Tips for Travel Preparation

EU citizens and citizens from other Schengen states generally do not need a visa to enter Germany. Germany has also concluded bilateral agreements on visa-free entry with other countries. All binding regulations for entry can be found on the website of the German Federal Foreign Office.

• Overview of visa requirements/exemptions for entry into the Federal Republic of Germany - Federal Foreign Office (auswaertiges-amt.de)

If you need a visa to enter Germany, you can apply for one at a German mission abroad (e.g. embassy, consulate).

• German Missions Abroad - Federal Foreign Office (auswaertiges-amt.de)

To study in Germany, you need a national visa of category C (long-term stay).

• Visa & Service - Federal Foreign Office (auswaertiges-amt.de)

As of 30 May 2022, all COVID-19 entry restrictions to Germany will be provisionally lifted. Proof of vaccination, a negative test result or digital entry registration are not needed to travel to Germany at the moment. However restrictions for areas of variants of concern are still in place.

Currently, only the People's Republic of China (except Hong Kong) is classified as a "area of variants of concern in which a variant of particular concern threatens to emerge". Travellers from China must be tested for COVID-19 before travelling to and after entering Germany. Vaccinated and recovered persons are also required to provide proof. This can be done in two ways:

• Rapid antigen test: must not be older than 48 hours at the time of entry into Germany
• PCR/PoC-NAT test: must not be older than 48 hours at the beginning of travel in China

An up-to-date overview of areas of variants of concern can be found on the website of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI).

• Information on the designation of international risk areas (rki.de)

Questions and answers on compulsory testing for travellers can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry of Health.

• Together against Corona | The Federal Ministry of Health (zusammengegencorona.de)

Jena does not have a main station where all connections cross. If you are travelling from the north or south (e.g. from Berlin or Leipzig), Jena Paradies is your destination station. If you are coming from the east or west (e.g. Frankfurt), Jena West is your destination station.

• Train timetables and ticket booking: Cheap Train Tickets | Timetables for Germany & Europe - Deutsche Bahn
• Public transport in Jena: Startseite - Jenaer Nahverkehr (nahverkehr-jena.de)

We recommend that you download the free DB Navigator app from Deutsche Bahn AG. With the app, you can easily book your ticket from the airport to Jena before your journey. You will need a credit card for in-app payments. If the app is connected to the internet, you will be automatically notified when it is time to change trains. Free Wi-Fi is usually available on long-distance trains operated by Deutsche Bahn.

• DB Navigator: Book train tickets for local & long-distance trains (bahn.com)

As an alternative to taking the train, Jena can also be reached very well by long-distance bus. There is a dense network of bus lines in Germany, so you can also travel by bus from the airport directly to Jena. The central bus station in Jena is located directly in the city centre opposite the Jena Paradies train station.

• Intercity bus search engine: Cheap bus ticket prices in Europe | busradar.com

Jena is located on the motorway (A4) and has two exits: Jena Zentrum and Jena Göschwitz. In addition, the B7 and B88 federal roads run through Jena. The city is therefore easy to reach by car. Parking spaces are available at the student halls of residence and can be booked as an option. The University of Applied Sciences Jena has a multi-storey car park where parking spaces can be booked on a semester basis.

The academic year at the EAH Jena consists of two semesters: winter and summer semester. The academic year begins at the start of the winter semester (1 October) every year. The semesters are divided into three phases: lecture period, examination period and semester break. Students should be present in Jena during the lecture and examination period, but it is not necessary to be present during the semester break.

Winter semester 2022/33

Attention: Dates are subject to change at any time due to current events. A more detailed overview of the semester dates can be found at: Semestertermine (eah-jena.de)

Enrolment takes place without your presence before or after the start of the semester. On your letter of admission, you will find a checklist of documents/proofs that you must submit before enrolment. Usually, at least the following documents/proofs are required:

• Proof of health insurance coverage
• Proof of transfer of the semester fee (e.g. bank statement, transfer slip)
• etc.

Health insurance is compulsory in Germany (§ 5 Para. 1 No. 9 SGB V). Students therefore need statutory health insurance for the duration of their studies. The basic amount is the same for all statutory health insurance funds. It amounts to about 120 euros per month. There are also additional contributions, which vary. There are branches of most of the statutory health insurance companies, such as AOK, BARMER, DAK, TK, etc. in Jena city centre. 

Exchange students from EEA (European Economic Area) countries can apply for a European Health Insurance Card in their home country at their health insurance company and do not have to take out German health insurance for the duration of the exchange semester.

Note: Insurance coverage always begins on the first day of the new semester, i.e. either on 1 April or 1 October. If you are not a citizen of the European Economic Area, please make sure that your travel insurance is valid until 30 September 2022.

• More information on health insurance in Germany: Health insurance - DAAD

The University of Applied Sciences Jena does not charge any tuition fees. Once per semester, every student has to pay a so-called semester fee, which amounts to EUR 258.53 for the winter semester 2022-23. The semester fee includes your student’s identity card as well as your semester ticket with which you can use many public transportation services in Jena and the region free of charges. 

The semester fee consists of the following items:

The Alpha One Hostel Jena is within walking distance of the city centre. There are 1-bed to 6-bed rooms.

Address: Lassallestr. 8, 07743 Jena

The following options are possible:

Booking: Hostel Jena & Jugendherberge Jena | Alpha One Hostel (hostel-jena.de)

The International Guest House Jena is located near the University of Applied Sciences Jena on a hill. We therefore recommend that you take a taxi if you are arriving with heavy luggage.

Address: Am Herrenberge 3, 07745 Jena

The following options are possible:

• Website Internationales Jugendgästehaus Jena: Internationales Gästehaus Jena Startseite (gaestehaus-jena.de)
• Booking: Orkabuchen