Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

Founded in 1743, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) is one of the largest public research universities in Bavaria, with over 40,000 students and more than 275 degree programmes across two city campuses in Erlangen and Nuremberg. FAU maintains around 500 partnerships with universities in over 60 countries and is strong in engineering, natural sciences, medicine, business and the humanities.

For international students, FAU offers a large portfolio of English-taught master's programmes — including Communications and Multimedia Engineering, Information and Communication Technology, Autonomy Technologies, Clean Energy Processes, Advanced Optical Technologies, Medical Engineering, Chemistry, Computational and Applied Mathematics, Economics and Human Rights. Applications for master's programmes are submitted online through the campo application portal, and English requirements are set per programme (mostly B2 to C1).

FAU charges no tuition to EU students. From the summer semester 2027, non-EU students who enrol for the first time or change subjects pay programme-dependent tuition fees; all students pay a semester contribution, currently 82 euros per semester. FAU estimates monthly living costs of 900 to 1,200 euros in Erlangen and Nuremberg.

Why FAU suits South Asian students

• Many English-taught engineering and science master's with no German requirement, and medium-of-instruction certificates accepted by several programmes.
• Applicants from India, China and Vietnam must submit an APS certificate with the application — FAU publishes clear guidance on this.
• FAU's Central Office for International Affairs (RIA) runs orientation, intercultural and buddy programmes for international students.
• The Deutschlandstipendium (300 euros per month) and a 1,000-euro DAAD/Bavaria graduation scholarship are open to international students.

Full tuition detail (verified): From summer semester 2027, non-EU students who enrol at FAU for the first time or change subjects pay tuition fees: bachelor's programmes €1,000, €2,000 or €3,000 per semester; master's programmes €2,000, €4,000 or €6,000 per semester (examples from the official fee table: Medical Engineering M.Sc. €4,000; Computational and Applied Mathematics M.Sc. €2,000; M.A. Human Rights €2,000 full-time / €1,000 part-time). Fees are halved for part-time study. Exempt: students already enrolled before summer 2027, State Examination programmes, doctoral candidates, exchange students, professional-development programmes, and holders of a German bachelor's degree entering a consecutive master's. All students additionally pay the semester contribution (Student Services contribution), currently €82 per semester. FAU estimates living costs of €900–1,200 per month in Erlangen/Nuremberg. Use FAU's official fee finder to check your programme.

International applicants apply online through FAU's campo application portal. Master's applications are processed by the Master's Office (separate teams for international and German applicants); each programme publishes its own deadlines — winter-semester deadlines commonly fall between 15 May and 15 July, summer-semester deadlines around 15 January, and non-EU applicants are advised to apply early for visa reasons. Non-EU applicants may submit a maximum of three applications per application phase.

Applicants from India, China and Vietnam must submit an APS certificate with their application (for master's applications the first degree is the relevant qualification). Documents not issued in German, English or French need certified translations. Since winter semester 2026/27, FAU charges a 100-euro processing fee per application for applicants from non-EU states (maximum 300 euros per phase, non-refundable; applications are only checked after payment).

English requirements are set by each programme: most English-taught engineering master's require B2 (for example IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 80 for Autonomy Technologies and Information and Communication Technology; TOEFL iBT 85 or IELTS 5.5 for Clean Energy Processes; TOEFL iBT 85 or IELTS 5.0 for Advanced Optical Technologies), while some programmes require C1 (Master in Management: IELTS 7.5 or TOEFL iBT 105; M.A. Human Rights: C1 level). Several programmes accept a medium-of-instruction certificate from the previous university instead of a test.

Full English requirement detail (verified): English thresholds are set per programme. Examples from official FAU pages: Autonomy Technologies and Information and Communication Technology (B2): IELTS 6.0; Clean Energy Processes (B2): IELTS 5.5; Advanced Optical Technologies (B2): IELTS 5.0; Chemistry/Molecular Science international master's (B2): IELTS or equivalent; Master in Management (C1): IELTS 7.5; M.A. Human Rights (C1): recognised C1 test. Several programmes accept a medium-of-instruction certificate instead of a test. Check the degree programme page for the binding requirement.

FAU offers more than 275 degree programmes; English-taught options are concentrated at master's level, and each degree programme page states the language of instruction, admission requirements and deadlines.

English-taught master's examples

• Communications and Multimedia Engineering (M.Sc.), Information and Communication Technology (M.Sc.), Autonomy Technologies (M.Sc.)
• Clean Energy Processes (M.Sc.), Advanced Optical Technologies (M.Sc.), Medical Engineering (M.Sc., English-taught specializations), Chemistry (M.Sc., international track), Computational and Applied Mathematics (M.Sc.)
• Master of Science in Economics, Development Economics and International Studies, M.A. Human Rights (taught in English, no German required)

Check the language of instruction on each degree programme page, as requirements differ between programmes.

The Deutschlandstipendium at FAU supports talented students with 300 euros per month (half funded by the federal government, half by private sponsors); international students can apply once enrolled. FAU's International Affairs also offers graduation scholarships of 1,000 euros (one-off payment) for international master's and state-examination students in their final semester, funded by DAAD and the Free State of Bavaria, awarded to students with good grades (GPA 1.0–2.3) and financial need. FAU notes that information on scholarships and waivers for the new non-EU tuition fees will be published on its website. Further options include DAAD scholarships and BAYHOST (for students from Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe).