Here you will find answers! The University of Jena has already addressed some topics on its FAQs pageExternal link and regularly updates the content for you. Internationally mobile students can find relevant information hereExternal link.
You cannot find the answers you are looking for there? Then take a look at the University' s general website ‘Studies’. Feel free to browse through the other content on our page ‘Healthy studying despite Corona!’External link.
The City of JenaExternal link, the Federal GovernmentExternal link as well as the Robert Koch InstituteExternal link have also compiled a lot of information about the Corona pandemic and provide answers to various questions.
Be it in Corona times or not: if you find yourself brooding and thinking about your studies in general, you can take a closer look with the Student Self-Reflection ToolExternal link DE, for example. What makes it such a great tool? It only takes 15–20 minutes to complete and you can use the results directly for an appointment with the Central Student Advisory Service!
There are different kinds of problems you might experience during or with your studies, for example:
Here, you will find an overview of possible solutions to these problems; and here, you will find information on the topic of ‘Doubts during and about your studies’.
Many health insurances offer various offers regarding stress prevention and management or support in financing such courses. Check with your health insurance company. Here are some examples:
AOK or AOK PLUS? Then it's also worth taking a look hereExternal link! There you will find the title "AOK-liveonline: Coachings rund um Gesundheit, Ausbildung und Studium" (AOK-liveonline: Coaching on health, education and studies), you will find exciting webinars and lectures on many topics that are sure to interest you.
The AOK's online training Stress under controlExternal link, which is also free of charge for non-AOK members and is designed as a 4-week programme, aims not only to relax you in the short term, but also to better understand your stressors and stress in general - in order to learn sustainable strategies for dealing with stress.
BARMER: Barmer supports various courses on stress management through mindfulness. You can find more information hereExternal link. An online training course on stress reduction can be found hereExternal link.
Techniker Krankenkasse: The TK offersExternal link an online course on mental strategies and self-motivation in studies, at work and in sports and has compiled further input on the topic of stress reduction hereExternal link.
DAK Gesundheit: The DAK offersExternal link tests and tips on the topic of stress and long-term stress, various online coachings and supportsExternal link you in prevention courses.
Kaufmännische Krankenkasse: In addition to supporting prevention courses, the KKH offersExternal link an online stress and sleep coach programme.
You simply want to talk to someone about your problems and get an outside perspective on your situation? Get support from contact persons within and outside the University! The external points of contact provide support especially in the area of professional orientation. The student services organization Studierendenwerk Thüringen provides advice, for example on the topic of BAföG. The Handwerkskammer Erfurt DEExternal link (Erfurt Chamber of Handicrafts) can provide guidance on apprenticeships.
The University’s advisory services are offering support in these main topics:
(Source: https://www.uni-jena.de/studium/im+studium/zweifel+im+studium/interne+ansprechpartner de—as in March 2021)
Friends, family and close acquaintances are not always available to listen—and sometimes it just helps to talk to someone you don’t know.
‘CampusCouch de—an open ear by and for students’ is a service offered by psychology students to all students of the University. If you are interested, you are welcome to contact the CampusCouch team by email (campuscouch@gmail.com ) or via FacebookExternal link.
Are you not sure how serious it is? Master students of the University of Jena have created a checklist [PDF, 373 KB; in German]pdf, 373 kb · de where you can check whether your symptoms could be caused by a depression, generalized anxiety disorder or substance dependence. The checklist also contains a list of counselling and support services in Jena.
Psychosocial CounsellingExternal link at the Studierendenwerk Thüringen is also there for you in times of COVID-19! There, the student services organization also indicates which persons can benefit from their counselling services, namely all those who:
(Source: https://www.stw-thueringen.de/en/counselling/psycho-social-counselling/advisory-services/External link as in March 2021)
The association Irrsinnig Menschlich e.V. (also known as Madly Human) has compiled helpful information DEExternal link on the topic of ‘Mental Well-being on Campus’ for you in a PDF document. It is also available in English languageExternal link; the content might however differ. The booklet contains information on the following topics:
In our SGM programmeExternal link, you can see when the next online forum on ‘Mental Well-being on Campus’ by Irrsinnig Menschlich e.V. is going to take place.
Telefonseelsorge is a free helpline offering telephone counselling 24/7.
If you are looking for some YouTube input, we can recommend the psychologeek DEExternal link channel. The School of LifeExternal link addresses a wide range of life topics in its entertaining videos.
This free online self-help programme cannot replace medical or psychotherapeutic treatment, but it can be a valuable additional tool when suffering from symptoms of depression. Moodgym DEExternal link is an online self-help programme that coaches you in five topics:
HereExternal link DE, AOK PLUS has compiled the most important facts about this online training course—which, by the way, has been scientifically proven to be effective.
The University’s Mental Health First Aid Team (MHFA) offers direct and confidential first aid in situations of mental distress or mental crises. The MHFA first aiders have completed a certified training at the Central Institute for Mental Health (CIMH) in Mannheim and speak several foreign languages so they can support you in the best possible way and, if necessary, help you find further help.
