FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg (Friedrich-Alexander-Universität)

FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg at a glance

Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) is a major public research university located in the Erlangen-Nuremberg metropolitan area in Bavaria, Germany. Indian students mostly look at its Master's programs in artificial intelligence, data science, computer science and engineering.

Four things Indian applicants should know first:

• Tuition fee policy is changing: For winter semester 2026/27, FAU charges zero tuition fees for standard degree programs. However, starting from summer semester 2027, non-EU students enrolling for the first time will pay tuition fees of €4,000 per semester (€8,000 a year) for Master's programs in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Computational Engineering.
• New non-EU application fee: As of winter semester 2026/27, FAU charges a mandatory, non-refundable processing fee of €100 per application for non-EU applicants (up to a maximum of three applications, or €300).
• Mandatory GRE or GATE for non-EU applicants in AI: Applicants from non-EU countries applying to M.Sc. Artificial Intelligence must submit an above-average GRE (percentile score above 60%, institution code 1344) or GATE score (Computer Science or Data Science & AI paper), followed by an online 60-minute screening test.
• Direct application via campo portal: FAU does not use uni-assist for degree applications. You apply directly through FAU's digital application portal, campo (campo.fau.de). Indian applicants must upload a valid APS certificate.

What it really costs

Tuition fees. In Bavaria, state legislation permits public universities to charge tuition fees to non-EU students.

• For students enrolling in winter semester 2026/27, tuition remains €0.
• For non-EU students who enroll for the first time from summer semester 2027 onwards, FAU charges program-specific tuition fees:

- M.Sc. Computer Science: €4,000 per semester (€8,000 per year) - M.Sc. Artificial Intelligence: €4,000 per semester (€8,000 per year) - M.Sc. Data Science: €4,000 per semester (€8,000 per year) - M.Sc. Computational Engineering: €4,000 per semester (€8,000 per year) - M.Sc. Mechanical Engineering: €6,000 per semester (€12,000 per year) - M.Sc. Information and Communication Technology: €2,000 per semester (€4,000 per year)

Semester contribution. Unlike many German universities where a semester ticket is mandatory, FAU's compulsory semester fee covers only the Student Services contribution (Studentenwerksbeitrag), which is currently €82 per semester.

Students can voluntarily purchase the Bavarian student-discounted Deutschlandticket for €43 per month, which provides unlimited travel on regional trains, city buses, and suburban rail across Germany, as well as 600 free minutes monthly on the local VAG_Rad bike-sharing network.

Living costs and blocked account. To secure your German national student visa, you must deposit €11,904 for the first year into a blocked account releasing €992 per month.

FAU's cost-of-studying page quotes the 2021 social survey of the German National Association for Student Affairs. Average monthly spending in western Germany for students not living with their parents (adding up to about €970):

• Rent and utilities: €410
• Food and groceries: €198
• Health insurance: €100
• Transportation: €89
• Leisure, sports, and culture: €65
• Telephone, internet, and broadcast fee (Rundfunkbeitrag): €31
• Study materials: €31
• Clothing: €46

Actual expenses depend on whether you live in Erlangen, Nuremberg, or surrounding towns. Read our total cost breakdown for Germany.

Can you reduce the cost?

• Werkstudent and student employment: Non-EU students are legally permitted to work up to 140 full days or 280 half days per calendar year. See our guides on part-time work rules and securing Werkstudent positions.
• Deutschlandstipendium: A merit-based scholarship awarding €300 per month for one academic year, co-funded by the federal government and private industry partners.
• DAAD Scholarships: Highly competitive Master's study scholarships from the German Academic Exchange Service. Explore our DAAD scholarship guide.

Getting in: what FAU looks at

Admissions requirements and examination hurdles differ significantly by program:

1. Undergraduate degree: You must hold a recognized Bachelor's degree (minimum 180 ECTS credits) in Computer Science, Mathematics, or a closely related technical discipline. If you have a 3-year degree, ask the department before applying. See our guides to ECTS credit mapping and 3-year Bachelor acceptance in Germany.
2. Academic grades (MSc Computer Science / Informatik): direct admission needs a bachelor's average of 2.50 (German scale) or better, or 60 ECTS of advanced modules (semesters 3–6) passed with an average of at least 3.0. Applicants who don't qualify directly can be invited to an oral admission exam.
3. Mandatory GRE or GATE (M.Sc. Artificial Intelligence): For non-EU applicants applying to M.Sc. AI, submitting an international standardized test score is compulsory. Accepted tests include:

- GRE General Test: Average percentile score above 60% (institution code 1344 for FAU). - GATE: Test papers in Computer Science & Information Technology (CS) or Data Science & Artificial Intelligence (DA).

