Refugees

We recommend that you first find a safe place and a place to live. Register at the local offices, e.g. Bürgerservice or Immigration Office. The authorities will advise you on how to apply for financial support, find a job or learn the German language.

For further information for refugees, also on the legal aspects, please visit the websites of

• the Federal Ministry of the Interior (Information for refugees from UkraineExternal link)
• the city of JenaExternal link or your current place of residence
• the University of Jena.
• the German Academic Exchange Service, DAADExternal link.

Students of the Jena universities offer a legal advisory service for refugees in Jena (Refugee Law ClinicExternal link) and a migration and social advice service (MAPExternal link).

• The University of Jena offers more than 200 different study opportunities. Which are the requirements for studying at the University of Jena? When and how can you apply? Please refer to our offers for international applicants de to find out more about requirements and application.
• If you cannot find your desired course in our study programme database, please refer to the Higher Education CompassExternal link to browse through the programmes offered by other German higher education institutions.
• In order to apply for a study programme, you will need certified copies of German-language translations of your certificates.
• If you are not sure yet what you want to study, please see our information on study orientation de.

University Entrance Qualification, Recognition of Study Achievements, Lost Certificates

Please first check your higher education entrance qualification for studying in Germany with the help of the database of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD): https://www.daad.de/en/studying-in-germany/requirements/admission-database/External link

If you want to continue your previous studies in a higher subject-related semester, you need to be able to provide proof of your academic achievements to date. Please note this information on the recognition: https://www.uni-jena.de/en/225610/bachelor-diplom-state-examination-teacher-training#recognitionhighersemester 

If you lost your certificates please contact the International Office to get to know about your options. 

German language abilities

Most study programmes offered by the University of Jena are taught in German; some master’s programmes are taught in English. In order to be admitted to a programme, you need a very high level of German language proficiency (DSH-2 [DSH = German Language Test for Admission to Higher Education], corresponding to level B2+/C1 in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). You need to provide a language test certificate to prove your proficiency. It generally takes language learners without prior knowledge about 2–‍3 years to reach that level. The University of Jena offers a preparatory course for the DSH exam (starting from level B1, subject to a fee, application from May).

Migrants may learn basic German up to the level B1 in Integration Courses (find offering institutionsExternal link).

There are many online self learning courses, e.g.:

• Goethe-InstitutExternal link
• Deutsche WelleExternal link
• Deutsch-Uni onlineExternal link

For Ukrainian prospective students and students there are the following offers:

• Free participation in the self-assessment test onSET.
• Free booking of an online self-study course (learning platform Deutsch-Uni Online)
• Free participation in the language test TestDaF
• Free participation in the study aptitude test TestAS

Information on registration and free booking:
https://www.daad-ukraine.org/de/studieren-in-deutschland/digitaler-campus/External link

Those who assess their German language skills with the onSET will receive a free German course from Deutsch-Uni Online (DUO) for the next higher language level with their registration.

Studying

• If you are interested in studying towards a first academic degree (Bachelor, Diplom, state examination) or in participating in the auditor programme, please contact the International Office. You can find the office hours in the section International students and applicants on the website of the International Office. We also give advice via email, telephone or zoom (on request). We speak German and English.
• If you are interested in obtaining a master’s degree, please contact the Master Service Centre.
  
  
• If you are interested in doing a doctorate, the Graduate Academy will be happy to advise you.
  
  
• At-risk and refugee scientists and scholars are supported by the Team Guest Scientist.

Residence Law Advice

There are several free of charge couselling offers for refugees in Jena regarding their residence permit: 

• Refugee Law Clinic: https://www.rlcjena.de/enExternal link 
• Migration and Participation Law Clinic: https://www.eah-jena.de/en/map/beratungExternal link 
• Specialist service for migration and integration of the AWO: https://www.awo-mittewest-thueringen.de/fachdienst-fuer-migration-und-integration.htmlExternal link 

Those who would like to continue their academic education in their free time can participate in the university's auditor programme. The auditor programme comprises German-language courses on the basics of an academic subject. No exams can be taken or credit points earned in the auditor programme.

All details on registration, dates, costs, contents and contact for questions can be found at uni-jena.de/en/occasional-students.

• Return counselling, Thomas Peter, Caritasverband für das Bistum Erfurt e.V.; Wagnergasse 37, 07743 Jena, 01724500993 or +49 361 5553356,  rb-j@caritas-bistum-erfurt.de, WebseiteExternal link
• AMAHExternal link at Ansole e.V. Jena
• Scholarships for sub-Sahara africans who pursue a Masters programmeExternal link