Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg: A Legacy of Moving Knowledge
The Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU), or Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg in German, stands as a prominent public research university with locations in the Bavarian cities of Erlangen and Nuremberg. With a rich history dating back to its founding in 1742, FAU has evolved into one of Germany's largest universities, offering a wide array of academic programs and fostering a vibrant research environment.
A Brief History
FAU's journey began in 1742 when Frederick, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth, established the Academia Fridericiana in Bayreuth. In November 1743, the institution was relocated to Erlangen, finding its home in the former Knight Academy on Erlanger Hauptstraße and renamed Universität Erlangen. From the outset, the university offered a traditional range of subjects, including theology, law, medicine, and philosophy.
Despite modest resources, the university persevered, with physician Daniel de Superville serving as its first chancellor. Karl Wilhelm, Baron Buirette von Oehlefeld, a privy councilor, bequeathed a foundation to the university, solidifying its role in training Protestant theologians. To this day, FAU maintains a Protestant theological department, without a Catholic theological department, though the study of Catholic religious education remains possible for specific teaching roles and academic pursuits.
The early 1880s marked a period of growth for Erlangen University, mirroring a trend seen across other German universities. The establishment of the History Seminar, spearheaded by historian Karl Hegel, played a crucial role in modernizing historical studies at the university. Student numbers surged, climbing from 374 in 1870 to 1,000 in 1890. Initially dominated by law students, the Faculty of Theology gained popularity before being overtaken by the Faculty of Medicine in 1890.
FAU continued to break barriers, appointing Jakob Herz as the first Jewish professor at a university in Bavaria in 1863 and admitting women to study in 1897.
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Navigating Tumultuous Times
The rise of the National Socialist movement in the 1920s also impacted the University of Erlangen. An Erlangen Sturmabteilung (SA) division emerged, largely composed of students. In 1929, the NSDStB secured a majority in the student parliament, making the University of Erlangen the first German university with a student parliament dominated by National Socialists. Despite this, the University of Erlangen was less affected by the purge of German universities that began in 1933 than most other universities.
The university emerged from the world wars with its buildings relatively intact. The denazification process led to the dismissal of some university teachers, who were replaced by professors from former eastern territories.
Expansion and Modernization
The post-war era witnessed further expansion, driven by increased student numbers and the establishment of new chairs. Collaboration with Siemens AG, which had recently moved to Erlangen, spurred the construction of the south campus for the technical and natural science faculties.
In 1961, the Nuremberg University of Economics and Social Sciences was incorporated as a separate faculty, leading to FAU's current name: Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. A technical faculty was established in 1966, solidifying FAU's position as one of the first classical universities to offer engineering programs.
The university continued to evolve, establishing the Central Institute for New Materials and Process Technology (ZMP) in Fürth in 2004 and restructuring its faculties in 2007. In April 2011, FAU adopted a new logo to promote the abbreviation "FAU" as a trademark.
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Addressing Challenges and Planning for the Future
In recent years, FAU has faced challenges related to structural defects in its buildings, stemming from underinvestment in maintenance. To address these issues and accommodate the Faculty of Philosophy, plans are underway to relocate and merge the faculty into buildings belonging to Siemens in Erlangen city center, with the "Himbeerpalast" (Raspberry Palace) as a focal point. The Free State of Bavaria completed the purchase of the Himbeerpalast in 2018, with renovation and conversion planned.
Furthermore, the State of Bavaria acquired land on the Siemens Campus Erlangen in 2023, which now houses the central university administration. A new building is also planned in the north of Nuremberg for the Faculty of Philosophy for teacher training.
Academic Programs and Research
FAU offers a comprehensive range of subjects across 272 degree programs, including 82 bachelor's degrees, 98 master's degrees, and 92 degrees leading to a state examination. The university is a member of the German Research Foundation DFG and consistently ranks among the top ten universities in Germany based on DFG funding. In 2023, FAU secured 117.7 million euros in funding. The university also boasts seven DFG research groups and several graduate colleges.
FAU is one of the most successful universities in Germany. This is reflected not only by its top places in both national and international rankings, and the continuously increasing third-party funding which it receives from industry and public funding programmes, but also in the awards and prizes for researchers at the University.
The university is embedded in a vibrant ecosystem of cutting-edge non-university research institutes, e.g. the Max Planck society, the Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, the Helmholtz Association or the Leibniz Association, as well as leading international companies, such as Adidas, Bosch, Schaeffler and Siemens.
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Master's Programs
FAU offers a diverse selection of Master's programs, including:
- Advanced Materials and Processes
- Advanced Signal Processing and Communications Engineering
- Autonomy Technologies
- Chemical and Biological Engineering
- Chemistry
- Clean Energy Processes
- Communications and Multimedia Engineering
- Computational and Applied Mathematics
- Computational Engineering
- Data Science
- Development Economics and International Studies
- Economics
- Electromobility-ACES
- English Studies
- European Master in Lexicography (EMLex)
- Human Rights
- Information and Communication Technology
- Integrated Immunology
- Integrated Life Sciences - Biology, Biomathematics and Biophysics
- International Business Studies
- International Information Systems
- Management
- Molecular Medicine
- North American Studies - Culture and Literature
- Physical Activity and Health
- Physical Geography: Climate and Environmental Sciences
- Standards of Decision - Making Across Cultures
- Sustainability Management (MBA)
Rankings and Recognition
FAU's commitment to research and teaching is reflected in its strong performance in national and international rankings. The university has participated very successfully in the Excellence Initiative, being chosen as the location for both the Erlangen Graduate School in Advanced Optical Technologies (SAOT) and the Cluster of Excellence ‘Engineering of Advanced Materials’ (EAM).
Student Life and Career Support
FAU provides a dynamic and inclusive learning environment, offering excellent resources and support for students. The university also offers career services to assist students in finding their first job and provides opportunities for further training and alumni services.
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