FAQs – During the semester

Yes, all information on studying with disabilities and chronic illnesses can be found here: Studying with a disability or chronic illness.

First, you should contact your lecturer and ask for a meeting. In addition, students can contact the study advisors responsible for their degree program.

In certain cases, it is possible to obtain compensation for disadvantages (e.g., in the form of extended examination time) to compensate for any disadvantages caused by your disability. Information on this: Compensation for disadvantages during examinations.

This information can be found on this page: Studying with special requirements.

The ZfL (Center for Teacher Education) website contains all the information about teacher degree programs at FAU.

It is sometimes difficult to determine who is responsible for subject advice and accreditation. As a rule, the websites for the degree program gives their contact details. The following links may also help:

• Points of contact at the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Theology and for teaching degree programs
• Points of contact at the Faculty of Engineering
• The contact details for the study advisors at the Faculty of Sciences can be found on the faculty’s website, and those for the Student Service Center on their website.

If students have questions about the content of their studies or problems with a subject, it is best to contact their study advisor. The Student Advice Center provides advice on choosing a degree program, the application process, study planning and orientation at FAU, career orientation, pregnancy during your studies, studying with disabilities, changing subjects, combining subjects, and doubts about your studies, as well as orientation for refugees.

In this situation, it is best to contact the Student Advice Center or the Student Service Centers at the faculties. Teaching degree students can contact the study advisors at the Center for Teacher Education (ZfL).

If you wish to discontinue your studies, you must submit a certificate of de-registration to the Student Records Office or refrain from paying the semester contribution at the end of the semester. Since mandatory registration for resit examinations has been abolished, you are no longer obliged to sit them. To be fair, you have to de-register from examinations and classes yourself. It is advisable to download your transcript of records from campo and save it in case you need it at some point in the future.

Please contact the FAU Career Service.

A key to the abbreviations is usually included in the module schedule.

PO / FAPO: Degree program and examination regulations

ECTS = European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System. The workload measured in credits during your studies. A Bachelor’s degree program comprises 180 ECTS credits. At FAU, 1 ECTS credit corresponds to 30 hours of work. You should complete around 30 ECTS credits per semester.

LP = “Leistungspunkte”, or credits, see ECTS

L = lecture

T = tutorial

P = Practical course

S = seminar

SWS = “Semesterwochenstunden”, or semester hours (1 SWS = 45 min)

Compulsory registration for resit examinations was abolished in winter semester 2024/25. Students must therefore register for resit examinations themselves. As a rule, you can also withdraw from resit examinations. Please contact the relevant Examinations Office.

Please note: You must be enrolled in order to take a resit examination.

Students can only take examinations for a Master’s degree program if they are already enrolled in the Master’s degree program.

In principle, it is possible to withdraw from examinations within a specified period. You can either ask the Examinations Office or check the degree program and examination regulations for details. As a rule, withdrawal is possible up to three working days before the examination.

Further information is available on this page.

Yes, all modules from the module schedule must be taken during your degree program. Within the module schedule and examination regulations, attention must be paid to any options available (be sure to read the footnotes!). A Bachelor’s degree program comprises 180 ECTS credits, including the Bachelor’s thesis.

Students can register for examinations each semester during a certain period applicable across the whole of FAU. The exact dates are announced in good time by the Examinations Office.

You must register for examinations via campo.

To find a study group, students can inquire with their student association (FSI) or via the WhatsApp groups for their subjects, in addition to their courses.

A maximum of two attempts are allowed for examinations that count toward the GOP. If one of these examinations is not passed on the second attempt, the right to take the examination in this subject expires. In this case, students are required to change their degree program or subject. Further information on changing subjects is available here.

Students can only take examinations in the subject they are enrolled in. However, you can apply to have identical modules accredited. It is sometimes possible to have modules from other subjects accredited towards the electives of the new subject.

In principle, students have four attempts at (partial) module examinations, two attempts at examinations that count toward the GOP and for examinations in the Bachelor’s thesis module, and three attempts at examinations for internships, field seminars, and field trips.

If you fail at the final attempt, you lose the right to take the examination in the respective degree program or subject, i.e., you may no longer be able to continue studying anywhere in Germany. In combined degree programs with two subjects, the right to take examinations in the other subject remains unchanged. The Examinations Office will then send what is known as an EN notification (failed at the final attempt). There is a four-week objection period.

