The Technical University of Munich (TUM) is Germany’s highest-ranked university: in the QS World University Rankings 2027, published in June 2026, it was 25th in the world, first in Germany and first in the European Union. It’s best known for engineering, computer science, natural sciences, medicine and management, and has campuses in Munich, Garching, Freising (Weihenstephan), Heilbronn and Straubing. Many of its master’s programmes are taught in English.
Unlike most German public universities, TUM charges tuition fees to most students from outside the EU, so you’ll need to plan your budget as carefully as your application. Here are 10 things you can do to give yourself the best chance, based on TUM’s own guidance and official German government information.
1. Choose your programme and check its language
Most TUM bachelor’s programmes are taught in German, while many master’s programmes are taught entirely in English. Read each programme page carefully: it lists the language of teaching, the admission requirements, the application period and the tuition fee. If your programme is taught in German, you’ll need to prove your German with a certificate such as TestDaF, DSH, Goethe or telc before the end of the application period.
2. Check that your school-leaving certificate qualifies you
Not every secondary school diploma gives direct access to a German university. Check yours in the DAAD admission database or the anabin database. If it doesn’t qualify you for a bachelor’s directly, you may need to attend a preparatory course (Studienkolleg) first. TUM says that if your entrance qualification wasn’t obtained in the German education system, you must also apply for a preliminary review documentation (VPD) from uni-assist. TUM: international applicants.
3. Apply on TUMonline before the deadline
You apply on TUM’s TUMonline portal, and TUM can only process your application if all the required documents are uploaded within the application period. For winter semester entry:
- Bachelor’s programmes usually take applications from 15 May to 15 July, and international applicants need their uni-assist VPD before 15 July.
- Master’s programmes usually have a deadline of 31 May, but the start of the window varies: many open on 1 April, while some open on 1 January.
Check your programme’s page for its exact dates. Visa processing can take months, so TUM’s Physics department, for example, advises international applicants to apply in its early window to avoid visa problems.
4. Prepare for the aptitude assessment
Many TUM programmes select students through an aptitude assessment (Eignungsfeststellungsverfahren). Your school or university grades are converted into a points score, and some programmes add a written test, an essay or an interview. Applicants in a middle score range are often invited to a second stage, usually an interview. Read your programme’s assessment rules so you know exactly how you’ll be scored.
5. Show strong grades in the right subjects
TUM’s assessments put a lot of weight on your grades, especially in the subjects that matter most for your programme, such as mathematics and the sciences for engineering. For a master’s, your bachelor’s curriculum is compared with TUM’s own, so make sure your transcript and course descriptions clearly show the modules you’ve taken. Upload certified copies and translations where they’re required.
6. Write a focused motivation letter or essay
Many master’s programmes ask for a letter of motivation, and some ask for an essay on a set topic. Explain why you want this programme at TUM, which modules or research areas interest you, and how your previous studies have prepared you. Be specific and avoid generic praise. See our 50 sample SOPs for ideas on structure.
7. Prove your English (or German)
For programmes taught in English, you’ll usually need a recognised English test such as IELTS or TOEFL, although TUM has dropped separate English certificates for some programmes. Some master’s programmes, especially in management, also ask for a GMAT or GRE. Check your programme page for the exact requirement. Practise with our free IELTS, TOEFL and GRE practice tests.
8. Budget for TUM’s tuition fees
Since winter semester 2024/25, TUM has charged tuition fees to most newly enrolled students from outside the EU and EEA. The fee depends on the programme: usually €2,000 or €3,000 a semester for a bachelor’s and €4,000 or €6,000 a semester for a master’s. TUM plans to raise these for new students from winter semester 2027/28, to €2,300 or €3,400 for a bachelor’s and €4,600 or €6,800 for a master’s. You’ll also pay the semester fee, which was €97 in summer 2026 at the Munich, Garching and Weihenstephan campuses. Students with a German school-leaving certificate such as the Abitur, and some other groups, are exempt. TUM tuition fees.
9. Apply for TUM’s waivers and scholarships
TUM offers waiver scholarships for students with outstanding academic results or financial need, which are credited against your tuition fees, and a TUM international scholarship of €500 to €1,800 a semester. Each has its own deadline. Also look at the DAAD scholarship database, the Deutschlandstipendium and scholarships from your own government. Munich is one of Germany’s most expensive cities, so plan for high rents too.
10. Plan your visa and your move to Munich
If you’re from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, you’ll usually need a national student visa from the German embassy or consulate in your country. Book your appointment early, because waiting times can be long. You’ll need to show that you can support yourself: in 2026, that meant €11,904 for the first year (€992 a month), usually paid into a blocked account (Sperrkonto), and if your university charges tuition fees, your embassy may ask for proof that you can pay them too. Applicants from China, India and Vietnam also need an APS certificate. After you arrive, you register your address and apply for a residence permit at the local foreigners’ office. International students can work 140 full days or 280 half days a year, and after you graduate you can usually get a residence permit of up to 18 months to look for a job. Rules change, so check the German embassy in your country and the DAAD for the latest advice.
Applying for a PhD at TUM?
Doctoral candidates at TUM need a supervisor who agrees to take them on, and they register with the TUM Graduate School. Many positions are advertised as paid research jobs, and doctoral candidates don’t pay TUM’s tuition fees. Look for advertised positions and contact potential supervisors with a clear research proposal.
Be ambitious, but apply to a balanced list
TUM is very competitive, so apply to other strong options too. Read our guides to LMU Munich, Heidelberg University, Freie Universität Berlin and RWTH Aachen University, and our guides to IP Paris and Imperial College London. Our guide to studying in Germany explains how the German system works, and our free study abroad assessment can help you build a shortlist.
Information was taken from the Technical University of Munich’s official application, fees and programme pages, official German government sources and the QS World University Rankings 2027, and checked in October 2026. Admissions rules, deadlines, fees and visa rules can change, so always confirm the details on TUM’s application pages before you apply. StudyAbroadMarket is not affiliated with the Technical University of Munich.