Information Technologies for the Built Environment M. Sc.

Do you want to help shape the future of digital planning and construction processes? Are you interested in buildings, city systems, and information technologies and have a bachelor's degree in architecture, civil engineering, geodesy, information technology, or similar? Then the ITBE M.Sc. opens a wide range of opportunities to you. As a BIM expert, a smart cities specialist, a systems analyst and designer, a software developer, a data acquisitionist, and many more, you will be able to work in planning and surveying offices, for municipalities, or in research and development in both the construction and software industries. Alternatively, you can create your own information technology business to solve related built environment challenges. The choice is yours!

As an expert in information technologies for the built environment, you can consult on, develop, and manage information models and systems, utilizing and combining existing information technologies and creating innovative new approaches within built environments.You will have a holistic, interdisciplinary understanding of information technologies and methods in the building industry. You will have knowledge of domain and technology requirements, challenges, processes, and structures at different construction scales in architecture, civil engineering, and geodesy, coupled with a deep understanding of information technologies, computer science methods, data management, and systems architecture. You will be able to identify and analyze information technology issues in the built world and be capable of selecting appropriate digital methods, developing solutions, identifying necessary stakeholders, and working in interdisciplinary teams.

You will have knowledge of the domain and technology requirements, challenges, processes, and structures at different construction scales in architecture, civil engineering, and geodesy coupled with a deep understanding of information technologies, computer science methods, data management, and systems architecture. You will be able to identify and analyze information technology issues in the built world and be capable of selecting appropriate digital methods, developing solutions, and identifying necessary stakeholders.

As an expert in information technologies for the built environment, you can consult on, develop, and manage information models and systems, utilizing and combining existing information technologies and creating innovative new approaches within the built environment. Upon completing the program, you will have a holistic, interdisciplinary understanding of information technologies and methods in the built environment.

Applicants should have a solid foundation in either the built environment or computer science with a strong interest in the other. This interest must be evident in their previous work and activities. They must also:

• Have at least a bachelor's degree or equivalent in architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, civil engineering, geodesy, geoinformation, informatics, or a similar degree. A grade of at least 2.0 is asked for.
• Have adequate English language skills.
• Fulfill the requirements of the application process (for further details refer to the ITBE “FPSO Anlage 2: Eignungsfeststellung”).

• Degree Certificate and Diploma or Subject and Grade Transcript of Studies to Date
• Proof of English Language Proficiency
• Letter of Motivation (in English)
• Complete and Current Résumé
• Passport
• Preliminary Documentation (VPD) if the qualification for graduate studies (e.g. a Bachelor’s) was obtained outside Germany)

Please apply early for a VPD. If you do not receive the VPD before the application deadline, please attach your VPD application. 

We may require additional documents depending on your educational background and your country of origin. Complete the online application to receive a comprehensive list of the required documents. 

Please consider the specific requirements for documents for application and enrollment at TUM.

Proof of English language proficiency must be submitted when applying.

We accept

• a TUM recognized English Language Certificate, e.g., "Test of English as a Foreign Language" (TOEFL) (min.  88 Points), "International English Language Testing System" (IELTS) (min. 6,5 Points), or "Cambridge Main Suite of English Examinations".
• if the language of instruction in a bachelor's degree program was English – by submitting your transcript of records or your degree certificate as evidence. The language of instruction needs to have been English in at least 50% of the program. If the language of instruction is not stated in these documents, you can submit an official confirmation issued by your prior university.
• current TUM students can meet the English language requirement by successfully completing one of the TUM Gateway to English Master's courses. 

If you have alternative proof of English language proficiency that is not TOEFL, IELTS, or “Cambridge Main Suite of English Examinations", and would like to know if your certificate qualifies you for admission, please check TUM Website or contact the Student Advising and Information Services at studium(at)tum.de (please observe the e-mail etiquette).

For more information on language certificates, please check the TUM Website.

If you still have questions regarding the proof of English language proficiency, please contact the TUM Student Advising and Information Services at studium(at)tum.de (please observe the e-mail etiquette).

Selection takes place through an aptitude assessment procedure. Aptitude assessment is a two-part procedure after the submission of an official application to a program. In this procedure, the TUM school or department determines whether you meet the specific requirements for its master’s degree program.

