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Snapshot of FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg for international students
FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg is a large research university in Bavaria with strong links to industry and applied research. If you want a serious academic environment and a clear pathway into German innovation hubs, it is a strong option. ApplyAZ helps you shortlist the right course, check documents early, and avoid common mistakes before you apply.
What you can study in English at FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg
FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg offers a mix of full English degrees and programmes with significant English content, especially at Master’s level. You will find options in areas like engineering, computer science, materials, optics, and related fields, plus selected programmes in the humanities and social sciences.
Before you decide, ApplyAZ checks three things with you: entry fit (your previous subjects), intake timing, and language rules. This matters because some “English” degrees still expect basic German skills during the first year for daily life and admin.
Tuition and real costs (what students usually miss)
FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg is among the public German universities, so standard degrees usually do not charge tuition fees. You should still plan for a semester contribution (often around €72, and it can change by semester). This is separate from your personal budget and is required to stay enrolled.
What students often miss is the full monthly budget. Keep these in mind:
- Rent and deposit (often the biggest cost)
- Health insurance
- Food and local transport
- Study setup (laptop, software, books)
- Residence permit and admin fees
Your living costs in Germany will vary by housing type and city area, so budget with a buffer.
Admissions step-by-step (clear checklist)
FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg uses a structured process and deadlines can be strict. ApplyAZ keeps it simple and helps you build a clean file that matches the programme rules, including whether you apply via uni-assist or directly through the university system.
Use this checklist:
- Pick 1–3 target programmes that match your background
- Confirm intake, deadline, and language requirements
- Prepare transcripts, grading scale, and degree certificate
- Draft your CV and motivation letter (programme-specific)
- Arrange references if the programme asks for them
- Submit and track your application until a decision arrives
Scholarships and funding (how to think about it)
Funding in Germany is usually a mix, not one magic source. Start with a realistic monthly budget, then add funding options that fit your profile. ApplyAZ helps you separate what is competitive from what is common, so you do not waste time on options you cannot use.
Common directions to explore:
- Merit scholarships (such as Deutschlandstipendium-type support where available)
- External funding like DAAD routes for specific profiles
- Part-time student work where legally allowed
- Personal savings and family support planning
If your plan involves a German student visa, funding clarity is not optional. We help you prepare a clean, explainable funding story.
After graduation: work options and career direction
Germany can be a strong place to start a career after graduation, especially if your degree is in a high-demand area. What matters most is your job direction and how early you start building it. ApplyAZ guides you to pick programmes that match real outcomes, not just nice titles.
Focus on:
- Internship-ready course choices
- Skills that translate to jobs (projects, tools, research methods)
- Location strategy (where hiring is active in your field)
- A CV and LinkedIn profile shaped for German hiring norms
How ApplyAZ supports your application (what happens when)
ApplyAZ supports you end-to-end, without making the process feel heavy. We start with a fit check, then build your shortlist, then move into document review and application submission planning. After you receive an offer, we guide your next steps, including scholarship support and German student visa preparation.
Here is what you get with us:
- Shortlist based on your background and goals
- Document check with clear fixes (before you submit)
- Application plan with deadlines and priorities
- Scholarship approach that matches your profile
- Visa guidance and pre-arrival checklist support
Quick fit check: who Master in Advanced Optical Technologies is for
Master in Advanced Optical Technologies at FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg is for students who want deep skills in optics, photonics, and related engineering. It fits people who like physics, maths, and hands-on lab or simulation work, and who want a clear path into high-tech industry or research. ApplyAZ helps you check fit early by matching your Bachelor’s subjects to what the programme expects.
Good fit signals:
- Physics, optics, electrical, mechanical, or materials background
- Comfort with calculus, linear algebra, and basic electromagnetics
- Interest in lasers, imaging, sensors, or optical systems
- Willingness to do lab work, reports, and iterative testing
What you will learn (simple, real outcomes)
You will learn how optical systems are designed, modelled, built, and tested. Expect strong fundamentals plus applied skills that translate into real roles. Many students choose this route when looking for English-taught programs in Germany that connect to advanced manufacturing, imaging, medical devices, and semiconductor-related fields.
