Mechanical Engineering B. Sc.

In the basic part of the course, students are introduced to mathematics, mechanics and technical electricity. Students should be able to independently describe processes both qualitatively and mathematically and quantitatively and apply laws and formulas to defined problems.

This is supplemented by basic subjects specific to mechanical engineering: technical mechanics teaches students the ability to independently formulate and solve mechanical problems at an abstract mathematical level. As part of the fundamentals of machine drawing and machine elements, this knowledge is transferred to complex technical drawings so that students can develop solutions for the production-, load- and assembly-oriented design of components, select suitable machine elements and represent them using CAD systems. In addition to elementary basics of information technology such as computer architecture, the analysis of real-time systems for given control systems and the C programming language are also part of the course. 

The ability to model engineering problems taking uncertainties into account is trained on the basis of probability theory. The foundation course is completed with the modules materials science, control engineering, fluid mechanics, thermodynamics and heat transfer. With this sound knowledge of scientific principles, theories and methods, students are able to successfully work on specific problems in mechanical engineering with a clear solution path. For example, students are able to make a pre-selection of suitable materials based on specific material requirements, describe a machine as a thermodynamic system and design dynamic, actively influenced systems.

More Information: Degree program documentation

After completing the foundation course, you will be able to

• understand essential basic concepts of mathematics, physics, chemistry and electrical engineering, describe processes both qualitatively and mathematically-quantitatively and apply laws/formulas to defined problems
• use your knowledge of mechanical engineering-specific basic subjects such as technical mechanics, machine drawing, machine elements and information technology to independently formulate and solve questions in engineering problems (e.g. determination of real-time systems for given control systems, design of components suitable for production, load and assembly, modeling of uncertainties)
• apply the methods and concepts of materials science, thermodynamics, heat transport phenomena, fluid mechanics and control engineering (e.g. development of material properties, analysis of heat transport and technical flows, design of dynamic actively influenced systems)

After completing the individually selected subjects in the 5th and 6th semesters, depending on your specialization, you will be able to apply the methods you have learned there and, if necessary, independently developed solutions in practice (e.g. application of mechanisms of industrial real-time bus and operating systems, characterization of novel electrified concepts in motor vehicles, development and evaluation of thermal solar collectors and photovoltaic systems).

If you decide to pursue a vocational career after completing your Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, this will open up prospects in many different areas. These include mechanical, plant and vehicle engineering as well as the aerospace industry or supply and service companies.

Study Structure

The standard period of study for the bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering is six semesters. This is divided into basic studies (1st to 4th semesters) and specialized studies in the 5th and 6th semesters. In the basic studies, there is a fixed timetable for each semester with lectures and exercises, which can be extended by tutorials – small learning groups with individual support. 

In the 5th and 6th semesters, students choose their courses from an extensive catalog according to their interests and inclinations. The path to the desired specialization or to a broad engineering education is now open. From a catalog of subjects, they choose industry-specific courses according to their interests or put together a fundamentals-oriented, cross-industry schedule of classes:

• Energy and process engineering
• Development and design
• Vehicle and drive technology
• Aerospace engineering
• General mechanical engineering
• Theoretical mechanical engineering
• Management in mechanical engineering
• Mechatronics and robotics
• Medical technology and assistance systems
• Nuclear engineering
• Production and Logistics

Course Content

The 1st semester builds on school knowledge that will be expanded throughout the academic year:

• Mathematics (e.g., systems of linear equations, vectors and matrices, differential and integral calculus, matrix factorizations, multidimensional calculus).
• Chemistry (e.g., atomic structure, bonding, chemical reactions, metals, nonmetals, organic chemistry)
• Physics (e.g. mechanics, electricity, optics)

Parallel to this, students delve into the fundamentals of 

• Electricity theory (basics of drive technology as well as electronics)
• Engineering mechanics (bodies at rest in statics and elastostatics, time-independent deformations and stresses)
• Information technology (linking the fundamentals of electrical engineering with those of computer science to solve problems in mechanical and plant engineering)
• CAD and mechanical drawing (creation, understanding and analysis of technical drawings)
• Modeling uncertainties and data in mechanical engineering (probability theory, performing statistical tests, describing engineering problems in the presence of uncertainties)
• Soft skills in the student environment (workshops on how to start studying and how to organize the daily study routine in a goal-oriented way.

