The Elite Network of Bavaria funded by the Free State of Bavaria combines scholarships for particularly gifted students and doctoral candidates with funding for elite degree programs, international doctorate programs and international junior research groups.
Elite graduate programs at FAU
All over Bavaria, elite degree programs qualify particularly gifted and committed students for cutting-edge research or careers in management positions.
FAU is involved in the following five elite degree programs:
Advanced Optical Technologies (MAOT) (M.Sc.)
Degree Master of Science
Start of degree program Winter semester
Admission Qualification assessment
Area of study Advanced Optical Technologies
Ethics of Textual Cultures (M.A.)
Degree Master of Arts (M.A.)
Start of degree program Summer semester, Winter semester
Admission Qualification assessment
Area of study
Integrated Immunology (M.Sc.)
Degree Master of Science
Start of degree program Winter semester
Admission Qualification assessment
Area of study Integrated Immunology
Standards of Decision-Making Across Cultures (M.A.)
Degree Master of Arts (M.A.)
Start of degree program Winter semester
Admission Qualification assessment
Area of study Standards of Decision-Making Across Cultures
Other elite degree programs involving FAU
- Bavarian Graduate School of Computational Engineering
- Fast-Track Doctoral Degree Program in immunology for applicants with a Bachelor’s degree
- Kulturwissenschaften des Vorderen Orients/Cultural Studies of the Middle East
- Physics with Integrated Doctorate Program (FAU is the coordinating university)
Discontinued and previous elite degree programs
Advanced Materials and Processes (MAP)
The MAP Master’s degree program will retain its status as an Elite degree program until September 2025 and will be removed from the Elite Network of Bavaria as of winter semester 2025/26. Students who start studying this degree program in winter semester 2024/25 will no longer be able to graduate with an Elite Master’s degree.



