Technical University of Munich

About university

Technische Universität München (TUM) is one of Europe’s top universities. It is committed to excellence in research and teaching, interdisciplinary education and the active promotion of promising young scientists. The university also forges strong links with companies and scientific institutions across the world. TUM was one of the first universities in Germany to be named a University of Excellence. Moreover, TUM regularly ranks among the best European universities in international rankings.

TUM offers more than 150-degree programs in the natural sciences, engineering, medicine, life sciences, business and economics, teaching and educational research. The overall majority of study programs at TUM are generally free of tuition fees, with the exception, e.g., for MBA programs. We encourage you to browse through our offerings and learn more about the individual programs in detail.

• Department of Architecture

  The Department of Architecture at the TU München has 1.400 students and 180 members of academic staff working in 29 professorships, and takes a research-oriented approach to teaching also in cooperation with businesses and public institutions.

  The department, which was founded in 1868, is the only university-level educational institution in Bavaria to teach architecture and is embedded in one of the best universities in Europe. It has a diverse portfolio of subject areas and good infrastructure. Its inner-city location in the artistic quarter of Munich is ideal for a school of architecture.

  The department belongs to one of the top universities in Europe. As a university, the TUM is committed to excellence in research and teaching, interdisciplinary education and the active promotion of promising young professionals. It also forges strong links with businesses and academic institutions around the world. The TUM describes itself as an entrepreneurial university and was one of the first three universities to be appointed to the German Excellence Initiative program. With its “Emerging Field Policy”, the TUM explores new areas of development at the intersection of academia, the economy, and society.

• School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan

  The interdisciplinary synergies amongst all fields of the life science represented on the Weihenstephan Campus enable the exploration of the entire life cycle of foodstuffs and raw materials. Researchers at Weihenstephan examine the value chain from genetic and biological building blocks through production and processing to consumption. The close networking of research areas is what distinguishes the TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan.

• Department of Chemistry

  The Department of Chemistry at the Technische Universität München has taken great efforts to meet the requirements of a rapidly changing scientific environment.
  We offer a broad diversity of subjects: The traditional areas of Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, and Physical Chemistry have been enriched by Chemical Technology, Radiochemistry, Food Chemistry, Theoretical Chemistry, and Hydrochemistry many years ago. The last years saw new expansions into the fields of Biochemistry and Construction Chemistry.

• Faculty of Civil, Geo and Environmental Engineering

  Subscribing to the mission statement "Construction – Infrastructure – Environment – Planet Earth", our Faculty is responsible for tuition and research in the field of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Surveying and Geology. The 8 institutes belonging to the faculty accommodate a total of 38 departments and research units, 2 junior professorships in addition to several research and development bodies like testing centers, external institutes and laboratories.

• Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

  The TUM Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering – one of Germany’s largest and leading engineering faculties – geared itself up for precisely that scenario at an early stage and is excellently equipped for the challenges of the years ahead. The close links between teaching and research, broad subject coverage, organization in efficient instructional and research units, and application of efficient methods of resource planning and allocation combine to put the faculty in a position to react fast and to pick up on new developments, while maintaining the continuity of this discipline with its rich tradition.

• Department of Informatics

  At one of the largest departments of informatics in Germany, you will have access to teaching and research in nearly all topics relating to the field of informatics. Whether you come here as an exchange student or as a degree-seeking bachelor’s or master’s candidate, you have a wide choice of study programs to choose from.

   International rankings confirm that TUM Informatics is one of the top German universities in the field of informatics. Moreover, Munich is a global hotspot for the IT and technology industries –and an exciting city with wonderful lakes and mountains nearby.

• Department of Mathematics

  A university consists of research and of teaching, and ideally connects both. Our thorough interest in the theory behind applications is reflected by our teaching profile. We offer a general mathematics bachelor and masters education as well as several master degrees with a specific applied profile. On top of that we also house the elite degree programs TopMath and FIM (Finance and Information Management). Treating students of all levels (bachelor, master, PhD) as individuals with different skill profiles and finding the best way to support and develop them is one of our core missions in education.

