Start of Studies

Getting Organized and Enrollment

☐ Clarify entry requirements and apply for visa
☐ Mandatory health insurance
☐ Enroll at TUM
☐ Transfer the semester fee on time (tuition fees for students from non-EU countries)
☐ Keep track of important dates and deadlines
☐ Financing of your stay abroad
☐ Find accommodation (Tips for finding accommodation)

To Dos in Germany

☐ Register with the resident’s registration office
☐ Get a residence permit
☐ Open a bank account
☐ Apply for an exemption from radio and television license fees
☐ Get a ticket for public transport

Prepare for your studies at TUM

☐ Get your TUM Student Card
☐ Familiarize yourself with TUMonline and register for courses (manuals can be found here)
☐ Join introductory events (information via email or on the website of your degree program)
☐ If interested: attend a library tour
☐ Activate eduroam (Wi-Fi access)
☐ If interested: register for the buddy program

Campus life & Community

☐ Get to know fellow students and network
☐ Enjoy leisure and cultural activities
☐ Improve your german language skills
☐ If interested: register for sport courses at Zentraler Hochschulsport (ZHS)

Do you have any questions? You can find FAQs here.

Information and contact persons for your degree program can be found on your degree program’s website.

When do lectures take place? When are the semester breaks, and which public holidays are there? Here is an overview of important dates and deadlines.

What´s more: In many cases, precourses or introductory events take place before the first lectures begin.

International students find information sessions on TUM First Steps, e.g. on enrollment, health insurance, residence registration, residence permits, and finding accommodation. International students also share their experiences and answer questions. 

Visa and Residence Permit

Many international students require a visa to enter Germany. After arriving in Germany, they must obtain a residence permit.
Please make sure to check well in advance whether you need a visa for your studies in Germany. An initial overview is available on this website.

Mandatory Health Insurance

In Germany, health insurance is mandatory and this requirement also applies to students. This means that you must provide proof of German health insurance in order to enroll at TUM.
Health insurance is not required at the time of admission; however, you must arrange for health insurance in Germany before enrollment. Further information on mandatory health insurance can be found on the website.

Social Networking

The ED International Buddy Program is designed to help you get off to a smooth start at TUM. Your buddy helps you settle in quickly, get to know German culture, and make new friends through shared events. You can register for the buddy program here.
The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) TUMi also offers a wide range of activities – from karaoke and dance nights to museum visits and language cafés – which are another great way to meet new people.

Has it been a few weeks since your last math class? In that case, we recommend taking part in a mathematics precourse. The course helps you start your studies well prepared. At the same time, you can get to know your future fellow students and the TUM campus even before the semester begins.

• Precourse in Advanced Mathematics for Mechanical Engineering, Engineering Sciences, Civil Engineering, Environmental Engineering, and Geodesy (DE)
• Precourse Aerospace, Engineering Science, Geodesy & Geoinformation (EN)

TUM is the largest technical university in Germany. To help you find your way around, there is the digital service fair Fit for TUM. There, you’ll gain insights into the wide range of support and services offered by TUM and its external partners. It’s definitely worth attending! 

You will receive the most important information about your degree program at the program-specific orientation events. These usually take place shortly before the start of lectures. You can find the exact date on your degree program’s website under the section “Information for the Start of Studies”.

The Welcome@TUM event for first-year students offers an inspiring start to your academic career. Please note that the number of participants is limited register here.

Upper-level students can help you get off to a good start in your studies by sharing their experiences and offering tips. Currently, the School offers the following programs:

• Buddy program for international students
• First-semester tutors in the Bachelor’s program in Engineering Science  

You can also meet upper-level students through the student council, fellow students, in seminars, or directly on campus.

You can get a first impression of the campuses in Munich, Garching, and Ottobrunn-Taufkirchen by taking part in the interactive campus tour.

Borrowing books, conducting research, or studying late into the evening – the university library is one of the most popular places for students to study.

The library tours provide a good overview of all services and offerings. To help you find your way quickly and understand how to use the library properly, there is also a short “How to Bib” guide.

In addition to the library, there are other study areas available to you – both for focused individual study and for group projects. 