In the 3rd and 4th semesters, the following knowledge is taught on the basis of these fundamentals:

• Mathematics (Fourier series as well as Fourier and Laplace transforms, differential equations and integral transforms)
• Technical mechanics (kinematic systems)
• Control engineering (application of mathematical knowledge to the description of stability or damping as well as amplitude and phase frequency responses)
• Materials science (e.g. classification of materials, properties of materials)
• Machine elements (e.g. strength and design calculations, design of a gearbox)
• Fluid mechanics (e.g. behavior of liquid and gaseous media, conservation laws for mass, momentum and energy)
• Thermodynamics (e.g. main laws of thermodynamics, descriptions of states, circular processes)
• Heat transport phenomena (e.g. heat transport mechanisms, calculation of heat flows).

While the four-semester basic studies consist of compulsory modules, only elective modules are offered in the 5th and 6th semesters with the exception of the modules "Mathematical Tools" (translation of engineering problems into mathematical problems and their solution by application-oriented modeling) and "Bachelor's Thesis with scientific papers".

More Information: Curriculum

All applicants who prove their eligibility will be admitted to the program. Criteria for suitability are:

• the average grade of the university entrance qualification, e.g. Abitur (high school diploma)
• subject-specific individual grades (mathematics, German and at least one science or computer science continued until the Abitur)
• extracurricular qualifications (e.g. apprenticeship, internships, participation in competitions)

• Higher Education Entrance Qualification
• Proof of German Language Proficiency
• Statement of purpose (Letter of Motivation)
• Complete and Current Résumé
• Passport
• if applicable: Proof of Internships or Professional Experience (optional)
• Preliminary Documentation (VPD) by uni-assist - for international applicants only

An essential part of the application for aptitude testing is your written statement of reasons for choosing the course of study and for choosing the TUM as your university. This letter of motivation should not exceed two DINA4 pages and must be written in German. It must – as you confirm with your signature on the application form – be written independently and without the help of others. Among other things, you should explain in it which skills, specific talents, interests and career ideas make you particularly suitable for the intended course of study at TUM. Additional information about your personal background or special qualifications such as extracurricular activities can also contribute to this (please enclose supporting documents).

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.

• Application for Enrollment (signed)
• Higher Education Entrance Qualification (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.

Preliminary math course

For your degree program, the lecturer of the Higher Mathematics 1 lecture offers a preliminary math course together with the student council at the beginning of your studies (end of September/beginning of October, usually two weeks before the start of lectures). Here you have the opportunity to make initial contacts with fellow students, review the math material from school and get to know the first aspects of higher mathematics. You will be informed about the date and registration by e-mail during the admission procedure.
 

Introductory event for Bachelor students - SET (SemesterEinführungsTage)

The introductory event SET usually takes place on the first two lecture days in the winter semester in lecture hall MW0001. Students from higher semesters and Study Office staff will explain the most important points you need to know for your studies (timetable, examination and study regulations, contact persons, etc.).

You will find the lecture hall after the main entrance on the left on the first floor of the faculty building, Boltzmannstraße 15, 85748 Garching, see map. Information from previous years can be found on the student council website.
 

POWER - Personal Orientation Week for first semester students of the student council:

During the preliminary course, the student council's Personal Orientation Week for first-semester students POWER takes place for you. This program is intended to give you the opportunity to get to know nice people, Munich and the university before the official start of lectures and to have a lot of fun at the same time. The student council hopes that a large part of the events can/will take place in Munich as usual. If not, there will definitely be an online alternative program. Registration is not required, the current planning status can be found on the student council website.

Additional helpful information can be found on the website for the start of your studies

Here you can find the general dates and deadlines at TUM.