• Department of Mechanical Engineering

  The Department of Mechanical Engineering at the TUM has been at the forefront of achievements in engineering since 1868. The Department is now one of the most successful mechanical engineering departments in the world and has occupied top places in international rankings for the past several years. 

• School of Medicine

  „Knowledge creates cure“ – this is the guiding principle of the medicine at TUM. It represents the very close link between medical research and patient care: here, the patient will benefit as directly as possible from new discoveries by physicians and scientists. The patient needs experienced by physicians in their daily work in turn affect the objectives of research projects. Thus physicians and scientists of Klinikum rechts der Isar and TUM School of Medicine work hand in hand in being able to offer both patients of today and those of tomorrow the best possible help.

  With this philosophy, medicine at TUM is internationally successful: Klinikum rechts der Isar and TUM School of Medicine together stand for medicine with a worldwide reputation - in patient care, research and education.

• Physics Department

  The Faculty of Physics comprehends three research areas as well as many central services. It is complemented by partner and interdisciplinary research institutions and takes part in a number of major projects.

• Department of Sport and Health Sciences

  We offer a broad, interdisciplinary, scientific portfolio ofteaching and research in these two fields of science. The spectrum extends from the holistic support of top athletes, such as the National Ski Team, for instance, or in diagnosing the performance of professional soccer players from the record champions of FC Bayern Munich, and up to the prevention and rehabilitation in the context of civilization illnesses over the entire lifetime.

  For the training of students we offer a total of twelve courses of study for bachelor, master and teacher qualification. Included here are the two Bachelor's courses of study in "Sport sciences" and "Health sciences" (Bachelor of Science) as well as the Master's courses of studies in "Diagnostics and training" and in "Movement and health" (Master of Science). In addition, we also train athletic trainers for all forms of schooling. With "TUM Sport and Health for Life" and the Master's course in "Traditional Chinese Medicine", we offer diverse training and further-education possibilities.

• School of Education

  TUM School of Education is the thirteenth TUM faculty, and the very first faculty in Germany to be dedicated entirely to initial and further training of teachers in the 
  subjects of mathematics, computer studies, science and technology (the so-called MINT subjects). 

  The faculty calls itself a School as it is modeled on the professional schools at American universities. Like these, it has the following defining characteristics:

  • Interdisciplinary approach: teaching and research are carried out on a cross-disciplinary basis.
  • Practically oriented: since there is an extensive cluster of schools, students have the opportunity to apply what they have learned in the classroom from the very beginning.
  • Joint appointments: professors from specialist subject departments can also be assigned to the TUM School.

  As a separate faculty, TUM School of Education retains its independence within the university and can therefore provide optimum support to meet the needs of trainee teachers.

• School of Management

  TUM School of Management at Technical University of Munich (TUM) carries out world-class research and teaching at the interface between management and technology. Established in 2002, we consistently top the rankings of business schools in Germany. 

  TUM School of Management's interdisciplinary approach is focused on the interface between management and technology. We have almost 30 full professors and 250 other staff members who work in the School's own departments. They are also active in interdisciplinary and interfaculty projects with other parts of the university and external partners. Our activities are structured around five academic departments: Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Operations & Supply Chain Management, Finance & Accounting, Marketing, Strategy & Leadership and Economics & Policy. Many of the professors working in these departments are internationally recognized leaders in their fields.

Ever since its founding in 1868, TUM has been at the forefront of innovation. TUM scientists today have the same goal as their 19th century counterparts: finding solutions to the major challenges facing society as we move forward. TUM was founded to provide the state of Bavaria with a center of learning dedicated to the natural sciences. It has played a vital role in Europe’s technological advancement and has the prestige of producing a number of Nobel Prize winners. In 1868, King Ludwig II founded the “Königlich Bayerische Polytechnische Schule zu München”. It was granted the right to award doctorates in 1901, and four years later admitted its first official female student. With the establishment of the Faculty of Medicine in 1967, the long-standing “Klinikum rechts der Isar” became a university clinic. The university was renamed “Technische Universität München” in 1970.

