About the university
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) was founded in 1743 and is one of Germany's largest universities, with close to 40,000 students. It has five faculties: humanities and social sciences, business, economics and law, medicine, sciences and engineering. Its main sites are in Erlangen and Nuremberg in northern Bavaria.
FAU is best known for engineering, medical technology, materials science, computer science and AI. Siemens Healthineers and other Siemens businesses are based in Erlangen, which shapes much of the university's research and its industry links. The Faculty of Engineering alone has more than 10,000 students.
For Indian students the draw is a long list of English-taught master's, such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Communications and Multimedia Engineering, Medical Engineering and International Information Systems. Note one big change: from summer semester 2027, new students from outside the EU pay tuition fees of €2,000–€6,000 per semester for most master's. FAU still costs far less than most English-speaking countries.
Erlangen is a compact, green university town a short train ride from Nuremberg. Living costs are lower than in Munich, but rooms are still in demand, so start your housing search at least three months before you arrive.
- Founded
- 1743
- Type
- Public research university in Bavaria with five faculties
- Students
- 39,857 in winter semester 2024/25 (FAU facts and figures)
- International students
- 10,143 in winter semester 2024/25 (FAU facts and figures)
- Campuses
- Erlangen (city centre and South campus), Nuremberg and Fürth
- Intakes
- October (winter semester); many master's also start in April (summer semester)
- Student–staff ratio
- 23.4 students per staff member (THE World University Rankings 2027 data)
Rankings
QS World University Rankings 2027
218th in the world (published June 2026, as reported by FAU)
THE World University Rankings 2027
=201st in the world
Popular courses with Indian students
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €8,000
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters, 120 ECTS)
- Intakes
- October (winter) only; apply by 31 May
- English
- Taught in English. TOEFL 560 (paper) or equivalent, or proof your bachelor's was taught in English. GRE or a similar test needed from international applicants.
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €8,000
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (apply by 31 May); April (apply by 30 November)
- English
- Taught in English. English at CEFR B2; not needed if your first degree was taught in English, though a certificate is recommended.
- Postgraduate
MSc Communications and Multimedia Engineering
- Fee / year
- €4,000
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter) only; apply by 15 July
- English
- Taught in English. IELTS 6.0, TOEFL iBT 80, or a medium-of-instruction certificate at B2 level.
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €8,000
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter) only; non-EU visa applicants apply by 15 April
- English
- Taught in English. TOEFL 560 (paper) or equivalent, or proof your bachelor's was taught in English. GRE or GATE optional.
- Postgraduate
MSc International Information Systems
- Fee / year
- €8,000
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October (winter) only; apply by 31 May
- English
- Taught in English. IELTS Academic 7.0, TOEFL iBT 100, or Cambridge C1 Advanced/C2 Proficiency (grade C). APS needed for Indian applicants.
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €8,000
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters)
- Intakes
- October; April
- English
- English-taught specialisations need B2: IELTS 5.5, TOEFL iBT 80, Cambridge FCE or UNIcert II. Admission includes a 60-minute online test.
- Postgraduate
MSc International Business Studies (MIBS)
- Fee / year
- €4,000
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters, 120 ECTS)
- Intakes
- October (winter) only; apply by 31 May
- English
- Taught in English. IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL iBT 100. APS needed for Indian applicants; an introductory video is part of the application.
- Postgraduate
- Fee / year
- €4,000
- Duration
- 2 years (4 semesters, 120 ECTS)
- Intakes
- October (winter) only; apply by 31 May
- English
- Taught in German or English. Proof of English by certificate or an English-taught degree; no score is stated. GMAT 600 or GMAT Focus 565 can replace the entrance exam.
