Please note: The information below summarizes the information for the subject areas Aerospace, Interdisciplinary Engineering, and Geodesy. For information on other subject areas, please refer to their respective information pages.
Welcome @ TUM School of Engineering and Design:
The TUM School of Engineering and Design offers international students a wide range of opportunities for a study or research stay at TUM:
General Information for International Students
General information can be found on the TUM central web page for international students and in the Fact Sheet for Exchange Students.. Please work through this information intensively.
Locations
The lecture activities of the TUM School of Engineering and Design (ED) are spread over three location: Munich City Center, Garching and Taufkirchen/Ottobrunn. Exact information on the location of the individual course can be found in the module description or on the homepage of the responsible chair. For further orientation, please also refer to the virtual campus tours.
The following rough overview by subject area can be useful for orientation:
Aerospace: Taufkirchen/Ottobrunn; further information: https://collab.dvb.bayern/x/sLRWV.
Architecture: Munich City Center
Civil / Environmental / Geo Engineering: City Center
Geodesy: Taufkirchen/Ottobrunn
Interdisciplinary Engineering: Garching, Munich City Center
Mechanical Engineering: Garching
Dates and Deadlines
https://www.tum.de/en/studies/application/application-info-portal/dates-periods-and-deadlines
Determination and announcement of exam grades
For winter semester exams: by the end of April at the latest.
For summer semester exams: by the end of October at the latest.
If the exam results are needed earlier, students must contact the responsible examiner themselves and ask whether an informal, early confirmation is already possible.
Buddy Program for International Students
The TUM School of Engineering and Design offers an Buddy Program for international students, run by the TUM ED International Students-for Students Center.
TUM Degree Programs
International students interested in a full TUM degree program, please refer to the information available in the individual study program homepages.
Double Degree Programs
Institut Supérieur de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace (ISAE-SUPAERO) Toulouse
For students of the Master program Aerospace.
DTU-TUM 1:1 Program in Space and Geodesy
For students in the Master's programs Geodesy and Geoinformation and Earth-Oriented Space Science and Technology (ESPACE). Further information about the program can be found here.
Exchange Programs (Erasmus+ SMS / SEMP, TUMexchange, School Partnerships)
General Information
Programs
At Study stays at TUM you will find the most important general information on exchange funding programmes and the related application procedures.
Organization
The TUM School of Engieering of Design offers exchange programs in the following subject areas:
- Aerospace – ISCED 0716
- Architecture - ISCED 0731
- Civil / Environmental / Geo Engineering – ISCED 0732
- Geodesy - ISCED 0532
- Interdisciplinary Engineering - ISCED 0710 + 0713
- Mechanical Engineering - ISCED 0715
This organisational chart illustrates the relationship between the exchange programs, the organisational units of TUM and the TUM School of Engineering and Design.
Students from abroad who have studied for at least 2 semesters can apply
It is a prerequisite that your home university has an exchange agreement with the TUM School of Engineering and Design (ED).
An overview of all TUM partner universities with relevant information can be found in the Coming to TUM database.
Application
The application process for exchange programs is managed centrally by the TUM Global and Alumni Office. Therefore, please contact the Global and Alumni Office team with any questions you may have about the application process.
Study
Language requirements
Most of our Bachelor programs are in German but most Master’s program are in English or partly in English. We at the TUM School of Engineering and Design (ED) expect you to have at least B1 English and/or B1 German language skills depending on the language of instruction of your chosen courses. Information on the required proof of language skills can be found here https://www.international.tum.de/en/global/exchange-programs-at-tum/ → Proof of language skills.
Semester, lecture and exam dates
All relevant information about dates and deadlines at TUM (semester structure, semester breaks, public holidays and more) can be found here: Dates and deadlines at TUM
Semester dates: Since the German semester dates differ markedly in the international comparison, an early, exact planning of the stay abroad is very important:
- Winter semester: 01 October to 31 March
- Summer semester: 01 April to 30 September
Lecture period: The semester is divided into a lecture period and a lecture-free period:
- Lecture period winter semester: mid-October to mid-February
- Lecture period summer semester: mid-April to end of July
Exam period: Examinations generally take place in the following lecture-free periods:
- Winter semester: mid-February to early April
- Summer semester: mid/end of July to mid/end of September
You must register for exams during the given registration period via TUMonline.
Important: Please note that you will not be able to take an exam without prior timely registration. Furthermore, please be aware that you must be enrolled in order to take exams and retake exams.
Announcement of exam grades
- For winter semester exams: by the end of April at the latest.
- For summer semester exams: by the end of October at the latest.
Study Plan & Course Selection
In general, students at TUM do not study in a class group. As a rule, you have a lot of options compared to other universities internationally, so that students can shape their study program to a large extent. If you are an undergraduate student and you had at least 2 years of prior studies at your home university, you can generally also enroll in master's courses provided you fulfill the (recommended) prerequisites of the modules as stated in the module descriptions. Attendance at lectures is also generally not compulsory, but strongly recommended in order to be well prepared for the exam.
