Study in Germany – Discover Enrollment requirements for EU and non-EU students and the associated fees. It seems a lot has changed with non-EU fees recently!
Tuition Fees Depends on Your Passport
The fee structure at TUM has seen recent changes for non-EU students:
EU/EEA Students: Typically, you do not pay tuition fees for the M.Sc. Informatics program. You only need to pay the semester fee, which is around €85.00 per semester (this contributes to the student union and the basic semester ticket).
Non-EU/Third-Country Students: Starting in the Winter Semester 2024/25, new international students from “third countries” are being charged tuition fees.
The tuition fee for the M.Sc. Informatics program is €6,000 per semester (totaling €24,000 for the 2-year/4-semester program).
You will also pay the mandatory semester fee (approx. €85.00 per semester) in addition to the tuition.
Note: TUM states that they will offer waivers and scholarship programs to structure the introduction of fees in a socially responsible manner. You’ll want to check their official tuition page for the latest on this!
Enrollment Requirements & Documents
The admission process is aptitude assessment procedure, and it requires:
| Category | Requirements |
| Academic | A recognized undergraduate degree (like a Bachelor’s) in Informatics/Computer Science or an equivalent field. |
| Application | You must apply via the TUMonline application portal. The application typically requires: |
| * Statement of Reasons/Letter of Motivation (max. 2 pages) | |
| * CV/Résumé | |
| * Scientific Essay (approx. 1,000 words on a specified topic) | |
| * Transcript of Records (and Bachelor’s certificate if already obtained) | |
| * Form “Analysis of the Curriculum” (for course comparison) | |
| Language | Proof of English Language Proficiency (e.g., TOEFL iBT min. 88, IELTS min. 6.5, or PTE min. 65). German is not required for application but is certainly helpful for life in Munich! |
| External Applicants | If your Bachelor’s degree is from outside Germany, you generally need a Preliminary Documentation (VPD) from uni-assist. |
| Country Specific | Applicants with a Bachelor’s from Bangladesh, China, India, Iran, or Pakistan must typically submit a GRE (Quantitative Reasoning min. 164) or GATE score, along with an APS certificate (mandatory before enrollment for the visa). |
The application deadlines are usually May 31 for the Winter Semester and November 30 for the Summer Semester. It’s best to apply early, especially if you need a visa.
You might find this video helpful, as it walks through the application process for the Technical University of Munich: TUM Application process (Technical University of Munich).
Cost of Living for International Students in Munich, Germany
Munich is great, but its cost of living definitely requires clear budget. Housing, as you might have guessed, will be your biggest expense by a country mile.
As a future student in Munich, here is your essential list of monthly expenses:
(Estimated) Monthly Budget in Munich
| Expense Category | Budget per month | Notes |
| Housing (Warm Rent) | €400 – €1,000+ | The huge variable. Dormitories are the cheapest (€400–€600) but have long waiting lists. Shared flats (WG) are the most common, costing €600–€900 for a private room. |
| Public Transportation | €38 | As a student in Bavaria, you can purchase the discounted Deutschland-Ticket for €38/month, valid on all local and regional public transport throughout Germany. |
| Health Insurance | €120 – €150 | Mandatory for all students. This covers public (statutory) health insurance for students under 30. |
| Food & Groceries | €150 – €300 | Varies widely by lifestyle. Budget supermarkets (Aldi, Lidl, Netto) help keep costs low. Meals at the student canteen (Mensa) are typically very affordable (€3–€5). |
| Total Estimated Monthly Cost | €708 – €1,450+ | The low end assumes a coveted spot in a student dorm; the average is closer to €1,100 – €1,400 with a shared flat. |
Closer Look at the Biggest Expenses – you need €1,100 per month to live in Munich
First of all… housing in Munich is a Headache! It’s tough, but you have a few options:
Student Dormitories (Studierendenwerk) are the cheapest option from €400–€600, but the waiting time can be 1 to 7 semesters. If you get one, you’ve basically won the Bavarian lottery.
Shared Flat (WG) is where most students end up. Expect to pay €600–€900 for single room, depending on the location and size. Maxvorstadt (near the city center and universities) is more expensive.
Utilities: The rent prices above are “warm rent” (including basic utilities like heating and water), but check the contract! Electricity and internet might be separate, say another €50–€100 combined.
Public Transportation – The reduced Deutschland-Ticket is an absolute steal at €38 per month (as of 2025). This is subscription and allows you to use all regional and local public transport (buses, trams, U-Bahn, S-Bahn, and regional trains) nationwide.
