Meeting between Presidents Li Luming and Thomas F. Hofmann at TUM in January 2025. Image: Martina von Imhoff / TUM
Prof. Miranda Schreurs, TUM (6th left) and Prof. Rong, Vice President, Tsinghua University (7th left) at the CNEST Forum in June 2025. Image: Institute for Carbon Neutrality, Tsinghua University
At the Sino-German Study Camp 2025, students from TUM and Tsinghua came together in Munich to collaborate on the energy and technology transition. Image: GIZ
Tsinghua-TUM Talks 2024 on Advanced Healthcare Engineering at the Tsinghua SIGS Campus in Shenzhen. Image: Zhenshan Jin / TUM
Presidents Prof. Thomas F. Hofmann and Prof. Qiu Yong with the signed partnership agreement in October 2020. Image: Astrid Eckert / TUM
Tsinghua University, founded in 1911, is not only considered China's leading technical university, but also one of the best universities in the world. As part of the flagship partnership agreed in October 2020, cooperation between TUM and Tsinghua has been intensified in research, but also in the subject areas of entrepreneurship and lifelong learning. Students, doctoral candidates, and administrative staff also benefit from mutual exchange.
Scientists from TUM and Tsinghua University have already been working together for around 30 years. The lively student exchange between the two partners has provided numerous talents with new perspectives on their subject and enriching cultural experiences. While the first five years of the strategic partnership focused on Tsinghua University's campus in Shenzhen in southern China, one of China's most potential innovation metropolises, the research and exchange between the Beijing and Munich locations is now also set to be intensified.
Winter School 2025 at Tsinghua University: Shaping the smart cities of the future together
Think globally, act sustainably: From December 8 to 14, 2025, TUM, TUM Asia, and Tsinghua University are hosting the Winter School 2025 in Beijing. The program focuses on Smart Sustainable Cities and Transportation – the sustainable and intelligent design of urban living spaces for the future.
Applications are open until November 15, 2025.
The research collaboration between TUM and Tsinghua University spans all seven TUM Schools. Long-standing focal points exist, for example, in the areas of electromobility, traffic engineering, and climate change mitigation.
In September 2025, TUM joined the Carbon Neutrality and Energy System Transformation (CNEST) network at the invitation of Tsinghua University. The academic leads on the TUM side are Prof. Miranda Scheurs and Prof. Dongshen Wen, who already participated in the CNEST Forum in Beijing in June 2025.
TUM and Tsinghua University have been cooperating for many years in the field of entrepreneurship, for example through the TIE² program of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at TUM (UnternehmerTUM) and the TUM Institute for LifeLong Learning.
Since the flagship partnership was established, the Tsinghua-TUM Talks (TT Talks) have been held annually. Researchers from both universities exchange ideas on a current topic, explore potential areas of cooperation, and engage with the scientific communities.
In 2024, the TT Talks on Advanced Healthcare Engineering were streamed live from the Tsinghua SIGS campus in Shenzhen and reached over 2,000 listeners.
Since 2006, Tsinghua University and TUM have been organizing a joint summer school in the field of transport and logistics for students from both universities and selected partners. The Sino-German Study Camps took place in Beijing in 2024 and in Munich in2025. They were organized by Tsinghua University and TUM as part of the “Sino-German Cooperation on Climate Change – Climate Partnership,” in cooperation with and supported by the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ).
Furthermore, every year TUM students successfully participate in the Tsinghua SIGS Summer School in Shenzhen.
Funding initiatives for researchers
TUM scientists have the opportunity to apply for funds from the TUM Global Incentive Fund to promote new research projects with colleagues from Tsinghua University.
Within the framework of the TUM Global Visiting Professor Program, on the other hand, there is the possibility of inviting scientists from Tsinghua to TUM.
Students and doctoral candidates
Under the TUMexchange program, students can go to Beijing or Shenzhen and study at Tsinghua University and Tsinghua SIGS respectively, while Tsinghua students can come to TUM for up to three semesters. Doctoral students receive support for a stay in China via the TUM Graduate School Partnership Mobility Grant and TUM-Tsinghua Research Exchange.
Gain expertise about China via the TUM Language Center
In addition to a wide range of Chinese language courses and a German-Chinese tandem program with Tsinghua SIGS, the TUM Language Center also offers the unique opportunity to obtain a Certificate in China Expertise. The offer is open to students, staff, and researchers.
Exchange programs for administrative staff
TUM administrative staff can visit Tsinghua and Tsinghua SIGS through the Maximilian Graf Montgelas Program and support the internationalization of TUM.
Through the TUM Invited Experts in Administration funding line, experts from Tsinghua can be invited to TUM.