Accreditation

TUM was system-acc­re­dited by the Swiss Center of Accreditation and Quality Assu­rance in Higher Edu­cation (OAQ) on 14 May 2014, with no stipu­lations im­posed.

International rankings

• The 5th best European technical university.
• Globally, TUM placed 19 in the natural sciences and 30 in engineering

There is more to life at Technische Universität München (TUM) than lectures and exams. Our students find a variety of ways to immerse themselves in campus life. They organize festivals. They get involved in student bodies. They join music clubs or set up creative research projects. TUM actively encourages these character-building activities.

TUM’s various student bodies (AStA and Fachschaften) represent the interests of students. They also play a major role in shaping life on campus. 

• Politics: Elected student representatives have a say in important decisions on issues such as the appropriation of tuition fees, the appointment of new professors and changes to study and exam regulations.
• Events: AStA is responsible for organizing the uni festivals TUNIX and GARNIX. Over 150 volunteers help plan and execute these events. In addition to these huge crowd-pullers, AStA also organizes many other smaller events.

TUM students explore and realize their innovative ideas through various student research groups. Examples include the development of a space elevator, intelligent zeppelin navigation systems and a genetically engineered 3D printer.

The religious societies play an important role in campus life: The Catholic Academic Society (KHG) and the Protestant Academic Society (EHG). TUM students and staff join these societies to express their faith. A wide range of social events and courses are offered, for example salsa classes or discussion groups on technology and ethics. If someone is going through a difficult time, suffering from exam stress or experiencing family problems, the societies are there to provide support. At the start of each academic year, the societies get together to host a specialn ecumenical service.

Students and university staff come together to share their love of music in Munich’s 18 academic orchestras and choirs. There is something for everyone – from ambitious amateur musicians to people who just love to sing in a choir. The Symphonische Ensemble München (SEM) regularly performs to a full house in the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra at Gasteig. There are also:

• Cafeterias and dining halls 
• University Libraries
• eLearning: Moodle
• Corporate IT Systems and Services: WLAN, loan of laptops
• TUM Career Service
• Mentoring program
• Language courses
• The TUM Architecture Museum in the Pinakothek der Moderne is one of the best of its kind in the world. It is both an archive and an exhibition, combining collection, teaching and research – a unique position as a university institution in Germany.

Anyone considering university study in Germany has a lot to think about: How can I finance my study and stay? How good must my German language skills be? Where do I apply? How do I get to know other students - and what kind of services does TUM offer for international students?

• Settling into new surroundings can be difficult. But it’s a lot easier if you have someone to call on for support, whether that be a mentor, a tutor or a ‘buddy’. Some of these support services are 1:1 while others are aimed at groups. Either way, we will help you find a ‘buddy’ so you always have someone to turn to.
• You can network with TUM students from other courses by taking part in leisure activities. There are also student groups for different nationalities. They are a great way to get valuable advice and enjoy a spot of your home culture here in Munich.
• TUM offers 3-6 week Summer Schools for international students interested in obtaining a master’s degree. These programs are designed to give students a taste of what it is like to study at TUM and offer a wide-range of courses and events, including German-language courses, subject-specific courses and cultural activities. Visits to internationally-recognized, German high-tech companies represent a highlight of the program.
• The double degree program offers qualified students the opportunity to receive a degree from both TUM and one of its partner universities. The goal of the double degree program at TU München is to integrate the strengths of its individual partner universities’ degree programs – unaltered – into the joint program. This joint program constitutes the linkage of the individual degree programs of the respective universities. Credits and examinations completed at the partner university will be recognized by TUM.