Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
About
FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg is a public Bavarian university charging no tuition (just a ≈€310/year semester contribution) across a rare breadth of fields — STEM, medicine, law, business, humanities, and theology — with IELTS 6.0 entry. Its EU-recognised degree and Bavaria's strong industrial economy support the 18-month post-study job-seeker visa.
Nuremberg is a mid-sized Bavarian city with medieval charm, affordable living, a lively student presence, and strong links to tech and manufacturing firms across the region. The city balances cultural history with modern industry, making it practical for both study and hands-on work experience.
Application deadlines
- WiSe (BSc restricted)Jul 15
Direct via campo portal — FAU does NOT use uni-assist. Window opens May 4. Non-EU recommended to apply by Mar 31 for visa. Processing fee €100 (new from WiSe 2026/27)
- WiSe (MSc)Jan 15
Typically Jan 15 (early) or programme-specific — check campo per faculty. No uni-assist
- SoSe (BSc)Jan 15
campo portal. Most BSc programmes winter-start only
Accommodation
Studierendenwerk Erlangen-Nürnberg — 3,700+ housing places across Erlangen and Nuremberg. Shared bath/kitchen from ~€200; studio up to ~€400. New 600-place initiative launched Apr 2026
Scholarships
- 🏛DAAD
- 🏛Deutschlandstipendium
DAAD: Master's/PhD, merit-based (RU/BY de-facto restricted post-2022). Deutschlandstipendium: €300/mo, all nationalities, merit + social commitment. Apply via university portal (Apr–Jun).
National funding for this destination
Honestly
Why this works
- Tuition is €0 — the only compulsory payment is a semester contribution of ≈€310 per year covering administration and student services, one of the lowest rates in Germany.
- Bavaria applies no extra non-EU semester surcharge, unlike Baden-Württemberg where non-EU students pay €1,500 per semester.
- FAU covers a rare breadth of fields — STEM, medicine, law, business, humanities, theology — giving you flexibility to change focus.
- A German university degree is an EU-recognised qualification, opening graduate job markets across all 27 member states.
- After graduation, Germany grants an 18-month job-seeker visa, letting you convert your degree into local work experience in Bavaria's strong industrial economy.
- Erlangen-Nürnberg sits in the Nuremberg Metro, one of Germany's leading engineering and tech hubs, with Siemens headquarters and dense Mittelstand employers for internships.
What to check
- Most bachelor programmes at German public universities are taught in German; daily life and lectures require at least B2–C1 level, which takes years to reach.
- Non-EU school leavers typically must complete a Studienkolleg preparatory year before admission, adding one year and entrance-exam pressure to your timeline.
- Germany requires proof of funds via a blocked account (Sperrkonto) of approximately €11,904 before a student visa is issued — a significant upfront capital requirement.
- Nuremberg has a tight student housing market; finding affordable accommodation near campus requires early planning and local-language searches.
- Students may work only 120 full days or 240 half-days per year, limiting earned income and making the blocked-account requirement harder to offset through part-time work.
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Figures are indicative and change by academic year. Always confirm tuition, deadlines and visa requirements on the official institution and government sources before applying.