

Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
- Last Updated on: June 21, 2025 by
- Sridhar Kongara
Friedensau Adventist University (FAU) is in a dense, wooded area of approximately 13 hectares, near Magdeburg. FAU currently has approximately 250 students from over 40 countries, creating a worldwide welcoming environment. The university includes two faculties—Christian Social Sciences and Theology—and eleven academic programs comprising bachelor’s and master’s degrees. FAU is an exceptional study place in Germany with its strong community spirit, multicultural background and focus on ethics and global development.
Courses Offered
** Fees mentioned here are approximate and are per year, Unless specified otherwise
Why Choose Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Our emphasis on small class sizes allows for personalized learning
- Instructors provide personalized attention due to small class sizes, typically under 20 per course.
- This facilitates intimate contact between professors and students.
- We offer mentoring with robust feedback for academic development.
- discussion-based learning to encourage critical thinking.
- Students are part of a community that supports individual needs.
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International Student Population and Cultural Diversity
- FAU has over 250 students from more than 40 countries.
- An international environment where cross-cultural Classes and activities incorporate a diversity of perspectives and global themes.
- Several Programs are conducted in English which is the principal medium of instruction.
- Celebrating cultural traditions and global festivals on campus.
Education for the Purpose of Ethics
- Values are a big emphasis for FAU, which is run by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
- Programs focus on social responsibility and ethical leadership.
- Students are invited to examine faith, service and community.
- Moral reflection is woven together with academic excellence.
- Research themes are often centered upon justice, peace and human dignity.
Interdisciplinary and Applied Programs
- Development Studies Social Work Interdisciplinary domains blend theory with applied knowledge and fieldwork.
- Internships are compulsory in degree programs.
- Research projects directly respond to real-world challenges and global development.
- Students may select concentrations in areas such as gender and migration.
Tranquil Country Living and Nearby City Access
- The campus is in Friedensau, a small, quiet and green village.
- The forest and river that surround us create a calm workspace.
- The city of Magdeburg is only 25 km away.
- It’s also about 120 kilometers from Berlin, a trip that’s easily made.
- This fusion of tranquil backdrop and metropolitan connectedness encourages learning.
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Campus Facilities at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Campus Centered on Nature and Connected
- The whole campus is in beautiful nature with a wood surrounding and nearby a river.
- All academic, residential, and recreational facilities are walking distance.
- The close quarters foster a great community feeling among students and staff.
- Green spaces and wooded paths offer opportunities for outdoor learning and walks.
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Student Accommodation Options
- They include a choice of furnished rooms with internet access and washbasins.
- Bedrooms include direct phone lines for both incoming calls and on campus communication.
- Full-time and part-time options are available, space permitting.
Pavilion for Visitors and Catching Up on the Ground
- The campus guesthouse offers housing for part-time students during lecture weeks.
- This is managed by a hardworking staff who aid in booking rooms and planning stays.
- The perfect fit for modular programs, intensives, or block courses delivered year-round.
Facilities for Spiritual, Cultural, and Recreational Purpose
- Students and faculty are welcome to several prayer rooms and worship halls.
- Cultural programs throughout the year include music, drama, and artistic workshops.
- This includes the gym, outdoor fields, and student sports club.
- Activities offered through clubs include soccer, fitness, gymnastics and volleyball.
- The student center, the Erich Meyer House, is a centerpiece of student socializations.
Digital Tools and Visitor Information Systems
- 360° virtual campus tour of the Friedens au campus.
- Students receive campus news updates and event notifications on a mobile app.
- New signage, digital maps, and app integration−all part of a new visitor guidance system.
- International guidance is offered in both German and English.
- It enhances the experience of visiting guests and students alike.
Student Services Offered by FAU
Personalized Counseling Based on Academic Performance
- FAU provides individual counseling for students to aid in program selection.
- Committed staff help applicants select fields that match their interests.
- The university provides in-person and virtual consultations for flexibility.
- Support exists at every stage, from inquiry to enrollment and beyond.
- Students get personalized guidance based on their academic goals and career aspirations.
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Advice for Applying and Enrolling
- Through the whole application journey, the admissions team fully supports.
- Support means anything from document submission, deadlines, and requirements.
- Guidance on visa and arrival procedures for international students.
- Orientation facilitates the shift to academic and campus life.
- Timely responses help students feel supported through the entire process.
Emotional and Social Wellbeing
- FAU emphasizes that students should balance studying and wellbeing.
- All people are welcome, regardless of faith experience to our spiritual care services and chaplaincy.
