Friedrich Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg Scholarships for International Students 2026

FAU does have online and distance-learning options (for example, the Sustainability Management (MBA) is designed as a blended program that is “90% online,” and FAU Academy also publishes online courses and digital offerings). Because scholarship rules are usually tied to being enrolled in a degree program, you’ll want to check if they are offered for degree programs.

Both, but German is the default for most programs. FAU explicitly notes that “with the exception of a small number of degree programs, German is the teaching language.” That said, FAU also lists a large set of international programs “taught exclusively in English” (including programs like Advanced Materials and Processes (MAP)).

FAU scholarships and funding routes typically publish eligibility rules based on academics, enrollment status, and (sometimes) financial need, not a single university-wide age cutoff. For example, FAU’s Deutschlandstipendium focuses on academic performance (e.g., grade thresholds) and allows personal circumstances to be considered; FAU’s “scholarships for international students about to graduate” list criteria like credits completed, grades, and income limits, but not an age limit.

In practice, age rules (if any) are set by the specific scholarship provider (e.g., a foundation or external organization), so always read the requirements on the exact scholarship you’re applying to.

Funding opportunities at/linked to FAU are available across a wide range of subjects, often because many scholarships are “not subject-restricted,” but performance- or need-based. On the English-taught side, FAU’s international degree programs list includes STEM-heavy options (e.g., Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Materials, Engineering fields), business (e.g., International Business Studies), and humanities/social sciences (e.g., North American Studies and other M.A. programs listed among international programs).

Engineering & STEM: FAU’s English-taught programs include Advanced Materials and Processes (MAP) and other engineering/science tracks; Raghavendra Nomula applied to MAP and emphasized that a strong academic profile mattersl; he credited “a well-crafted CV and Statement of Purpose (SOP)” as part of what helped him stand out.

Business: FAU offers English-taught business options (e.g., International Business Studies), and also has a Sustainability Management (MBA) that is largely online (blended).

Medicine/health-related fields: FAU has medicine-related programs, but requirements differ sharply by program. Some medical-related Master’s programs are taught in English (e.g., Molecular Medicine states its language of instruction is English and asks for English at least B2). However, if you apply directly to study medicine (state exam routes like medicine/dentistry/pharmacy), FAU warns you generally must submit German proof (DSH 2 or equivalent) together with your application, so international students can apply, but you should expect German-language and highly competitive admission requirements for state-exam medicine pathways.

Humanities: International and regular degree options include humanities and social sciences; scholarships like the Deutschlandstipendium are broadly tied to achievement rather than one subject area.

It depends on the scholarship. Some FAU funding is explicitly for international students: for example, FAU’s “scholarships for international students about to graduate” states “only international students without German citizenship or permanent residence may apply.”

Other awards are not framed by nationality but by enrollment at FAU and merit: FAU’s Deutschlandstipendium page states that students at FAU can apply and then evaluates you mainly on achievements/grades.

Often yes, unless your program’s rules exempt you. For German-taught programs, you’ll typically need recognized German proof (e.g., DSH/TestDaF). FAU’s language-certificate guidance also highlights a special case: if you apply directly for medicine/dentistry/pharmacy, you generally must submit German proficiency (DSH 2 or equivalent) together with your application (instead of taking DSH right before semester start).

For English-taught programs, faculties set the English proof rules (TOEFL/IELTS are common). For example, MAP (an English-taught program) requires TOEFL or IELTS for applicants whose previous degree was not conducted in English (with example minimums like TOEFL iBT 85 or IELTS 6.0). And in its international-program guidance, FAU notes that for programs “taught exclusively in English,” German proof is not required at application/enrollment time (though FAU still expects students to reach at least A1 German by the end of the first year).

There isn’t one single FAU-wide “minimum grade” because each degree program sets its own admissions rules (qualification assessment, NC, interviews, etc.). That said, many programs publish concrete grade guidance. For example, MAP states German applicants should have a Bachelor’s grade of 2.5 or better, and international applicants should have an equivalent mark to “good.”

Strong academics are the baseline for many FAU-linked scholarships, especially merit awards like the Deutschlandstipendium (where FAU calls achievements in your degree program the most important prerequisite and uses grade thresholds such as 2.0 or better). Beyond grades, program-fit and evidence of motivation matter a lot in practice.

That’s also how recipients describe it: in his story, Raghavendra Nomula leaned on a materials/engineering background and explained that his “strong academic foundation” plus “a well-crafted CV and Statement of Purpose (SOP)” helped him stand out, exactly the sort of profile that tends to work well for competitive scholarships and selective programs.

Document requirements depend on the degree program, but common items include transcripts, proof of language proficiency, and a CV. Many Master’s programs also ask for a motivation/letter of application. FAU’s official “supporting documents for applications for Master’s degree programmes” document shows recurring patterns such as: letter of application, CV (sometimes “complete CV with photo”), and English proficiency proof (often B2 CEFR, or TOEFL/IELTS equivalents) for many English-taught tracks.

If you’re applying for a scholarship, you may need an additional “funding package” of documents. For example, FAU’s graduation scholarship for international students requires uploads like an up-to-date transcript of records, certificate of enrollment, CV, and a reference letter from a full FAU professor (plus completing the online form).

Yes, for many non-EU applicants, starting in a specific intake. FAU states that “as of winter semester 2026/27,” it will charge a processing fee of 100 euros per application for applicants from non-EU states. FAU also notes the fee is due regardless of outcome and caps applications at three per person per application phase (maximum 300 euros). Check the latest guidelines for the updated information.