1. Programme Overview

The International Research Opportunities Programme (IROP) is an exchange programme which takes place over ~8 weeks in the summer from 29^th June – 21^st  August 2026. Selected undergraduate students work on a research project under the supervision of researchers at Imperial College London. Participants will share the experience with students from other institutions and have the opportunity to explore London and the United Kingdom during the summer. Participants will gain practical research experience in an area of interest whilst experiencing student life at Imperial.

There are a number of IROP places available for TUM students across the Imperial departments below:

Research project

Selected participants will be matched with a host supervisor at Imperial College London according to interest areas. It is not guaranteed to be matched with a particular supervisor and participants may need to be flexible. Once matched, the research project is planned and carried out independently between the student and supervisor.

Research projects will take place on Imperial’s South Kensington or White City campus depending on the research project and host supervisor. (Note: The Department of Chemistry is mainly based at White City campus therefore most Chemistry participants can expect to be based at White City campus. A small number of Department of Chemistry supervisors are based at the South Kensington Campus or the Francis Crick Institute).

Intercultural experience

A cohort of ~30 Undergraduate students from the Technical University of Munich, MIT, Institute of Science Tokyo, Cornell University and the University of Toronto will participate in IROP next summer. There will be a light social programme, including a welcome afternoon tea, local trip and celebration event, to support participants to get to know fellow IROP students and explore London together.

Programme dates

Monday 29^th June 2025: IROP begins. Orientation session with the IROP Team, followed by lab induction in the department 

During IROP: Organised events as part of the social programme 

21^st August 2025: IROP ends 

Variation to these dates will not be possible.

IROP Information Session

Register to attend the online IROP Information Session on Monday 2nd December at 18:00 - 18:45 pm to learn more about this opportunity. A calendar invitation with the joining link will be sent to all registered attendees a few days before the session. This session will be run by the IROP Team at Imperial College London.

2. How To Apply

Eligibility

• Be fully enrolled as an undergraduate student at TUM during IROP
• Have completed at least 2 years of studies before beginning IROP in June 2025
• Be able to commit to the full duration of the programme at Imperial College London 29^th June – 21^st August 
• Any other TUM eligibility criteria

Application Process

There are two stages to the application process: 

1.Selection by TUM → Application deadline: January 15, 2026

Submit the following documents (in English) as a single PDF file with the subject line “IROP-Request for Nomination” to global.ch@nat.tum.de (Chemistry) and global.ph@nat.tum.de (Physics).

a) Statement of motivation (research areas/labs of interest, motivation to take part in IROP)

b) CV and academic transcript

c) 5 supervisors of interest who you would like to work with on a research project. Supervisors of interest must be from the Imperial department you have been nominated to. An academic’s online biography page will state if they are based at South Kensington or White City Campus. Please do not contact any academics.

2. If selected, the Imperial IROP Team will request application documents, um die ausgewählten Studierenden einem Betreuer am Imperial College für das Forschungsprojekt zuzuordnen.

Your application information will be used to match selected students to a suitable host supervisor for a research project. Information about current research areas and potential supervisors can be found under the ‘Research’ tab on the host departments webpage. Follow the link in the table on page 1 for the host department which applies to you. Please note, if you are selected for IROP it is not guaranteed that you will be matched with a chosen supervisor and participants may need to be flexible. 

Whilst Imperial College London will make every effort, final acceptance to IROP will depend on a suitable supervisor and research project being agreed.

3. Practical Matters

Accommodation

Accommodation will be arranged for all participants in student halls of residence in London. Selected participants will be given further information to book and pay for their room. Participants should expect to commute to either the South Kensington or White City Campus each day – a typical London experience!

Suggested Budget

Guide only: actual costs will depend on personal preferences and updated costs in 2026.

Note: IROP is an extra-curricular research experience and Imperial cannot provide formal assessment, awarding of credit or monitoring processes. Please direct any queries about funding to TUM as Imperial is not able to advise or provide funding to TUM students taking part in IROP.

Communication

Any questions about nomination to IROP should be directed to TUM.

Once selected by TUM, participants are then supported by Beth & Laura, the IROP Team at Imperial, who are available to answer questions and help prepare you for IROP at Imperial.

IROP Tips  

Ideal participants will be willing to develop skills in proactivity, organisation and independence, which will support you well in preparing to come to London and make the most of the research project.  

Tip from previous participant: ‘To get the most out of the placement requires resilience, adaptability and an open mind as it is probable that things will go wrong or will not be as you had expected. Despite this, I enjoyed every moment of the trip and could not imagine a better way to spend the summer.’   

Student Experiences:

‘The IROP-program was an unforgettable experience. I met new people, made friends, and gained valuable research experience that will promote me in my future journey. All of this was made even better by the opportunity to explore the beauty and vibrant culture of London as a local. I highly recommend IROP to anyone looking to expand their comfort zone and traveling to another country.’ TUM student, hosted by Imperial’s Department of Materials 

 ‘London is a very stunning city that offers incredible cultural diversity alongside its historical sights. It was a great experience to meet and socialise with the other IROP students and Imperial staff. I made many new friends and made plans to visit them - from Tokyo to Toronto.  It was very interesting to see how the Chemistry lab is organised here and I saw many useful things. I have also deepened my knowledge and learnt how to use different and new lab equipment. I am very grateful that I was able to take part in this experience.’ TUM student, hosted by Imperial’s Department of Chemistry  

‘My experience has been transformative. Living in London and studying at Imperial allowed me to immerse myself in a vibrant academic environment, where I developed invaluable research skills and met incredible people from around the world. The combination of cutting-edge research, supportive mentors, and cultural experiences has significantly enriched both my academic and personal growth.’ TUM student, hosted by Imperial’s Department of Physics

Experience Report - Quantum Information Theory

Experience Report - Biochemistry of Solar Energy

Experience Report - Physics

Interview - Francis Crick Institute (Chemistry)

Watch MIT student Claire’s IROP day in the life vlog and see our YouTube channel for more student experiences.