- A supportive atmosphere is generated by regular worship, group activities and counseling.
- Calm surroundings promote mental and emotional peace.
Financial and Practical Support
- FAU is aware that studying abroad is expensive for most students.
- Information on grants, scholarships, and fee exemptions are easily available.
- The university helps students apply for TV/radio license fee waivers.
- Campus jobs and service opportunities help students earn money and gain experience.
- Payment plans can be arranged per the conditions of the unique needs of each student.
Inclusive Global Services
- Irina Heinz and Jochen Streit lead the International and Student Affairs Offices.
- Their teams assist international students with various academic, legal and cultural issues.
- The services are available in both the German language and English language.
- Assistance with health insurance, city registration, and local orientation.
- The team works to constantly create an international environment that is safe and welcoming.
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Student Life at FAU
Close-Knit Community and Open Atmosphere
- FAU’s small size helps create a close-knit student and staff community.
- Everyone’s familiar with each other, campus life feels a lot more personal and safer.
- International students can connect and create friendships between cultures quickly
- The community is diverse and respectful of all faiths, backgrounds, and languages.
- Promote open communication to foster a sense of belonging and support.
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Assembly Hall, Student Center and Common Spaces
- Located at ground level, the Stutz (Student Center) serves as a place for socializing and chilling.
- Residing in the Erich Meyer Building, it provides an inviting environment for any student.
- This is also the place where you often hold events like movie nights, discussions, and cultural evenings.
- Besides, it also brings students together outside the classroom, which contributes to improving social life.
Sources of Spiritual Life and Worship
- FAU integrates spiritual life as part of its campus culture.
- Everyone is welcome to attend regular worship services, Bible studies, and prayer meetings.
- There are student opportunities in ministry or spiritual leadership.
- The university respects every student’s path of faith and encourages open conversation.
- Peaceful nooks are available for personal and private contemplation or reflection.
Clubs, Sports, and Recreation
- Students can participate in sports such as football, gymnastics, and volleyball.
- Both for students and for residents’ recreational facilities.
- International Festivals, musical events and talent shows are organized by cultural clubs.
- Students who are creatively talented can find themselves involved in music, drama and arts based on their interest and there are number of various forms of art that are relevant for students.
- Students are actively involved in planning events organized during the academic year.
Life of the Village
- The campus is in the tranquil village of Friedens au.
- Students have access to walking trails, nearby woods and scenic landscapes to unwind.
- Nature is at the heart of student wellness and study-life balance.
- The village is rural but well connected by rail to larger cities such as Magdeburg.
- Safe, green, and quiet — a great environment for concentrated academic activity and individual development.
Scholarships Offered by FAU
ADRA Scholarship
- Amount: Waive full tuition for a master’s program in International Social Sciences.
- Eligibility: International Social Science (Students must demonstrate financial need and commitment to academic study).
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Friedens au Scholarship
- Field of study: Sociology; anthropology; humanities; broader social sciences; and arts.
- Eligibility: For students who show above-average academic performance and show financial need.
DAAD Monthly Grant
- Sum: Up to €250 monthly for up to nine months, per academic year.
- Eligibility: International students with demonstrated academic excellence and limited financial capacity.
Scholarship Book from Friends of Friedens au
- Amount: €250 per student.
- Eligibility: Given to students who have made significant academic, spiritual, or social contributions to the university community.
Tuition-Free Social Work Grant
- €13,000 covering full tuition for the B.A. in Social Work.
- Eligibility: Must be enrolled in the Social Work Bachelor’s program and demonstrate academic promise and/or need.
Internships and placements at FAU
Integrated Internships Across All Programs
- Practical training is a compulsory part of every course of study at FAU.
- Interns are structured to learn through practice in the real world.
- Internships are required for programs such as Social Work, Counseling, and Music Therapy.
- Internships allow students to start forming their professional identities early.
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Assistance from the Internship Office
- All internship procedures and supervision are coordinated by the Internship Office.
- The office is led by Dr. Friedegard Foltz, who offers student support on an individual basis.
- Students are advised on how to obtain internships in Palestine and around the world.
- Assistance with professional and academic internship standards is available.
Placements in Internationals and Cross-Cultural
- FAU students frequently intern with international organizations and NGOs.
- Globally minded with programs encouraging study of things like human rights and development.
- Students have partnered with UNICEF, with health NGOs and with women’s advocacy groups.
- The multicultural setting trains students for international professional career.
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Entry Requirements at FAU
Internships are part of certification and academic.