In phase I, suitability will be judged on:

•  Technical qualification (max. 60 points),
• Bachelor’s degree grade (max. 10 points),
• Motivation letter (max. 30 points).

Applications achieving

• more than 70 points are accepted.
• less than 60 points are rejected.
• between 60 and 70 points enter phase II.

In phase II, suitability will be judged on:

• Technical qualification (max. 60 points),
• Bachelor’s degree grade (max. 10 points),
• Digital test (max. 60 points).

The digital test consists of basic and application-related questions in the area of built environment (max. 30 points) and information technologies (max. 30 points).

Applicants achieving

• more than 105 points are accepted.
• less than 105 points are rejected.

Bachelor's degree grade

We ask for a minimum of 2.0 GPA. You may apply with a grade lower than 2.0 GPA, as the grade only makes up one of a number of parts of the aptitude assessment. However, while a grade lower than 2.0 GPA does not automatically lead to the rejection of an application, the application will receive no points for the related part of the aptitude assessment.

Letter of Motivation

A significant part of your application for the aptitude assessment will be a written statement giving your reasons for choosing the M.Sc. ITBE degree program, choosing the Technical University of Munich, and why you consider yourself particularly suitable for the program. 

Please comment on the following:

• Your reasons for choosing the M.Sc. ITBE program and why you wish to study at TUM.
• Your abilities, particular talents, interests, career ambitions, and related previous work that make you particularly suited to the M.Sc. ITBE program. Please include evidence of your built environment and information technology interests.
• Program-specific and non-program-specific extra-curricular and related activities or additional qualifications. What do you bring to the program?

Please include proof of your statements within your application. The letter of motivation should be no longer than two A4 pages and must be written in English. The statement must be written by yourself without help; your signature on the application form will confirm this.

Electronic entrance exam

The 60-minute electronic entrance exam consists of basic and application-related bachelor-level questions in areas of the built environment (max. 30 points) and information technologies (max. 30 points). The types of questions include short and long text answers, dropdowns, drag-drop, single-choice, and code runner questions. Questions can include built environment scenario evaluations, critical assessments of structures in the built environment, basics of geometric modeling, awareness of the pros and cons of digitalization, understanding of basic IT concepts, and basic knowledge of connected systems and data acquisition. The entrance exam takes into consideration that applicants come from a diverse range of technical backgrounds with differing levels of knowledge related to the built environment and information technologies. 

For details please refer to: 

• Aptitude Assessment for Master
• Description of the Aptitude Assessment (appendix 2, German) (PDF 334 KB)
• FAQ Application ITBE

Timeline: 

Please note that we select our students carefully and that this process will take some time. The times below represent the latest dates by which you can expect an answer based on your submission date; however, individual applications may receive an answer sooner.

Complete applications handed in by the 15th of March:

• will receive an answer or be invited to the electronic admissions exam (PHII-1) by the end of May.
• Should you be invited to the electronic admissions exam (PHII-1), you will receive your answer by the end of July. 

The remaining applications

• will receive an answer or be invited to the electronic admissions exam (PHII-2) by the end of August.
• should you be invited to the electronic admissions exam (PHII-2), you will receive your answer by the end of September. 

Please note that depending on the number of applications, these are only rough estimates.

Applicants who enter phase II of the aptitude assessment must take a digital exam. You will be notified at least two weeks in advance of the test date as to whether you need to take the test. Further information regarding the digital exam will be provided at this time.

There are two dates for the digital test:

• aptitude assessment exam 1 (PHII-1) will take place in July (results will be communicated by the end of July)
• aptitude assessment exam 2 (PHII-2) will take place in September (results will be communicated by the end of September)

In special cases, a test can be offered at the TUM City Campus.

• Application for Enrollment (signed)
• Degree Certificate and Diploma (authentic document)
• Transcript of Records (authentic document)
• Most Current Photo (as for ID)
• Digital notification of your health insurance status from a German public health insurance provider (requested by applicant)

We may require additional documents depending on the type of educational background you earned and your country of origin. After accepting an offer of admission in TUMonline, you will receive a list of documents you must submit to TUM in hardcopy for enrollment.

Please consider the specific requirements for documents for application and enrollment at TUM.

