Studying in Jena costs €333.05 per semester at Friedrich Schiller University (FSU) in the winter semester 2026/27, and €335.05 at Ernst Abbe University of Applied Sciences (EAH). New students at the university pay €353.05, because this amount includes €20 for the thoska card. If you register your main residence in Jena, the city pays a welcome bonus of up to €120. In winter semester 2025/26, the university counted more than 16,000 students.
Jena at a glance
| Topic | Value for Jena |
|---|---|
| University | Friedrich Schiller University, more than 16,000 students |
| University of applied sciences | Ernst Abbe University of Applied Sciences Jena (EAH) |
| Semester fee FSU | €333.05 (new students €353.05) |
| Semester fee EAH | €335.05 (for new enrolments an extra €15 for thoska) |
| Dormitories | 27 houses with around 3,033 places |
| Dormitory rent | €202 to €404 per month flat rate |
| Welcome bonus | up to €120 for a new main residence |
| Registration deadline | two weeks after moving in |
What does a semester cost at the FSU and the EAH?
The fees break down as follows. Details are on the FSU’s page about the semester fee, and the EAH publishes its own fee page.
| Item | FSU Jena | EAH Jena |
|---|---|---|
| Germany semester ticket | €226.80 | €231.05 (including Kulturticket) |
| Studierendenwerk Thüringen | €95.00 | €95.00 |
| Kulturticket Jena | €4.25 | included in the ticket item |
| Student council, including other shares at the FSU | €7.00 | €9.00 |
| Total | €333.05 | €335.05 |
The ticket is valid nationwide for local public transport under the terms of the Deutschlandticket. You will find the current breakdown for the winter semester on the website of the Studierendenwerk Thüringen.
Thuringia also charges long-term study fees. According to the EAH Jena, anyone who has studied for more than 10 semesters at German universities pays an additional €500 per semester.
What does one month of studying in Jena cost?
Example: a childless student aged 23 or over studies at the FSU and has compulsory student health insurance under statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV). The additional contribution of the health insurer comes on top, as does the rent.
| Example: fixed costs per month | Amount |
|---|---|
| Semester fee (€333.05 divided by 6) | €55.51 |
| Health insurance, basic contribution | €87.38 |
| Long-term care insurance (childless from age 23) | €35.91 |
| Subtotal excluding additional contribution | €178.80 |
For a guide to rent, look at the dormitories. The flat-rate rents in Jena’s halls run from €202 to €404 per month and include utilities. Nationwide, a vacant room in a shared flat costs €510 on average (university city scoring 2026), and the BAföG housing allowance is €380. The whole calculation is covered in How much money do you need per month (in German).
Where will you live in Jena: dormitory, shared flat or your own flat?
The Studierendenwerk Thüringen runs 27 dormitories in Jena with around 3,033 places in total. The minimum rental period is one semester. Rents vary by building and room. Apply early, as soon as you have a place to study. For shared flats and flats on the open market, finding an affordable flat while studying (in German) helps, and dormitory or shared flat (in German) compares the two options.
Moving in also raises the question of household contents insurance. Contents insurance in a dormitory and a shared flat (in German) explains how your belongings are covered.
How do you register in Jena, and is there money for it?
Registration takes place within two weeks of moving in, at the Team Bürgerservice of the City of Jena at Engelplatz 1. You register your main residence in person or online, as described on the city’s page Register a flat. You must bring the landlord’s confirmation (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung). The rental agreement alone is not enough.
Students who newly register their main residence in Jena receive up to €120 welcome bonus from the city. Check beforehand whether a main residence in Jena suits you. Clarify in advance with the Team Bürgerservice whether a secondary residence incurs a second-home tax. The steps for the move are bundled in Moving and registration for your studies (in German).
Where do you apply for BAföG in Jena?
The responsible authority is the BAföG office (Amt für Ausbildungsförderung) of the Studierendenwerk Thüringen, which you can reach in Jena through its service office. By phone, you can call 03641 5546390, Monday to Thursday from 8:00 to 16:30 and on Fridays from 8:00 to 14:00. The postal address is Studierendenwerk Thüringen, Amt für Ausbildungsförderung, Postfach 100 240, 07702 Jena. You submit the application digitally via bafoeg-digital.de. For this you need a BundID and the activated online ID function. Alternatively, you can apply by e-mail. All contacts are on the page BAföG contact persons.
To check whether the application is worth it for you, use BAföG eligibility, amount and repayment (in German). If there is no BAföG, housing benefit for students (in German) can be an alternative.
What advice does the Studierendenwerk offer?
The Studierendenwerk Thüringen runs general social counselling centres, psychosocial counselling centres and a legal advice service. The counselling page of the Studierendenwerk lists which services exist and how to reach them.
Where do you eat, and how do you find a part-time job?
In Jena you will find, among others, the canteens at Ernst-Abbe-Platz, Carl-Zeiss-Promenade, Philosophenweg, the main university building and Am Park, plus several cafeterias. The canteen page of the Studierendenwerk has the full list.
For jobs, the nationwide limits apply: a minimum wage of €13.90 per hour and a mini-job limit of €603 per month. Up to €603 gross per month, your income does not affect BAföG. Positions at the university are described in student assistant jobs (in German), and finding the right part-time job as a student (in German) makes getting started easier.
How are you insured when you start studying in Jena?
If you are enrolled at a state or state-recognised university, you are subject to compulsory membership in statutory health insurance (gesetzliche Krankenversicherung, GKV), unless a prior insurance such as family insurance applies. To enrol, you need a digital confirmation from a statutory health insurer about your insurance status, even if you are privately insured. You can request it from 1 June for the winter semester and from 1 December for the summer semester. How this works is described in Proof of health insurance at enrolment (in German). How contributions develop with age is shown in Health insurance costs for students by age (in German). An overview of the insurers is given by Additional contributions of health insurers (in German). Whether statutory or private health insurance (PKV) suits you is explained in PKV or GKV while studying (in German). If you would like someone to go through your personal situation with you, the advice offered on the Academycon homepage can help.
Frequently asked questions
What is the semester fee at the University of Jena?
For the winter semester 2026/27, it is €333.05. New students pay €353.05, because this amount includes €20 for the thoska card. The Germany semester ticket accounts for €226.80 of the fee.
How much does a dormitory room in Jena cost?
The Studierendenwerk quotes a flat rent of €202 to €404 per month, including utilities. The price depends on the building and the room, and the minimum rental period is one semester.
Do I get money for registering in Jena?
Yes. According to the city’s website, it pays up to €120 welcome bonus if you newly register your main residence in Jena.
How do I reach the BAföG office in Jena?
By phone at 03641 5546390, Monday to Thursday from 8:00 to 16:30 and on Friday from 8:00 to 14:00. You apply via bafoeg-digital.de, or alternatively by e-mail to the Amt für Ausbildungsförderung.
Do I need an extra ticket for local transport in Jena?
At the FSU and the EAH, the Germany semester ticket is included in the semester fee and is valid for local public transport under the Deutschlandticket conditions. You do not need an additional ticket for those trips.
How to prepare for your first weeks
- Retrieve the confirmation from your statutory health insurer and submit it at enrolment.
- Pay the semester fee: €333.05 at the FSU (new students €353.05), €335.05 at the EAH.
- Apply for a dormitory place and look for a room on the open market at the same time.
- Register within two weeks at the Team Bürgerservice and ask about the welcome bonus.
- Submit the BAföG application via bafoeg-digital.de.
Related guides
- Studying in Germany: 30 university cities compared (in German)
- Studying in Leipzig (in German)
- Studying in Dresden (in German)
- Benefits with student status (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
