Information for Incoming International Students

Jena

Jena is located in the state Thuringia, situated in the valley of the river Saale and close to the lovely Thuringia Forest. The city has a long tradition in higher education and as a centre of industry. The alma mater Jenensis, the University of Jena, was one of the first European Universities. Some of Europe’s finest intellectual brains, e.g. Goethe, Schiller, Schopenhauer have lived and worked in Jena.

The Jena University of Applied Sciences (EAH) Jena

The University of Applied Sciences Jena was founded in 1991, making it one of the first in the new federal states. The range of courses offered by the University of Applied Sciences Jena focuses on the fields of technology, economics, social affairs and health and is characterised by a high degree of practical relevance. For further information please visit the EAH website.

Studying at the School of Social Work in Jena

Within the Erasmus exchange program incoming students can choose whatever course is suitable based on their knowledge and level of study. Within the learning agreement the chosen courses have to be accepted by the Erasmus coordinators of both their home university and exchange university. With regard to limitations of the courses we give incoming students priority.

The academic year is divided into two semesters. Usually first year students are enrolled in the winter semester which starts in October, however international students are invited either to start in the winter or summer semester. The summer semester usually begins in April. Minor changes in semester dates could occur due to holidays or unpredictable circumstances. In the first week of the semester there is usually a general introduction program offered to get to know the EAH. You can obtain all relevant information for the following semesters on the official homepage.

Furthermore the School of Social Work offers its own initiation week for new students.

The program in Jena offers an integrated study of Social Work and Social Education. Since winter semester 2007 new students will be enrolled in the BA-program which lasts 3,5 years (210 credits) and includes a short block internship and 23 weeks of practice placement (= 4th semester) during the study program. Our Masters Program in Social Work (1,5 years – 90 credits), established in 2005, focuses on leadership and social scientific/empirical research competences, leaving room for individual specialisations.

The BA-degree aims to provide students with the necessary basic academic and professional competences as social workers. With an interdisciplinary focus the program combines the core areas of Social Work and Educational Science in subjects like Sociology, Psychology, Law and Administration, Social Policy, Social Medicine, Cultural Communication and Conflict Management. Professional methods like supervision and mediation are integrated in the program also offering the opportunity for supervised practical training as well as scientific work and application-related research.

The study program is divided into the so called basic or preliminary modules and the main study courses. The basic courses take three semesters and teach all fundamental subjects necessary for the main study course. The basic courses are followed by the practice placement in the fourth semester. In semester 5 – 7 students can choose from a variety of courses, including compulsory courses and optional courses (see: BA-program).

The Bachelor studies are completed by the BA-thesis.

The Master of Social Work focuses on leadership and research in Social Work (see: MA-program). This master’s program focuses on the relevant areas of research, development and evaluation, and law and management that are indispensable for advanced professional and managerial positions in social institutions.

The Master’s Degree in Civic Education is designed to qualify graduates as multipliers of democratic competence. (see: MA-program) Graduates will be able to promote democratic values, democratic action and civil society in their respective (working) contexts by providing education and information to encourage sustainable engagement.

The Master of Game and Media Paedagogy enables the students to implement diverse methodological approaches of game and media paedagogy as well as social paedagogy in their respective field of practice. Furthermore, the aim is to offer a comprehensive professional qualification in the pedagogically and socio-pedagogically motivated use of interactive entertainment media (see: MA-program).

At the end of each course program students hand in an MA-thesis.

Requirements

Students from abroad have to meet certain entrance requirements. Basic requirement is a certificate of secondary education qualifying students for studies at universities in their countries. Direct admission is only possible if the qualification for a university abroad matches the German entrance standard. Special regulations apply to students from foreign partner universities especially within the European Erasmus program. Usually, students from our European partners visit our faculty for one semester which may be followed by an internship (maximum 2 semesters in total).

If you are a non-EU student you will have to contact the German embassy of your country. For further information on your stay in Jena please visit Housing and Living in Jena.

German as a Foreign Language

All of our programs (BA as well as MA) are taught in German, if you would like to complete an internship, German is a language requirement. Even though Erasmus students do not need an official German language certificate, we recommend at least basic knowledge of the German language (B2). For further information please visit Admission Requirements.

For further assistance please contact the International Office.