Index

What is the maximum number of semesters I can study in the master’s program?

All master’s students are granted 6 semesters (if you can prove a regular study progress and re-register in time by transferring the semester fee). After that, you can only get a 7th or 8th master’s semester (and beyond) by applying for it at our Examinations Office (please find the respective form here and submit it in due time before your 7th, 8th etc. semester starts). In order to get the extension, you have to give justified reasons for it (e.g. master’s thesis already registered, but not finished yet; severe illness etc.).

Please note that the extension to a 7th semester and beyond will only be given if you can prove a regular study progress (i.e. you took and passed a reasonable amount of exams and were not close to or completely inactive) and there is a realistic chance that you will be able to finish your studies soon if given the extension.

Please note that SS 20, WS 20/21, SS 21 and WS 21/22 were so-called “covid semesters” and count as zero with regard to your official duration of studies.

I was already enrolled during the covid pandemic. Which of my semesters are not counted as regular semesters?

SS 20, WS 20/21, SS 21 and WS 21/22 were officially declared “covid semesters” and therefore count as zero when your official duration of studies is assessed. Please don’t be confused – all semesters are counted in the semester count that you can see in your Campo overview (as well as in your enrollment certificate), but if you studied during the covid semesters you can deduct them from this number. This is also explained in the footnotes of your enrollment certificate.

Example: If you started your studies in WS 21/22 and your Campo account shows 5 semesters you can deduct the covid semester, hence you are officially only in your 4th semester.

 

How can I forward emails from my FAU account to my private email account?

Please log into www.idm.fau.de, go to the section “self-service” – “email” and click on the magnifying glass symbol next to your FAU email address. Enter the private email address to which you want to forward your FAU communication and click on the “update” button.

I was admitted to my master’s program with the condition to submit my official bachelor’s certificate within one year, but I won’t be able to meet this deadline. What should I do?

This is a serious issue! Please note that the deadline for submitting your original bachelor’s certificate (1 year after the beginning of your master’s studies) cannot be extended under any circumstances. This deadline is imposed on the university by the Bavarian law, which means that no person at FAU can change, adapt or overrule it.

If you fear that you might not be able to submit your original degree certificate in time, it is crucial that you apply for several other English-taught master’s programs at FAU as well as for English-taught master’s programs at other German universities so that you have a backup plan. Your residence permit for study purposes is tied to your student status. Hence, if you lose your enrollment status in our Medical Engineering program due to your missing certificate, you will also lose your visa and become “illegal”. This means that you have to leave Germany and the Schengen area immediately.

You can find an overview of all English-taught programs at FAU here. This database contains all study programs taught at all German universities.

Please pay close attention to the application deadlines! You will not be able to apply for another study program last minute. Therefore, it is of great importance that you start doing your research of suitable alternative programs at the beginning of your second semester, even if you still have some hope that you might receive your degree certificate in time. It is better to be safe than sorry!

I need a letter of recommendation from a professor (to apply for a scholarship, summer school etc.). How can I get this letter?

First of all, it is important for you to know that you are not entitled to a letter of recommendation. Our academic staff is very busy and free to decide wether they want to issue you a recommendation letter or not. Please note that only professors can issue you a recommendation letter. Your study advisor or PhD students are not authorized to write recommendation letters.

Who should I approach about a recommendation letter?

It only makes sense to ask professors for a recommendation letter if you have studied with them for some time (i.e. have taken several, preferably smaller courses with them) and have had excellent grades in those courses (1,0 – 1,3). Of course, their courses must be related to the subject/purpose you need the recommendation letter for. Ideally, you already have a more personal relationship with your professor, e.g. you are doing your master’s thesis with them or work for them as a student assistant.

What do I need to prepare for the recommendation letter?

