The Technical University of Munich was founded in 1868 by King Ludwig II of Bavaria as the Polytechnische Schule München, reorganized as a university-level institution to drive scientific and industrial progress during Bavaria's transition to an industrialized state. It was renamed Technische Hochschule München in 1877 and became the Technische Universität München in the 20th century. TUM has since evolved into one of Europe's leading research universities, securing "University of Excellence" status multiple times (including under Agenda 2030), producing 19 Nobel Prize winners affiliated with the institution, and expanding through mergers, new campuses, and a strong focus on innovation, entrepreneurship, and interdisciplinary research.
TUM's main campus is in central Munich at Arcisstraße 21, featuring historic buildings blended with modern facilities in an urban setting. The largest and most research-intensive site is the Garching campus north of Munich, home to natural sciences, engineering, and advanced labs including supercomputers and research reactors. Additional campuses include Weihenstephan (life sciences and agriculture in Freising), Straubing (bioeconomy), Heilbronn (digitalization and management), and international presences like Singapore. The campuses offer state-of-the-art infrastructure, green spaces, sports facilities, and excellent public transport connections in one of Germany's most livable cities.
TUM is a public research university governed by its Board of Trustees and led by the President as chief executive, currently Prof. Dr. Thomas F. Hofmann (re-elected for a second term in 2025, serving since 2019). The administration oversees seven consolidated schools (following Agenda 2030 restructuring), supported by federal and state funding, research grants, industry partnerships, and an annual budget exceeding €1.8 billion (including the university hospital). It emphasizes entrepreneurial governance, internationalization, and excellence initiatives as part of the German Excellence Strategy.
TUM is organized into seven schools: Computation, Information and Technology; Engineering and Design; Natural Sciences; Life Sciences; Medicine and Health; Management; and others, offering over 170 degree programs in engineering, natural sciences, medicine, informatics, management, and interdisciplinary fields. It ranks among the world's top universities (#=22 in QS World University Rankings 2026, #27 in Times Higher Education 2026 as the best in the EU, #79 in US News Best Global Universities), with exceptional strengths in engineering, computer science, physics, chemistry, and innovation. TUM boasts high research output, numerous Nobel and other prestigious award affiliations, cutting-edge facilities, and strong industry ties, making it a leader in technology transfer and entrepreneurship.
TUM enrolls approximately 52,000 students (as of winter semester 2025/26), including 45% international students from around 140 countries and 36% female students, creating a highly diverse, cosmopolitan, and innovative community. Student life features vibrant campus activities, numerous student organizations, sports clubs, cultural events, entrepreneurship programs (with over 100 startups founded annually), and access to Munich's dynamic cultural scene, beer gardens, Alps proximity, and public transport. The environment balances rigorous academics with strong support services, international exchanges, career advising, and a collaborative "entrepreneurial university" spirit in a safe, high-quality living city.
Professors at Technical University of Munich
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