- Internships, for instance in Social Work, are what help you be considered a professional by the state.
- In Germany, students can meet national standards through professional internships.
- They are actual springboards into careers for the long haul.
- Learning by doing—getting practical—gives each student’s résumé credibility and experience.
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Campus employment opportunities and career services
- It allows students to work at the university on a part-time basis to help with their studies.
- Under rules around student employment, campus jobs can earn you up to €450 per month.
- 20 hours a week max is allowed to work in term time.
- Post graduation placement services and job postings allow students and employers to connect.
- The university helps with job search approaches, CV building and interviews.
Rankings and Awards of FAU
Accreditation Of Highly Regarded Academic Standing
- The Friedens au Adventist University has full accreditation from the German government.
- This means that degrees awarded are equivalent in value to degrees from public universities in Germany, and students are therefore able to complete their course of study in Germany.
- They are quality assured, academic with national and European standards.
- Which is recognized by the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
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Accreditation covers theology and social sciences degree programs
- Times Higher Education, Uni Rank and other worldwide directories list FAU.
- It has steady positive reputation at theology and applied social sciences.
- Though not ranked among large public institutions, it’s known for niche academic strengths.
- Its programs in International Social Work and Development Studies attract international applicants.
- The small size of the university does not impede the level of quality teaching and academic output.
Major Student Awards and Scholarships
- The 2020 award of the prestigious DAAD Prize for outstanding achievements of a foreign student went to Isaac Adjei (M.A. International Social Sciences).
- The Sparkasse Jeric Hower Land Sponsorship Award for excellent Christian social service was awarded to Tobias Nitzsche (B.A. Social Work).
- Das Waltraud-und-Herbert-Blomstedt-Preis für Theologies worded Verlie hen an Darja Schneider (M.A. Theology).
- The Blomstedt Music Prize was awarded to students Melanie Bahr, Lea Jelinek, and Mark Ato Baah-Nyarko for their contribution to music.
- This award shows the university’s dedication to academic, social, and artistic development.
Civic and Regional Honors
- The Integration Prize of the State of Saxony-Anhalt was awarded to Mario Alfaro (BFD) by FAU.
- This honor acknowledged efforts related to inclusion, diversity and community work.
- Locally, the university has been recognized for its work in intercultural understanding.
- FAU remains a shining example of peaceful co-existence and global education.
- These distinctions reflect FAU’s impact on society beyond an academic mission.
Graduates’ Success and Institutional Milestones
- A ceremonial convocation in 2023 saw 36 graduates from different faculties graduate.
- FAU frequently recognizes academic achievement with formal graduations and honors.
- Graduates frequently pursue careers in international non-governmental organizations, church settings, counseling and social advocacy.
- A graduate of FAU is an ethical and globally aware professional.
- Since its establishment in 1899 the university has proudly presented more than 125 years of higher education programs.
Acceptance Rate
Receptive Practices and Open Policy
- Friedens au Adventist University has an approximate acceptance rate of 90%.
- This number is indicative of its dedication to making education accessible and diversifying their admissions.
- The University has a Non-Selective Admission policy for qualifying applicants.
- Academic and language requirement satisfied applicants are mostly accepted.
- Inclusivity for students of all education levels: The acceptance rate is high, improving accessibility.
Balanced Enrollment and Small Class Sizes
- FAU admits approximately 200 to 250 students in all programs annually.
- Acceptance rate is high enough to maintain classroom capacity and other resources.
- The small class size model is designed to ensure individual attention for every student.
Accessibility for International Students
- FAU uses holistic, culturally sensitive application review, which tends to favor international students.
- International applications are welcomed if visa, academic, and financial requirements are fulfilled.
- The Admissions Office guides international students through the entire process.
- Statistics show an unwavering commitment to global representation.
Academically Open but Faith-Based
- FAU is run by the Seventh-day Adventist Church but does not require applicants to be members of a certain religion.
- As an inter-faith and inclusive university, we welcome students of all faiths and none.
- Applicants are evaluated for academic merit, character and alignment with program objectives.
- This breadth respects pastoral integrity while allowing academic inquiry.
- It has a mission for education for service, regardless of religious background.
Admissions Approach
- FAU is also an appealing choice for motivated students everywhere, as it has an acceptance rate of 90%.
- Despite the high acceptance rate, students must still fulfil all formal entry and language requirements.
- Our focus continues to be on supporting each student’s academic journey through personalized education.
- FAU is very approachable to ethical, global and community-based education applicants.
- Its inclusive focus embodies the university’s goal of whole-person development.
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