Where is lecture hall MW0001 again? Where can I find lecture hall 2770? NavigaTUM is here to help you find your way around campus quickly. Just enter the room number in the search bar to see exactly where the room is located.

The StudentCard is your TUM student ID. You need it, for example, to identify yourself during examinations. In addition, your StudentCard also serves as your library card and can be used as a payment card in the cafeteria.
Your StudentCard will be sent by post to your German correspondence address that you have entered in TUMonline. When it is issued for the first time, your StudentCard is already validated. From the second semester onward, or after each successful re‑registration, you must revalidate your StudentCard every semester.
Information on where to find validation stations, what to do in case of loss of your StudentCard, and answers to many other questions can be found on this page.

On campus, you have access to Wi‑Fi via eduroam. This international initiative by universities allows you to use Wi‑Fi easily and free of charge not only at TUM, but also at all participating universities worldwide. Instructions on how to set up eduroam on your devices can be found in this installation guide.

TUMonline is TUM’s campus management system and is essential throughout your entire course of study.
In TUMonline, you register for courses and examinations, view your grades, and download important study documents. You can also set up your TUM email address there. An overview of all additional functions of TUMonline as well as step‑by‑step instructions can be found on this website.

Moodle is a learning platform. There you can find, for example, materials from lectures and tutorials. In addition, Moodle offers a wide range of functions for interaction, collaborative work, and independent learning. Alongside TUMonline, Moodle is one of the most important tools for your studies.

How do you find an apartment in Munich? When should you start looking for an apartment, and what should you keep in mind?
This website provides an initial overview as well as information sessions with practical tips on finding accommodation.
You can read tips on how to find an apartment in Munich and the surrounding area here.

Student halls of residence

In addition to the Munich Student Union (Studierendenwerk München), social organizations also operate student halls of residence. As there are often long waiting lists for rooms in student housing, it is important to submit your application as early as possible.

Private housing market

Most students live in private rooms or apartments.
On the TUMLiving housing platform, you can find commission-free apartments and shared-room listings. An overview of additional search options is available here.
As space in housing advertisements is often limited, you can find an overview of the most important abbreviations here.

Each semester, a semester fee (basic contribution to the Student Union) is charged. All students are required to pay this fee on time at the start of their studies or as part of the re‑enroll process.
International students from non‑EU countries are required to pay tuition fees. Further information on this as well as details on the amount of tuition fees for your degree program can be found here.

Are you looking for an internship or a job during your studies? There are various opportunities, for example as a student assistant, tutor, or through an internship. Open positions for students at TUM can be found on the bulletin board.
Important regulations regarding employment for international students can be found here.

In addition to BAföG, there are other financing options such as education loans, final semesters loan, nonrevolving loans, or the KfW student loan. An overview of the various funding and loan options can be found here.

Did you know that scholarships are not only awarded to students with top grades?
TUM also awards scholarships directly. An overview can be found here.
In addition, there are numerous other scholarships, prizes and competitions available.
Foundations offer further opportunities for (financial) support.

The TUM ED networking events bring together students, researchers, and industry professionals. These offerings specifically strengthen exchange, interdisciplinarity, and practical relevance.

Whether it’s Sustainability Day, the Presidential Student Lunch, IKOM, or student festivals - there’s always something going on at TUM. The event calendar provides an overview of all current events.

Did you know that you can try out more than 100 different sports at the Central University Sports (ZHS)? Each semester, around 600 courses are available at affordable prices at numerous locations in and around Munich. The wide range of activities includes fitness and health sports, athletics and gymnastics, ball and team sports, martial arts, as well as dance, mountain and climbing sports, and water and winter sports.

Are you interested in music and/or arts? Then you should definitely take the time to explore the wide range of orchestras, bands, choirs, theatre groups, exhibitions, lectures, and much more.

If you live and study in Munich, having knowledge of German is key to managing daily life and feeling part of the community – whether at university, in your career, or in everyday interactions. The Language Center offers German courses for all levels, supporting students with prior knowledge.
The German for Engineers B2/C1 course is offered to help you prepare optimally for beginning your professional career in Germany.