Binding examination dates for your degree program can be found in TUMonline.
The exam registration for your degree program usually takes place during the following periods:

May 15 – June 30 for exams following the summer semester
November 15 – January 15 for exams following the winter semester

Here you will find all relevant documents relating to your degree program:

• General Academic and Examination Regulations
• Program-Specific Academic and Examination Regulations
• Aptitude Assessment
• Internship Guidelines:
  • For students starting their studies in the winter semester 2024/2025
  • For students starting their studies in the winter semester 2022/2023
  • For students starting their studies in the winter semester 2017/2018
• Degree Program Documentation: Select degree program → Information on Degree Program → Program Profile
• Information Session for First‑Semester Students - Starting in the Winter Semester 2025/2026
• Module Catalog
• Timetable for the 1st subject semester
• Timetable for the 2nd subject semester
• Timbetable for the 3rd subject semester
• Timetable for the 4th subject semester
• Timetable for the 5th and 6th subject semester: For these subject semesters there is no fixed timetable. You choose your modules according to your own preferences from the current offer in TUMonline.
• Presentation for the specialized studies (For enrollment, including the summer semester 2024)
• Presentation for the specialized studies (For enrollment, starting winter semester 2024/25)
• Recommendations for the choice of Bachelor Modules
• Guidelines for Safeguarding Good Scientific Practice and for Dealing with Scientific Misconduct (only available in German)

Recogniton

Recognition of academic achievements is only possible if there are no “substantial differences in the acquired competencies (learning outcomes)” (see BayHIG Art. 86; Lisbon Recognition Convention, Art. VI.1). If you have completed courses and examinations at a recognized university in Germany or abroad, for example during previous studies or a study abroad period, and these are relevant to your current degree program, you may submit an application to check whether recognition is possible.
 

Recognition of Study and Examination Achievements

For Starting the Study Programme till including Summer Semester 2024 (Study and Examination Regulations-Version 20171 and Study and Examination Regulations-Version 20201),
the following applies:

There are two ways to apply for recognition of courses or credits. 

The recognition of examination achievements is only possible if the maximum credits to be earned in the individual elective sections (within the area of elective modules), as defined in Annex 1 of the FPSO, have not yet been fulfilled.

1. Previous studies:
You can submit an application for 1:1 recognition of examination and study achievements. You can find further information in our recognition guide.

2. Semester abroad:
You can submit an application for 1:1 recognition of examination and study achievement (s.a.) or/and apply for a maximum of two supplementary subjects for general recognition. In the case of recognition of supplementary subjects, there has to be an engineering-related connection to the degree program and the work completed abroad has to correspond to at least 3 ECTS credits each. For supplementary subjects from the semester abroad, 3 ECTS are credited (even if you have completed more than 3 ECTS abroad).

Important notes:

• Only recognitions for achievements, that are part of your curriculum, can be recognized (exception: recognition as a general supplement).
• A recognition as an additional subject is not possible.

When Starting the Study Programme from Winter Semester 2024/2025 (Study and Examination Regulations-Version 20241),
the following applies:

There are different ways to apply for recognition of courses or credits.

The recognition of examination achievements is only possible if the maximum credits to be earned in the individual elective sections (within the area of elective modules), as defined in Annex 1 of the FPSO, have not yet been fulfilled.

1. Previous studies:

You can submit an application for 1:1 recognition of study and examination achievements. You can find further information in our recognition guide.

Please also note the point number 3 “Area of general education / interdisciplinary skills”.

2. Semester abroad:

You can submit an application for 1:1 recognition of study and examination achievements.

Please also note the point number 3 “Area of general education / interdisciplinary skills”.

3. Area of General Education / Interdisciplinary Skills:

Individual recognition is possible for modules from the Pre-study program as well as for modules from the semester abroad.
Exception: If you have previously studied the same or a related degree program at another university and are continuing your studies in the Bachelor's degree program in Mechanical Engineering at the Technical University of Munich, this study is not valid as Pre-study program.

Individual recognitions and language courses (not German as a foreign language, not English with level A1+A2) can be recognized from 2 ECTS after appropriate verification. A maximum of 3 ECTS can be recognized for a module from the Pre-study program or the semester abroad.

Important notes:

• Only recognitions for achievements, that are part of your curriculum, can be recognized (Exception: Recognition as a general supplement in the area of individual recognitions in the elective section General Education / Interdisciplinary Skills).
• A recognition as an additional subject is not possible.