If you feel that you would benefit from psychotherapeutic counselling or psychotherapy, the University’s Outpatient Clinic for Psychotherapy DE de is the right place for you! The main areas of treatment there are:
(Source: https://www.wpp.uni-jena.de/Patienten.html DE de, as in April 2020)
If you want to search for a psychological psychotherapist, you can do so according to your own search criteria at the website of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians DEExternal link.
In acute emergencies, it is important to call for help as soon as possible. There are times when a lot of things, particularly stressful things or something sudden happen at once, or people may even start to think about ending their lives.
An der Saale
Image: Anne Günther (University of Jena)
Campus
Image: Anne Günther (University of Jena)Sometimes you need more detailed information and insights and are looking for the right counselling services, websites and people.
Did you know, for example, that the University of Jena has its own YouTube channelExternal link ? It's worth a look - there are virtual tours of the main university building, the campus and a few other corners of Jena. The app Career Uni JenaExternal link can also offer help and orientation.
The university of Jena has a variety of counselling services at its disposal. So be sure to take a look here de in your search for orientation and answers and click through the contact points you can find there.
You will find a compilation of all relevant information on studying at the University of Jena for each semester in the Blue ThreadExternal link. From the Friedolin portal to the Thoska to basic knowledge about Jena, everything can be found here in a compact form - (not only) interesting for first semester students!
Under the motto "Arrive - Get along - Move on", the University of Jena offers you a number of support services for the first year of study (extended introductory study phase, eSTEP de), such as tutor-led workshops on various phases of study.
Offers for international students for networking, exchange and arriving in Jena, such as the Intercultural Café, can be found here de.
The Central Student Advisory ServiceExternal link DE and the student services organization Studierendenwerk Thüringen External linkoffer courses on topics relevant to studying, e.g. a group for students about to graduate (‘Studienabschlussgruppe’) or courses on reading efficiency.
Are you approaching the end of your studies and the application phase is coming up? Then the student association p:act (‘Projekt Assessment Center Training Jena e.V.’) might be of interest to you, which wants to make it easier for students to start their careers. In cooperation with the Jena higher education institutions, the project offers students courses on the topic of job applications and assessment centre training. Here you can experience an assessment centre application process and test your own strengths and weaknesses, which can then be specifically addressed through detailed feedback. You can find more information, dates for getting to know the project and for registering for training on the p:actExternal link DE website.
You can find an overview of the university groups at the University of Jena here de.
At the JUniFamilie family office de at the University of Jena, you can find support on all aspects of balancing your studies or career and family. There is also information here on the subject of home office, homeschooling and childcare, as well as tips on learning, handicrafts, cooking, worksheets and experiments for home or media usage contracts suitable for children.
Where families and parents can get financial support (during the Corona pandemic) has been compiled by the family portalExternal link.
The University’s Diversity Office is committed to equal opportunities and anti-discrimination and is also the contact for questions about studying with a chronic illness or disability. In addition, you will find a targeted contact point for information and individual counselling here.
Achtsamkeitsstein
Image: Julia StorchDo you have to keep track of numerous teaching formats on different platforms, different accounts, media, Moodle, Friedolin, virtual meeting, all kinds of tasks, deadlines, group work, exams and much more? That can sometimes throw you off balance and you might feel exhausted and stressed.
Don’t stress about stress! Below you will find advice, tips and inspiration for a maintaining a good balance—so you can bring your stress levels down from harmful to helpful.
In addition to physical activity, ‘calming down’ with the help of mindfulness exercises, meditation and other relaxation techniques is also an important part of recovery. The University of Jena already has a lot to offer in this regard:
If it is not possible to make social contacts on site due to Corona or other reasons, you can also study in virtual teams: The "Digital University" de staff office has compiled information and offers for you here.
You can also find digital offers from JenaKultur hereExternal link.
The University also has a lot in store in the area of media and entertainment: The latest news about the University, socio- and pop-cultural topics and much more are published in Jena’s leading university magazine Akrützel DEExternal link—online or in print (available in all canteens, in the foyer of Carl-Zeiss-Straße 3 and in the ThULB). Or listen in on the University’s Campusradio DEExternal link. It offers a livestream and many interesting reports (e.g. series and music tips, news about the StuRa) to listen to. You can find even more media by students DEExternal link of the University of Jena on the website of the StuRa.
Would you rather take an active part in cultural life than just consume it? Most of these media are very open to student participation—just ask!
The cities of Jena, Weimar and Erfurt publish the intercultural student magazine Unique DEExternal link. You can also read it online.
If you feel healthy and would like to support those in need, you can contact the Bürgerstiftung JenaExternal link, for example.
Cooking together can be a great change of pace in everyday university life: We have compiled inspiration and information for you on our page Conscious eating during studiesExternal link.
We have put together various ideas for activities for you on the page Keep moving!External link A nice side effect: stress hormones are still best reduced through activity.
Please note: Reference to offers mentioned as examples on this page does not imply endorsement by Friedrich Schiller University of Jena or bias against those not mentioned.