In short: you should be budgeting for a minimum of about €1,100 per month to live comfortably but frugally in a shared flat, and significantly more if you opt for a private studio apartment.
In most cases you’ll need a part-time job options for students in Munich to help offset these costs.
Students Reviews and Personal Experiences
Student Life
“As for academics and free time – it really depends on study program. I am doing chemical engineering (2nd semester, bachelor) and can confidently say it is tough, especially if one aims for good grades. Have experienced some sleepless nights with technical drawings and 3D modelling, but it was totally worth it. Studying 10+ hours a day is now no biggie. I know some people who value their social life more and dedicate merely 2-3 hours for learning daily but ig their exam results speak for themselves. It’s all just personal preference.
Also, it is not easy to do well in exams. At least Technische Mechanik 1 with 50% of failed exams… One has to sincerely be active in all lectures, Zentralübungen, Tutorübungen or even consultations.
When I first started studying here, I had no idea what GOPs (Grundlageprüfungen) are. One only has 2 attempts at an exam. If both failed – exmatriculation.
TUM provides with a myriad of opportunities for improvement – various student clubs, internships, etc. It is a great opportunity to learn practical stuff you are not taught during lectures. What is important tho is the eagerness to improve. Most student clubs are happy to have new people on their team, I’d definetely recommend joining the ones you are interested in.
Garching campus offers volleyball, basketball, football and other amenities. Some people take their sports clothes and go for a run around campus or ride their bikes. There is also a gym but it is quite expensive.
In the end it all basically comes down to how much you are willing to take out of studying here. You have all the opportunities but really have to know what you want.”
(Source: Reddit)
“In almost all German Uni, it is easy to get in I would say. But the number of students who were in my first semester compared to now (currently my last) will make a lot of people scared. A lot of people struggle so hard. Specially students from countries where they must do odd jobs to cover themselves. They live pay check to pay check every month. If you have lectures 3-4 days in best case scenario, and you work 2-3 days 8 hours a week, your week is finished. Who will do homework? You don’t want to do homework thinking you can prepare some days before exam and make it? Surprise surprise you have a mountain to climb. Think you’re special? And so do the rest of your classmates. End result? 90% failed. And people end up blaming the reputation of TUM. TUM is the same as any other German University just with better marketing and more funding for research.
I met so many proud students of TUM and then when I check up on the number of credits they completed: 30 over 4 semester.”
Student Accommodation
“You need to apply to dorms as soon as you get an admission , and the waiting times are between 3 to 5 semesters , sometimes more and sometimes less. It does not matter if you’re international or not, only condition is to have an admission so just apply. For rent at first look at rooms a little outside of Munich , those that have connection with trains to munich (S-Bahn) , mostly cheaper and you wont need to go to uni everyday”
(Source: Reddit)
Was it worth it?
“As someone who graduated from TUM (and didn’t have to pay tuition), it was definitely worth it for me. It was easier for me to get werkstudent jobs in my field because of the TUM network (and the bias for TUM students). I also landed my dream job, because the recruiter knew my thesis supervisor, who is famous in the field.”
(Source: Reddit)
“The thing about Munich is, other than it being a beautiful city in Bavaria and Germany overall, it is home to many companies. To some recruiters, proximity is important and because if someone is already in Munich, their chances of landing a position is higher than someone who is not. Students from other cities do stand a chance too, just relatively not as high of a chance.”
” I think studying at TUM does improve your chance at landing a better job, but perhaps not in the way most people expect it to.
In another German university I’ve spent some time in, the master’s students are literally begging for any kind of student jobs. If you don’t dress like a student, they will ask if you are a Ph.D. student and if you have any student job. The same for internships. At TUM, from my experience at least, it was quite easy to land internships and student jobs. This is crucial because finding a job is tough, regardless of your university. However, getting a return offer from your internship is significantly easier.
So the real benefit of studying at TUM is the connection and opportunities you get while you are studying there. The certificate and name are useless, just like any other university in this economy.
That being said, it was much easier to recommend TUM a couple years ago because the tuition cost was really low. Nowadays, I don’t see any reason to study at TUM instead of, Imperial College, for example.”
Other student says the opposite: “As an international student, TUM is still significantly cheaper than Imperial College and other universities in the UK. I had a job for a couple of years after my Bachelor’s and I was able to save up enough to pay for tuition at TUM. I would probably have to work for a decade to save up to study in the UK.”