Submission Deadlines:

Previous Studies:

Pursuant to APSO § 16 paragraph 4, sentence 3, an application for recognition of examination achievements from previous studies may be submitted only once within the first year of study to the responsible Examination Board.

Semester Abroad:

Pursuant to APSO § 16 paragraph 4, sentence 4, the application for recognition of credits earned during a semester of leave of absence may only be submitted in the semester, which is following the semester of leave of absence for one time. 
If you are on leave of absence during your semester abroad, your application for recognition will only be processed after the end of the leave of absence period.
 

Application Submission

Please send the completed and signed application “Application for Recognition of Study and Examination Achievements” with all relevant documents to the Bachelor Examination Board Mechanical Engineering: bpa.me@ed.tum.de.

Please be sure to note the information and applicable deadlines on the application.

After submitting the application for recognition of study and examination achievements to the Bachelor Examination Board Mechanical Engineering, the module coordinators will check whether the skills and abilities already acquired are equivalent to those required for the module applied for.
After the procedure has been completed, you will receive a notification from the Bachelor Examination Board regarding the outcome of the requested recognition(s) and, where applicable, the resulting semester classification.

Note:
No application for recognition of achievements may be submitted prior to enrolment in the Bachelor’s degree programme. Likewise, no preliminary assessment will be carried out.
 

Recognition of Internship

Please consult the information provided under Internship.
 

Classification into a Higher Semester Level

Classification into a Higher Semester Level are calculated in accordance with ImmatSatzung § 4, paragraph 5, sentence 1 of the current version of the university statutes.

For each 30 ECTS earned, one semester is granted. For every 22 ECTS credits above, an additional full semester will be credited.

If repeat examinations were taken during a leave of absence and/or if the industrial internship was recognized after a leave of absence, this ECTS are not included for the Classification into a Higher Semester Level.
 

Information

• The turnaround time for a recognition application is usually about 12 weeks.
• Approved credits are marked with an *) in the grade report. You can find your approved credits in the corresponding position in your study tree.

Transfer of Study and Examination Achievements by Parallel Studies within TUM

As soon as you are enrolled simultaneously in more than one Bachelor’s degree program, achievements that you wish to “transfer” are treated as a credit transfer (Leistungsnachtrag), not as recognition.

• A credit transfer is only possible for achievements completed during the period of parallel enrollment.
• A credit transfer will only be carried out if the respective module is identical in both degree programs, meaning it has the same module number.
• If you commence the second degree program after beginning the first and wish to use achievements from the first program in the second, this constitutes recognition of achievements from previous studies.
• Credit transfers do not result in an upgrade to a higher subject semester.

For submission, please use the form “Application for Transfer of Study and Examination Achivements by Parallel Studies within TUM (Antrag auf Leistungsnachtrag)".
Kindly send the fully completed and signed form to the Bachelor Examination Board for Mechanical Engineering at: bpa.me@ed.tum.de.

If you have any further questions, please check our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). 

Your degree program includes a so-called "industrial internship". It is divided into two parts:

1. Manufacturing internship

Eight weeks are mandatory as a production internship, ideally before the start of your studies. In justified specific cases, e.g. stays abroad or Federal Voluntary Service, ..., the placement may be deferred upon request. Just submit your request to the Internship Office Mechanical Engineering, plausibly explaining the reasons preventing you from undertaking the practical before starting your studies. Please be sure to include your student number.

Ideally a major part of the internship should be completed prior to starting your studies, since the semester break is primarily needed for exam preparation.

The aim of the internship is to gain experience in manufacturing and production, in industrial companies, and in working with colleagues and staff.

You can find the required contents of the internship in the internship guidelines (which can be found unter the “Documents” tab).

• The internship does not have to be completed as a continuous 8‑week period in one company; it can also be split (in terms of time and companies).
• Please note that we only recognize full working weeks.
• The recognition of the pre-study internship for all first‑year students takes place starting at the beginning of October.

You can submit the documents for recognition electronically to the Mechanical Engineering Internship Office at praktikumsanerkennungen.me@ed.tum.de (please include your student number).

