Research Traineeship
as an international guest student in Jena
Research Trainee working in a laboratory
Image: Christoph Worsch (University of Jena)
Organizing a research traineeship / internship
Gain hands-on experience in real research projects
Image: Christoph Worsch (University of Jena)International students can pursue a voluntary or compulsory traineeship (‘research traineeship’) in a department of the University of Jena as guest students and as a part of their home degree programme.
The traineeship may last a maximum of twelve full months. During the traineeship, international trainees are enrolled at the university as guest students. To obtain student status (including a student ID card and the semester ticket for public transport), the full semester contribution must be paid. Enrollment is possible for traineeships lasting at least 61 days (within one semester). For stays spanning two semesters, a reduced semester fee may be paid for the semester in which the shorter part of the stay (up to one month) takes place. The reduced semester fee does not include either the Deutschlandsemesterticket or the Kulturticket.
The traineeship position and supervisor must be found independently. When searching for a supervisor, please use the websites of the faculties and the institutes/departments therin. The supervisor must be an employee of the University of Jena.
Before undertaking a research traineeship, an traineeship agreement must be signed:
- Erasmus+ Learning Agreement for TraineeshipsExternal link or
- Jena University Traineeship Agreementdocx, 112 kb · de for non-Erasmus traineeships.
Who may apply?
- Students from a foreign university at Bachelor's/Master's level (PhD students may contact the Graduate Academy)
- Applicants must generally have been enrolled at their home university for at least two semesters (Bachelor's)/one semester (Master's).
- Applicants must remain registered as Bachelor's or Master's students at their home university during their guest stay.
If you do not belong to any of these categories, please contact us: incoming@uni-jena.de.
Student ID card, semester ticket and other costs
- There are no tuition fees in Jena.
- All students pay the normal semester contribution for the student ID card and the semester ticket. This is valid on public transport throughout Germany.
- As enrolled students, research trainees can also take advantage of the student meal price in the canteen and the discounts on the culture ticket in Jena.
- To enrol, you must provide proof of German or European health insurance accepted by the University of Jena.
- For courses outside the regular study programme (e.g. language courses, sports courses) the usual fees must be paid.
- All costs for the stay and visas are to be borne by the students themselves. Please refer to our information on living in Jena regarding the costs and financing of the guest student stay.
Research trainees arriving in Jena
Image: Christoph Worsch (University of Jena)Language requirements
Research trainees should have at least B2 level language skills in German or English to carry out the traineeship and communicate with the supervisor and colleagues. The language will be agreed on in the Traineeship Agreement.
The Language Centre of the University offers German courses (fees).
Notification, application, admission, visa
The Incoming Team is happy to assist you with any questions you may have.
Image: Christoph Worsch (University of Jena)Nomination/notification
The application (nomination) should be submitted at least 2 months before the start of the internship.
- If the traineeship is part of a partnership agreement, the home university must nominate the intern.
- by sending the nomination listxlsx, 38 kb · de and
- the traineeship agreement, if already available,
- to incoming@uni-jena.de or via an EWP platform
- if the traineeship is organised without a partnership agreement, interested parties must register with a specific traineeship agreement at incoming@uni-jena.de .
Application and admission
After nomination/registration, the International Office Jena invites trainees to the application portal. The research traineeship is carried out as part of a study programme. This requires the assignment to a guest study programmepdf, 46 kb · de at the University of Jena. Enrolment is not possible in Dentistry, Medicine and Pharmacy.
The traineeship agreement must be uploaded to the application portal.
Trainees can view the status of their application and notifications in the application portal. They can also download the letter of admission there.
Visa
If you need to apply for a visa (see Visa NavigatorExternal link), please use the admission letter. Apply for a visa for guest studies (not for research or a traineeship, this would be incorrect). Please note that the application can take between 6-10 weeks.
Exceptions: Trainees who require a visa and come via a contract with an EU partner university should contact incoming@uni-jena.de at least 10 weeks before the start of the traineeship to apply for a residence permit.
Implementation, documentation, Traineeship certificate
Trainees and supervisors are jointly responsible for the implementation of the traineeship. The basis for this is the traineeship agreement. Trainees must be regularly present at the traineeship location, work actively on the project and have regular personal contact with their supervisor to discuss the project.
In the event of significant changes to the traineeship project, the traineeship agreement must be amended and sent to the International Office;
The supervisor confirms a successfully completed traineeship with a Traineeship Certificate, which describes the type, content, duration and scope of the traineeship and evaluates the trainee's performance. In case of an Erasmus+ traineeship, the section After the Mobility should be completed for this purpose (Erasmus+ Learning Agreement for Traineeships)External link.
Trainees must apply to their home university for a compulsory traineeship to be credited to their home degree programme.
Strengthen your profile for international career opportunities!
Image: Christoph Worsch (University of Jena)Housing
Research trainees are responsible for finding their own accommodation. Enrolled interns may apply for a furnished room in a student residential home if their traineeship lasts at least four months. Due to limited capacity, availability cannot be guaranteed. If you are staying for at least four months during the summer semester (April–September), we nevertheless recommend applying for a place in a student residenceExternal link as early as possible. Please also note the guidelines on searching for rooms on the private marketpdf, 469 kb · de. Finding accommodation in Jena can be difficult, especially in the winter semester. Please consider searching in the surrounding cities as well.
Living in Jena
Information on visas, health insurance, costs, services at the University of Jena and much more can be found at Living in Jena.
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Graphic: Thomas Franke-OpitzFor all questions about research traineeships as an international guest student please write to incoming@uni-jena.de. Your contact person is Helen Rode, Team International Students of the International Office.