Founded in 1743, FAU has a rich history. It is a strong research university with an international perspective and one of the largest universities in Germany, with 40,174 students, 258 degree programmes, 4,000 academic staff (including over 579 professors), 180 million euros (2014) third-party funding, and 500 partnerships with universities all over the world.
Studying at FAU is a gateway to new learning experiences and a unique range of subjects to broaden your horizons. At FAU, you can choose from 265 degree programmes – an unparalleled range of interdisciplinary, research-oriented and applied study choices. On the following pages you can find all the information you need choosing your subject, getting started and during your studies at FAU.
Supporting cutting-edge research, strengthening German universities and research facilities and improving Germany’s international competitive position – these are the goals of the Excellence Initiative by the German Federal and State Governments to Promote Science and Research at German Universities. The University of Erlangen-Nürnberg has participated very successfully in the Excellence Initiative, being chosen as the location for both the Erlangen Graduate School in Advanced Optical Technologies (SAOT) and the Cluster of Excellence ‘Engineering of Advanced Materials’ (EAM).
At FAU, we continue to support our students after they have finished their studies. We offer help and advice on finding your first job, organise further training and support you with life-long learning. We also help you stay in touch with your fellow students, professors and lecturers. You will find everything you need to know about our Career Service, opportunities for further training and services for alumni on the following pages.
Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.
By TopUniversities
Climbed 14 places compared to 2026
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 224 | 232 | 218 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
By U.S. News & World Report
Dropped 21 places compared to 2026
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 281 | 288 | 309 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
By Times Higher Education
This university doesn’t have a ranking for 2027 yet. Rankings are updated yearly, so check back later for the latest info.
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
| 2025 | 2026 | 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| 201 | 201 | - |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
By Shanghai Jiao Tong University
This university doesn’t have a ranking for 2026 yet. Rankings are updated yearly, so check back later for the latest info.
ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 201 | 201 | - |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
The diverse range of professional events and consultation services for members of all of FAU’s faculties are designed to support students, graduates and doctoral candidates when planning and starting their careers. This service is available for up to one year after graduation.The services:
Student Services Erlangen-Nürnberg runs apartment buildings and housing complexes with about 3800 housing places in Erlangen, Herzogenaurach, Nuremberg, Ansbach, and Ingolstadt. International students with a Bachelor’s degree can find information and apply for accommodation on the Student Services website . Information for international students with a Master’s degree, scholarship holders, doctoral candidates and visiting professors from abroad is currently being compiled and will be available shortly.
FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg is not able to offer accommodation. The University does not operate any student accommodation and is not allowed to act as an estate agent.The university collections at FAU cover a wide range of areas – from instruments and models to organisms and minerals. Some of the collections, such as the Anatomical Collection, are as old as the University itself, while others, like the Computer Science Collection, represent newer areas of research.
There are many telephone and internet providers in Germany. Contracts for telephone and internet connections can be either fixed-term or without a set duration (notice period of one month for cancellation). You can choose between a land line or a mobile phone with a pre-paid SIM card. It certainly pays to compare the offers from various providers.
FAU has five faculties which cover the entire spectrum of academic disciplines – from medicine, sciences and engineering to humanities, social sciences and theology as well as business and economics. The individual disciplines are organised into departments, and there are 24 Interdisciplinary Centres which make a significant contribution to interdisciplinary collaboration at FAU. Management, administration and decision processes at FAU mirror the clear structure of the faculties, making the University’s entire organisational structure effective and simple.
Scholarship organisations
After submitting an application, FAU was admitted to start the system accreditation process by the accreditation agency AQAS in November 2013.
Based on 46 reviews
I like the University Because of its history and innovation. The location also perfect. The professor and academic office are Very friendly. Professors are very co-operative. The module always update in every year. The library and gardern is my favorite place. There is nothing to dislike.
I completed my M.Sc. in Medical Engineering at Friedrich-Alexander-Universit�t Erlangen-N�rnberg, and overall it has been a very valuable and enriching experience. The program offers a strong combination of engineering, medical imaging, and data-driven methods. Courses such as MRI, biomedical signal processing, and machine learning provided both theoretical depth and practical exposure. I especially appreciated the balance between physics-based understanding and modern AI techniques. One of the highlights of my studies was the opportunity to work on a hands-on thesis project involving intuitive robot control using EMG and IMU signals. This allowed me to apply concepts like signal processing, machine learning, and robotics control (e.g., Cartesian control and simulation using MuJoCo) to a real-world problem. The university provides good research opportunities, and institutes like AIROB/FAPS offer exposure to cutting-edge robotics and automation projects. Collaboration between disciplines is also a strong point. However, some courses can be quite theoretical, and students may need to take extra initiative to gain more practical or industry-oriented experience. Additionally, navigating administrative processes can sometimes be slow. Overall, I would definitely recommend this program to students interested in medical imaging, biomedical signal processing, robotics, or AI in healthcare. It provides a solid foundation for both research and industry careers.
FAU�s education system is quite strict and strongly focused on real understanding instead of rote learning. If you only try to pass by memorizing, there is almost zero chance to succeed, because the exams are designed so you must cover and understand all topics in depth. I like that there is a very wide range of courses and specializations, so you can find subjects in almost every field and design your own study path. On the negative side, there is little flexibility or support if you fall behind; the pressure around exams is high and sometimes the organization and communication from the university could be better. Overall, I would recommend FAU to students who are motivated to work hard and really learn their subject, but it might feel overwhelming if you expect an easier or more guided system.
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