2. Engineering internship or research internship

A nine-week engineering internship can also  be completed during the course of study and is rewarded with 12 credits. Alternatively, instead of the engineering internship as part of the elective area "Project Work", a research internship of 12 credits can also be completed. 

The Mechanical Engineering Internship Office of the TUM School of Engineering and Design decides on the recognition of successfully completed vocational training or an equivalent performance as an engineering internship. There you will also receive advice on all questions relating to the topic of internships (see contact Student counseling).

You can find the detailed internship guidelines, including all information on deadlines, scope, and required documentation, in the internship regulations applicable to you. These can be found under the ‘Documents’ tab.

Statement for a Leave of Absence Semester

If you wish to take a leave of absence for an internship, you will need a so‑called “Statement from the School.” You can obtain it as follows:

• If it is a mandatory internship, please contact the Mechanical Engineering Internship Office at:praktikumsamt.me(at)ed.tum.de.
• If it is a voluntary internship, please also contact the Internship Office and obtain confirmation that the School approves the internship due to its subject-related relevance to your studies. To verify this relevance, please forward information about the company and your expected tasks to the Internship Office.
• If it is a voluntary internship abroad, please contact the international advising office of your degree program (see contact details: International Exchange).

You can also find further information on the leave-of-absence semester in our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

Bachelor's Thesis

Admission

For students who started their studies up to and including Summer Semester 2024
(applicable to SPO version 20171 and SPO version 20201)

• In order to be admitted, students must have earned at least 120 credits in their degree program, including at least 105 credits from the compulsory modules of the foundational studies phase (Grundstudium). In addition, the pre-study internship (Fertigungspraktikum) must have been completed and officially recognized.
• If the pre-study internship (Fertigungspraktikum) has been completed and examination results have already been published but are not yet formally valid in the system, students may still be admitted to the Bachelor's Thesis, provided that the published results amount to at least 120 ECTS credits, including 105 credits from the compulsory modules of the foundational studies phase (admission under reserve).
• The Registration takes place via the ED-Portal. The student must confirm in the ED-Portal that all admission requirements have been fulfilled.

For students who started their studies from Winter Semester 2024/2025 onwards
(applicable to SPO version 20241)

• In order to be admitted, students must have earned at least 119 credits in their degree program, including at least 99 credits from the compulsory modules of the foundational studies phase (Grundstudium). In addition, the pre-study internship (Fertigungspraktikum) must have been completed and officially recognized.
• If the pre-study internship (Fertigungspraktikum) has been completed and examination results have already been published but are not yet formally valid in the system, students may still be admitted to the Bachelor's Thesis, provided that the published results amount to at least 119 ECTS credits, including 99 credits from the compulsory modules of the foundational studies phase (admission under reserve).
• The Registration takes place via the ED-Portal. The student must confirm in the ED-Portal that all admission requirements have been fulfilled.
   

Thesis Examiner / Thesis Supervisor

The authorization to act as examiner (Themensteller/in) is regulated in the Subject-Specific Academic and Examination Regulations (FPSO) of the respective degree program. For thesis, the relevant provisions can be found in § 46.

The legal provisions set out there may be updated by resolutions of the Examination Board. The currently valid authorization to act as examiner is listed below.

Examiners for the Bachelor's Thesis are:

• qualified examiners from the Departments of
  • Aersopace and Geodesy,
  • Engineering Physics and Computaion,
  • Mobility Systems Engineering,
  • Mechanical Engineering,
  • Materials Engineering,
  • Energy and Process Engineering,

of the TUM School of Engineering and Design, as well as

• Prof. Dr.-Ing. Timo Oksanen (Professorship of Agrimechatronics),
• Prof. Dr.-Ing. Matthias Gaderer (Professorship of Regenerative Energy Systems),
• Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jakob Burger (Professorship Chemical Process Engineering),
• Prof. Dr. phil. Nils Rüther (Chair of Hydraulic Engineering),
• Prof. Dr. Allister Loder (Professorship of Mobility Policy),
• Prof. Dr.-Ing. Claudius Hammann (Professorship of Fire Science and Engineering),
• Prof. Dr. Alexander König (Chair of Robotics and Systems Intelligence),
• Prof. Dr. Michael Zavrel (Chair of Bioprocess Engineering).
   

