Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
A large Bavarian university in Erlangen and Nuremberg, best known for engineering, medical technology and research.
- Students
- 39,857
- 13,039 undergraduates
- International
- 25%
- of students
- Tuition
- €2,000
- From · 2027-28
- Founded
- 1743
About FAU
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg was founded by Margrave Friedrich of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, moved to Erlangen in 1743, and is named after him and its later patron Margrave Alexander. It is one of Germany's largest universities, with 39,857 students in winter semester 2024/25 (more than 10,000 of them international), 634 professors and 278 degree programmes taught in Erlangen and Nuremberg.
FAU is organised into five faculties: Humanities, Social Sciences, and Theology; Business, Economics, and Law; Medicine; Sciences; and Engineering, which is its largest faculty by enrolment. Its research profile centres on medical engineering, solar energy, light and quantum technologies, and immunomedicine, and it holds the Cluster of Excellence 'Transforming Human Rights'. The MP3 audio format was developed by FAU graduate Karlheinz Brandenburg and colleagues at the Fraunhofer institute in Erlangen, and FAU describes itself as the most innovative university in Germany.
There is no tuition for German and EU students, only an 82 euro semester contribution. From summer semester 2027, new students from outside the EU pay tuition of 1,000 to 3,000 euros per semester for most bachelor's degrees, plus a 100 euro application fee. Most bachelor's teaching is in German, with a few English-taught exceptions such as International Business Studies and International Economic Studies.
Wissen bewegen
“Moving knowledge” — university motto
Why students choose FAU
A large engineering faculty, with bachelor's degrees ranging from Mechatronics and Medical Engineering to Nanotechnology, Artificial Intelligence and Clean Energy Processes.
English-taught bachelor's options, including International Business Studies and International Economic Studies.
Low costs for EU students: the semester contribution is 82 euros, and even new non-EU students pay 1,000 euros per semester for many bachelor's programmes.
Strong industry and research links, reflected in first place in the THE Impact Ranking for SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and 294 million euros of third-party funding in 2025.
Admissions
Winter semester 2027/28 entry (2027 dates not yet published; windows below follow winter 2026/27)
Selectivity
FAU publishes no overall acceptance rate. Many bachelor's programmes have no admission restrictions; others are restricted (NC), and some, including International Business Studies, International Economic Studies, Molecular Medicine, Psychology and Food Chemistry, are allocated through the national dialogue-oriented service procedure (DoSV) for German and EU applicants. Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy are allocated centrally by the Stiftung für Hochschulzulassung for EU applicants.
Typical entry requirements
| German Abitur | Direct access; restricted programmes rank by grade, some via hochschulstart's DoSV |
|---|---|
| International school-leaving certificate | Must be equivalent to a German university entrance qualification; otherwise a Studienkolleg and the Feststellungsprüfung are needed first. A home-country university entrance exam certificate may be required |
| China, India or Vietnam | APS certificate (original) required for applicants with previous study in these countries |
| English language | German is the teaching language for most bachelor's programmes. Accepted proof: DSH level 2, TestDaF with level 4 in all four parts, Goethe C2, or the German part of the Studienkolleg assessment examination. Food Chemistry, Medicine, Pharmacy and Dentistry applicants must submit DSH-2 or equivalent with the application. English-taught bachelor's programmes such as International Business Studies and International Economic Studies set their own English requirements. |
Deadlines
- Bachelor's / State Examination with admission restrictions (winter semester) Non-binding Next deadline · In ~9 months15 July 2027
For winter 2026/27 the window was 4 May to 15 July; the same window applied to Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy.
- Bachelor's / State Examination without admission restrictions (winter semester) Non-binding In ~9 months15 July 2027
For winter 2026/27 the window was 15 April to 15 July. Exception: Artificial Intelligence (BSc) closed on 31 May for international applicants.
- German course / Studienkolleg (winter semester) Non-binding In ~9 months15 July 2027
For winter 2026/27 the window was 15 February to 15 July.
FAU has only published dated windows up to winter semester 2026/27 (15 July 2026 for all bachelor's routes, 31 May 2026 for Artificial Intelligence for international applicants). FAU's own pages describe 15 July as the deadline applicable at Bavarian universities for restricted programmes, so the 2027 dates above apply that standing pattern to winter 2027/28; check FAU's application page for the confirmed 2027 windows. Most bachelor's programmes start only in the winter semester.
How to apply
Apply directly to FAU through the campo portal (maximum three applications); uni-assist is not used. For open-admission programmes, upload documents to the portal; for restricted programmes, also post the signed application form and certified documents to the Admissions Office in Erlangen. Non-EU applicants pay a 100 euro processing fee per application via ePayBayern, and applications are only checked once it is paid.
What admissions looks for
- A school-leaving certificate equivalent to the German Abitur, or a passed Studienkolleg assessment examination.
- Proof of German at DSH-2 or TestDaF 4x4 level for German-taught programmes.
- For restricted programmes, the converted average grade.
- A complete application: FAU rejects applications with missing or wrongly formatted documents.
Tips for applying to FAU
- 1 Non-EU applicants can file at most three applications per round at 100 euros each, so choose programmes carefully.
- 2 Use FAU's fee finder before applying: tuition for new non-EU students depends on the programme, from 1,000 euros per semester for Mathematics or Biology to 3,000 euros for Mechanical Engineering.