TUMonline is TUM's campus management software, which you already know from your application. Through TUMonline, you can manage and organize your studies at TUM.

For example, you can use TUMonline to:

• Download your student documents
• View information on tuition fee payments (tuition fee account)
• View your personal schedule and semester plan
• Register for and deregister from courses and exams
• View exam results, view and download transcripts and exam certificates
• Set up your TUM e-mail address
• Change the password for your TUM account
• View your personal calendar
• Search for a person, room, or organization at TUM
• View the degree programs offered by TUM

TUMonline information and manuals for students

Moodle

Moodle is TUM's e-learning platform. Lecturers will usually provide their supporting material, such as lecture notes or task sheets via moodle. You can log in to moodle using your TUM-Email-address and TUMonline password. Registration for courses is automatically transferred from TUMonline.

Maps

Language Courses

Fit for TUM

Fit for TUM is a service fair for newcomer students at TUM. It usually takes place in the same week as the welCOME week.

Relevant dates and deadlines like lecture periode, lecture-free days, exam registration, re-enrollment etc., can be found here.

Statues and Regulations
Module catalog 9/25
Degree program documentation
Timetable Winter Term 2025

Compulsory Modules

The compulsory modules in the first three semesters (totaling 54 credit points) are taught as a combination of 3CP and 6CP lectures, exercises, and seminars specifically designed to transfer core knowledge on information technologies in the built environment. They are offered by the area’s architecture, civil engineering, and geodesy from the TUM School of Engineering and Design. Modules such as “BIM.fundamentals” (architecture and civil engineering), or “Semantic Modeling for the Built Environment”, and “Distributed and Cloud-Based Systems” (civil engineering and geodesy) are taught collaboratively, by different professors from different domain backgrounds. Additionally, elements of modules such as Semantic Modelling of the Build World (ITBE and GuG) or BIM.fundamentals (ITBE, AR, BI) are available to students in multiple built environment master’s degrees connecting students across disciplines. For a more detailed description of the modules, please refer to the module catalog.

ITBE Fusion Lab

The ITBE Fusion Lab (12CP) forms a core component of the study program. This compulsory, practical, interdisciplinary project enables students to implement their theoretical and methodological knowledge from the initial two semesters in a practical scenario within interdisciplinary, collaborative, team settings. In the Lab, students are given a broad but realistic task, such as an urban design task, a data acquisition task, or a process management task, which they solve using digital methods and information technologies. The ITBE Fusion Lab requires students to work in interdisciplinary teams to identify specific issues within the frame of the task, select appropriate methods and technologies to address the selected issue, manage the development process, delegate and share jobs, and reflect on their approach. This promotes the interaction of students from different domain backgrounds as they work together in interdisciplinary teams on a common issue and are exposed to other domain perspectives. It enabling students to communicate and collaborate with people from different professional backgrounds, gives them the ability to integrate and involve different planning stakeholders according to their expertise, and provides them with the opportunity to identify and resolve conflict situations within a team. Interdisciplinarity is not only given through the interaction of students, but also through the interdisciplinary teaching and feedback provided by professors and scientific experts from the different domains within this Lab. While built environment activities can never occur without considering social implications, the Project Week within this module actively strengthens social participation aspects though sprint with student in other departments both within and outside the TUM School of Engineering and Design.

Elective Modules

A minimum of 36 credits from the following (incomplete) list of elective modules of the master's degree program Information Technologies for Built Environment (ITBE) must be completed.

Of these 36 credits:

• at least 3 credits from the elective modules "Ethics and the Human Factor",
• at least 21 credits from the elective modules "Cross Cutting Methods",
• OPTIONAL up to 12 credits from the "Elective Modules TUM" (entire TUM module catalog).

The Examination Committee continuously updates the catalogue of subjects for the elective modules. Changes and additions to the elective module catalogue are announced on the program website at the beginning of the semester. For a more detailed description of the modules, please refer to the module catalog.

Understanding the timetable

Master Thesis

In the master thesis (30CP), students identify a research question and select and develop an appropriate method to address a specific built environment research gap. They carry out a scientific investigation and analyze the results. This work is documented and communicated in a scientific paper and an oral presentation.

Exam Registration

Please check TUMonline regularly for exam dates, especially shortly before the exam, to see if there are any changes.

