How Manzar Amirli, an Azerbaijani Scholar, Secured a Master’s in International Business Studies at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Through the DAAD ERP Study Scholarship

My name is Manzar Amirli, and I am from Azerbaijan. I am currently pursuing a Master’s degree in International Business Studies at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) in Germany.

Before starting my Master’s, I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and gained approximately two years of professional experience at Deloitte Azerbaijan, where I progressed from Business Analyst to Business Consultant in Technology & Transformation.

I decided to pursue a Master’s degree because I wanted to strengthen my academic background in international business while gaining broader international exposure. Germany was particularly attractive to me because of its strong academic environment, international orientation, and the opportunity to combine academic development with practical professional experience.

DAAD ERP Study Scholarship Details

I received the DAAD ERP Study Scholarship for Students of Economics and Business Administration to pursue my Master’s studies in Germany.

The scholarship provides €992 per month and supported my studies and living expenses in Germany. It also included support for a German language course before my degree, which helped me begin adapting to life in Germany.

Receiving the scholarship was especially meaningful to me because it allowed me to pursue a high-quality Master’s degree in Germany without having to finance the full cost of living and studying abroad myself.

Other Offered Scholarships

Yes. I was also awarded the Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship for a Master’s degree in Hungary. However, after considering my options, I decided not to pursue that scholarship and instead chose to study in Germany with the DAAD scholarship.

Educational Background

I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an overall grade of approximately 1.3 and was among the strongest students in my cohort.

Alongside my academic performance, I gained around two years of professional experience at Deloitte Azerbaijan. I worked first as a Business Analyst and later as a Business Consultant in Technology & Transformation. This experience gave me practical exposure to consulting, analytical problem-solving, technology-related projects, and working with business stakeholders.

I believe that the combination of strong academic performance and relevant professional experience was an important part of my profile.

How Did You Prepare to Apply to Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg?

I researched universities and programmes through university websites, DAAD resources, and programme-specific information. I compared programmes based on their curriculum, admission requirements, language of instruction, career opportunities, reputation and funding opportunities.

One important lesson I learned is that applicants should examine the detailed admission requirements rather than relying only on the overall programme description. Some German universities assess previous coursework very specifically, including the number of credits completed in economics, mathematics, statistics or other quantitative subjects.

I would therefore recommend creating a clear overview of each programme’s requirements and checking your own academic transcript against them before investing significant time in an application.

Did You Take Any Standardized Tests? If So, How Did You Prepare for Them?

I took the IELTS test and achieved an overall score of 8.0.

I believe this was an important strength of my application, particularly for the DAAD scholarship, because it demonstrated that I was well prepared to study successfully in an English-language academic environment.

I did not take the GMAT. However, based on my experience with competitive applications, I believe that a strong GMAT score can also be beneficial for applicants who want to distinguish themselves from other strong candidates, particularly for business-related programmes.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the DAAD ERP Study Scholarship?

I treated the scholarship application as more than simply another university application. I focused on creating a coherent connection between my academic background, professional experience, motivation for studying in Germany, and long-term career goals.

My experience at Deloitte was an important part of this story because it showed that I had already gained practical experience and could connect academic knowledge with real business problems.

I also invested substantial time in preparing my CV, motivation letter, and supporting documents and in making sure that the overall application presented a consistent and convincing profile.

How Was Your Experience at FAU?

My experience at FAU has been very international and academically diverse. Studying in Germany has allowed me to interact with students from different countries and backgrounds and to experience a different academic system.

The programme has also allowed me to combine my previous business and consulting experience with a broader international and academic perspective.

At the same time, studying abroad requires independence. Students have to manage academic responsibilities as well as administrative procedures, accommodation, finances, and everyday life in a foreign country.

How Do You Rate Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Academically?

I rate FAU very positively academically. It offers a broad range of programmes and has strong connections with research and industry.

