Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The answer strongly depends on your previous education. You should have a Bachelor's (B.Sc.) degree in Physics or Engineering Sciences. In the latter case, eligibility will strongly depend on your background in physics and mathematics. If you have a Bachelor's degree in Computer Sciences, Computer Engineering or Telecommunication Engineering you might also be an eligible candidate for the Master's degree programs.

Students commencing their studies at our School should ideally have at least basic knowledge in

• Mathematics (complex numbers and functions, function theory, linear and vector algebra, ordinary and partial differential equations, vector analysis, integral theory) 
• Physics for the M.Sc. Photonics: Electromagnetic field theory/Maxwell's equations, solid state physics
• Physics for the M.Sc. Quantum Science & Technology: Quantum mechanics, Solid state physics, Atomic and molecular physics)

Hint: You can emphasize your experience in physics, mathematics and/or photonics in your CV as well as in your Letter of Motivation.

We do not set any requirements for our applicants' GPAs (Grade point average), since these numbers differ enormously depending on the university and the country. Our online application portal will ask you for several certificates and your Transcript of Records. We will base our decision mainly on these documents. For this reason, we ask you to provide us with your GPA as stated on your certificates and diploma. See also here.

A Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or any other similar test is not required, but can, of course, be added to your application as an additional supporting document.

• January 15 (1^st priority deadline for all applicants)
• March 1 (2^nd priority deadline for all applicants)
• April 15 (3^rd priority deadline for all applicants)
• June 15 (rolling admission deadline for EU applicants)
• August 31 (rolling admission deadline for German applicants and applicants with a valid German residence permit)

No, German is not a requirement for acceptance and admission. We especially do NOT require any DSH (German language proficiency test for entrance to a German higher education institution), TestDAF, attendance to a Studienkolleg (German study preparatory course) or Feststellungsprüfung (German certification for the ability to study in a German university).

However, we strongly recommend engaging with the German language in order to integrate into the culture and to manage daily life. For this reason, the Abbe School of Photonics offers a presessional German language course to all of its international students in September of each year in addition to German language courses during the study period. These courses are highly advisable since students benefit a lot from this course.

Yes, you may apply even if you have not yet completed your current academic degree. Please submit your transcript of records including all completed courses (or any other overview of attended classes and achieved grades officially issued by your educational institution) thus far with your application.

We regard strong English language skills as a crucial prerequisite for our Master's degree programs. All lectures, courses and modules are taught completely in English therefore applicants should be proficient in both written and spoken English. Proof of your English skills is a requirement for admission. 

A. English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores

During the application process you will be asked for a valid English proficiency test. While we understand that the results of these language proficiency tests do not perfectly reflect your real capabilities, we believe that the following test scores (minimum points/grades) indicate an appropriate level at which you will be well prepared for the courses of our Master's degree programs:

• TOEFL PBT (550)
• TOEFL CBT (215)
• TOEFL IBT (85)
• TOEIC (780)
  
• IELTS (6.5)
• Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE) or Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE)

The following students are exempt from providing proof of their English proficiency:

• Nationals from the USA, U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand or Canada, as well as B.Sc. or M.Sc. graduates who obtained their qualification in one of these countries, are considered as native in English and do not need to provide proof of their English proficiency.
• If relevant parts of your previous higher academic education were completely taught in English, you may substitute a test certificate by uploading a respective statement from your University as proof of your English proficiency.
• If you received a German Abitur and, therefore, have attended English classes in a German Gymnasium for at least 8 years, your Abitur is considered as a sufficient proof of your English language skills.

If none of these scenarios applies, you are required to provide us with an English language test certification. However, even if one of the above scenarios fits your situation, we strongly encourage you to provide an English language test or certificate as well, since it will clearly enhance the chances of your application's acceptance.

In case you cannot submit the test results right away, you will be asked to indicate a date on which you will take the test. You will have to provide the final test result before the final application deadline.

