Jena

The hometown of German Romanticism and a center of modern industry

Jena, situated in the state of Thuringia in central Germany, is a major university town known for being the home of German Romanticism and the birthplace of German liberalism. The city was founded in the late 12th century and was part of the Soviet sector of Germany during the Cold War. Its economy is based on research and high-tech industry, in particular pharmaceuticals, optics, precision machinery and software engineering.

More about Jena

With a relatively undisturbed city center located inside the old city walls, Jena is a city that mixes the old and the modern. Although there is a relatively small student population, the university plays an active role in the community, working with major research institutions across the city.

Studying and Working in Jena

The Friedrich-Schiller University of Jena is among the ten oldest universities in Germany and is hugely prestigious, particularly for the study of philosophy. It has around 19,000 students. It is also well known for its scientific study, and is the only university in Germany with a chair for gravitational theory.

For a more practically-oriented study, Jena is also home to the Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule, where academic courses are mixed with periods of practical experience in the workplace. Like the industry of the city, the Hochschule’s research focuses on precision technology.

Jena is one of Germany’s fastest growing regions with a low unemployment rate and a diverse economy, incorporating both older companies like Carl Zeiss AG, Jenoptik and Jenapharm, and newer analytical technology firms like Analytik Jena.