Incoming Exchange Students: Informatics

• minimum requirements: programming, algorithms, data structures, mathematics, software engineering
• preferably: data bases, computer architecture, operating systems, networks, automata, formal languages
• at least 2 years of prior studies: computer science, computer engineering, or a similar subject area

• English: at B2 level
• German: Having German language skills is very helpful, though it is not required. If you want to take courses taught in German, we recommend that you have at least B1-level skills.

(Advanced) Practical Course (IN0012 for Bachelor's level/IN2106 for Master's level):

• worth 10 ECTS
• usually a software project in a specific subject area (e.g. data bases, security)
• grading based on group work, presentations, regular attendance (no final exam)
• places are allocated via a matching process due to capacity limits (approx. 20 to 30 students per practical course)

(Advanced) Seminar (IN0014 for Bachelor's level/IN2107 for Master's level):

• worth 5 ECTS
• usually scientific work based on (reserach) papers
• grading based on essay, presentations, regular attendance
• places are allocated via a matching process due to capacity limits (approx. 20 to 30 students per practical course)

(Informatics) Lecture (INxxxx/CITx2xxxx): 

• amount of ECTS varies (see module descriptions or respective chair's website)
• usually only one written or oral exam after the lecture period
• sometimes accompanied by exercises and homework
• most informatics lectures do not have a capacity limit

All courses and seminars offered at TUM can be found in the Campus Management System TUMonline. You do not need to create a TUMonline account to access this information. You can filter out lists of courses in your chosen subject area and view the module handbook for detailed information on the course content, structure, credits (ECTS), recommended prior knowledge, hours, and frequency.

Click “continue without login” in the login section. Under Exchange Studies Informatics (98 030), you will find a large section of courses most attended by exchange students over the past years. 

If you are looking for additional informatics courses (not listed above) or courses of other subject areas, you can use the general course search in TUMonline. 

In any case, please make sure to first read our step-by-step guideline “How to Find Courses”. It explains how to navigate in TUMonline and how to find important information such as the teaching cycle of courses, language of instruction, etc.

Incoming exchange students in Informatics are allowed to take almost all courses offered by the TUM School of CIT, as long as they fulfill the prerequisites and space is available (i.e., Bachelor's students can also attend Master's courses they are qualified to take, and it is possible to attend courses of other degree programs). 

Courses with module codes IN5xxx, IN8xxx, xxHNxxxx/xxxHNxxxx and lectures with limited capacities are not available to exchange students.

We expect all exchange students to take at least 18 ECTS in Informatics courses per semester (which corresponds to 60 percent of a full semester workload). Additional courses (corresponding to 40 percent of a full semester workload) can be selected from other subject areas at the TUM.

To distribute the workload effectively, we recommend including not only lectures in your curriculum but also a practical course and/or a seminar. Additionally, you may consider adding a language course and/or a soft skills course if desired.

If permitted by your home university, we recommend a total workload of 20-25 ECTS per semester (with at least 18 ECTS in informatics courses).

If you want to complete your final thesis in Informatics at the TUM School of CIT during your exchange, you need to spend two semesters (one academic year) at CIT. This time will allow you to organize your thesis in person during the first semester in Munich, so you are prepared to write in the second semester. It is easier to find a thesis project by talking directly to potential supervisors.

You can indicate your intention to write your thesis during the second semester when you apply to TUM. This will make us aware of your plans, so that we can contact you proactively with more information if necessary.

Please note: We can offer you tips and information on our rules and regulations regarding your thesis, which also apply to you as an exchange student. However, it is your responsibility to find a supervisor, select a topic, and complete the process according to the requirements of your home university.

Erasmus+ students: You need to create a Learning Agreement (LA) that outlines the curriculum for your exchange stay at CIT. We recommend using the online version of the Learning Agreement (OLA). If your home university still uses the LA in PDF format, you may send it to us via email. 

TUMexchange students: Some of our partner universities do not require their students to submit a signed curriculum. If your home university does, you can send us your document via email as well.

Signature: We prefer to sign LAs/study plans after the publication of courses and the matching for practical courses and seminars (late July/early August for winter semesters and late February/early March for summer semesters), since your course selection will then be relatively certain. If you need your documents to be signed earlier, please contact us proactively.

Please note: The earliest point at which we sign LAs/curricula is after you have been officially accepted for an exchange at the TUM School of CIT. 

When filling out your LA/study plan, please consider the following:

• Responsible person & contact person = Lena Hengstler (incoming-informatics(at)cit.tum.de)
• ISCED code: 061 or 0619 (Information and Communication Technologies)
• Erasmus code: D MUNCHEN02
• Department: TUM School of CIT – Informatics
• Always indicate the TUM module codes (e.g. INxxxx or CITx2xxx).
• Make sure to meet our course requirements per semester (18 ECTS in informatics courses, i.e. approx. 60 percent of your workload).
• Be mindful of courses that are not open to exchange students.

Please register via TUMonline once your TUMonline account has been activated (at the latest by the official start of the semester, i.e., 1 October for winter semesters or 1 April for summer semesters). See our step-by-step guideline on how to register for courses in TUMonline.

Please note: Course registration does not have a fixed start date. For some courses, registration may open earlier than for others. Therefore, please check TUMonline regularly for updates.

Free spots are allocated via a matching process. Therefore, please apply via our matching platform. If you are allocated a free spot, you can register with the instructor during the semester.

Please note that registering for a course does not automatically register you for the corresponding exam, except for language courses. To take an exam, you must register separately; otherwise, it will not appear on your Transcript of Records. For assistance, please refer to our step-by-step guideline for exam registration in TUMonline. 

Exam registration periods are:

• winter semesters: approx. mid-November until January 15
• summer semesters: approx. mid-May until June 30

The Academic Programs Office as well as the Incoming Exchange Coordinator will send reminders via email.

For some lectures in informatics at the TUM School of CIT, we also offer retake exams. Retake exams have a separate registration period, which usually starts after the regular exam period has ended (i.e., September for summer semester retakes and March for winter semester retakes).

Students with special needs requiring additional time or specific access arrangements for their exams must request accommodation before the exam registration period ends. To do so, please contact us via email, so we can arrange a short, in-person appointment. Please be aware that you will have to submit confirmation of your special needs requirements from your home university and/or a medical certificate in English.

 

You can download a ToR, stating your successfully completed examinations at the TUM, from TUMonline and print it for your home university. To do so, please log in to your TUMonline account and select “Transcripts” in the “Exams” row. Then select "Print Grade Report" (showing only passed exams) to produce an official ToR. The bilingual document lists all modules with grades and ECTS. It is valid without a signature or a stamp. Please contact us if modules are not displayed correctly on your ToR (e.g., module code or ECTS are missing).

Good to know: You have lifelong access to your TUMonline account and can download your ToR even after you have disenrolled from TUM.

You may use the confirmation letter when submitting your ToR to your home university. If your home university requires that our Incoming Exchange Coordinator send the ToR directly (only in rare cases), then please contact us, indicating the respective email address of your home university.

ToRs will be ready to download in TUMonline after the examination period, i.e., when all grades in your TUMonline account are set as valid:

• Mid-March or end of April/beginning of May for exams taken in the winter semester
• Mid-September or end of October/beginning of November for exams taken in the summer semester