With TUMexchange you can study at one of our 150 partner universities in 26 countries. Photo:Helena Steurer / TUM
Stays abroad let you experience unforgettable moments. Photo: Sebastian Weiß / TUM
India is not only colorful during the Holi Festival: The campus of IIT Bombay is adorned with lots of vibrant graffiti. Image: Layla Eberle / TUM
TUMexchange offers Bachelor's and Master's students of all disciplines the opportunity for a study-related stay abroad at selected partner universities in non-EU countries. Applications for stays abroad for both the summer and winter semesters are possible once a year in October.
Application for winter term 2026/27 and summer term 2027
Application period: October 21, 2025 (10 a.m.) to October 30, 2025 (10 a.m.)
The application form is available in our online application portal only within the specified period. Application documents cannot be submitted at a later date. In the online application portal you can view your submitted application documents at any time and confirm your offered stay opportunity.
How it works
- Research countries and universities included in the TUMexchange program on our online database
- Submit the online application to the Global & Alumni Office through the online application portal within the application period
- Selection and place awarding by the Global & Alumni Office
- Students confirm the places offered
- Nomination process at the partner universities by the Global & Alumni Office
- The G&A Office nominates the students at the partner university
- The students apply to the partner university. After receiving the letter of admission the students have to organize their stay abroad
Countries & partner universities
Find out about possible destinations
You can find detailed information about partner universities for the TUMexchange program in our database. Specify your search here by using the different filter options such as Program, Country, Institution, Subject Area, and Study Level.
Get inspired by former participants
On the relevant university sites, you can also find some experience reports of fellow students, which may inspire your wish to go abroad even more. Happy browsing!
Prerequisites for TUMexchange
- Enrollment in a TUM degree program at the time of application and throughout the duration of your stay abroad
- The field of study and the level (Bachelor or Master) are available. Please research through the online database
- Successful completion of at least four semesters of your bachelor's degree program or successful completion of your pre-diploma prior to the beginning of your stay at the host university
- Sufficient knowledge of the language of instruction in the host country
- Good to excellent grades
The average note is not defined for the entire program but may vary by TUM departments.
Please note that the semester periods at the individual partner universities may differ greatly from the semester periods at the TUM.
Important notice: If you are considering a position which requires a security check, residing in one of the countries included on the attached list could limit your career options. The list of countries considered dangerous can change. More information on this topic can be found (in German) in the Handbuch des Bundesministeriums für Wirtschaft und Energie.
The selection process is carried out via the TUM Global & Alumni Office. Eligibility criteria are based on:
- Grade point average (Bachelor study) Study performances for the master’s program are not considered
- Language proficiency in the teaching language
- Letter of motivation (academic plan)
In recent selection rounds, approximately half of all applicants have been offered an exchange nomination through TUMexchange. Your chances of being offered a place strongly depend on your preferred university. Please bear in mind that we cannot answer questions about individual cases.
- Studies outside the EU for up to a maximum of two semesters
- Exemption from student fees at the host university (Please check our online database to find out about exceptions for a few partner universities in the USA)
- Advice on the selection of a suitable partner university from the Global & Alumni Office
- Option to take a leave of absence during your stay at the host university
- Academic recognition of your grades from abroad by agreement with the relevant TUM school or department
- Inclusion of the stay abroad in the diploma supplement
Important: Successful application for the exchange program through TUMexchange does not automatically entitle you to a scholarship. Carefully think about how you can finance your stay in the host country before applying for the program!
The application form for stays during the academic year 2026/27 will be available from October 21st, 2025, 10am until October 30th, 2025, 10am.
- Please register on the online application portal (link to the portal is actve only during the application period)
- In order to avoid system failure, please use the same logins as for other TUMonline services (Moodle, etc.) for your registration in the portal.
- Please make sure to keep your login data in a safe place. You will need it until you finished your semester abroad.
- Do not register several times in the online application portal and do not start several applications - otherwise your data will not be imported correctly and we cannot process them!
