Small but mighty! And one of a kind in Europe. That’s probably the best way to describe our ‘Caucasian Studies’ programme. It is a ‘small subject’ with great research potential and international appeal. The Caucasus does not just form a natural barrier through its mountains – it has also been a cultural bridge between Europe and Asia for centuries. This historical context has led to the emergence of a unique region that is characterized by the coexistence of various world religions such as Islam and Christianity, as well as impressive ethnic, linguistic and cultural diversity. This framework provides a unique research landscape for regional scientific disciplines that want to learn more about transnational, transcultural, and transreligious processes by studying complex regions.
During your studies, you will learn about the countries, peoples and their languages. We will take an interdisciplinary approach and examine the Caucasus from different research perspectives such as cultural studies, anthropology (the study of humanity), history, political science, linguistics and other disciplines. In addition to Caucasian geography and demographics, you will also learn about basic religious, political, linguistic and historical aspects, which are essential for studying the region. You can also choose from a wide range of courses in both the Caucasian languages (e.g. Georgian and Armenian) and the other languages spoken in the Caucasus (e.g. Russian).
Multi-subject bachelor’s programme
Picture: Sophie BartholomeA bachelor’s degree is the first professional qualification that can be obtained at a university. The standard length of the programme is six semesters, and different types of courses are offered for each module (e.g. seminars, lectures or tutorials).
A multi-subject bachelor’s programme consists of a major subject worth 120 ECTS credits (1 ECTS credit = 30 hours for attendance, preparation and follow-up work, private study, assessed coursework and examinations) and a minor subject worth 60 ECTS credits.
The field of study includes courses in the major languages spoken in the Caucasus (e.g. Georgian, Russian, Armenian), as well as various excursions, field research seminars and semesters abroad in the Caucasus (e.g. at universities in Tbilisi or Yerevan).
The following table shows the possible structure of your degree programme with ‘Caucasian Studies’ as your minor subject:
| 1st semester | 2nd semester | 3rd semester | 4th semester | 5th semester | 6th semester | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compulsory modules | Introduction to Caucasian Studies (5 ECTS) |
Languages and Peoples of the Caucasus (5 ECTS) |
Introduction to the History of the Caucasus (10 ECTS) | |||
|
Required elective area1 For example: |
Introduction to Political Science |
Introduction to International Relations / International Organizations (5 ECTS) | ||||
|
Required elective area2 For example: South Caucasian languages or Kartvelian languages
|
Georgian I (5 ECTS) |
Georgian II (5 ECTS) |
Russian I (5 ECTS) |
Russian II (5 ECTS) |
Kartvelian Languages I (5 ECTS) |
Kartvelian Languages II (5 ECTS) |
Abbreviations: ECTS = European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (credit points)
1 You have various options within the regional and linguistic modules depending on whether you would like to focus on religious studies, political science, regional studies or linguistics.
2 You can focus on: South Caucasian languages or Kartvelian languages; North Caucasian languages / West and East Caucasian languages; Transcaucasia: Armenian, Azerbaijani, Russian or Georgian and language history (diachronic linguistics of Georgian).
You can find more detailed information in the module catalogue for the degree programme.External link
You will find the Institute of Slavonic and Caucasus Studies on campus in the city centre. We will offer you personal support throughout your studies and make it easy for you to contact your teachers and fellow students.
Areas of employment for graduates:
Training
Image: Designed by pressfoto / freepik.comA university entrance qualification, such as a general secondary school leaving certificate, is required for admission onto the study programme.
More information on university entrance qualifications can be found here.
The study programme is taught in German. You must therefore have a very good command of German at the start of the study programme.
Please submit an up-to-date and complete CV in tabular form. Please provide full details regarding your schooling and academic education to date. You can find more information hereExternal link.
Please upload the school certificate confirming your university entrance qualification to our application portal. You can find more information hereExternal link.
Please upload transcripts of records for all previous periods of study and degrees, as well as, if applicable, your degree certificate, to the portal.
Proof of sufficient German proficiency must be provided for all German-language degree programmes. The following certificates are recognized as proof of proficiency by Friedrich Schiller University Jena:
Please note: We strongly recommend that you submit the required proof of German proficiency at the time of your application.
If you do not yet have the required language certificate, you may apply for our DSH course starting from German level B1. This course ensures optimal language preparation and also gives you the opportunity to get to know Jena while benefiting from student status.
A translation into German or English must be submitted for every application document that was not originally issued in German or English. These translations must be prepared by an authorized translation office.
Applicants with university degrees from India, Vietnam, or the People’s Republic of China must submit an APS certificate.
Applicants from the following countries must provide proof of their university entrance examination:
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The ASPA is primarily responsible for students in the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences, the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, and the Faculty of Theology.
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University Main Building, Room E065
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You can also use our remote help desk at
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Telephone hours:
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Postal address:
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Studierenden-Service-Zentrum
07737 Jena
University Main Building
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07743 Jena
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