Fees for international students
| Course | Duration | Fee / year (EUR) | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSc Artificial Intelligence | 2 years (4 semesters, 120 ECTS) | €8,000 | ≈ ₹8.5 lakh |
| MSc Data Science | 2 years (4 semesters) | €8,000 | ≈ ₹8.5 lakh |
| MSc Communications and Multimedia Engineering | 2 years (4 semesters) | €4,000 | ≈ ₹4.2 lakh |
| MSc Computational Engineering | 2 years (4 semesters) | €8,000 | ≈ ₹8.5 lakh |
| MSc International Information Systems | 2 years (4 semesters) | €8,000 | ≈ ₹8.5 lakh |
| MSc Medical Engineering | 2 years (4 semesters) | €8,000 | ≈ ₹8.5 lakh |
| MSc International Business Studies (MIBS) | 2 years (4 semesters, 120 ECTS) | €4,000 | ≈ ₹4.2 lakh |
| MSc Management | 2 years (4 semesters, 120 ECTS) | €4,000 | ≈ ₹4.2 lakh |
Fees are for international students for the entry year shown on each course page and can rise each year. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want a course shortlist with fees?Our counsellor will compare courses at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) with similar universities in Germany.
Scholarships
- Bachelor's and master's (new non-EU students)
FAU need-based tuition-waiver scholarship
Value: Full waiver of tuition fees for the standard study period
Eligibility: For students starting at FAU who cannot afford the fees. Apply on campo with a CV, a statement of your situation and 18 months of financial statements; the window for summer 2027 runs 2 November 2026 to 15 January 2027.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - All levels
Exemption for DAAD and other public scholarship holders
Value: No tuition fee
Eligibility: Students funded by a DAAD scholarship or another federal or EU-funded scholarship are exempt from FAU tuition fees.
Official page (opens in a new tab) - Master's and doctoral students
DAAD scholarships
Value: Monthly stipend; amount depends on the programme
Eligibility: Competitive awards; search the database for awards open to Indian applicants and their deadlines.
Official page (opens in a new tab)
Admission requirements
Undergraduate
- An Indian Class 12 certificate on its own does not usually give direct entry to a German bachelor's; you typically need one or two years of a related bachelor's in India or a Studienkolleg year.
- Most FAU bachelor's are taught in German. English-taught options include Artificial Intelligence, Autonomy Technologies, Clean Energy Processes, International Business Studies and International Economic Studies.
- Indian applicants need an APS certificate.
Postgraduate
- A bachelor's degree in a closely related subject. Most English-taught master's use a qualification assessment of your grades and subject credits.
- Data Science and Medical Engineering ask for a German grade of 2.5 or better (Data Science interviews applicants at 2.6–2.8).
- Apply through FAU's campo portal. Non-EU applicants pay a €100 processing fee per application.
- Several programmes ask for GRE or GATE, and MIBS asks for a short video. Check each course page.
- Indian applicants need an APS certificate; several course pages state this.
Documents
- Valid passport
- APS certificate
- Bachelor's degree certificate and transcripts (officially certified copies)
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets
- English test score or medium-of-instruction certificate
- CV and letter of motivation
- GRE or GATE score, where the programme asks for it
- Module descriptions, for programmes that check your subject credits
Check if you are eligibleShare your marks and test scores and our counsellor will tell you which courses you can apply for.
English language requirements
| Test or route | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | From 5.5 (Medical Engineering, Clean Energy Processes) to 7.0 (IIS, MIBS); 6.0 for CME |
| TOEFL iBT | From 80 (CME, Medical Engineering) to 100 (IIS, MIBS) |
| Medium of instruction | Several programmes, including AI, Data Science and CME, accept proof that your bachelor's was taught in English |
| German | Not needed to apply for English-taught programmes, but you must show German at A1 by the end of your first year |
Accommodation and living costs
FAU does not arrange housing. The Studierendenwerk Erlangen-Nürnberg runs student residences, and most students also look at shared flats. FAU advises applying to several providers at least three months before you arrive; residences may ask for one or two months' rent in advance. The figures below are from FAU's own living-cost sheet for winter 2026/27.
| Item | In EUR | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| RentFAU estimate for winter 2026/27 | €450–600per month | ≈ ₹47,700 – ₹63,600 |
| Food | €200–300per month | ≈ ₹21,200 – ₹31,800 |
| Health insurance | €116–170per month | ≈ ₹12,296 – ₹18,020 |
| TransportFAU gives this as a starting figure | €43per month | ≈ ₹4,558 |
| Semester contributionStudent services fee, paid whether or not you pay tuition | €82per semester | ≈ ₹8,692 |
Campus and location
FAU is spread over Erlangen, Nuremberg and Fürth. Engineering and the sciences are mostly on the South campus in Erlangen, while business and economics are in Nuremberg.