Please register for the examination for all courses you are taking this semester (including projects/seminar papers etc.). Only if you are properly registered in TUMonline, the chair has access to your account and can enter your examination results.

We recommend doing all registrations via your curriculum to avoid wrong registrations. Please pay attention to further information given by your lecturers and teaching staff.

Some exams are not already planned in TUMonline. Please ask the respective lecturers to plan the exam in TUMonline, so that you can register.

Exam deregistration is possible until 7 days before the exam via TUMonline. If you have problems with the registration, don't hesitate to get in touch with Ms. Römpp before the deadline expires. 

Exam Plan Winter 25/26

Should you retreat from an examination due to illness, you must inform the examination board (examinations administration) immediately. A medical certificate (not the yellow “Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung”) must state the beginning and the end of the inability to take an examination. What sort of information must be included in the medical certificate you can find here: https://www.tum.de/en/studies/during-your-studies/organizing-your-studies/examinations/withdrawing-from-examinations-medical-certificates

Study Progress Monitoring

TUM uses Study Progress Monitoring to track study progress according to the number of ETCS achieved at the end of a specific semester. The General Academic and Examination Regulations (APSO) regulate the thresholds. Not meeting these credit thresholds may have serious consequences, and ultimately leads to the irreversible failure of a degree program (disenrollment).

The following number of credits is required: 

at least 30 credits by the end of the third semester
at least 60 credits by the end of the fourth semester
at least 90 credits by the end of the fifth semester
at least 120 credits by the end of the sixth semester

The study plan provides for 30 credits per semester in order to complete the degree programme within the standard period of study.

Recognition of credits can be requested for parts of a degree program completed outside TUM. The prerequisite for the recognition of credits not earned at TUM is their equivalence. This means that the knowledge and skills acquired must not differ significantly from the content of the corresponding modules at TUM (based on Art. 63 BayHschG and §16 APSO). Guidelines on how to carry out this process can be found via the links below.

Recognition of academic achievements

You can apply for credit recognition if:

• You’ve already completed the course in a previous Master’s program
• You completed extra courses during your Bachelor’s program (but only if they were also part of a TUM Master’s curriculum)
• After a semester abroad, the credits earned at the partner university can also be recognized – according to matriculation statue §16, 4 (3) as soon as possible after your return from the semester abroad

What’s NOT possible?

• You can’t transfer courses from your Bachelor’s degree, because that’s the prerequisite for your Master’s. An exception to this rule are modules that are included in the subjects of your TUM Bachelor's degree program and in the compulsory subjects of your Master's degree program.
• You can’t replace a grade you don’t like by applying for credit recognition.
• You can’t transfer credits for free electives if you already have enough 

How to apply?

• Talk to us first! Come to our consultation hours or email us to check if it even makes sense to apply.  

  Gather your documents – you’ll need:

• The application for credit recognition form (you will get this from us)
• Transcripts/certificates showing you passed the course and your result of the cour
• A detailed course description (including syllabus, topics covered, and learning outcomes)
• Find the TUM professor who teaches the course you would like to have recognized and ask him to confirm that your past course is equivalent
• Submit everything within your first year – you can send all documents as PDFs

GENERAL – TIME AND REQUIREMENTS

When can I start writing my master’s thesis at the earliest?

The master’s thesis should typically be the last module of the ITBE studies. You can start writing your master’s thesis once you have collected at least 75 ECTS points from your ITBE study program and have no more than one compulsory module exam remaining.
Students who are enrolled in the 3rd semester can be admitted to the Master's Thesis module early upon application if 57 credits have already been achieved after the second semester and if it is foreseeable that at least 75 credits will be achieved after the completion of the 3rd semester.

Can I start it during the semester break?

You can start your master’s thesis at any time throughout the year. However, consider the availability of your supervisor and chair professors within six months from thesis registration, taking into account public holidays, lecture-free periods, conferences, and travels of the supervisor and the chair professor.

What is the latest time I can start writing my thesis? Can I start during my sixth semester and finish in the seventh?

If you begin your master's thesis during the sixth semester and the processing time extends into the seventh semester, then the master's thesis is automatically considered a second attempt, as it will be completed during the accomodative semester. This means that you must pass the master's thesis and cannot repeat it, as only two attempts are permitted. 