By the end, you should be able to:
- Analyse and design optical setups and components
- Use modelling tools to predict optical behaviour
- Work safely and accurately in optics labs
- Communicate results clearly with data and evidence
Why FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg for Master in Advanced Optical Technologies (what to look for)
FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg can be a strong option if you want research-led teaching and access to a real optics ecosystem. When comparing programmes across public German universities, focus on lab infrastructure, project intensity, and thesis supervision quality. ApplyAZ helps you review these points and shortlist the programme that fits your interest, whether you lean towards lasers, imaging, metrology, or photonics devices.
Check these before you decide:
- Research groups and labs aligned with your target area
- Access to optics equipment and practical training
- Project options and how supervision works
- Local industry links for internships and thesis work
Modules, projects, and thesis (what your year may look like)
Your year may start with core optics and photonics methods, then move into advanced electives and applied projects. Projects can be lab-based or simulation-based, with measurable outputs and formal reporting. The thesis is usually the main proof of skill, so topic planning early matters. ApplyAZ helps you build a realistic timeline for projects and thesis work.
A typical structure can include:
- Core modules in optical theory and system design
- Electives in lasers, imaging, sensing, or photonic materials
- A project with milestones and experimental or simulation results
- Thesis planning, research work, and final writing
Entry requirements and eligibility (easy checklist)
Optics programmes often have strict prerequisites in maths and physics. Many applicants lose time because transcripts do not clearly show required subjects, or because they apply through the wrong route. ApplyAZ checks your profile against entry requirements Germany and confirms whether you apply via uni-assist or directly, so you follow the correct steps.
Use this checklist:
- Relevant Bachelor’s degree with strong physics/engineering content
- Evidence of core subjects (optics, electromagnetics, maths)
- Lab or practical coursework evidence, if expected
- English proof if required
- Correct deadline and application route
Documents you should prepare early (avoid delays)
If your transcript course titles are unclear, reviewers may not see your fit. Preparing early helps you avoid delays and rushed fixes. ApplyAZ reviews your file for clarity and completeness and helps you highlight the right evidence. This also supports later planning for the German student visa process and your funding story.
Prepare early:
- Passport and ID documents
- Degree certificate and full transcripts
- Course descriptions for key modules, if needed
- CV focused on labs, tools, and technical projects
- Motivation letter linked to optics direction and goals
- Proof of English, if required
Tuition, fees, and living costs (real planning)
Many programmes in COUNTRY at public institutions have low or no standard tuition, but you still pay semester fees and must budget for monthly living costs. Lab work can add small extra expenses, so plan a buffer. ApplyAZ helps you plan costs and timing so you can study in Germany in English with stable finances and clean visa preparation.
Plan for:
- Semester contribution and admin fees
- Rent deposit and initial setup costs
- Health insurance and monthly living costs
- Lab materials, transport, and an emergency buffer
Scholarships and funding options (how students usually approach it)
Funding is usually a mix of personal budgeting, selective awards, and legal student work after arrival. Scholarships in Germany can be competitive, so strong fit and early planning matter. ApplyAZ helps you identify realistic options and build a funding plan that supports admissions and visa needs.
Common routes:
- Merit-based awards where eligible
- Part-time work within legal limits after arrival
- Research assistant roles once you settle in
- Savings and family support with a structured plan
How ApplyAZ helps you apply step-by-step
ApplyAZ supports you end-to-end. We start with a fit check, then help you shortlist programmes, review documents, and shape a motivation letter that sounds clear and credible. We also support next steps after admission, including German student visa planning, and keep outcomes in view, including jobs after graduation in Germany in photonics, imaging, sensors, metrology, and optical engineering roles.
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