Going abroad with TUM SOMex (incl. ERASMUS+)

While planning to do a study program abroad, please consider that you will have to provide proof of competence in a foreign language. Also keep in mind that the partner institution you chose may have specific requirements regarding skills and certificates. Check the language requirements in our TUM SOMex (incl. ERASMUS+) Overview (updated 16 December 2022). Please find details on the accepted proofs of languague proficiency here.

The TUM Language Center offers students various opportunities to develop these professional communication skills and obtain certificates. We recommend you take the free DAAD certificate test at the TUM Language Center. Please note, online DAAD tests in English are offered regularily. Due to limited capacity please make sure to register in time. TOEFL and IELTS are also accepted. Please note that at the time of your application your language certificate must not to be more than 18 months old.

If you are currently enrolled in a language course at the TUM Language Center, but it won't be fully completed before the deadline, you may ask your lecturer to confirm your regular attendance in the course. This can only be accepted if the confirmation was signed towards the end of the course.

Confirmation language course attendance

If you are a NON-EU citizen, in addition to the language requirements on our overview, the university might require other language certificates or general documents for your Visa. Please be aware that these documents can be costly and make sure to inform yourself about additional requirements beforehand.

TUM SOMex language requirements

You should now gather information on how to finance your stay abroad.

Students visiting one of our European partner institutions may receive a scholarship under ERASMUS+. Others will have to apply for other scholarships themselves.

We provide an overview with all relevant information on scholarships and how to apply once you receive an exchange place here.

Having demonstrated engagement for students from abroad will also be taken into consideration during the assessment of your application. Volunteering as a buddy within the Buddy Program (Munich) / Buddy Program (Heilbronn) of TUM School of Management is crucial – so do not forget to hand in your application as a buddy on time.

Another option is to consider offering your accommodation during your own semester abroad. Check the possibilities for subletting a room and prepare the required documents on time before the application deadline.

Clarify the right timing for your semester abroad. Bachelor students have to be enrolled at least in their 3rd semester in order to be able to apply. We recommend bachelor students apply during their 3rd semester (winter semester) for an exchange in their 5th or 6th semester and master’s students apply during their 1st or 2nd semester (winter semester) for an exchange in their 3rd or 4th semester. Please note, you can participate in the TUM SOMex Program only once per educational cycle (bachelor: cycle 1, master: cycle 2).

If you have accepted an exchange place for TUMexchange, you cannot apply for TUM SOMex in the same application period.

A look at our overview of all TUM SOMex (incl. ERASMUS+) destinations and the statistics of previous selection rounds might help you to decide which universities you want to specify in your application. Our regular information sessions (approx. June and October) provide a good opportunity to receive further information (you can read the presentation of the last event here). In addition, you can study the academic programs of the partner institutions. 

Please note, no exchange to the country in which the higher education entrance qualification or bachelor’s degree was obtained is possible.

For NON-EU TUM students: Check eligibility and relevant documents for Visa at the desired host country.

For individual questions, you may also arrange an appointment during our office hours.

Overview of TUM SOMex (incl. ERASMUS+)

Statistics

TUM SOMex language requirements

As an applicant, you can choose up to three destinations within our TUM SOMex (including ERASMUS+) program for your study abroad.

The application phase for TUM SOMex (incl. ERASMUS+) for an exchange in the academic year 2024/2025 (fall 2024/2025 and/or spring 2025) starts mid-December 2023.

Please prepare the following documents:

• Students in the first semester of a master’s program: graduation certificate from your diploma or bachelor’s degree, with your average final grade.
• Students in the second semester of a master’s program please note: If you have achieved less than 24 ECTS in your master’s program, your final bachelor grade will be considered. We therefore we kindly ask you to upload the transcript of your bachelor studies.
• For all other students: please upload your transcript which you can download from TUMonline
• Proof of language proficiency
• Single-page Curriculum Vitae using this template
• Motivation using this template
• Optionally – Engagement for incoming exchange students
  • Buddy program: A written confirmation that you have worked as a buddy for incoming exchange students in the past (not required for current buddies – please upload a pdf file stating that you are currently a buddy)
  • Accommodation database: the signed Conditions for participation and the document Accommodation offering for subletting a room (for Munich students only)

All documents must be uploaded into the application tool before the deadline. A delayed submission will not be accepted.

Please apply via the online application form.

