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In general, it is possible to pursue a doctorate in any of the subjects offered by the University of Jena when your first degree is a recognized 
degree at Master's level.
In Germany the doctorate consists of a written dissertation, a defense and/or an oral exam (Rigorosum). All of them should be passed in a language agreed upon by your supervisor(s) and the board of the faculty (e.g. faculty of biology and pharmacy, faculty of mathematics and computer science etc.). It is not obligatory to write the dissertation and to pass the exam in German. However, you need to ask permission for using another language at the faculty when applying for admission. In some cases, though, both your supervisor and the board of examination might insist on using German. Then you are asked to certify your command of the German language by passing a special language test (DSH, ZOP, TestDaF).
In a doctoral project you conduct individual and independent research in a topic/ subject you might have taken on in your previous studies. In your dissertation, however, you are asked to go well beyond your academic efforts of your first degree. That is why most of the doctorate exam regulations (see below) require that your first degree be of outstanding/ excellent quality.
Your academic work must be supervised by a member of this University (professor) who is chosen by you for his/her expertise in your research field. Therefore your first step should be to establish a contact with a potential supervisor (i.e. by going through the homepage of the departments of this University that might cover your research plans) in order to gain a written agreement from a professor who is willing to assist your research plans. You might also apply for one of the doctoral positions advertised.
What is more, there is no general structured course programme available leading to the doctorate but there are a number of interdisciplinary Graduate Colleges established in cooperation with the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft which offer prgrammeas and, sometimes, stipends, too. The University of Jena does not automatically grant scholarships to doctoral students. This is also due to the fact that a study programme (graduate as well as postgraduate) in Jena is free. However, make sure you can afford a 3 or 4-year research programme abroad, as you are not elegible to state subsidies.
Prepare your application for a doctoral study neatly. First of all try to be sure of the subject and the topic you apply for. Your subject/topic determines the field of research in which you must seek for a potential supervisor and which faculty you must later send your application to.
Before applying, read the doctoral exam regulations of your faculty carefully and seek a professor who signals his/ her willingness to assist your research projects. Each faculty has its own doctoral exam regulations which specify the entrance rules for German and foreign students (to take up a doctoral study). In order to gain a (written) agreement (Betreuungszusage, see below) from your potential supervisor, you might also be asked to send him/her the topic and (upon request) a written outline (exposé) of your research plans.
If you come to an agreement, please register online at the doc-in portal for doctoral students. Fill in your data there and print the two applications. You then need to forward the application for acceptance (1) together with all other documents to the faculty which will once again check whether you are eligible (by means of recognizing your academic degree, fixing the language of your dissertation and oral exam etc.). The faculty may ask you to hand in additional documents to submit with your application. The faculty will give you notice of acceptance (Zulassung). With this letter of acceptance, you may - but need noot - apply for enrolment as a doctoral student at this University (2).
For the enrolment as a doctoral student (2), which is not absolutely necessary for all candidates, please print the application for enrolment from doc-in and hand it in to the International Office personally. Submit all documents listed on the first page of the application (see also p. 3 in the Guide for New International Doctoral Students). We recommend that you bring two sets of officially certified copies of all your university diplomas (including their German or English translations) with you to Germany; one set of these will remein in your student file for ever. You may also bring your orginals and have copies officially certified in the local City Registration Office.
Bring your passport on visiting the International Office for the first time please.
Please note that you do not have to meet a certain deadline for your application. However, some faculties process applications only at certain times. If the application to the faculty has not resulted in an admission yet, international students may be enrolled as guest students at the International Office (2) for the maximum length of six months. Enrolment is usually not possible if candidates are employed in a more-than-50%-part-time job (well-reasoned exceptions made for FSU-employees).
Please note that only the German versions are legally binding.
You may find further information on the pages of the Jena Graduate Academy .
Jena School for Microbial Communication
Jena School of Molecular Medicine
Graduate School "Human Behaviour in Social and Economic Change"
Doctoral School "Laboratory of the Enlightment"
Graduate School of the Jena Center "20th Century History"
Research Training Groups (Graduiertenkollegs)
International Max Planck Research School
The Exploration of Ecological Interactions with Molecular and Chemical Techniques
Marie Curie Early Stage Research Training Site "Galenos EURO PhD"
Contact at the International Office
Dr. Britta Salheiser
Enrolment, Support
Room 018
Universitätshauptgebäude
Fürstengraben 1
D-07743 Jena
E-Mail:
Telephone: 49 (0) 3641 / 93 11 64
Fax: 49 (0) 3641 / 93 11 62 / 7
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