 ECTS) | €666 | ≈ ₹70,607 |
| MSc Medical Photonics | 2 years (4 semesters) | €666 | ≈ ₹70,607 |
| MSc Economics | 2 years (4 semesters) | €666 | ≈ ₹70,607 |
| MSc Microbiology | 2 years (4 semesters, 120 ECTS) | €666 | ≈ ₹70,607 |
| MSc Molecular Life Sciences | 2 years (4 semesters, 120 ECTS) | €666 | ≈ ₹70,607 |
| MSc Molecular Medicine | 2 years (4 semesters, 120 ECTS) | €666 | ≈ ₹70,607 |
| MSc Evolution, Ecology and Systematics | 2 years (4 semesters, 120 ECTS) | €666 | ≈ ₹70,607 |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at Friedrich Schiller University Jena with similar universities in Germany.
Scholarships
- Master's and doctoral students
DAAD scholarships
Value: Monthly stipend; amount depends on the programme
Eligibility: Competitive awards; check the database for awards open to Indian applicants.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- Bachelor's programmes are taught in German; international applicants need German at DSH-2 level or equivalent.
- You need a higher education entrance qualification recognised in Germany. Applicants without direct entry can prepare at the Studienkolleg in Nordhausen, which ends with an assessment test.
Postgraduate
- A subject-specific bachelor's of at least six semesters (180 ECTS), so a three-year degree can qualify; each programme sets credit requirements.
- Many programmes set a minimum grade: 2.5 or better on the German scale (Medical Photonics, Microbiology, Economics), 2.0 (Molecular Life Sciences, Quantum Science and Technology) or 2.7 (Evolution, Ecology and Systematics).
- Apply online through the Friedolin 2.0 portal. Winter applications open on 1 April; summer applications run from 1 December to 15 January or 15 February depending on nationality. Exact closing dates are in the university's application periods PDF.
- Microbiology requires a qualification test before you apply.
- Indian applicants need an APS certificate for the German student visa.
Documents
- Bachelor's degree certificate and transcript (or current transcript with the minimum credits the programme asks for)
- Official English or German translations of documents in other languages
- English certificate, where the programme asks for one
- CV and motivation letter, where required
- APS certificate (for the visa)
- Each document uploaded as a separate PDF of up to 5 MB; no certified hard copies needed
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.5 (Photonics, Quantum Science and Technology); 6.0 (Economics) |
| TOEFL iBT | 85 (Photonics, Quantum Science and Technology); 90 (Economics) |
| Cambridge | CAE or CPE accepted for Photonics and Quantum Science and Technology |
| Certificate not compulsory | Medical Photonics, Microbiology, Molecular Life Sciences, Molecular Medicine and Evolution, Ecology and Systematics ask for good English but do not require a certificate |
Accommodation and living costs
Studierendenwerk Thüringen manages 21 halls of residence in Jena with about 3,000 places. Most students live in single rooms in shared flats.
| Item | In EUR | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Room in a hall or shared flatUniversity estimate; rent fixed for 6 months | €200–350per month | ≈ ₹21,200 – ₹37,100 |
| Studierendenwerk deposit | €300one-off | ≈ ₹31,800 |
| Health insuranceUniversity estimate | €120per month | ≈ ₹12,720 |
| Total living costsUniversity estimate | €750–900per month | ≈ ₹79,500 – ₹95,400 |
Campus and location
Jena is a compact university city on the Saale river, with university buildings spread through the city centre and science campuses nearby.
- Abbe School of Photonics for optics, photonics and quantum programmes.
- 21 Studierendenwerk halls of residence with about 3,000 places.
- Semester ticket for local and regional transport included in the semester contribution.
- Studienkolleg in Nordhausen prepares international applicants for bachelor's study.
Careers and graduate outcomes
Photonics, physics and life-science graduates from Jena go into optics companies, biotech and research institutes. The figures below are general German rules, not a promise of a job.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Job-search permit after graduating | Up to 18 months | Make it in Germany |
| Work allowed while studying | 140 full days or 280 half days a year (student assistant jobs at the university don't count) | Make it in Germany |
Studying in Germany
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in Germany. Our country guide covers them in detail:
Other universities in Germany
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- Public
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Photo: juhotski, CC BY-SA 3.0 PublicOften chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Life Sciences
Photo: TU Berlin/Pressestelle/Ulrich Dahl, Copyrighted free use PublicOften chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Business & Management
Photo: Seeott, CC BY-SA 4.0 PublicLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich) (official website, opens in a new tab)
Munich, GermanyOften chosen for Life Sciences, Medicine & Health Sciences, Law
Photo: Hermann Luyken, CC0 PublicHeidelberg University (official website, opens in a new tab)
Heidelberg, GermanyOften chosen for Medicine & Health Sciences, Life Sciences
FAQs
Does Jena charge tuition fees?
No. The programme pages list tuition as 'None' and a semester contribution of €333.05.
Which master's are taught in English?
Among others: Photonics, Quantum Science and Technology, Medical Photonics, Economics, Microbiology, Molecular Life Sciences, Molecular Medicine and Evolution, Ecology and Systematics. Computer Science and Computational and Data Science are taught in German.
Do I need IELTS?
It depends on the programme. Photonics asks for IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 85, Economics for IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 90, and several life-science master's do not require a certificate.
What grade do I need?
Many programmes ask for 'good' or better: 2.5 on the German scale for some, 2.0 for others. Check how your Indian marks convert before applying.
When can I apply?
Winter applications open on 1 April through Friedolin 2.0. Closing dates depend on nationality and programme and are published in the university's application periods PDF.
Sources
- University of Jena: degree programmes (opens in a new tab)
- University of Jena: MSc Photonics (opens in a new tab)
- University of Jena: MSc Economics (opens in a new tab)
- University of Jena: MSc Quantum Science and Technology (opens in a new tab)
- University of Jena: MSc Computational and Data Science (German-taught) (opens in a new tab)
- University of Jena: master's application (opens in a new tab)
- University of Jena: application and enrolment (opens in a new tab)
- University of Jena: studying in Jena (opens in a new tab)
- University of Jena: living in Jena (opens in a new tab)
- Make it in Germany: working while studying (opens in a new tab)
- Make it in Germany: visa for studying and job search after graduation (opens in a new tab)
- QS World University Rankings 2027: Friedrich Schiller University Jena (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.uni-jena.de (opens in a new tab)
Check the latest details