Student drops blood into a sample container with a pipette

Pharmacy

How can an active ingredient be administered? What needs to be taken into account when manufacturing and testing medicines? And how can we boost our immune system? If you are interested in these questions, this is the programme for you!

Student drops blood into a sample container with a pipette

Image: Jan-Peter Kasper (University of Jena)

Key facts

Degree: state examination
Admission restriction: with Numerus Clausus (NC)
Duration: 8 Semesters
Credits/ECTS: None
Teaching language: German
Tuition fee: None
Semester contribution: € 272,65
Start of studies: Winter semester
Part-time possible: No
Institutions: Faculty of Biological Sciences; Institute of Pharmacy

Application & Deadlines

Programme content

Cough, runny nose, hoarse voice? Most pharmacies have their work cut out when autumn sets in. But pharmacists don’t just take prescriptions and dispense medication – there is much more variety and responsibility in their specialist profession. They also create individual formulas in the laboratory and carefully consider interactions with other medication – and a large part of their work involves advising customers. This allows various diseases to be detected at an early stage or prevented in the first place. As a pharmaceutical expert, however, there will be an incredible number of career paths open to you after your studies. For example, you will also find employment opportunities in hospitals, in medicinal research, in the pharmaceutical industry or with health insurance companies.

During your ‘Pharmacy’ studies, you will often swap the lecture theatre for laboratory work. This is the only way to consolidate your theoretical knowledge. If you want to successfully complete your studies, you will really need a thirst for knowledge, research and experiments. For example, you will make your own creams, eye drops, ear drops and suppositories during your studies. You will also need a broad interest in science to make it through the day in a white lab coat and protective goggles.

Our degree programme in ‘Pharmacy’ also focuses on how medicines work, how they are tested, stored and dispensed, how risk assessments are conducted, and how the relevant information and advice is provided. You will also learn about certain legal and clinical aspects.

Please note: From the winter semester 2024/25, the results of the admission test for the Pharmacy programme (PhaST)External link will be considered both in the Aptitude Quota and the University of Jena’s Selection Procedure.

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Screenshot: Universität Jena

Structure

If a degree programme involves one or more state examinations, the programme content and examinations are uniformly regulated by regional or national legislation.

The degree programme in ‘Pharmacy’ initially involves foundation studies of four semesters (Grundstudium), which are followed by a written examination (1st state examination). In the first semesters, the focus is on the subjects of chemistry, physics, biology, drug development, physiology, anatomy and pharmaceutical analysis. This is followed by the four-semester advanced studies (Hauptstudium), where you will learn how medicinal products are manufactured and tested, as well as how they work. This part of the degree programme culminates in an oral examination (2nd state examination).

You will then be able to complete a twelve-month internship, at least half of which you will have to do in a public pharmacy. You will finish your practical training (and become a fully qualified pharmacist) by taking an oral examination (3rd state examination). After graduating from the degree programme, you will be able to apply for a licence to practise pharmacy.

By the way: After completing the part of your studies based at university (after the 2nd state examination), you will also be able to enrol on a two-semester postgraduate programme at Friedrich Schiller University Jena to obtain a Diplom and get a taste of pharmaceutical research.

How might your degree programme shape up?

Foundation studies
1st semester

General and Analytical Chemistry of Inorganic Medicinal Substances, Excipients and Harmful Substances

Mathematical and Statistical Methods for Pharmacists

Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Terminology

2nd semester

Quantitative Determination of Medicinal Substances, Excipients and Harmful Substances

Physics Exercises for Pharmacists

Medicinal Plant Excursions and Identification Exercises

Chemical Nomenclature

3rd semester

Physics and Chemistry Exercises for Pharmacists

Chemistry of Inorganic Medicinal Substances, Excipients and Harmful Substances

Cytological and Histological Fundamentals of Biology

Physiology Course

Stereochemistry

4th semester

Drug Development

Instrumental Chemistry

Microbiology

Pharmaceutical Biology I

Pharmaceutical Biology II

You will complete your foundation studies (Grundstudium) by taking a pharmaceutical examination (1st state examination). An 8-week clinical internship (Famulatur) must be completed by the end of the first part of the degree programme. This is done during non-teaching periods.

You can find more detailed information in the syllabus External link.
Advanced studies
5th semester

Drug Analysis with Special Consideration of Pharmacopoeias

Biochemical Testing Methods (incl. Clinical Chemistry)

Quality Assurance in Pharmaceutical Production and Testing

6th semester

Drug Analysis and Monitoring, Toxicological and Environmental Studies

7th semester

Pharmaceutical Biology III

Pharmaceutical Technology

Pharmacotherapy

8th semester

Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Demonstration

Clinical Pharmacy (incl. Pharmaceutical Epidemiology and Pharmaceutical Economics)

Biogenic Substances in Medicine

Biopharmaceuticals (incl. Pharmacokinetics in Drug Development)

Required elective module: research project at an institute of the University of Jena or a non-university institution

You will complete your advanced studies by taking a pharmaceutical examination (2nd state examination).

