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Abitur and more

...secondary school leaving certificates
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Image: Anne Günther (University of Jena)

Requirements for studying at an institution of higher education

If you want to study, you must meet the legal requirements. According to the Section 60 of the Thuringian Higher Education ActExternal link (Thüringer Hochschulgesetz, ThürHG), you must have one of the following educational paths completed:

Secondary school leaving certificates

General qualification to enter higher education

You can acquire the general qualification to enter higher education, for example, at grammar schools, vocational schools, adult education centres, colleges or with a degree from a university/university of applied sciences. It applies to all study programmes at universities

Subject-related qualification to enter higher education

With the subject-related qualification to enter higher education, the admission to the course must be clear from the respective grade certificate. This entitles the holder to study in the area indicated on the subject-related qualification to enter higher education.

Examination for the master craftsman’s diploma

Successfully passing the examination for the master craftsman’s diploma (“Meisterprüfung”) entitles the holder to study all study programmes at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena.

State-certified technician or state-certified business management graduate

The successful completion of an education programme as a state-certified technician (i.e. “staatlich geprüfter Techniker/in”) or state-certified business management graduate (i.e. “staatlich geprüfter Betriebswirt/in”) entitles the holder to study all study programmes at Friedrich Schiller University Jena.

Recognition of professional further training parallel to the examination for the master craftsman’s diploma

You may also be admitted to an institution of higher education after completing at least two years of vocational training (i.e. “berufliche Ausbildung”). In this regard, you must also complete the professional further vocational training successfully. This one must be recognized as an equivalent or is determined to be equivalent by the institution of higher education.

An overview of recognized further vocational training courses can be found in the Thuringian Ordinance on the Equivalence of Further Vocational Training for Admission to Higher EducationExternal link.

To check whether your secondary school leaving certificate can be granted as eligible, please send the following documents:

  • a cover letter requesting the assessment of a secondary school leaving certificate and a description of the current situation, and an indication of the specific study programme desired
  • a current, detailed, tabular CV, in particular with full details on education, training, and professional activities
  • all previous vocational grade certificates, professional certificates, further training certificates (all pages in officially certified copies), and school leaving certificates and other proof of qualification (single copies).

Postal address:
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Dezernat 1 (SSZ)
Mr Götz
Fürstengraben 1
07743 Jena

Germany

Please remember to enclose a self-addressed and sufficiently stamped envelope.

Undergraduate university degree from a university of applied sciences, a university of management and administration, a university of cooperative education or a vocational academy

Graduates of the following education institutions are eligible to study in any undergraduate study programme:

  • universities of applied sciences (“Fachhochschule”)
  • universities of cooperative education (“duale Hochschule”)
  • universities of management and administration (“Verwaltungsfachhochschule”)
  • state/state-recognized vocational academies (“staatlich anerkannte Berufsakademie”).
Trial course

Within a trial course, you can take part in courses offered from one to two semesters. You may apply for the trial studies if you already have a professional qualification, however, without a secondary school leaving certificate and who:

  • have at least two years of vocational training regulated by federal or state law and successfully completed in a field related to the desired study programme, and
  • have at least three years of full-time professional practice subsequent to the training in a field related to the desired study programme.

The following documents can be submitted to check as to whether the requirements for admission to a trial course are met:

  • cover letter with the (informal) application for admission to a trial course and a description of the current situation, and an indication of the specific study programme desired
  • a current, detailed, tabular CV with information on education, training, and professional activities; in particular with a suitable proof of at least three years of full-time professional practice relevant to the intended study programme
  • all previous vocational grade certificates and professional certificates of at least two years of relevant vocational education and training (all pages in officially certified copies) and school-leaving certificates (single copy)
  • submission of the proof sheet regarding academic advice at the Central Academic Advisory Service

Application for an intended start in a winter semester (start of semester: 1 October):

  • up to 30 June (for study programmes with restricted admission)
  • up to 31 August (for study programmes without restricted admission).

Application for an intended start in a summer semester (start of semester: 1 April):

  • up to 31 December (for study programmes with restricted admission)
  • up to 1 March (for study programmes without restricted admission).

Postal address:
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Dezernat 1 (SSZ)
Mr Götz
Fürstengraben 1
07743 Jena

Germany

Please remember to enclose a self-addressed and sufficiently stamped envelope.

Please contact Mr Götz by phone on +49 (0)3641-931110 if you have any questions about the admission to higher education without the Abitur.

Secondary school leaving certificates obtained abroad

The most important requirement for your studies at the University Jena is a secondary school leaving certificate for German universities (“Hochschulzugangsberechtigung” or “HZB”). In the DAAD database or anabin database, you can check whether your foreign education qualification is recognized in Germany.

Student Service Centre
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Updates / adjustments may occur at any time. Thank you for your understanding!

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Postal address:
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Studierenden-Service-Zentrum
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International Office- Incoming
Universitätshauptgebäude
Fürstengraben 1
07743 Jena