EN
Erlangen University Hospital (Universitätsklinikum Erlangen) is a major academic medical center providing tertiary care (Maximalversorgungsstufe) in the state of Bavaria. As the teaching and clinical facility for the Faculty of Medicine at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, this institution combines clinical treatment with scientific research and medical education. Together with other municipal hospitals in Erlangen, it handles emergency and elective medical care for domestic and international patients with complex health conditions. International patients travel to this university center to undergo detailed diagnostics in Germany and receive specialized medical care across numerous disciplines at major hospitals in Germany.
History and Foundation
The history of Erlangen University Hospital dates back to its founding in 1815, expanding over more than two centuries from modest academic wards into one of the key medical and scientific institutions in Bavaria. Throughout its development, the hospital has maintained a direct connection to university research, ensuring that clinical practice incorporates well-founded scientific discoveries. In January 1847, Professor Johann Ferdinand Heyfelder performed the first ether anesthesia at the university surgical clinic in Erlangen, establishing an important milestone for nineteenth-century German surgery and anesthesiology. Over subsequent decades, new specialized departments and institute laboratories were established across the university campus.
The medical center gained international attention through significant developments in reproductive medicine and specialized patient care. In 1982, Erlangen University Hospital marked a major clinical milestone with the birth of Germany’s first infant conceived through in vitro fertilization. Ten years later, in 1992, the hospital again drew global public and professional interest during a complex clinical case involving the management of a pregnancy in a brain-dead patient, widely known as the Erlanger Baby. Historical milestones and scientific developments in academic medicine are discussed further in our medical articles on treatment in Germany.
Departments and Medical Specialties
- Department of Surgery (Chirurgische Klinik)
- Department of Hematology and Oncology (Medizinische Klinik 5 – Hämatologie und Internistische Onkologie)
- Department of Cardiology and Angiology (Medizinische Klinik 2 – Kardiologie und Angiologie)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (Frauenklinik)
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine (Kinder- und Jugendklinik)
- Department of Ophthalmology (Augenklinik)
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Klinik)
- Department of Dermatology (Hautklinik)
- Department of Neurosurgery (Neurochirurgische Klinik)
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology (Medizinische Klinik 3 – Rheumatologie und Immunologie)
Each specialized department at the hospital functions in close collaboration with the corresponding academic university chairs. Patients requiring complex surgical interventions on abdominal organs, thoracic structures, or vascular systems are admitted to the surgical clinic. In the Department of Hematology and Internal Oncology, multidisciplinary medical boards structure comprehensive cancer treatment in Germany, incorporating systemic chemotherapy, immunotherapy protocols, and detailed diagnostic assessments for blood disorders. Specialists in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology focus on gynaecological oncology, high-risk obstetric care, and reproductive health options.
The Department of Cardiology and Angiology performs diagnostic and catheter-based interventions for coronary heart disease, cardiac arrhythmias, and structural heart defects, providing a structured destination for complex cardiology in Germany. For pediatric patients, the Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine treats severe chronic conditions, rare metabolic diseases, and complex genetic disorders. Additional specialized units for neurosurgery, dermatology, nephrology, and rheumatology enable interdisciplinary medical boards to design comprehensive treatment strategies for patients presenting with complex multi-organ conditions.
Location and Accessibility
Erlangen University Hospital is situated in the Bavarian city of Erlangen, located immediately adjacent to Nuremberg. Erlangen offers a peaceful city atmosphere and well-developed infrastructure, making it convenient for international patients undergoing inpatient treatment or outpatient consultations. The hospital buildings and clinical institutes are distributed across central districts of the city within the university campus, forming a centralized medical district. Convenient public transportation connections make travel to the hospital straightforward from other regions of Germany or international locations.
Reaching the hospital from the central train station in Erlangen is simple via local suburban rail lines (S-Bahn) and municipal buses. For international patients traveling by plane, the closest major arrival point is Nuremberg International Airport, located approximately twenty kilometers from Erlangen. Patients traveling by car can use dedicated multi-level parking structures (Parkhaus) situated near the main hospital departments. The exact address of the specific department where an appointment is scheduled, along with detailed arrival directions, is provided in the official invitation document. To simplify travel logistics, AlenMed coordinates airport transfer and accommodation in Germany.
Facilities, Accommodation, and Patient Comfort
Inpatient departments at the university hospital are designed according to modern medical standards. Patients receive balanced meals with choices from daily menus, including dietary options prescribed by attending physicians based on individual health requirements or recovery plans. Cafeterias on the hospital grounds offer warm beverages, snacks, and meals for patients and accompanying visitors. Landscaped park areas situated around clinical buildings allow patients to spend time outdoors during recovery intervals between diagnostic procedures or post-operative monitoring.
Patient accommodation is provided in standard single and double rooms equipped with private sanitary facilities, functional adjustable beds, and staff emergency call buttons. Single room accommodation or lodging for an accompanying family member can be arranged as optional elective services upon request. Patient rooms feature wireless internet access (WLAN), allowing individuals to stay in contact with family during their stay. Visiting hours are structured flexibly to maintain a comfortable psychological environment that supports recovery.
How to Arrange Treatment at Erlangen University Hospital
Organizing medical care at Erlangen University Hospital begins with preparing a complete set of medical records. The patient submits medical histories, recent MRI or CT scans, laboratory reports, and biopsy findings. Physicians in the relevant hospital department review these records to determine treatment options and construct a preliminary medical program. Based on this review, the hospital issues an official financial estimate (Kostenvoranschlag). Payment is transferred by the patient directly to the university hospital’s official bank account without intermediary markups, ensuring full transparency regarding the cost of treatment and payment in Germany.
Following receipt of the deposit, the hospital issues an official medical invitation required for visa processing. The team at AlenMed provides complete administrative coordination during this process, assisting with a medical visa for Germany, accommodation bookings, and local transportation arrangements. Throughout the hospital stay, patients are accompanied by professional medical interpreters and personal support in Germany who assist during doctor consultations, daily ward rounds, and the translation of medical documentation.
Send Your Medical Documents for Review
If you require a specialized medical opinion or treatment plan from doctors at Erlangen University Hospital or other major German academic centers, submit your medical records and imaging files via the inquiry form on our website. The AlenMed team will review your documentation, help formulate an official inquiry for German specialists, and promptly provide a structured action plan, preliminary timelines, and official hospital cost estimates without hidden charges.
The information provided on this page is for guidance purposes only and does not constitute a public offer or direct medical advice. All financial conditions, treatment procedures, and hospital stay durations are determined solely on the basis of the official cost estimate (Kostenvoranschlag) and the evaluation of medical records by hospital physicians.