Thousands of new students start at the University of Jena

With today’s start of the lecture period for the winter semester 2025/26, Friedrich Schiller University Jena has more than 16,000 students. Among them are almost 2,200 first-year students. Including those who have changed their degree subject, around 3,500 students are starting their first semester. Over 2,400 students come from abroad—a number that the University of Jena intends to increase strategically. Foreign students not only ensure that science is networked worldwide, but also make a tangible contribution to the economy and innovation.

»We are delighted that interest in studying in Jena among foreign students remains high«, says Prof. Dr Karina Weichold, Vice-President for Learning and Teaching at the University of Jena. »In addition, demand for our master’s degree programmes has increased compared to the previous year. At the same time, we are seeing a decline in the number of students from Thuringia. Even though this is mainly due to demographic reasons, I would like to invite all children from the state who are in the process of choosing a career to come to our University for the Discovery Days to get a personal impression of the high quality of teaching and the student flair of the city. Schools, classes and pupils can register at any time or visit us during our newly designed Discovery Week in June 2026.«

University of Jena once again ranks among the most popular universities

This year, the University of Jena was once again voted one of the most popular universities of its size by its current students. Students particularly appreciate the first-class support from teaching staff, the excellent teaching and the study and living conditions in Jena. »Thanks to our good student-lecturer ratio, the great commitment of our teaching staff and the many support services we offer, we have more students graduating within the standard period of study than most other universities. This means that young people studying at the University of Jena can achieve their dream job and financial independence sooner.«

In Jena, around 400 people will begin studying to become teachers for grammar schools (Gymnasium) and intermediate secondary schools (Regelschule) in the newly reformed Educational Sciences degree programme in the winter semester. Other populat degree programmes include Medicine, Psychology, Law and Economics and Business Administration.

Help getting started and welcome ceremony

The University makes it easier for its new students to get started with their studies and life in Jena by offering numerous information and introductory events at the beginning of the semester. Those who enrol at the University at short notice after the start of the winter semester can get guidance in the study start workshops for »Latecomers«.

In addition, first-year students can find the most important information tailored to their respective degree programmes in the new »UniStartJena« app. When the University officially welcomes all new students to the Ceremonial Matriculation on 29 October, many of them will already feel at home in Jena.