If you lose your right to take an examination and have questions about how to proceed, it is best to contact the Student Advice Center (ZSB).

If you have any questions regarding the EN notification or the loss of examination rights, please contact the relevant Examinations Office.

Normally, a certificate from your family doctor is sufficient. For state examinations (teaching degrees), students must submit a medical certificate from an official medical examiner from the health authorities (Amtsarzt).

If you report sick during the examination, you will need a medical certificate from an official medical examiner from the health authorities (Amtsarzt).

If you have any questions or are unsure about anything, please contact the relevant Examinations Office.

All degree program and examination regulations (PO) can be found on the german FAU website. On this page, first select the faculty and then your degree program. The latest version is always listed at the top under “consolidated version.”

Tip: At the beginning of your studies, download the applicable version of the degree program and examination regulations so that you always have access to the correct version. In addition, the PO version number can always be found in your personal area on campo.

Please contact the relevant Examinations Office.

If you have any questions regarding the content of the examinations, please contact the respective lecturers or subject advisors.

Many students take on part-time jobs to finance their studies. The Deutsches Studentenwerk (German National Association for Student Affairs) has put together some information online of what to keep in mind.

Students with German citizenship can find an overview page on the topic of part-time jobs on the website of the Deutsches Studentenwerk. There is also a link to a flyer on the topic.

For students of other nationalities, the German National Association for Student Affairs also provides an overview page on the topic of part-time jobs. Information for international students is available in both German and English. The flyer for international students is available in German and English.

Yes, it is generally possible to complete internships abroad. If you are interested in doing so, please contact International Affairs (formerly known as RIA for short) to explore the various options for spending time abroad. In addition, it is worth contacting those responsible for your subject to find out which international partnerships exist. To clarify credit transfer options, please contact the relevant Internship Office.

Helpful tips on the subject of housing can be found both on the Student Services website and on this FAU page.

The Student Services website also provides information on BAföG (student financial aid) and offers the option of welfare support, for example, for questions about financing your studies. This page on the FAU website lists all important information regarding student financing.

To find a study group, students can inquire with their student association (FSI) or via the WhatsApp groups for their subjects, in addition to their courses.

Enrolled students can borrow literature free of charge from the University Library (UB) at FAU. To do this, the library function of the FAUcard must be activated. Further information can be found on the University Library website. It makes sense to attend a course on borrowing literature and using the library beforehand.

At the FAU Language Centre, you can improve your language skills in modern languages or learn new languages. In addition, there is usually the opportunity to take foreign language exams and obtain certificates.

Further information can be found on the FAU Language Centre website.

WiSo (the School of Business, Economics and Society) is located at two sites in Nuremberg. The Faculty of Sciences and the Faculty of Engineering are located in the south of Erlangen. The Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Theology, and the School of Law are spread across Erlangen city center.

Nevertheless, classes in your degree program may also be offered in the other city, which could require commuting – for example, if a practical art history seminar takes place in front of original works at the Germanisches Nationalmuseum in Nuremberg. You can check the specific venue in the course catalog.

Please note for teaching degrees: Primary and lower secondary school teaching degrees (Grundschul- und Mittelschullehramt) are always studied in Nuremberg. When studying to become a secondary school teacher at Realschule you can largely choose which city you would like to take classes in. However, there are exceptions, such as the subject of Business and Economics, which is only offered in Erlangen. Classes for teaching degrees in secondary education at Gymnasium are taught in Erlangen.

Whether it’s music, sports, politics, religion, or media – at FAU, students can get involved in activities that go far beyond their subjects: Networking and volunteering.

Confident use of Excel, Word, Citavi, SPSS, and the like saves time and stress during your studies, internships, and career. That is why the RRZE IT Training Center offers a wide range of free software courses.

Regardless of which faculty or degree program you are in – if you are interested in studying abroad, you can contact the central point of contact for studying abroad, International Affairs (formerly also referred to as RIA for short).

Please contact the relevant Internship Office to clarify credit transfer options.

If you have already studied a related degree program, you can probably have your previous achievements accredited. Please proceed as follows:

• Download the application for accreditation of achievements and submit it to the relevant accreditation officer (examination officer) together with a certified transcript of records (from campo).
• When transferring from another university to FAU, you should also provide module descriptions that are as detailed as possible.
• The accreditation officers fill out the application and usually send it back to you. In some cases, they forward the application directly to the relevant Examinations Office.
• If it has not already been forwarded by the accreditation officers, please submit your application or applications to the relevant Examinations Office. If applicable, they may then admit you to a higher semester.
• The applications are available for download on the relevant pages of the Examinations Offices.
• Accreditation officers for Bachelor’s degree programs at the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Theology and teaching degree programs.

