Application for an exchange semester
The prerequisite is that your home university has an exchange agreement with the Technical University of Munich (TUM). Information on partner universities for Aerospace & Geodesy and of TUM respectively can be found here:
Partner universities for Aerospace & Geodesy
Before you can apply at TUM, your home university must select you and notify you via nomination.
After that, please refer to the following pages of the TUM Global & Alumni Office (TUM G&A) for information on the application process and the organization of the respective type of your stay.
- International exchange students
- International interns (also projects and theses)
Application period
- Winter semester: 15 March - 15 May
- Summer semester: 15 September - 31 October
Module selection for the learning agreement
Learning agreement
For one or two exchange semesters at TUM you have to prepare a learning agreement or a study plan. Approx. 50 percent of the modules should be from those offered by the department of Aerospace & Geodesy. The other 50 percent of the modules can be chosen from other departments. Please note that language courses do not count towards this.
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. 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 lecture period. 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 Aerospace.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
Examinations usually take place in the lecture-free period, more or less directly after the lecture period.
Registration for courses and examinations, transcript of records (ToR)
Courses
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. You can find instructions on how to do this in the Examination Affairs wiki (see also below on examinations).
Exams
Examinations generally take place in the following periods:
Winter semester: mid-February to early April
Summer semester: mid/end of July to mid/end of September
You must register for exams in good time via TUMonline. Instructions on how to do this as well as information on registration times can be found in the Examination Affairs wiki.
Important: Please note that you will not be able to take an exam without prior timely registration.
You can download and print a Transcript of Records (ToR) for your home university about successfully passed exams yourself in TUMonline after your stay. The ToR is valid without a signature.
If you have any questions regarding the ToR, please contact:
as.international@ed.tum.de (incoming exchange students to subject area ED-Aerospace)
gd.international@ed.tum.de (incoming exchange students to subject area ED-Geodesy, Cartography and Land Management)