Erasmus+ & SEMP: Informatics

When is the best time to study abroad? This decision depends on your individual academic circumstances and your personal goals for your studies abroad. 

During the bachelor's degree: For bachelor's students, the fifth semester is the earliest possible and also the most common time frame. At the time of application in the 3rd semester, you must have successfully completed at least 44 ECTS from the required modules in the first and second semesters of the curriculum. Depending on the progression of your studies, the 7th semester can be a good alternative. 

During the master's degree: For master's students, the 3rd semester is a good time to go abroad. All required modules should have been passed before embarking on your exchange. Bachelor's students at TUM may apply for studies abroad in the 1st or 2nd semester of their master's program while still enrolled in their bachelor's program. 

Please keep in mind the following rule of thumb: Required and TUM-specific modules (e.g., bachelor's/master's seminars, practical course) should be completed at TUM. Elective modules, support electives, and additional courses, on the other hand, can easily be completed abroad.

Applications must be made using the online platform MoveOn. Please select the form “Erasmus study SMS (+ Switzerland - SEMP Studies, Double Degree and School Program)” and upload the following documents:

• Letter of motivation (in German or English)

• Curriculum vitae (in German or English)

• Proof of language skills in the language of instruction according to CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)
  • English: at least B2
  • Other languages: at least B1
  • Suitable proof of language skills:
    • Higher Education Entrance Qualification
    • DAAD certificate from the TUM Language Center
    • Language courses in the transcript of records
    • Official language exams (TOEFL iBT, IELTS, Cambridge Certificate, DELF/DALF, DELE, etc.)

    • Language plan (for Spanish, French or Italian)

• Grad report of courses and exams passed
  • Examination report for your current studies from TUMonline ("Kontoauszug")

  • If applicable, transcript of records or diploma of undergraduate degree

• Study plan
  • Bachelor – use the template for your degree program and follow the completion instructions.
    • Study plan BSc Informatics
    • Study plan BSc Information Systems
    • Study plan BSc Bioinformatics
    • Study plan BSc Information Engineering
  • Master – use the general template and follow the completion instructions.

    • Study plan Master 

• Integration of semester abroad into progression of studies
• Academic project
• Personal motivation
• Application documents (content and form)
• Language skills (language of instruction and local language)
• Grade report of courses and exams passed: Where destinations are very popular or universities are particularly high-ranking (e.g., ETH Zurich, École Polytechnique), students' grades are taken into account.
• Applications with a bachelor's degree from outside TUM: In this case, the credits and master's grades earned at TUM will be taken into account. If you apply during the 1st semester of your master's program at TUM, the decision on whether to accept or reject your application will be based on your grades from the exam period in February. Here, at least 20 ECTS should be earned during the first exams at TUM (not counting repeat examinations).

1. Documents submission by the application deadline in mid-January
2. Invitations to the selection interview will be sent to some of the applicants by the end of January
3. Personal selection interviews from early to mid-February
4. Acceptance or rejection until the end of February

Note on the selection interviews: Not all applicants will be invited to an interview, as we are often able to make a decision based on the documents submitted. Whether you are invited to an interview or not, therefore, does not reflect your chances of success with your application.

You will be considered for the waiting list for remaining spots under the following conditions:

1. If we are unable to offer you a spot in the first selection round, but you are generally eligible: We will give you the opportunity to apply for available spots at other partner universities in a second selection phase at the beginning of March.

2. If, after the exam period in February, you still have important required courses left to complete in your degree program, or if you have not earned enough ECTS and your academic success at TUM may be at risk: After the repeat examinations at the beginning of the summer semester, you may apply again for any remaining spots.  

Important remarks: The prerequisite for the waiting list is that you have applied on time during the regular application process.

Once you have been offered a spot and have accepted it, the Student Exchange Coordinator will nominate you to the partner university abroad in good time. After your nomination, you should get an email from the partner university informing you of the next steps. But please keep an eye on the application deadlines yourself and find out which documents you need to submit.

Please make sure that the following requirements of the partner university and the TUM School of Computation, Information and Technology (CIT) are aligned when choosing courses:

Requirements of the partner university

Some partner universities have requirements regarding the minimum or maximum number of ECTS you must earn during your studies abroad (usually between 20 and 30 ECTS per semester). In addition, there are often restrictions on taking courses offered by departments/faculties/schools other than the one you are attending as part of the Erasmus+ program. It is your responsibility to find out about the relevant requirements and take them into account when choosing your courses.

Requirements of the subject area Informatics at the TUM School of CIT

At least 20 ECTS must be earned at the partner university, of which at least 10 credits must be related to the field of Computer Science/Informatics. Interdisciplinary modules that clearly have a Computer Science/Informatics component (i.e., more than 50 percent of the course content is related to Computer Science/Informatics) also count as modules related to Computer Science/Informatics. 

Important remarks: These requirements always have to be met when choosing courses at the partner university, even if you need less than 20 ECTS to successfully complete your studies at the CIT.

The Learning Agreement (LA) is the list of courses you would like to take at the partner university. It should be prepared well before the beginning of your studies abroad. As a learning agreement between the student, the TUM School of CIT, and the host university, the LA is the foundation for the later transfer of credits earned abroad. 

In most cases, an Online Learning Agreement (OLA) is created digitally and confirmed by all three parties. Our guide contains important advice and information on how to correctly fill in a LA or OLA.

It is your responsibility to apply for the transfer of credits earned at the partner university when you return from your studies abroad. Further information can be found under Credit Recognition in the subject area Informatics.