The application can also be sent by email.

Strictly speaking, a change of subject is only possible until lectures start. However, you can contact the Student Records Office to find out whether, in exceptional cases, it is still possible to change subjects shortly after the lecture period has started.

Students can only take examinations for a Master’s degree program if they are already enrolled in the Master’s degree program.

Previous course achievements do not expire and can still be credited at a later date.

Since it is usually not possible to change subjects with effect from the summer semester, certain bridging options may be available, such as the module programs Studium Naturale or Studium Philosophicum. Students are able to start both of these programs in the summer semester.

Since changing subjects is usually a very individual matter, it is best to contact the Student Advice Center.

Students can only change subject with effect from the summer semester in a few exceptional cases. Namely, if the degree program can normally be started in the summer semester, or if students have sufficient credits eligible for accreditation from their previous studies that qualify them to enter at least the second subject semester. Otherwise, a transfer to the first subject semester is only possible at the start of the winter semester. There may be temporary solutions available for specific cases, so please contact the Student Advice Center.

Students can only take examinations in the subject they are enrolled in. However, you can apply to have identical modules accredited. It is sometimes possible to have modules from other subjects accredited towards the electives of the new subject.

Credits are not automatically accredited. Students must be proactive and apply for accreditation themselves.

The application for changing subject is available on the website of the Student Records Office.

It is sometimes difficult to determine who is responsible for subject advice and accreditation. As a rule, the websites for the degree program gives their contact details. The following links may also help:

• Points of contact at the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Theology and for teaching degree programs
• Points of contact at the Faculty of Engineering
• The contact details for the study advisors at the Faculty of Sciences can be found on the faculty’s website, and those for the Student Service Center on their website.

As a rule, it is sufficient to submit a certificate of de-registration from your previous university when applying for admission and enrollment at FAU. Further information is available on our website about changing universities.

Note: Unfortunately, we cannot offer you a place at FAU if you have already exceeded the standard duration of study by more than two semesters by the time you would like to change university.

If students wish to transfer to another university, they must clarify the exact conditions for the transfer with the university they would like to transfer to. Further information is available on our website about changing universities.

Please contact the relevant Internship Office to clarify credit transfer options.

Yes, it is generally possible to complete internships abroad. If you are interested in doing so, please contact International Affairs (formerly known as RIA for short) to explore the various options for spending time abroad. In addition, it is worth contacting those responsible for your subject to find out which international partnerships exist. To clarify credit transfer options, please contact the relevant Internship Office.

For the degree programs Industrial Engineering and Management and Mechanical Engineering, a mandatory, at least six-week internship must be completed before the start of the program: department.mb.tf.fau.de/studium/internship_office.

There are no mandatory internships for any other degree programs.

For teaching degrees, we recommend completing the orientation internship before starting your studies: zfl.fau.de/education-studium/lehramt-nach-themen/praktika-im-lehramt.

Students in cooperative degree programs can have the module “study-related internship” (5 ECTS) in Business and Economics and Socioeconomics (School of Business, Economics, and Society) credited to their degree simply by presenting their contract.

If you have any questions about a placement in a primary school or Mittelschule, please contact: praktikumsamt.phil.fau.de.

If you have any questions about a placement at a Realschule, please contact: realschulebayern.de/bezirke/mittelfranken/praktikumsamt.

If you have any questions about a placement at a Gymnasium, please contact: zfl.fau.de/person/praktikumsamt-fuer-la-gym.

In addition to your studies and other mandatory internships, it can be very useful to complete internships and/or gain other practical experience, especially in process-oriented degree programs. In most cases, you have to find these internships yourself, as they are not included in the curriculum, and it is also up to you to organize when to fit them in around your studies. FAU does provide a number of points of contact for this purpose (see below), but in many areas, it may be useful to find internships through existing contacts or job advertisements, or to inquire directly with a potential employer. Alternatively, you can inquire at the respective chair or look for notices on the bulletin board.