Please be aware that in some countries, such as Bangladesh for instance, German embassies require a valid TOEFL or IELTS test score for processing visa applications, even if you have been accepted at a university without such proof. In this case you should make sure that a missing English test result will not conflict with your visa application.

B. Terms "Native Language/Bilingual", "Medium of Instruction" or "English as a Foreign Language"

Since the terms "Native language/Bilingual", "Medium of Instruction" and "English as a foreign language" are the basis for your application, we would like to clarify these definitions. Please take your own situation and background into careful consideration before choosing the option which applies to you.

• Native Language/Bilingual: If English is your first language (mother tongue), you are a native speaker. If English is one of two or more of your first languages, you are bilingual.
• Medium of Instruction: If your previous academic education (e.g., at university) has been conducted entirely in the English language, we consider English to be the "Medium of Instruction" within the scope of your academic career. In this case, please provide us with proof of this, for example an official letter from the Registrar's Office of your university or with a note to this effect on your Transcript of Records. Please note: Statements of attendance to language courses offered by your university or claiming that your pre-academic education (e.g., in school) was offered in English are not sufficient proof for the option "Medium of Instruction".
• English as Foreign Language: In all cases not covered above, English is regarded as a foreign language. This includes: if you grew up in an environment in which English is an official language, but not commonly spoken; if you have learned English in your primary or secondary education; or if English was only part of your academic education.

The application process at the Abbe School of Photonics is managed through our Online Application System Friedolin 2.0External link. Please register, follow the instructions and submit your application before the deadline.

It is important that you provide an email address that you check regularly when registering on the portal. You must also activate email notifications!

If the application is incomplete and further documents are needed, you will receive an email with information regarding the missing documents and you will be asked to kindly complete your application. 

Please check the link for detailed information on how the procedure works: How do I submit missing documents? - Knowledgebase Service Desk CampusmanagementExternal link

Once all documents have been uploaded and your application is complete, our Selection Commission will carefully review your application. Please note, that due to high numbers of applications the final decision may take about six to ten weeks behind the deadline, respectively. 

We understand that the application procedure asks for a lot of data and documents, and we thank you very much for your efforts. This information is generally required for the application/enrollment to German universities. Please find an up-to-date and detailed list of all required documents here.

Please note: An incomplete application file cannot not be processed. Similarly, providing us with incorrect data may also lead to a retrospective refusal.

Yes. The "School Leaving Certificate" provides you with the necessary qualification for admission to a university or other higher academic institutions (e.g., Abitur, secondary school leaving licence, baccalaureate, A-levels, high school graduation certificate, senior school certificate, more explanations see linkExternal linkExternal link.).

In academia, we commonly call the university entrance qualification the "Higher Education Entrance Qualification" (HEEQ).

During the application procedure, you will be asked to indicate the highest grade, the lowest grade, and the passing grade used at your institution. Please also submit a grading scale together with your transcript of records.

Academic grading systems differ strongly around the globe. Even on a regional level, grades and performance systems may vary significantly. In general, we are very experienced in reading foreign documents and can classify the grades according to your national school system.

Application procedures at European/German universities require the complete educational background of applicants. Your full educational record is needed for admission and enrollment in the Abbe School of Photonics. For this reason, we ask you to provide every academic level and degree you have obtained.

During the application, you will be able to enter up to five different stages of your previous academic education. For example, you can describe your education at five different institutions or five different study tracks. Respectively, you can upload up to five different Transcripts of Records (ToRs) and/or Certificates/Diplomas. 

You can indicate up to five different study tracks and upload the respective documents. If you have changed your field or course of studies, please provide documentation of your previous field(s) or studies and, if applicable, a transcript of records for the courses you attended within the cancelled or changed program. A short description of the reasons for changing your studies will be needed as well.

Chinese, Indian, and Vietnamese  applicants need to provide a certificate from the Academic Evaluation Center (APS) of the German Embassy. The APS will verify the academic documents awarded to you in your home country and may also interview you for validation of your qualifications. The APS provides the fastest way to issue your German visa. Nevertheless, please apply as soon as possible.