Am I an enrolled student during the time of writing my master’s thesis, even if I am not physically in Munich?

To write the master’s thesis, you must be enrolled at TUM throughout the entire period.

Do those six months need to be continuous? Can I interrupt the processing time of my thesis by taking a semester off?

No, this is not possible. Theses must be started and completed before a semester of leave or started and completed after the semester of leave. (Exception: parental leave)

How much time do I have to finish it?

From the moment the master’s thesis has been registered, you have six months to finish it. If you don't upload your thesis in the Koinon portal on time, you will receive a grade of 5.0 (not passed).

Can I extend the time for my master’s thesis under certain circumstances?

The time for the master’s thesis can be extended by a maximum of three months (one month at a time) under specific circumstances. These include:

   Student-unrelated issues (e.g., long delivery times, etc.)
   Illness/inability of the student to take exams

Such extensions must be recorded in the Koinon-Portal and require proper documentation (e.g., a medical certificate from a trusted doctor with a signature).

Can I change the topic/title/exposé/methodology of the master’s thesis?

The master’s thesis, until it is submitted, is a work in progress. It is very rare for a thesis to correspond 100% to what was written in the exposé. During those six months, you will learn a lot, explore your topic in depth, and gain hands-on experience that will shape the content and extent of your master’s thesis. Therefore, the content and even the title in the system can be changed until the thesis is submitted. However, this does not mean you can change the topic entirely. The thesis should still align with the original plan, and all changes should stem from the topic’s development. These changes should also be discussed with the thesis supervisor.

Can I withdraw my master’s thesis from the system?

The topic of the master’s thesis can be withdrawn once, within the first two months of the writing period, under special circumstances. This applies if you are either unable to continue with the selected topic or decide to change it entirely.

Can I improve the grade of the master’s thesis if I am not satisfied with it?

No, it is not possible.

What should I do if I have not passed the master’s thesis?

If the master’s thesis is not successfully passed, it can be repeated once. In this case, a new topic must be found and registered in the system, and the entire process (writing an exposé, consulting with the supervisor) must be repeated from scratch.

When do I need to present the master’s thesis? To whom?

You must present your master’s thesis in front of the supervisor, the chair professor, and typically several researchers at the Chair. This is usually done right after the submission of the thesis. You are responsible for scheduling the presentation time, so plan well in advance and discuss possible timeslots with your supervisor. The presentation counts 20% to the grade.

When will I receive my grade?

After submitting the thesis, it must be graded within two months.

When will I receive my diploma and other documents?

After finishing your studies at TUM (i.e., collecting all the credits from all the modules, including the master’s thesis), it may take several weeks for the documents to be ready. If you need an earlier confirmation in the form of a preliminary certificate (e.g., for an employer), you can download a digitally sealed, preliminary degree certificate from the app „Student Dossier“ in TUMonline. You will be informed about the details once your study progress is confirmed.

If I haven’t finished my other courses before finishing the master’s thesis, can I finish them later? When will I receive my diploma in such a case? Will I still be enrolled at TUM?

Despite the master’s thesis being intended as your last activity during your master’s studies, sometimes students continue with other courses after the master’s thesis submission. This is possible only within the formal time of study as per the FPSO (120 ECTS by the end of the sixth semester), and you will still be enrolled as a TUM student. In such a case, the study program is completed only when all the required modules are finished, and the diploma, along with other documents, will not be available any sooner.

SUPERVISORS, CHAIRS, EXTERNAL SUPERVISORS

Who can supervise my master’s thesis?

Every TUM researcher can theoretically supervise a master’s thesis. However, the authorized ITBE Chairs include:

   Chair of Computing in Civil and Building Engineering
   Chair of Architectural Informatics
   Chair of Construction Management
   Chair of Geoinformatics
   Associate Professorship of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
   Chair of Engineering Geodesy

If you decide to write your thesis with another chair (not listed above), you need approval from the ITBE team (Tina Römpp and Prof. Borrmann) for compatibility with the program scope. In this case, prepare your exposé with your potential supervisor and send it to Mrs. Römpp before registering the thesis.

How does writing a master’s thesis with a company work?