For students interested in business, technology, and international management, the Nuremberg–Erlangen region also provides access to a strong business environment with many international companies.

I also appreciate the international environment and the opportunity to study alongside people from many different backgrounds.

How Does Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Support International Students?

FAU has a substantial international student community and provides support through its international and student services.

However, I would also emphasize that international students need to be proactive. German university administration can sometimes be bureaucratic, so it is important to read official information carefully, keep track of deadlines, and contact the relevant office when something is unclear.

Learning German is also extremely useful, even when the degree programme is taught in English.

Is Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Tuition-Free? How Much Are the Semester Fees?

When I started my studies, my programme did not charge tuition fees, and I paid a semester contribution of €72.

However, FAU has announced that tuition fees for newly enrolled students from non-EU/EEA countries will be introduced from the summer semester 2027. Students who are already enrolled before that semester are generally exempt from the new tuition-fee obligation.

This is an important point for future applicants to check because the financial situation for new international students will be different from the situation I had when I enrolled.

What Is the Language of Instruction?

My Master’s programme is primarily taught in English, which was one of the reasons it was attractive to me as an international student.

At the same time, I have been learning German. The DAAD-supported German language course before my studies gave me a useful starting point, and I have continued improving my German because it is valuable for everyday life, administration, networking and professional opportunities in Germany.

What Did You Pursue After the DAAD ERP Study Scholarship?

I used the scholarship to pursue my Master’s degree in International Business at FAU.

Alongside my studies, I have continued developing professionally in Germany and gaining practical experience. My longer-term interests are at the intersection of international business, consulting, technology, and strategy.

The scholarship therefore did not represent the end goal for me; it was an opportunity that enabled the next stage of my academic and professional development.

What Made Your Application Stand Out?

I believe several elements of my profile worked together.

• First, I had a strong academic record, with an overall Bachelor’s grade of approximately 1.3.
• Second, I had relevant professional experience at Deloitte Azerbaijan, where I progressed from Business Analyst to Business Consultant in Technology & Transformation.
• Third, my application had a clear connection between my previous education, professional experience, the Master’s programme I wanted to pursue, and my longer-term goals.I also think that how you present yourself during the interview matters significantly. It is not enough to have a strong CV. You need to be confident, logical, and well prepared, and you need to communicate your motivation clearly and convincingly. Preparing thoroughly for the interview process can make a significant difference when many applicants already have strong academic and professional profiles.
• Finally, an IELTS score of 8.0 demonstrated strong English proficiency, which I believe strengthened my overall application.

What Would You Have Done Differently If You Were Going Through the Process Again?

If I were applying again, I would start researching admission and scholarship requirements even earlier.

One of the biggest lessons I learned is that a strong GPA does not automatically compensate for missing prerequisite coursework. Some programmes examine previous academic credits very closely, particularly in economics, mathematics, statistics and other quantitative areas.

I would therefore create a detailed spreadsheet from the beginning with the university, programme, admission requirements, required credits, language requirements, application deadline, scholarship opportunities, required documents and application status.

I would also dedicate more time to preparing specifically for interviews and to practicing how to communicate my motivation and career plans clearly and confidently.

What Advice Would You Give Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

My biggest advice is to start early and be systematic.

• First, research the scholarship and university requirements carefully. Do not apply simply because a programme looks interesting; make sure your academic background actually satisfies the requirements.
• Second, build a coherent story. Your academic background, professional experience, chosen programme and future goals should logically connect.
• Third, do not focus only on grades. Academic performance is important, but competitive scholarship applications also require a convincing explanation of your motivation, potential, experience and future contribution.
• Fourth, prepare seriously for interviews. Being confident, logical, structured and well prepared can help you stand out among applicants who may have similarly strong academic records.
• Finally, do not be discouraged by rejection. I applied to multiple programmes and experienced both admissions and rejections. The process taught me how different universities evaluate candidates and helped me become more strategic in future applications.