Cooperation with a Company – May a thesis be carried out in a company and may it contain a confidentiality clause?

There is no entitlement to supervision of a thesis that is prepared externally. The topic must always be assigned by a qualified examiner of TUM.
If you wish to work on an interesting topic within a company, you must therefore contact the relevant chair or academic unit (= examiner/supervisor) at an early stage to clarify whether the thesis may be carried out externally.

Please note the following examination regulations:

• The topic is always assigned by a qualified examiner in accordance with APSO § 18 (4), sentences 1 and 3.
• Examiners may offer students the option of completing the thesis externally, for example in cooperation with a company.
• Under no circumstances may students approach an examiner with a topic that has already been defined by an external partner and request supervision from the university.
• A thesis is an examination component and is therefore subject to the regular examination procedure. Examiners must be granted full access to the thesis and must be able to assess it without restriction.
• The written thesis may not contain any declaration prohibiting the publication of the thesis or parts thereof. (Confidentiality clauses are not permitted. Resolution of the Faculty Council, valid from Winter Semester 2017/18.)

Provisions regarding copyright and rights of use (contact person: Till von Feilitzsch):

• There is no obligation to publish the thesis. Copyright remains with the student.
   

Registration

Registration is carried out via the ED-Portal. You must confirm in the ED-Portal that the required admission requirements have been fulfilled. The supervising chair registers you for the thesis in the system. You will then receive an email requesting that you confirm the thesis registration and the entered data in the portal. Only after this confirmation will the Examination Board review the registration.You will subsequently receive either approval or rejection of the thesis topic by email. All automated emails from the portal are sent to your TUM email address.
 

Scope

The workload of an academic thesis is reflected in the number of credits awarded.
A Bachelor's Thesis (including seminar) comprises:

• 12 credits
• Maximum processing time = 6 months

Please note that, as part of the Bachelor's Thesis module, the online seminar Academic Research and Writing in Engineering, including the preparation of an exposé, as well as a presentation on the final thesis, must be completed as mandatory requirements. To the presentation, please note the section “Is my presentation included in the thesis grade?” - see below -.

Information on the Bachelor's Thesis process can be found under: Final Theses in the ED-Portal
 

Submission

The written thesis must be submitted digitally via the ED-Portal.  For further information, please refer to the ED-Portal Wiki.

Please check the ED-Portal for your individual processing period. Your thesis must be submitted within the specified submission deadline.

If the deadline (submission deadline for the thesis) falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or public holiday, the deadline is extended to the next working day.

Important:
You must be enrolled at TUM at the time of submitting your thesis.

If your enrollment expires on a weekend, the thesis may not be submitted on the next working day unless your enrollment has been extended. This also applies to exchange students.
 

Information Regarding Enrollment in Connection with the Thesis Presentation

In principle, enrollment is mandatory. However, if the presentation takes place no later than one week after the start of lectures of the following semester, you are not required to enroll for that following semester — provided that the presentation of the thesis is the only remaining requirement in your degree program.

For further questions regarding enrollment, please contact the TUM Center for Study and Teaching – Application and Enrollment Office at studium@tum.de.
 

Information on Withdrawal of a Registered Thesis

The topic of a thesis may be returned only once, for valid reasons and upon application to the responsible Examination Board, within the first third of the processing period (within the first two months). See: Final Theses in the ED-Portal
 

Extension of the Processing Period

Extension/Suspension of the Thesis Period: 
In the case of illness or other valid reasons that the student is not responsible for, the student can request an extension of the thesis (ref. § 18 para. 6 sent. 2 and 3 APSO).

Medical Certificate for a Suspension of the Thesis Period: 
A detailed medical certificate must be attached to the suspension request.
The certificate must clearly describe the impairments caused by the illness and explain how these impairments affect the student’s ability to work and study in relation to the thesis. It must state the date of the initial examination or treatment by the attending physician and specify the exact period during which the illness is ongoing. If the illness persists for a longer period, the certificate must include a medical prognosis issued by the treating physician.