- Select the form Application Form for the TUMexchange Program 2026/27 and complete your application form.
- Please select max. two desired universities. (Applications for two different countries is possible)
- Admission notification by the end of December
You will find the information on the application process and the fact sheets of the partner universities in our online database.
Note: Direct applications to partner universities will not be accepted.
The following documents must be uploaded through the online application portal:
Grade report
- Applicants without a bachelor's degree certificate: the current transcript of your bachelor studies with the average grade. If the transcript is without the average grade, please contact your TUMexchange-Manager.
- Applicants with a bachelor's degree certificate: Please submit the bachelor's degree certificate with the average grade
- The students of the Department of Medicine are automatically considered master students: please submit the Physikum (first state examination) with the average grade.
Note for applicants with a bachelor's degree from abroad
Please convert your average grade using the modified Bavarian formula. The instructions can be found under Downloads.
Please submit your bachelor's certificate along with a supplement containing the conversion to confirm your grades. Unfortunately, we cannot consider foreign bachelor's certificates for selection without this conversion.
CV
- English, tabular, single-page
Motivational letter
- Only use the template provided in the download section!
- English
Language certificates
Each of our partner universities requires proof of proficiency in the language of instruction. The specific language certificates and required proficiency levels are defined individually by each university.
We do not require a current language certificate as part of your application at TUM Global & Alumni Office. It is your responsibility to provide the language certificate required by the partner university within the given deadline at that university and you acknowledge this via a mandatory field in the application form. Application deadline of the partner universities are stated in the Fact Sheet – check our online database.
Check the section “Language Requirements” in our online database and find out which certificates are accepted at your desired university. Provide those certificates independently.
Please realistically assess whether you will be able to meet the required language level and provide the necessary proof by the deadline set at your partner university. Failure to meet the language requirements will result in rejection by the partner university and you will lose your assigned exchange spot.
During the stay abroad
- At the end of stay: Obtain a Confirmation of Stay issued by the partner university
- Represent TUM at a fair or similar event, if such an event takes place
After your stay abroad
- Submit Confirmation of Stay
- Submit experience report
Students, whose semester abroad startet in June 2024 or earlier: You received an email on how to upload your after mobility documents to our online application portal. Please follow the steps explained in this email (subject: TUMexchange After Mobility Documents).
Studierende, whose semester abroad startet in July 2024 or later: Please upload your after mobility documents using the link in our Moodle course TUMexchange Outgoing 2024/25: Information and things to do. In case you haven't enrolled in this Moodle course yet, please contact the TUMexchange team to receive access.
Please note
- Submission of these two documents is a prerequisite for recognizing your stay abroad in the diploma supplement.
- The data upload to TUMonline usually takes place monthly (ten times a year, except in August and December) based on the data from the previous month.
- Please request the registration of your stay as soon as possible after your return, in order to avoid any possible delay in receiveing you diploma once you conclude your course. Please keep the confirmation e-mail you will receive, for future reference.
- Please ask for your degree certificate only after you have uploaded your After Mobility documents and after you have been notified by e-mail that your data has been successfully transferred. This is the only way to ensure that your semester abroad is included in your degree certificate. Once the degree certificate has been prepared, no changes can be made to it.
Scholarships from external providers
Besides the programs coordinated by TUM, there is also the opportunity to receive grants for a stay abroad from external providers.
Downloads and Safety information
TUM-internal selection process:
Language of Instruction for TUMexchange Partner Countries (PDF, 71 KB)
Valid Language Certificates (PDF, 82 KB)
Motivation Letter Template (DOCX, 34 KB)
Bavarian Formula: Help for converting your average grade into the German grading system (PDF, 80 KB)
After Mobility:
Confirmation of Stay (DOCX, 693 KB)
Experience Report Template (DOCX, 688 KB)
General information:
Safety first: Travel and safety information for your stay abroad (PDF, 133 KB)