- 3 Posting documents takes time: for restricted programmes the signed form and certified copies must reach the Admissions Office in Erlangen by the deadline.
- 4 If you are an EU applicant for International Business Studies, Molecular Medicine or Psychology, register with hochschulstart's DoSV as well as in campo.
- 5 Start looking for accommodation early: FAU cannot assign rooms and points students to Studierendenwerk Erlangen-Nürnberg.
Costs & financial aid
2027-28 · figures in EUR
German and EU students pay no tuition and can apply for BAföG. Non-EU students who pay tuition get a guaranteed free German course and a welcome package; FAU says information on scholarships and waivers for them will be published soon. Students with a severe disability can apply for exemption, and FAU bachelor's graduates are exempt from tuition for a consecutive master's degree.
- 82 euros per semester
- Semester contribution (Student Services)
- 100 euros per application, maximum three applications per round
- Application fee for non-EU applicants
- 2,000 to 6,000 euros per semester depending on programme
- Non-EU tuition, master's degrees
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters (winter and summer)
Medical Engineering (BSc)
Built around FAU's Medical Engineering profile centre in Erlangen; non-EU tuition 2,000 euros per semester.
Mechatronics (BSc)
Part of FAU's large Faculty of Engineering, the biggest faculty with 10,747 students.
International Business Studies (BSc)
Taught in English; allocated through the DoSV for EU applicants; non-EU tuition 1,000 euros per semester.
Artificial Intelligence (BSc)
One of FAU's newer degrees, with an earlier 31 May deadline for international applicants.
Molecular Medicine (BSc)
A restricted, DoSV-allocated bachelor's degree in FAU's Faculty of Medicine; non-EU tuition 3,000 euros per semester.
Mathematics (BSc)
The university where Emmy Noether studied and earned her doctorate; non-EU tuition 1,000 euros per semester.
Research
- FAU Profile Centers in Medical Engineering, Solar, Light.Matter.Quantum Technologies and Immunomedicine, and the Cluster of Excellence 'Transforming Human Rights'.
- 294.39 million euros of third-party funding in 2025, including 99.43 million euros from the DFG.
- Harald zur Hausen laid the groundwork for his 2008 Nobel Prize-winning discovery of cancer-causing papillomaviruses while directing FAU's Institute for Clinical Virology.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Theology
- Faculty of Business, Economics, and Law
- Faculty of Medicine
- Faculty of Sciences
- Faculty of Engineering
Student life
FAU's faculties are spread over two cities: Erlangen, a compact university town whose historic centre surrounds the margraves' palace and palace garden, and the much larger city of Nuremberg. There are no campus colleges; students rent privately or in Studierendenwerk Erlangen-Nürnberg halls, and the university warns that rooms are hard to find at the start of semester. FAU says the region's good public transport makes it realistic to live in Erlangen, Fürth or Nuremberg and commute.
- The university's founder, Margrave Friedrich, stands in bronze in front of the palace in Erlangen's city centre.
- Faculties in both Erlangen and Nuremberg, with students also living in neighbouring Fürth.
- More than 10,000 international students.
- Housing help through Studierendenwerk Erlangen-Nürnberg, including a room referral service and 'Wohnen für Hilfe' (rooms in exchange for help).
Housing. FAU does not assign rooms; students apply to Studierendenwerk Erlangen-Nürnberg halls or the private market, and average rent in the area is about 410 euros a month.
Location
Erlangen is a Middle Franconian city in northern Bavaria that grew around the margraves' palace built from 1700; the university moved here in 1743. Nuremberg, the region's big city, is its neighbour. FAU cites average rent of about 410 euros a month in Erlangen, Nuremberg and the surrounding area, and recommends searching early and looking in nearby towns too.
Nearest airport: Nuremberg Airport (NUE)
Notable alumni
- EN Emmy NoetherMathematician who shaped abstract algebra and Noether's theorem; studied and earned her doctorate at Erlangen
- GS Georg Simon OhmPhysicist behind Ohm's law; doctorate from Erlangen in 1811
- LF Ludwig FeuerbachPhilosopher; studied and lectured at Erlangen
- KB Karlheinz BrandenburgCo-developer of the MP3 audio format; electrical engineering degree and PhD from FAU
- MS Markus SöderMinister-President of Bavaria; studied law at FAU
- GB Günther BecksteinFormer Minister-President of Bavaria; studied law at Erlangen and Munich
Frequently asked questions
Does FAU charge tuition fees for international students?
From summer semester 2027, non-EU students who enrol for the first time pay tuition. For bachelor's degrees it is 1,000 to 3,000 euros per semester depending on the programme; EU students and holders of a German entrance qualification pay none.
Is there an application fee at FAU?
Yes, for applicants from non-EU states: 100 euros per application since winter semester 2026/27, with a maximum of three applications per round. It is not refunded.
Can I study a bachelor's degree in English at FAU?
A few bachelor's programmes are taught in English, including International Business Studies and International Economic Studies. Most bachelor's degrees require German at DSH-2 or TestDaF level.
What is the application deadline at FAU?
For winter semester 2026/27 the deadline for bachelor's and state examination programmes was 15 July (31 May for Artificial Intelligence for international applicants). Dates for winter 2027/28 have not been published yet.
Do I apply to FAU through uni-assist?
No. You apply directly in FAU's campo portal. For programmes with admission restrictions you also send the signed application form and certified documents by post.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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