Technical University of Munich (TUM)

Overview

The Technical University of Munich was founded in 1868 and is a public university of the state of Bavaria. Teaching is spread across several sites: the main campus in central Munich, the large natural science and engineering campus in Garching, the life sciences campus at Weihenstephan in Freising, a campus in Heilbronn focused on management, computer science and technology, and a sustainability-focused campus in Straubing. Which campus you study on depends on the program, so check the program page before looking for housing.

TUM covers engineering, natural sciences, computer science, medicine and health, life sciences, management and architecture. Germany does not use a general admissions system for this kind of program, so you apply to TUM directly and follow the rules of the program you choose.

Which language you will study in

The default at bachelor level is German, and German-taught programs require proof of German. A small number of programs are in English. TUM Campus Heilbronn lists a Bachelor in Management and Data Science taught fully in English and a Bachelor in Information Engineering taught in English with some German electives. Check the "Program details" box on each program page for the language and the exact language certificate required.

Requirements for a US or Canadian diploma

You need a school certificate that counts as a German higher education entrance qualification. For the US, the DAAD guide for high school and IB graduates (June 2025) explains the national rules: a diploma with defined academic units, an unweighted GPA of at least 3.0, and AP exams with scores of 3 or higher. For mathematics, natural sciences and technology programs, that means four APs: Calculus AB or BC, one natural science, one language, and one more subject. Without them, the usual paths are a Studienkolleg and its assessment exam, or college coursework of about two years.

Canadian certificates are assessed by province. Look up your diploma in the anabin database that German universities use, or ask TUM before applying. The IB Diploma has its own rules on subjects and levels.

Admission procedures at TUM

TUM uses four kinds of procedure. Some programs are unrestricted, some are restricted by a numerus clausus, some use an aptitude recommendation, and many use the aptitude assessment (Eignungsfeststellungsverfahren). In the aptitude assessment, the school first awards points based on your average and selected subject grades. Strong applicants are admitted at that stage; others are invited to an interview or written test; and applicants below a set threshold may be rejected without one. Places in these programs are not fixed in number, and TUM holds no lottery.

Deadlines differ by program. Many winter-semester bachelor programs close in summer, but programs with an aptitude assessment can close earlier. Use the TUM dates and deadlines page for the 2027/28 cycle rather than relying on last year.

Tuition and fees

TUM charges tuition to students from outside the EU and EEA who enrolled from the winter semester 2024/25 onward. For bachelor programs the fee is usually 2,000 or 3,000 euros per semester, depending on the program. TUM has announced that for winter 2027/28 entrants the bachelor fees rise to 2,300 or 3,400 euros. Students already enrolled keep the rate they started with. Every student also pays a semester fee, and TUM offers fee waivers and scholarships that must be requested by their own deadlines.

For residence permits and proof of funds, follow the German embassy or consulate in your country. This page is not immigration or financial advice.

Tips and StudyBrix resources

• Take Calculus AB or BC plus a lab science as APs if you are in the US; it keeps the direct-admission door open for STEM programs.
• Start German early if you want the full program choice. Most of TUM is German-taught.
• Read the program statutes: they list the grades used for aptitude points.

Brush up on calculus readiness and introductory computer science, and see our Germany guide for how German admission works overall.