The request for an extension or suspension of the thesis period must be submitted immediately via the ED portal; see Final Theses in the ED portal.

For detailed questions regarding the extension or suspension of the thesis period, please contact your responsible examination board.
 

May I complete a thesis during a leave of absence?

During the leave of absence, you are generally not permitted to submit a thesis.

This means that you must either submit your thesis before the start of the leave semester or begin the thesis only after the leave semester has ended.

For submission, the provisions of § 14 (1) sentence 4 of the currently valid APSO apply. This means: if you registered your thesis in the previous semester, you may submit it until the end of the first week of lectures of the new semester (= leave semester). If you submit the thesis within this period, the presentation must also take place by the end of the first week of lectures.

Please be sure to also review the information under “Leave of Absence” on the main website and in our FAQs under the point “Leave of Absence”.
 

Minimum Formatting Requirements

• Language: The language used on the title page (German or English) must correspond to the language in which the thesis is written. For theses written in German, the English title must also be stated.

The minimum formatting requirements can be found here.

You can find information on working with AI (Artificial Intelligence) here.

Please observe the TUM guidelines regarding English spelling in thesis titles..
 

Confidentiality Clauses

See section Thesis – subsection “Cooperation with a Company – May a thesis be carried out in a company and may it contain a confidentiality clause?”above.
 

What happens, if the chair or professorship sets requirements that different from those of the Examination Boards?

Please ensure that you comply with the minimum formatting requirements. The cover page of your thesis may be designed in coordination with your supervising chair or professorship as usual.
 

Is my presentation included in the thesis grade?

The presentation on the thesis is considered as a coursework (Studienleistung) and is obligatory. However, the presentation on the thesis is not included in the assessment of the final grade for the thesis.

The ungraded presentation of your thesis is considered as a coursework (Studienleistung). Therefore, the presentation is important for the final date of your thesis if you have not already given it before submitting your thesis.
 

Correction Period for the Thesis

In accordance with APSO § 18 (11), the thesis is generally to be assessed by the examiner who assigned the topic within a period of two months.
 

What happens if I do not complete my thesis by the end of the 8th semester?

Normally, 180 ECTS credits must be completed by the end of the 8th semester.

An exception within the academic progress check is set out in § 10 (6) sentence 1 of the currently valid General Academic and Examination Regulations for Bachelor's and Master’s Programs at the Technical University of Munich (APSO). According to this provision, one additional semester is granted for the final completion of examination components, provided that at least 150 ECTS credits but not yet 180 ECTS credits have been achieved by the end of the 8th semester. However, in this case, all module examinations not yet completed are deemed to have been taken for the first time and failed. Furthermore, if the required 180 ECTS credits have not been achieved by the end of the 9th semester, all outstanding module examinations are considered definitively failed.

If the first attempt of the thesis has not been submitted by the end of the 8th semester, the thesis is deemed to have been failed for the first time. As a result, the first attempt is automatically converted into a second attempt. For this purpose, the end of the semester is defined by the APSO (§ 14 (1) sentence 4): the thesis may be submitted until the end of the first week after the start of lectures of the following semester, since all examination components completed within this period are assigned to the previous semester. It is sufficient that both the written thesis and the presentation are completed within this period. The grading may take place at a later date.

If the continued thesis is not submitted on time or not passed in the 9th semester, the Bachelor's Thesis is considered definitively failed. Consequently, the final examination is also considered definitively failed, as only two attempts are permitted for the thesis.

The additional 9th semester does not need to be applied for. It is sufficient to re-register for the semester in the usual way.

Please also note the information provided at
 https://www.tum.de/en/studies/graduation/disenrollment → “Disenrollment on Account of Passed Final Examination”:

You must be enrolled in order to submit the written thesis. For the presentation, an enrollment is not required if it is the final remaining examination or academic component and takes place no later than the first week of lectures of the immediately following semester.

If you have any questions, please make sure to contact the responsible Examination Board or the academic advising service for the Mechanical Engineering programs in good time.
 

How do I apply for a Bachelor’s Graduation Certificate?

Please refer to the section Graduation Certificate in our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

If you have further questions, please also consult our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).