If you want anyone to do you the favor of writing you a recommendation letter, you need to make it as little time-consuming and easy for them as you can. This means that you should already prepare a pre-written text about your academic accomplishments, which your professor can easily adapt for their official version of the letter. You can find many styles of recommendation letters online to give you an idea. Please be aware that German recommendation letters are very fact-based and must not include any emotional statements. Please send this text template together with a current grade overview and cv to your professor of choice and ask them very kindly and politely if they are willing to write you a recommendation for the summer school X or scholarship Y. If they do, make sure to thank them because they took some time out of their busy day to help you with something that does not have any benefit for them.

I have to give a scientific presentation – how do I do that?

Prof. Andreas Maier has published a very useful video which explains the elements of a good scientific presentation. Please find it here.

I got accepted and am planning to move to Erlangen. How can I find accommodation?

Firstly, some bad news: In contrast to academic systems in other countries, German universities are not allowed to own and rent out dormitories. Therefore, the admission to our program does not come with a room in a student dormitory. You have to find accommodation on your own, which can be especially challenging if you are still residing abroad, your financial means are limited and/or you don’t speak German. The Erlangen housing market is extremely tense (not only for students), meaning that the offer is small and prices are high. Many students spend their first months in an airbnb or hotel, so please plan your financial budget accordingly!

Our FAU accommodation service will assist you in your search as much as we can but we can only offer you what is available on the market at a given time (again, FAU does not own housing facilities). Please find a compilation of online resources and tips for finding a dorm/apartment here.

A word of advice: Have a “plan B” in case you come to Erlangen and don’t find a place to stay within the first months. Do you have friends or family members in other parts of Germany where you could stay for a while? Can somebody borrow you money if the apartment you found turns out to be more expensive than you thought? Do you have enough savings for a return flight ticket if you want to go back to your home country? Please consider these aspects before travelling!

 

How can I register for exams from other specializations which I want to use in my module group M3 or M5 (rule for interchanging modules)?

As explained in the footnotes in your module catalog, you can interchange some modules between the other specializations (which you have not chosen) and your own:

You can use a modul/modules with max. 5 ECTS from M2, M3 or M5 of the other specializations or from M2 or M5 of your own specialization for your module group M3 and another modul/modules with max. 5 ECTS from M2, M3 or M5 of the other specializations or from M2 or M3 of your own specialization for your module group M5. In total, this means that you can use 10 ECTS of those “external” modules, namely a module/modules worth 5 ECTS in your module group M3 and (an)other module/modules worth 5 ECTS in your module group M5.

Please note that only complete 2,5 ECTS and 5 ECTS modules can be used for this purpose, as modules cannot be split up (i.e. a 5 ECTS module cannot be divided into two 2,5 ECTS modules). It is not possible to only use parts of a module with a higher amount of ECTS, either (i.e. a module worth 7,5 ECTS cannot be downgraded to or split up into a 5 ECTS module for his purpose).

If you want to take exams from the other specializations you cannot register for them as part of the “tree structure” for your specialization in Campo. Please register for the exams in Campo as “electives”, i.e. register them as part of your module group M8/Free Choice Uni or “additional achievements”. After you have passed the exams you have time until the very end of your studies to ask Mrs. Jahreis (helga.jahreis[at]fau.de) our Examinations Offices to move them to your desired module group.

 

What do I need to do if I want to transfer credits form previous studies/studies abroad to my Master’s in Medical Engineering?

Achievements from previous studies and studies abroad can only be accredited towards the Medical Engineering program if they have been evaluated positively by your accreditation officer for Medical Engineering.

In order to apply for accreditation of previously acquired credits and grades, please read the information on accreditation carefully and follow the process described here: https://www.medical-engineering.study.fau.eu/current-students/recognition-of-academic-achievements/

Whom do I need to contact if I want to move credits & grades from one module group to another?

Please contact Mrs. Jahreis of our Examinations Office (helga.jahreis[at]fau.de). Your study advisor cannot make any changes in your module/grade overview in Campo. It is only possible to move modules to a certain module group if it is in compliance with the rules explained in your module catalog (see the footnotes there). You can have your modules moved until the very end of your studies, before your final degree documents are issued.