You can have an external supervisor from a company. There are benefits and drawbacks to this choice, but the most important aspect is that you must always have a TUM supervisor involved. In this case, you will have two supervisors—one from TUM (who will register you in the system) and one from the company, who will act as a “connector” between the university and the industry. You can invite the external supervisor to your final presentation. All details of the cooperation should be cleared before registering the thesis, with all parties involved.

Can I have a supervisor from another university?

This is similar to the scenario above. You need a TUM supervisor to register you in the system, but cooperation with a researcher from another university is possible.

Can I write our master’s thesis with a company outside Germany but still within the EU?

There should be no issue from the master’s thesis perspective. However, make sure to inform yourself about employment and insurance matters if your cooperation with the company involves a working contract.

How often do we meet with the supervisor? Can those meetings be in an online format?

This depends on what you agree upon with your supervisor. Usually, supervisors are open to online meetings. Scheduling regular meetings (e.g., weekly) might be a good option, but it depends on your supervisor’s other commitments (teaching, research, event organization, or their own PhD). Discuss your supervisor’s availability early on, preferably before registering the thesis, to ensure you have similar expectations. Ask about planned vacations or breaks to schedule meetings accordingly. Remember, it is your responsibility to ask for consultations, as supervisors typically do not initiate them.

FORM AND DETAILS OF THE THESIS

Is there any predefined structure for a master’s thesis at TUM?

The structure of a master’s thesis typically consists of the following sections: introduction, literature review, methodology, results, conclusions and outlook, followed by bibliography and appendices. Depending on the type of your master’s thesis, you may use a different structure. 

Is there a template for the master’s thesis?

A general template for all theses at TUM can be found at the following link (you must log in with your TUM account): Thesis Templates  Please note that some chairs may have their own variations of this template. You can find more information on the chair’s website, and for further questions, ask your supervisor.

Can I read the theses of previous students?

Many theses are available on the website: MediaTUM. Many chairs have a list of finished theses on their websites. 

How long should the master’s thesis be?

There is no official minimum or maximum length for a master’s thesis. Generally, TUM master’s theses, including all required elements and excluding irrelevant data, usually range from 40 to 100 pages, excluding appendices. The length depends on whether the thesis is more theoretical or practical, the extent of graphical content (pictures, diagrams, tables), and the distribution of information between the main content and the appendices.

How much effort should I put into the master’s thesis? Can I work or attend other courses while writing the thesis?

The master’s thesis is a full-time activity, equating to 30 ECTS points, or approximately 900 hours of work. However, many students manage to work limited hours or attend a missing course in parallel. Evaluate your time management skills carefully before deciding to do so.

In which language can I write the ITBE master’s thesis?

You can write the thesis in either English or German. Please stick to one language throughout your thesis.

In which language can I do my master’s thesis presentation?

You should present your thesis in English. However, upon special request, you may present it in German.

Does TUM offer any language support for writing my master’s thesis?

Yes, it does! The TUM Language Centre offers both courses focused on academic writing and consultation slots to help you improve your style. You can find more information and take advantage of these resources at the TUM Language Centre – Writing Assistance. We strongly recommend making use of both options!

How does the presentation look? How much time do I have? Who can ask questions?

The presentation should not exceed 20 minutes. After the presentation, each person present can ask questions related to the thesis. Typically, the Chair professor starts with their questions. Answering these questions will be part of the presentation grade.

Do I need to print the thesis?

The form of the master’s thesis at TUM is generally electronic, but various chairs or supervisors may require an additional printed version.

Is there a budget for software licenses that we might need?

Many programs offer educational licenses for students for free or at a reduced price. TUM provides some licenses, which are listed on this website: TUM Software If you need to buy a software license that does not have a free educational license and is not listed on the website above, you will need to purchase it yourself. You can ask your supervisor about funding possibilities or using a Chair license, but there is no specific budget allocated by TUM for thesis-related software or hardware.

Which bibliography management software should I use?

See the comparison made by TUM Library: mediatum.ub.tum.de/doc/1320978/1320978.pdf

We encourage the pursuit of a stay abroad through the various offers at TUM. Contact your study coordinator for an individual counseling.

Further information about exchange programs at the ED can be found on the going on exchange wiki-page.