To study at TUM as an exchange student you must compile a study plan. Details of the relevant regulations can be found at https://www.international.tum.de/en/global/exchange-programs-at-tum/ → Study plan.
Please understand that due to the large number of options available, the international team is unable to assist you in designing your study plan. However, basically all courses offered at TUM are registered in the Campus Management System TUMonline. In the Module Handbook you can either search for modules or courses. A module may consist of several courses. You will find detailed information on the course content, workload with contact hours, ECTS, recommended previous knowledge, language* and cycle in the module manual and in the detailed view of the course.
(* Please note that there is no separate compilation in which all English-language modules are listed).
The course lists in TUMonline are always updated at the beginning of each semester. It is advisable to take a look at the courses offered in the same semester of the previous year. Generally, there are only minor changes from year to year. If necessary, you can change your Learning Agreement even after your arrival.
The modules actually taking place are not fixed until 4 to 6 weeks before the beginning of the semester. Therefore, it is advisable to match your previously prepared study plan with the actual available modules at the beginning of the semester. If necessary, you can change your course choice after consulting your home university.
You can also get an overview of the course offerings via the homepage of the TUM School of Engineering and Design (ED). Please select the department you are interested in at https://www.ed.tum.de/en/ed/about/departments/. Under ‘About --> Professorships’ you will find a list of all professorships belonging to the department with links to the respective homepages. Here you will usually find a listing and description of the courses offered by the professorship under the tab "Teaching".
A selection of especially suitable modules to fulfil the 60% rule (according to https://www.international.tum.de/en/global/exchange-programs-at-tum/ → Study plan) can be found in the curriculum of the corresponding exchange programme in the TUMonline portal under ‘Subject Area ...’:
- Aerospace
- Architecture
- Civil / Environmental / Geo Engineering
- Geodesy
- Interdisciplinary Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
The remaining 40 % of modules can be choosen from other subject areas. Language courses do not count.
When choosing your module, please make sure that you have the necessary professional qualifications and that there are no problems due to overlapping courses. Please note that the international team cannot help to solve overlaps.
If you have any questions regarding content or formal aspects (e.g. teaching language) of modules, please contact the module coordinator (= lecturer responsible for the module) directly. The module coordinator is listed in the module description. Please understand that the TUM ED International Office cannot answer module-specific questions or help to avoid overlaps of courses or exams.
You should register for courses in good time, as this will give you access to online course materials. Registration is possible at the beginning of the semester and is done via TUMonline.
Learning Agreement, Transcript of Records & Certificate of Arrival / Attendance / Departure
Please enter only modules and no courses in your learning agreement. For your understanding: A module consists of at least one course (e.g. lecture, exercise, etc.) and exactly one exam. So when a module consist of more than one course, you need to take all courses of this module because you will do one module exam at the end of your studies about the content of the complete module. You can see in the module description which course(s) belong to the module: when you click on „Courses and exams“, each course of the module is listed under "Offer node“ or under "Courses".
Please always indicate the module number. This consists of a series of letters followed by a combination of numbers (e.g. LRG6300).
Please enter the international affairs delegate responsible for the respective subject area as the responsible person in the learning agreement. The international affairs delegate will also sign your learning agreement.
To prepare the Certificate of Arrival / Attendance / Departure for signature, please fill out the form, which you will usually receive from your home university, as completely as possible on your own. Regarding the dates, the following applies: arrival → date of the first academic activity (e.g., orientation weeks, language course); departure → last academic activity at TUM (e.g., exam, thesis submission). Please note that the confirmation of arrival and the confirmations of departure can only be confirmed after arrival and departure, respectively. Please send the pre-filled form to the e-mail adress related to your exchange program (see 'Contact').
A Transcript of Records for the home university about successfully passed exams can be downloaded and printed after your stay in TUMonline (the document is called "Grade Report"). The Transcript of Records is valid without a signature and is automatically sealed with an electronic TUM seal.
Languages courses
The Language Centre at the TUM offers various language courses for incoming students to improve their German language skills.
In addition, incoming students can choose from a variety of foreign language courses.
Registration is via TUMonline. Due to the high demand, timely registration is important!
Theses
The suggested format for writing theses as part of exchange programs is the TUM Student Internship Program. Only in exceptional cases, and provided that the formal requirements are met (specifically: 1. that the timeline for the thesis, including the final presentation, aligns with the academic semester schedule; 2. that a TUM professor is verifiably available as a supervisor, which is a prerequisite for the validity of the Learning Agreement), is it possible to write a thesis as part of the Erasmus+ SMS/SEMP or TUMexchange programs.
