Everything exchange students need to know
Every year, we welcome many international exchange students to TUM School of Management. There’s a lot to think about when planning to study in a foreign country, such as, “How do I apply to become an exchange student of the TUM School of Management?”, “How do I enroll in courses?” or “How to find accommodation in Munich?” and “Do I need to speak proper German?”
To help you find the right answers to your questions, we have provided this overview with all relevant information.
According to a major British Council research, Germany is one of the best performers from 26 countries when it comes to national policies on openness to international mobility for students and academics: Germany has, alongside Malaysia, the most balanced portfolio of providing high-level support for international engagement, assuring a high quality of domestic and cross-border education.
The country counters potential negatives, such as brain drain, by providing fair access and sustainability in its international programs. Germany aims to host more than 350,000 foreign students by 2020 and is keen for them to stay on for work.
Prospective exchange students from partner institutions apply for an exchange to TUM School of Management by submitting their application to TUM Global & Alumni Office. Please make sure you apply in accordance with your universities’ course schedules and regulations.
Summer semester: October 31st
For further information about applications to TUM School of Management, see our fact sheet.
Coming to TUM School of Management via a special program? Then check out our options for Joint International Programs.
Courses at TUM School of Management are available in English and German. If you plan to take courses in German, we require proof of at least B2 level or equivalent proficiency in German. The same level of qualification is required for courses held in English. A proof of proficiency in both German and English is required if you plan to take both types of courses.
We accept the following certificates:
In order to make your search for accommodation in Munich easier, you can use the same methods to find accommodation in Munich as regular students and TUM Global & Alumni Office lists accommodation offers created by students, who are currently studying abroad.
In addition, we list accommodation offers created by TUM SOM students who will study abroad themselves.
If you are interested in any of the rooms or apartments from the list below, send an email to hiwi-abroad@wi.tum.de, and we will send you the details on how to get in contact with the landlords.
Please find our current accomodation offers here.
As an international exchange student, you can attend all lectures, tutorials and seminars held at TUM School of Management, just like home students, on both the B.Sc. and the M.Sc. level with no restrictions. You can also attend courses in other departments of the Technical University of Munich, including at the Language Center (less than 40%).
Browse through TUMonline and have a look at our course catalog (please see the blue box on the top right-hand side of this website) that lists our most common courses to find out which subjects at TUM School of Management interest you. Based on this information, you can create your study program with your preferred courses in advance and will be able to make or revise your choices later on, when the finalized list of courses is made available – usually a few weeks prior to the start of a term.
Note that minor changes may occur to this list as courses are only finalized a few weeks before the start of each semester.
Exchange students at TUM School of Management can apply for our official Buddy Program. They will be matched with a local regular student of TUM School of Management who will help and support them throughout their exchange. A buddy offers guidance and advice, and helps when questions about studying in Munich or student life in general arise.
In addition to that, we offer a lot of social events. Members of the Buddy Program organize excursions, leisure time activities and exclusive get-togethers. You will be regularly updated by email and Facebook events. Your buddy will contact you a few weeks before you arrive in Munich and might even be able to pick you up from the airport.
We will send you all further information regarding how to sign up for the Buddy Program prior to your exchange semester. If you have any suggestions for a social event or questions about the program, contact our student assistants via hiwi-abroad@wi.tum.de.
Browse through our course catalog (please see the blue box on the top right-hand side of this website), which lists all courses that take place regularly to outline your intended study program. There are three types of courses at TUM School of Management: lectures (“Vorlesung”), exercises (“Übung”) and seminars (“Seminar”). Usually, you sign up for lectures and exercises during the first session. For seminars, you need to apply in advance. Further information about the application modes for seminars will be released on TUMonline a few weeks prior to the beginning of the lecture period.
After you are accepted as an exchange student at TUM School of Management, you are not automatically registered for the courses listed in your application document. You need to sign up for all courses you wish to take yourself.
The final list of courses and their enrollment details will be available only a few weeks prior to the start of each semester. For this reason, you can change your study program after the finalized list of courses is released, or even after you arrive in Munich. Make sure that you check with your home university for any deadlines and rules regarding changes to your study program.
You need to register for any exams you wish to take at TUM School of Management, even if you are already attending the course. You can register for exams via TUMonline . For courses run by other departments (e.g. Mechanical Engineering), ask the respective professor how to register for the exam.
Exam results and all other information on (taken) courses are usually published on:
The TUM Language Center (Sprachenzentrum) offers various language courses to help you improve your German or other foreign languages. Students apply for these courses through TUMonline.
There are also other institutions based in Munich that offer language courses in addition to the TUM Language Center:
At the end of a semester, a transcript of records and certificates, including all passed courses and grades, will be available for download on TUMonline. Signed and stamped versions are available on request.
| 1,0 | to | 1,5 | “very good” | excellent performance |
| 1,6 | to | 2,5 | “good” | performance well above average |
| 2,6 | to | 3,5 | “satisfactory” | average performance |
| 3,6 | to | 4,0 | “sufficient” | performance meets standards in spite of deficiencies |
| 4,1 | to | 5,0 | “fail” | performance does not meet standards because of substantial deficiencies |
If you are planning to extend your stay, contact us and your home university to discuss your plans, and remember to renew your registration in time.
Get more information about deadlines and fees here.
We always look forward to welcoming familiar faces. That is why we would like to keep you updated about what is happening at and around TUM School of Management.
As a member of TUM School of Management Alumni e.V., you can easily stay in touch with your former fellow students and keep benefitting from our powerful network and partnerships.
More information about our alumni organization, its benefits and how to join can be found here.
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