- The Faculty of Engineering, the largest faculty, has more than 10,000 students.
- Erlangen is home to major Siemens and Siemens Healthineers sites, which helps with internships and theses in medical technology and engineering.
- Nuremberg, Bavaria's second city, is a short train ride away.
- FAU offered 278 degree programmes in winter 2024/25, including 102 master's.
Careers and graduate outcomes
Erlangen and Nuremberg have a strong base of engineering, medical technology and IT employers. German language skills widen your options a lot. The figures below are published facts, not a promise of a job.
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| FAU graduates in the 2024 examination year | 6,639 | FAU facts and figures |
| Third-party research funding, 2025 | €294.3 million (including Uniklinikum Erlangen) | FAU facts and figures |
| International students | 22% | Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2027 |
Studying in Germany
Visa rules, work rights and living costs apply to every university in Germany. Our country guide covers them in detail:
Other universities in Germany
- Public
Often chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Data Science & AI
- Public
Often chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT
Photo: juhotski, CC BY-SA 3.0 PublicOften chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Life Sciences
Photo: TU Berlin/Pressestelle/Ulrich Dahl, Copyrighted free use PublicOften chosen for Engineering, Computer Science & IT, Business & Management
Photo: Seeott, CC BY-SA 4.0 PublicLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich) (official website, opens in a new tab)
Munich, GermanyOften chosen for Life Sciences, Medicine & Health Sciences, Law
Photo: Hermann Luyken, CC0 PublicHeidelberg University (official website, opens in a new tab)
Heidelberg, GermanyOften chosen for Medicine & Health Sciences, Life Sciences
FAQs
Is FAU still free for Indian students?
No, not for new students from summer semester 2027. Most master's cost €2,000, €4,000 or €6,000 per semester, plus the €82 semester contribution. Students enrolled before then do not pay, and the fee stays the same for your whole course.
Which English-taught master's are popular with Indian students?
Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Communications and Multimedia Engineering, Computational Engineering, Medical Engineering and International Information Systems are common choices.
When are the deadlines?
For October entry, many master's close on 31 May, while CME and Computational Engineering close on 15 July (15 April for non-EU visa applicants in Computational Engineering). Some programmes also start in April.
Is there any help with the new fees?
Yes. FAU has a need-based tuition-waiver scholarship, and DAAD scholarship holders are exempt. A merit-based waiver for students already in their second semester is planned.
Do I need German?
Not to apply for an English-taught master's, but you must show A1 German by the end of your first year. Learning more German helps a lot with part-time jobs. See our Germany guide for work rules.
Sources
- FAU: facts and figures (opens in a new tab)
- FAU: tuition fees for students from non-EU states (opens in a new tab)
- FAU: exemption from or waiver of tuition fees (opens in a new tab)
- FAU: degree programmes taught exclusively in English (opens in a new tab)
- FAU: application and enrolment for international applicants (opens in a new tab)
- FAU: MSc Artificial Intelligence (opens in a new tab)
- FAU Medical Engineering: monthly living costs, winter 2026/27 (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- FAU: housing in Erlangen and Nuremberg (opens in a new tab)
- FAU news: FAU ranks in the world's top 15 percent (QS, June 2026) (opens in a new tab)
- THE World University Rankings 2027: University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (opens in a new tab)
- DAAD scholarship database (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.fau.eu (opens in a new tab)
Check the latest details