• General: jobs.fau.de
• For the Faculty of Engineering: tf.fau.de/studium/praktika-stellenangebote
• Internships abroad at the School of Business, Economics, and Society: ib.wiso.fau.de/outgo/wege-ins-ausland/praktika
• For the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences, and Theology: phil.fau.de/studium/im-studium/praktikum
• For international students: Work and internships

The campo administration portal is the virtual counterpart to the Student Records Office and the Examinations Office.

It includes student, examination, and course management. Here, students can manage their personal degree program data, register for examinations, and view their grades.

They can also print out their current study certificates and certificates of enrollment.

Online applications are processed via campo as well.

Instructions, videos and FAQs on the campo portal

StudOn is FAU’s platform for online learning and course management. Students can use StudOn to register for courses and access or upload seminar materials, reading lists, and information.

It is also possible to contact instructors and fellow students directly at any time and to communicate in forums, chats, and wikis. Online examinations can also be taken via StudOn. You log in using your user ID.

Further information can be found directly on the StudOn platform.

As a rule, you register for teaching units on StudOn.

In the course catalog on campo, you will always find a direct link to course registration on StudOn (“Link to the course on StudOn”) on the right-hand side of the respective course page in the “Dates” section.

The date on which the registration function is activated and how long it remains open vary from subject to subject and from teaching unit to teaching unit. If in doubt, ask someone from your subject.

Where you apply for your desired subject and how you enroll depends on whether the degree program is subject to decentralized (local) admission restrictions, nationwide (central) admission restrictions, or no admission restrictions at all.

Students should apply for degree programs without admission restrictions at FAU via the campo portal. After applying, you are required to enroll by post. Please note that special admission requirements (e.g., aptitude test) must be met in order to enroll in some subjects, even if they have no admission restrictions.

At FAU, places for degree programs subject to decentralized admission restrictions are allocated via the dialog-oriented service procedure (DoSV) of the Stiftung für Hochschulzulassung (Foundation for University Admissions (SfH). Therefore, in this case, you must first register at hochschulstart.de. From there, you will be redirected to our application portal, campo, where you can submit your application. Please note the application deadlines. If you are accepted, the admissions letter will state the deadline for enrollment and whether this must be done by email or post. The only subject that does not take part in the DoSV is Biology (only teaching degree in secondary education (Realschule) and biology as part of another degree program). In this case, applications are submitted directly and exclusively via campo.

For degree programs with centralized admission restrictions, applications can only be submitted via hochschulstart.de. Please note the application deadlines. If you are accepted, the admissions letter will state the deadline by which you must enroll with FAU by email.

Master’s degree programs at FAU may have their own application deadlines.

Information is gathered in one central location on the FAU website. It is also recommended that you take a look at the websites for the degree program as well as the faculty/department.

To find a study group, students can inquire with their student association (FSI) or via the WhatsApp groups for their subjects, in addition to their courses.

FAU students can study at many library locations and workspaces are available with different equipment to meet their needs. The Library Study Rooms Navigator can help you find a suitable workspace. All faculties also have computer rooms that can be used by students during their studies.

Learning and working places in the libraries

Computer rooms

Yes, students can take courses to improve their proficiency in Latin at FAU. As a rule, these are Latin courses I and II, each comprising 6 semester hours per week. Further information: mittellatein.phil.fau.de/lateinkenntnisse.

Enrolled students can take language courses at the FAU Language Centre: sz.fau.de.

As a rule, language courses can be counted toward the area of key qualifications. In teaching degree programs, modules for acquiring language skills to meet admission requirements are generally credited towards free electives.

At the FAU Language Centre, you can improve your language skills in modern languages or learn new languages. In addition, there is usually the opportunity to take foreign language exams and obtain certificates.

Further information can be found on the FAU Language Centre website.

If you have chosen a foreign language as your subject, you must find out in advance what language level is required or recommended at the beginning of your studies. Most foreign language subjects require a placement test at the FAU Language Centre: https://sz.fau.de/pruefungen/zulassung_einstufung. The placement test for English has been abolished.

Students who have completed their school education in Germany do not need to provide proof of language proficiency at the beginning of their undergraduate studies. In certain subjects, you must provide proof of language proficiency during your studies or before registering for the State Examination when studying for the teaching degree. All important information can be found here: Proof of language skills.

If you have chosen a foreign language as your subject, you must find out in advance what language level is required or recommended at the beginning of your studies.

In most cases, international students must provide proof of C1/C2 German language proficiency at the beginning of their studies. Further information can be found here: German language skills and language certificates.