You only have to apply via the online application tool for TUM SOMex (including ERASMUS+). After you are nominated for an exchange place via TUM SOMex you will have to register your semester abroad in MoveOn, the TUMwide registration portal.

Language proficiency

• Our partner universities require students to show proof of their language proficiencies. Please check the specific requirements of the respective partner and program you choose (For NON-EU students, please also refer to the embassy they might need addtional documents for your Visa).
• Accepted language certificates include passed TUM language courses, the DAAD test offered by the TUM Language Center as well as TOEFL and IELTS. Other language certificates may be accepted if they are in line with the Common European Framework.
• Certificates must be less than 18 months old. If you have any doubts regarding the language certificate please contact outgoing@mgt.tum.de.
• Proof of basic knowlegde for current language courses:
  • Confirmation language course attendance
  • TUM SOMex language requirements

Your application will be assessed on the basis of various criteria summed up in a score, which is composed of:

Your grades (65%)

• Your current average grade, weighted by ECTS credit points.
• Master’s students applying during their first semester submit their graduation certificate of their diploma or bachelor’s degree as substitute.
• You should have completed 80% of the expected ECTS credit points for your semester. The expected amount per semester is 30 ECTS. (Exception for the application round 22/23 (i.e. exchange in AY 23/24): we expect 18 ECTS per completed semester) 

Motivation (25%)

• To ensure that you have deliberately chosen your university preferences and have put thought into how your stay abroad complements your studies at TUM and fits into your timeline and curriculum, we require you to write a motivational letter
• The content focuses on the following three questions
  • What is your general motivation to go abroad?
  • Why did you choose this country and university? Please briefly explain all of your choices.
  • How is your stay going to contribute to your studies at TUM? Which parts of your curriculum do you want to do abroad that can be recognized at TUM? How are you going to plan your studies at TUM around possibly differing semester times abroad?
  • Additional language skills, social engagement and your CV (template) will be taken into consideration
• Please state your motivation in the template provided.

Engagement for incoming exchange students (10%)

• Volunteer as a buddy within our Buddy Program for incoming exchange students or freshmen.
  Please note: Participation in mentoring programs for overseas students organized by Technical University of Munich (TUMi) will not grant you bonus points for TUM SOMex (incl. ERASMUS+).
• Sublet a room or apartment to incoming exchange students during your own exchange period. If you are interested in subletting an accommodation, there are two forms you need to fill out: the conditions for participation and an accommodation offer. Please note that the bonus for your TUM SOMex (incl. ERASMUS+) application only applies if you sublet your room via TUM School of Management accommodation offers.

You are only granted a bonus for either participation in the Buddy Program or by subletting your room to an exchange student.

Please note:

If you are not selected in the first round, you can apply again for one of the remaining places via the clearing procedure. For your second-round application, you can choose up to three new destinations for your study abroad and submit the relevant materials. Please apply via the TUM SOMex online application form.

A list with all the remaining places will presumably be uploaded here on February 7th, 2023 in the afternoon. 

If you have not applied in the first selection procedure, please see all the information on how to apply above “Step 5: Hand in your application”.

Around April / May, TUM School of Management’s International Office organizes and invites you to a networking event. At these get-togethers, you first get some general information regarding your study abroad, and frequently asked questions get answered. You will have the special chance to network with students who have already spent their semester abroad at the same institution or with incoming exchange students from there. You should not miss the opportunity to hear first-hand about your new faculty, university and country in general.

After applying successfully for TUM SOMex (incl. ERASMUS+), TUM School of Management International Office will nominate you at the respective partner institutions. After the nomination, you will probably be informed about all required application documents for directly applying to the university by us or by our colleagues at the partner institutions abroad. Please make sure to also check the deadlines yourself. Not all partner universities send information after the nomination. You then need to follow the individually given instructions on needed documents and comply with deadlines. You are responsible to apply on time.

If you are going on exchange with ERASMUS+, please make sure you also prepare all required documents for your grant.

Please prepare a learning agreement for the courses you plan to pass during your stay abroad. This might already be necessary for the application at your host university. 

Please note: For ERASMUS+, it's mandatory to complete an Online Learning Agreement (OLA) before the start of semester abroad. 

For students going to non-ERASMUS countries, it's not mandatory, but recommended to submit a Learning Agreement to outgoing@mgt.tum.de about 3-4 weeks prior to the semester start at your host university.

For further information on how to complete the (Online) Learning Agreement, please see "How to get credits transferred" in the next section: During your stay abroad