1. Online admissions test (MSc Artificial Intelligence): all new applicants take an online admissions test covering subjects such as programming and algorithms, theoretical computer science and logic, and databases.
2. English (MSc Artificial Intelligence): send a TOEFL score report or other comparable proof of English; language-app certificates such as Duolingo are not accepted. FAU's AI Master's application page says that if your bachelor's was taught exclusively in English, a confirmation from your university (MOI) is sufficient. (Another FAU AI page, aimed at bachelor's applicants, says MOI letters are not accepted, so keep a test score as backup if you can.)
3. APS certificate: for applicants with qualifications from India, FAU says the APS certificate must be submitted when applying for a Master's degree program. See our APS certificate guide.
4. Application fee: A non-refundable processing fee of €100 per application is charged to non-EU applicants before your file is reviewed.

How to apply and deadlines

1. Digital application via campo: Submit your application online through FAU's student portal, campo (campo.fau.de). Do not apply through uni-assist.
2. Upload certified documents: You must upload your degree certificates, semester transcripts, CV, statement of purpose, APS certificate, and English test scores (or MOI letter).
3. Application deadlines:

- MSc Artificial Intelligence: for winter semester 2026/27 the application window was 15 April to 31 May 2026 (changed because of new examination regulations). - Other programs: see FAU's application dates for Master's programs.

1. Pay application fee: Pay the €100 non-EU processing fee per degree application via bank transfer or online payment through campo.

Popular Master's programs for Indian students

• M.Sc. Computer Science (Informatik): Direct admission needs a bachelor's average of 2.50 or better (German scale); €4,000 a semester for new non-EU students from summer 2027.
• M.Sc. Artificial Intelligence: Requires GRE/GATE for non-EU applicants and an online admissions test; €4,000 a semester for new non-EU students from summer 2027.
• M.Sc. Data Science: €4,000 a semester for new non-EU students from summer 2027.
• M.Sc. Computational Engineering: €4,000 a semester for new non-EU students from summer 2027.

Compare German computing programs in our MS in Computer Science in Germany directory.

Where you'll live

FAU does not own or allocate student housing directly. Accommodation is handled by Studierendenwerk Erlangen-Nürnberg and private landlords:

• Student residences: Studierendenwerk operates student dormitories across Erlangen and Nuremberg.
• Housing demand: Because Erlangen is a compact university town with high student demand, finding accommodation can take several months. Apply for a residence place as early as possible.

After you graduate

International graduates of a German university can get a residence permit of up to 18 months to look for a job, and may take any job during that time. Once you find qualified work you switch to a work permit or EU Blue Card. See our guides to the job seeker permit and the EU Blue Card.

Who FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg is a good fit for

• A strong choice if: You have strong mathematical and algorithmic credentials, can submit a competitive GRE (60th+ percentile) or GATE score for M.Sc. AI, and can budget for the new fees if you start in summer 2027 or later.
• Think carefully if: You plan to enroll from summer 2027 onwards without budgeting for €4,000/semester tuition fees, do not have a GRE/GATE score for the AI program, or your bachelor's average is weaker than 2.50 (German scale) for Computer Science.

Sources

Every figure, fee, cutoff, and deadline on this page comes directly from these official pages, checked on 22 October 2026:

• FAU: Tuition Fees for Students from Non-EU States
• FAU: Application Processing Fees for Non-EU Applicants
• FAU: Re-registration and Semester Contribution
• FAU: Student Mobility and Semester Ticket
• FAU: Master Degree Programmes Information Sheet (PDF)
• FAU: Supporting Documents for Master Applications (PDF)
• FAU: Applying for a Master Degree Program as an International Student
• FAU: Costs of Studying Overview
• FAU: Living in Erlangen and Nuremberg
• FAU Informatik: Application for Master Program
• FAU AI: Master Application and Non-EU Test Regulations
• FAU AI: Language Proficiency Guidelines
• Make it in Germany: prospects after graduation

Fees and rules change. Always confirm on FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg's own pages before you pay or apply.