About Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), founded in 1743, is one of the largest universities in Germany with approximately 40,000 enrolled students across five faculties. It is structured across three cities — Erlangen, Nuremberg, and Fürth — and offers more than 278 degree programmes spanning humanities, business, law, medicine, sciences, and engineering. FAU generated €300.35 million in third-party research funding in 2024 and is recognised as the most innovative university in Germany and second in Europe by the Reuters Top 100 Innovation Ranking.
The university enrolled 10,143 international students in Winter Semester 2024/25, representing approximately 25% of the total student body. FAU has partnerships with over 500 international institutions and offers a dedicated application and support infrastructure for students arriving from outside the EU, including specialist international study advice, welcome events, and a buddy programme.
Key facts
- Founded
- 1743
- Students
- 39,857
- International
- ~25% (10,143 international students, WS 2024/25)
- Faculties
- 5
Founded in 1743 — one of Germany's oldest and largest universities with ~40,000 students
Ranked #1 most innovative university in Germany and #2 in Europe (Reuters Top 100 Innovation Ranking)
10,143 international students in WS 2024/25, approximately 25% of total enrolment
278 degree programmes across 5 faculties including 84 bachelor's and 102 master's programmes
€300.35 million in third-party research funding in 2024, including €109M from DFG
Five English-taught bachelor's and numerous English-taught international master's programmes available
Admissions & costs
Tuition & fees
FAU charges no tuition fees for standard bachelor's and consecutive master's degree programmes. All enrolled students pay a semester contribution of €82 per semester. Professional development programmes and part-time programmes for working professionals may carry separate fees. Note: Bavaria introduced a non-EU tuition fee of €3,000 per year (€1,500/semester) from WS 2025/26 for non-EU/non-EEA students at Bavarian public universities — verify current applicability at fau.eu before citing, as implementation details may vary by programme. {{ verify: 2025-10 }}
Admission requirements
International applicants must hold a secondary or higher education qualification recognised for German university entrance. FAU uses the KMK anabin database and the DAAD database to assess foreign qualifications. Applicants whose school-leaving certificate does not qualify directly for university admission must attend the one-year preparatory Studienkolleg München (the state Studienkolleg for Bavaria); a B2 German certificate is required for Studienkolleg admission. Applicants with at least one to two years of completed university study in their home country may be exempt from the Studienkolleg requirement. Indian applicants require an APS certificate (Akademische Prüfstelle, New Delhi) before applying; the same applies to applicants from China (PR) and Vietnam, in line with German federal requirements. Non-EU applicants pay a processing fee of €100 per application. Language requirements: German-taught programmes require TestDaF TDN 4, DSH-2, Goethe C2, telc C1 Hochschule, or equivalent. Students admitted with B2 German may sit the DSH immediately before the semester starts. English-taught programmes require documented English proficiency at the level specified by the individual programme.
Application deadlines
Undergraduate (bachelor's) international applicants: 15 July for Winter Semester (October start); 15 January for Summer Semester (April start). These deadlines also apply for Studienkolleg München applications submitted via campo.fau.de. Master's programme deadlines vary by programme; consult the programme-specific information sheet on campo.fau.de. Specific per-programme deadlines are published on FAU's application deadlines pages for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes respectively.
Languages of instruction
The primary language of instruction is German. Most bachelor's and state examination programmes require C1/C2 German (TestDaF TDN 4 in each section, DSH-2, or Goethe C2). Five English-taught bachelor's programmes exist: Autonomy Technologies, Clean Energy Processes, International Business Studies, Artificial Intelligence, and International Economic Studies. A substantial number of English-taught international master's programmes are available, particularly in STEM fields, for which little or no German is required.
Campuses & locations
Main campus; hosts the majority of faculties including Humanities, Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. FAU's administrative headquarters are located here.
Secondary campus hosting Business, Economics and Law as well as parts of Engineering. Approximately 15 minutes from Erlangen by public transport.
Specialised site including the Technikum for engineering and technical education programmes.
Satellite medical campus in Upper Franconia serving as an institute of research and teaching.
Astronomical research facility affiliated with FAU.
Living in Bayern
Erlangen is a compact Baroque city in the Metropolitan Region Nuremberg-Fürth-Erlangen in Bavaria, often described as one of the best-preserved examples of Baroque urban planning in Germany. With nearly 40,000 FAU students shaping daily life, it has a distinctly academic character with lecture halls, libraries, and cafeterias integrated throughout the city. The city is home to major employers including Siemens and adidas headquarters, and hosts cultural events such as the International Comic Salon and the Erlangen Bergkirchweih beer festival. Nuremberg, the region's larger metropolitan centre, is approximately 15 minutes away by S-Bahn and provides a full urban environment with museums, international airport, and broader employment opportunities.
Student life & support
FAU's International Office (Referat Internationales) provides dedicated in-person advice on Thursdays (9:00–12:00) and online consultations via Zoom on Mondays and Wednesdays (9:00–12:00) at Freyeslebenstraße 1, 91058 Erlangen. A buddy programme pairs incoming international students with current FAU students for orientation support. Welcome events are held each semester for newly arrived international students. German language courses and exam preparation for TestDaF and DSH are available through the university. Student accommodation is managed through the Studentenwerk Erlangen-Nürnberg; average monthly living costs are approximately €970, with rent (including utilities) averaging €410/month per the 2021 Studentenwerk national survey — private market rents typically exceed this figure. The university sports centre (Hochschulsport) offers extensive recreational programmes.
122
Accredited Programmes
33
Bachelor/Bakkalaureus
87
Master
2
Other
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