You can find more detailed information in the syllabusExternal link.
Practical year

Your degree programme will be followed by a twelve-month internship, at least half of which will have to be done in a public pharmacy. You will be able to do the other half in a hospital pharmacy or military pharmacy, in the pharmaceutical industry or at university institutes.

You will finish your practical training (and become a fully qualified pharmacist) by taking a pharmaceutical examination (3rd state examination).

After graduating from the degree programme, you will be able to apply for an official licence to practice pharmacy. This licence is valid throughout Germany and in all other EU countries.

You can find more detailed information in the Licensing Regulations for PharmacistsExternal link.

Why study in Jena?

Excellent teaching: Pharmacy students at the University of Jena get the most out of their education with small to medium-sized modules and close interactions with academic staff – and the length of their programme is shorter than average.
Fantastic support: Our University has traditionally occupied the top spots in the nationwide Pharmacy rankings. Our students enjoy very good, one-to-one contact with their teachers.
Adventures abroad: You can realize your dream of spending a semester abroad during your studies. We have a global network of partner universities.
A world of possibilities: Experience our international flair! Our University appeals to students and researchers from all over the world and helps to shape Jena’s character as a cosmopolitan city that is fit for the future – it’s the perfect place for international studentsmp4, 57 mb · de.

A look behind the scenes

Image: Sebastian Reuter

Welcome to the Institute!External link
The degree programme is organized and run by the Institute of Pharmacy, which is based at Philosophenweg 14. As teamwork is essential in the world of pharmacy, our institute is also supported by institutes from other faculties in many subjects.

What can you do after your studies?

Career opportunities:

Pharmacists work in public pharmacies, hospital pharmacies, the pharmaceutical industry, chemical and drug testing agencies, administration, specialist publishing houses, and environmental health and environmental protection. They can also go into teaching at universities and technical colleges.

Downloads and links for the degree programme

What are we looking for in prospective students?

A high level of motivation and commitment
An interest in laboratory work
A high degree of independence in lectures and practicals
Sociability, social intelligence and language skills
Reliability, precision and care
A strong sense of responsibility

Admission requirements

University entrance qualification

A 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.
language requirements
At the moment of application, you have to prove your knowledge of the German language at level DSH-2 (German Language Test for Admission to Higher Educationpdf, 61 kb · de). You cannot start your studies at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena if you have only passed the DSH-1 exam! The following certificates accredited by the German Rectors Conference will be recognized as equivalents:

Goethe Certificate C2 (GDS)

German Language Diploma Level II of the KMK (DSD II)

TestDaF, at least TDN 4 in all four parts of the examination

telc Certificate C1 German for Higher Education

German exam as part of the assessment test at a Studienkolleg

If you do not have sufficient knowledge of German yet, the Friedrich Schiller University Jena offers you a preparatory language course for the DSH exam. To attend the course, your German knowledge must be at least on level B1.

Contacts

Dr Andreas Seeling (Academic Advisor)

Room 403
Philosophenweg 12
07743 Jena Google Maps site planExternal link

State Examination Office for Academic Healthcare Professions

Weimarplatz 4
99423 Weimar Google Maps site planExternal link

poststelle@tlvwa.thueringen.de

Student Representatives for Pharmacy

Fürstengraben 26
07743 Jena Google Maps site planExternal link

Central Student Advisory Service

University Main Building / SSZ
Fürstengraben 1
07743 Jena Google Maps site planExternal link

Office hours:
We offer consultations in person, by telephone, and via Zoom. You can make an appointment by calling us on +49 3641 9-411111 (Mondays to Fridays from 9:00 to 11:00) or outside these office hours on +49 3641 9-411200. You can also use our remote help desk.

Consultation hours:
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays (9:00 to 12:20), Tuesdays (14:00 to 18:00), and Wednesdays and Thursdays (14:00 to 16:00).

Video chat: To the video chat – Zoom Videochat ZeitenMondays to Fridays (12:30 to 13:00) Password ZSB2020 Data protection informationpdf, 101 kb

Student Service Centre

University Main Building, Room E065
Fürstengraben 1
07743 Jena Google Maps site planExternal link

Opening hours:
Mondays (10:00 – 12:00)
Tuesdays (13:00 – 15:00)
Wednesdays (10:00 – 12:00)
Thursdays (13:00 – 15:00)
Fridays (10:00 – 12:00)

You can also use our remote help desk at
www.uni-jena.de/service-ssz
or send us your enquiries by post.

Telephone hours:
Mondays to Fridays
(9:00 – 11:00)

Postal address:
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Studierenden-Service-Zentrum
07737 Jena

International Office - International students

University Main Building
Fürstengraben 1
07743 Jena Google Maps site planExternal link

incoming@uni-jena.de