CSE Engineering Exchange: Germany

Munich, Germany has a population of 1.4 million people, but often feels more like a small town. Efficient public transportation makes exploring the Munich area easy. Outdoor sports and sporting events are very popular in Munich and the surrounding areas. The central location of Munich within Europe makes regional trips very realistic for exchange students.

The Technical University of Munich (TUM) specializes in engineering, technology, medicine, and the applied and natural sciences and is ranked among the leading universities in the European Union. TUM spans several locations across the region of Bavaria, and many of the STEM disciplines are housed on the modern Garching campus 10 km north of Munich. Learn more about the University locations.

There are a limited number of English courses at the undergraduate level (mainly in Computer Science/Informatics). Most English courses are at the graduate level, which may be available to very advanced Bachelor's students with the necessary prerequisites. Students with strong German language background are allowed to take courses in German and English.

Full-time course load is 30 TUM credits/ECTS (1 TUM credit/ECTS = 0.5 UMN credits). TUM requests that visiting students take at least 60 percent of their credits in their host department. Students will choose from the following subject areas: ED-Civil and Environmental Engineering, NAT-Chemistry, CIT-Electrical and Computer Engineering / Electricity and Energy, CIT-Informatics, CIT-Mathematics, ED-Mechanical Engineering, NAT-Physics, and ED-Munich School of Engineering. In most courses, final grades are determined by exams that constitute the entire grade for the class.

Before applying to TUM, the TUM department of choice must be contacted to find out about final exam dates. Typically exchange students need to attend the exams at the official examination dates, without exception. Examination dates vary between the TUM departments but generally take place between February and March (winter term) and July and September (summer term). For the exact dates please contact the TUM departmental coordinator. View TUM's departmental contacts and websites for exchange students.

Always double check the the updated course availability on TUM Search Course webpage. Do NOT login to TUMonline. Instead click the "continue without login" button.

• CSCI 4041 Algorithms and Data Structures (IN0007 Fundamentals of Algorithms and Data Structures)
• STAT 3021 Introduction to Probability and Statistics (IN0018 Discrete Probability Theory)
• EE 4231 Linear Control Systems: Designed by Input/Output Methods (EI00450 Control Systems)
• EE 4721 Introduction to Power System Analysis (EI00410 Electrical Power Engineering)
• MATS 2001 Introduction to the Science of Engineering Materials (MW1984 Engineering Materials 1)
• ME 3332 Fluid Mechanics (MW2021 Fluid Mechanics I)
• ME 3324 Introduction to Thermal Science (MW2015 Basics of Thermodynamics)

Courses with passing final grades from CSE exchange partners transfer back to UMN as transfer credit (T). Transfer credit does not affect overall GPA.

You should work with the CSE International Programs team, your academic adviser, and your department to create an academic plan that works for you. Begin your academic planning on CSE Learn Abroad's plan ahead page.

TUM helps facilitate securing housing for exchange students from outside of Europe, but it is not automatic and students must follow instructions given by TUM in the application process. There is not any on-campus housing. Learn more on the TUM accommodations page.

Fall / Spring Semester: $9,150 + $7,780 in estimated additional expenses (Fall 2020/Spring 2021)

Academic Year: $16,850 + $14,005 in estimated additional expenses (Academic Year 2020-2021)

Total costs of participation can be found on the U of M Abroad website.

Most financial aid may be applied to study abroad. University of Minnesota students are eligible for education abroad scholarships. Visit the U of M Abroad Financial Aid and Scholarships pages for more information.

CSE students in good academic standing, juniors and seniors.

TUM has two semesters, known as Winter and Summer. For each semester, a lecture period is followed by an exam period. Term dates do not match the University of Minnesota, so careful planning is required. Students are only able to participate on an academic year or spring semester at TUM due to their academic calendar.

First Semester (Winter): mid-October to mid-March

Second Semester (Summer): mid-April to mid-August

View the TUM academic calendar online.

Interested students must be nominated by CSE prior to formally applying for exchange.

To be nominated, first have a conversation with CSE International Programs about your interest in the program.  Then, email a copy of your passport to cseabroad@umn.edu, stating the program and term you would like to be nominated for.  After your nomination is accepted by the host institution, you will receive instructions on how to complete their application. Students accepted by the host institution will also be prompted to complete the University of Minnesota application and confirmation procedure. 

Seeking nomination from CSE International Programs should be done in advance of the host institution's nomination deadline listed below.

Nomination deadlines:  April 15 or earlier (academic year); October 1 (spring)

Application deadlines:  May 15 (academic year); October 31 (spring)

Completion of application early is highly recommended.