Prepare your choice of study well

My interests:

• What am I interested in? What problems would I like to solve in the world? How do I spend my free time? What kind of books or magazines do I read? What kind of films do I watch? What do I look up on the Internet? What are my favourite subjects at school?

My skills:

• What am I good at? What are my natural abilities? Where am I successful?

My values and goals:

• Where do I see myself in 10 or 20 years? What values, professional objectives and personal goals are important in my life? How much do I want to earn? What is important to me in life?

My knowledge and gaps in my knowledge:

• What would be my dream job? What do I know about possible study and career paths and current opportunities on the job market? How do I envisage my dream job?

Helpful worksheets:

Values and Motivationpdf, 777 kb · de

Professional Mappdf, 314 kb · de

When choosing a field of study, it might be useful to work from the general to the specific. If you are not yet completely sure, you might like to get a feel for various study programmes in different fields of study. There are useful tools, such as the Higher Education CompassExternal link and studienwahl.deExternal link.

Where you study is also important! Some study programmes are only offered at a few institutions, and even standard courses (e.g. mathematics, psychology and business administration) have different focuses from university to university. And every city naturally has its own flair and qualities.

Studying in Jena

If you are sure you want to study in Jena, you can filter our study options by groups of subjects or faculties – you might even find subjects you have never heard of.

Types of degree

• Bachelor’s: A bachelor’s degree is usually the first part of a tiered course at an institution of higher education. The standard length of most bachelor’s degrees is six semesters.
  
  
• Master’s: A master’s programme usually lasts two to four semesters and complements an undergraduate degree (most commonly a bachelor’s degree). The aim is usually to deepen your academic knowledge gained during the previous course.
  
  
• State examination: A state examination opens up access to certain professions that are regulated by the German government (e.g. doctors, pharmacists, lawyers) or to civil service itself (e.g. judges, public prosecutors). The final examinations are monitored by a German state authority (examinations office).
  
  
• Teacher training (‘Regelschule’ or ‘Gymnasium’): A teacher training programme at our university comprises a combination of two subjects and educational science. Prospective students have to prepare for their future career by undertaking a work placement (320 hours) before their studies or by the fourth semester at the latest. Students graduate from teacher training programmes with a ‘first state examination’.
  
  
• Doctorate: A doctorate is awarded on the basis of specialized, independent and original academic achievements.

Admission requirements

The most important requirement for starting a degree programme is a university entrance qualification. For subjects with admission restrictions, you should also take note of the minimum required grades (‘numerus clausus’). Other admission requirements may include pre-study internships, aptitude tests and specific foreign language requirements. More information can be found in the study optionsExternal link.

More information on admission requirements for international students and prospective students is provided by the International Office.

Of course, other aspects are also important:

• What are my chances of getting onto a course?
  Information on applications, grade requirements and more
• What is it like to live in Jena?
  Leisure and living in Jena
• How and where can I live?
  Accommodation in Jena
• How can I finance my studies?
  Information on student finance

Overview portals

• Higher Education Compass – database with all study options in Germany and very good filtersExternal link
  https://studienwahl.de/enExternal link
  
  It can also be helpful to look beyond your studies and think about your future plans. You can find reliable information about occupations and the job market here:
  
  
• We have also put together an informative worksheet [PDF 306KB; in German]External link with recommended online resources, databases, tests and event formats.

Self-assessments and skills tests

Once you have narrowed down your choice of study programmes and you know where your skills and interests lie, you will have to check whether both fit together. You might find self-assessments helpful. These are free online tests that will help you reflect on your decisions.

• Study interest test (SIT)External link provided by the German Rectors’ Conference and ZEIT ONLINE
• 'Dein Weg ins Studium'External link, a self-discovery tool offered by the Federal Employment Agency
• subject-specific advice testsExternal link, a service provided by the state of Baden-Württemberg with an interest test and three skills test
• Higher education compass, 'HochschulkompassExternal link'
• Portal 'Career Counselling for TeachersExternal link'