How to find a supervisor and a topic
At the TUM School of Engineering and Design (ED) there is no centralized allocation or announcement of Master's thesis topics. The professorships/chairs assign Master's theses on their own responsibility and are also generally responsible for the administration of the Master's thesis. If you are interested in writing a Master's thesis, you must make your own enquiry to the professors/chairs who represent the subject area in which you would like to write your Master's thesis. The ED International Team cannot act as an agent in this regard. Furthermore, there is no guarantee for the assignment of a thesis topic.
Information on the professorships / chairs and their topics can be found on the homepage of the TUM School of Engineering and Design (ED). Please select the area you are interested in at https://www.ed.tum.de/en/ed/about/departments/. Under ‘About --> Professorships’ you will find a list of all professorships with links to the respective homepages.
In addition, the ED student council offers a list with thesis topics: https://fsmb.de/studierende/basama/. Please note that not all thesis topics provided by the chairs are displayed in this list.
Without registration (formal execution at the home university)
It is possible for you to just write your thesis at TUM and have it marked by one of your professors at your home university. In this case your thesis need not be registered at all at TUM. However, please check with your home university whether this procedure will affect your scholarship eligibility, as the thesis is not listed on your transcript.
With registration (formal execution as a TUM module)
Official registration of your thesis at ED is only necessary if you perform your thesis as a TUM module and wish to have your thesis marked by your TUM supervisor (expert examiner). It must be carried out at a chair of a TUM expert examiner who is authorized for your exchange degree program. Please ask your supervisor directly to register the thesis for you. Furthermore, you must follow strictly the requirements for thesis of the exchange program in which you are enrolled.
Subject Area Specific Information
Aerospace – ISCED 0716
You can find instructions on registration for courses and exams in the Aerospace & Geodesy Examination Affairs wiki.
Guidlines for Thesis
Geodesy - ISCED 0532
Interdisciplinary Engineering - ISCED 0710 + 0713
ATHENS
Currently, the TUM School of Engineering and Design does not offer any courses within the ATHENS network.
Summer Schools
Currently, the TUM School of Engineering and Design does not offer any seasonal schools.
TUM Practical Project Students
If you are a student at an international university and are interested in a research project (internship, project or thesis) at the TUM School of Engineering and Design (ED), you can apply as a TUM Practical Project Student.
Further information: https://www.international.tum.de/en/global/pps/. In the application portal, you will find additional information and directions for submitting your application online: Application Center
How to find a practical project
Please check first whether the TUM School of Engineering covers your area of interest or whether another TUM School might be more suitable. Here you will find more information on the general structure of TUM and the TUM Schools.
To work as a TUM Practical Project Student, you first have to find a supervising researcher. For finding a supervisor, you should read on the websites of the different chairs and professorships at the TUM School of Engineering and Design: https://www.ed.tum.de/en/ed/about/departments/
In case you find an institute or chair that meets your project interest, you should contact the professor or research assistant directly. For contacting a professor or research assistant it would be good to send an English CV and a short proposal of what topics you are especially interested in.
In general, you should keep in mind that the better prepared you are and the better you can clarify your scientific interest in a specific topic, the higher your chances of getting a practical project position will be.
Enrollment as TUM Practical Project Student
If you found a supervisor at one of our research institutes, you can enroll as TUM Practical Project Studentt. For that, you need a letter of the supervisor, which is why it is important to search for a supervisor before you start the enrollment procedure.
Conducting a theses as TUM Practical Project Student
Without registration (formal execution at the home university)
It is possible for you to just write your thesis at TUM and have it marked by one of your professors at your home university. In this case your thesis need not be registered at all at TUM. However, please check with your home university whether this procedure will affect your scholarship eligibility, as the thesis is not listed on your transcript.
With registration (formal execution as a TUM module)
Official registration of your thesis at ED is only necessary if you perform your thesis as a TUM module and wish to have your thesis marked by your TUM supervisor (expert examiner). It must be carried out at a chair of a TUM expert examiner who is authorized for your exchange degree program. Please ask your supervisor directly to register the thesis for you. Furthermore, you must follow strictly the requirements for thesis of the exchange program in which you are enrolled.
TUM PREP
The Practical Research Experience Program (TUM PREP) offers outstanding students from selected North American universities, Imperial College (UK), and Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) the opportunity to spend eight weeks conducting research at TUM. Further information can be found here.
Contact
Central TUM Global and Alumni Office
General inquiries: TUM Global & Alumni Office
International Affairs Delegate TUM School of Engineering and Design
Aerospace (ISCED 0716): as.international@ed.tum.de
Architecture (ISCED 0731): in.ad.international@ed.tum.de
Civil & Environmental Engineering: (ISCED 0732): cege.international@ed.tum.de
Geodesy (ISCED 0532): gd.international@ed.tum.de
Interdisciplinary Engineering (ISCED 0710 + 0713): ie.international@ed.tum.de
Mechanical Engieering (ISCED 0715): me.international@ed.tum.de