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TU Munich

Technical University of Munich

TU Munich admits mostly on grades, but many programs add a letter of motivation and a short interview. Here is how to write it.

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Application route

TUMonline portal (digital-only); uni-assist VPD for international diplomas

Written material

Letter of motivation for programs with an aptitude assessment (max 2 A4 pages)

Aptitude assessment

Eignungsfeststellungsverfahren: points on grades, then interview if borderline

Interview

About 20 minutes, only for applicants in the middle band

What TU Munich rewards

TU Munich is not the US Common App, and for most applicants there is no personal essay at all. German undergraduate admission is built on your grades. TUM admits to many bachelor programs through an aptitude assessment (Eignungsfeststellungsverfahren): your school-leaving grades and subject-specific marks are converted to points, and if you land in a clear band you are admitted or rejected on the numbers alone. There is no place to upload a 650-word story about who you are. If your program is a plain numerus clausus, grades decide everything and you write nothing.

The catch for international and American applicants is twofold. First, the program that does ask for writing usually wants a letter of motivation of no more than two A4 pages, and for German-taught bachelors it often has to be written in German. Second, if your points put you in the middle band you are invited to a roughly 20-minute interview, and your letter is the script the interviewer works from. So the writing, where it exists, is narrow, technical, and tied to one subject. Treat it as a focused case for why you fit this exact degree, not as a life story.

01Fit with one specific program. TUM rewards a precise answer to 'why this degree at this university'. The letter is judged against the demands of a single program, so naming modules, methods, and what the program actually teaches beats any general claim about loving science.
02Evidence, not adjectives. German aptitude assessments look for demonstrated suitability: relevant coursework, an internship, a research project, an olympiad, a stay abroad. Each claim about talent should be backed by something you did, with a result or a takeaway.
03Subject substance over personality. This is not US-style personal storytelling. A reader wants to see that you can already think like a future engineer, scientist, or manager. Wider reading, a project you built, a problem you chased down: that carries far more weight than a moving anecdote.
04Clarity and correctness. If the letter is in German, the German itself is part of the signal. Clean structure, correct technical vocabulary, and a tight two-page limit show you can operate in the language of the program. Sloppy or padded writing reads as poor fit.

Essay prompts for 2026-2027

1 prompt for TU Munich, each broken down with annotated examples.

Letter of motivationMax 2 A4 pages

Explain, in no more than two A4 pages, why you have chosen this degree program and TU Munich, and what abilities, talents, interests, and ambitions make you particularly suited to it. For German-taught programs this is normally written in German.

See all 1 prompt and get a read

Your chance

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Add your GPA, test scores, and profile to estimate your odds at TU Munich and build a balanced list.

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Deadlines

Winter semester 2026/27 (most bachelors)Apply via TUMonline by July 15
Summer semester (where offered)By January 15
International / non-EU applicantsSubmit documents to uni-assist for the VPD at least 8 weeks before the TUM deadline
Program-specific datesSome restricted programs (e.g. Architecture) have earlier or different deadlines; always check the program page

Cost

Sticker price$15,800
Avg net after aid$15,800
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TU Munich FAQ

What is TU Munich's acceptance rate?

TUM does not run a US-style holistic review and publishes no single acceptance rate. Reported overall admit rates sit around 8-10 percent and vary widely by program, with STEM fields the most competitive. Admission is decided program by program through the aptitude assessment (points on grades, then an interview for borderline applicants) or a numerus clausus. At TU Munich, a strong application essay and a well-balanced school list matter alongside your grades and test scores.

What supplemental essays does TU Munich require?

TU Munich requires 1 supplemental essay on its application. On EssayLens each prompt is broken down with annotated examples, and you can get a free admissions-style read of your draft against the exact prompt.

How much does TU Munich cost?

TU Munich's published sticker price is about $15,800 per year, but the average family pays $15,800 after financial aid. Your net price depends on your family income; use the calculator to estimate yours.

When are TU Munich's application deadlines?

TU Munich's application deadlines are Winter semester 2026/27 (most bachelors) Apply via TUMonline by July 15; Summer semester (where offered) By January 15. Add TU Munich to your plan on EssayLens to track its deadlines automatically.

Campus photo via Wikipedia.

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