You will find more information here:

• Chinese applicants: Information about APS documents in Chinese language (German)External linkExternal link
• Vietnamese applicants: Information about APS documents in Vietnamese language (German)External linkExternal link
• Indian applicants: https://aps-india.de/External linkExternal link 

If your academic degree was not awarded in one of these countries, you do not have to provide this certificate.

Due to a large number of applications, we ask for your patience and understanding during your wait for admission. While the Selection Committee do their best to review all applications as fast as possible, this process can take six to ten weeks behind the deadline, respectively, depending on the number of applicants.

You will receive an answer as soon as the evaluation of your application is completed. Once more, we ask for your understanding and cooperation, as queries about the status of your application cannot be answered before then. Please refrain from sending inquiries about the status of your application.

Every time there is a change in the status of your online application, you will automatically be informed by email through our Online Application System Friedolin 2.0.

Therefore, it is very important to activate the automatic email function in the portal and regularly check your Inbox for updates. Once you get accepted into the program, you will be contacted by our Abbe Center of Photonics team as well.

If you have specific questions regarding your online application, please consult the detailed list of frequently asked questions of the Knowledgebase Service Desk CampusmanagementExternal link. In case further questions arise, please contact us: master-asp@uni-jena.de

Yes. We offer a range of highly attractive financial scholarships to help cover our students' living expenses. As an applicant to our Master's programs, you can apply for the following scholarships:

Scholarships from the Abbe School of Photonics

There is a limited number of Abbe School of Photonics scholarships for international students of our Master's Degree programs. These scholarships are based on criteria of academic excellence and are granted regularly for 12 months. The amount of the scholarship is currently up to 992 Euro per month.

German students are not eligible for this scholarship scheme. Scholarships can only be awarded to students who are studying on-campus, not online.

The scholarship will be transferred to your German bank account after your arrival in Jena. Unfortunately, it is not possible to receive any financial support before your arrival.

Furthermore, you can apply for the following scholarships:

• Scholarships from German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
• Scholarships from the Max Planck School of Photonics 
• OPTICA Women Scholarships 
• OPTICA Amplify Scholarships 
• Germany Scholarships (Deutschlandstipendien) for all citizenships
• CSC Master Scholarships for Chinese citizens

For more information regarding the available scholarships and further scholarship options, please consult our list of available scholarships. 

During the application process, you will be asked if you would like to apply for the scholarship. Please be aware you can only apply for the scholarship if you choose the option to study on-campus. 

To do so, you must provide the following mandatory documents in addition to your regular application:

• Two Academic Letters of Recommendation from previous or current professors

When you apply for a scholarship, you will be asked automatically for these Letters during the application process.

Please contact your professors and ask them this favour, which is quite common in international academia. We also have a template that your professors may use here pdf, 274 kb. The template is, however, not mandatory. Please make sure that the final letters contain your professors' signature, a date, and the official headline or stamp of their university.

Alternatively, and if you are unable to upload these documents yourself, you have the possibility to provide us with your professors’ contact information during the application. After your application is submitted, your professors will be contacted by us and asked to submit the letter via email to us.

However, you will be informed of the arrival of the letters via the online application portal. Thus we suggest you make sure to check it regularly and to remind your referees in case they are late in submitting them. We expect the letters to be submitted no later than two weeks after the respective deadline.

• Student Job

An additional funding option is getting a student job. However, if you are considering applying for a student job, please take into consideration that as an interantional student in Germany you will be limited in your opportunities to work. 

International students usually do not have a work permit and are therefore only allowed to work for a limited time with a student visa. As a non-EU country citizen, you will be allowed to work 120 full days per year or 240 half-days. Furthermore, knowledge of the German language is important for working in Germany. In any case, it is not reccommeded to be dependent on a job from the very start of your studies just to cover your basic needs. 

• Other scholarships

In case your funds are limited, we suggest that you apply for another scholarship (e.g. DAAD, scholarships from your home country, etc.) or find other sources of funding.

Check out this website for more information about financing your studies: Financing your studies