Schools and Research Centers
Promoting pioneering research and readying talented minds to tackle the challenges of the future: this is why we networked our Schools and research centers across disciplinary boundaries – in a novel matrix structure that fosters innovation.
Our Schools at a glance
Seven Schools form the academic foundation of TUM and, with the departments within them, cover the major domains of science. This new structure breaks away from mono-disciplinary faculties. The Schools’ research and teaching focus on furthering sustainable innovation for the good of humankind, nature and society, with transdisciplinary connections forged by Integrative Research Institutes and other scientific institutions.

Under development: TUM School of
Medicine and Health
Promoting health and treating disease: from the fall of 2023, this new School will combine the strengths of what is currently the TUM School of Medicine and the TUM Department of Sport and Health Sciences.
TUM as a University of Excellence
Transforming our university for the future
This is the most extensive reform in our university’s history, which stretches back over 150 years. We are fundamentally transforming the structure of TUM – moving from a faculty-based system to a new, innovation-fostering matrix of Schools and Integrative Research Institutes. The goal? To systematically network experts and students, thereby ensuring our sustained success as a leading university in international competition. This transformation is a crucial part of the TUM Agenda 2030, our future-focused concept from the Excellence Strategy of the federal and state governments.
Structure of TUM
Organization and Governance
How does TUM function as a modern scientific enterprise and one of the leading universities in Europe? From the TUM Board of Management to other bodies and central service institutions – get an overview of our university's overall structure.
Integrative Research Institutes
Situated at the interfaces between our Schools, Integrative Research Institutes (IRIs) tackle future-focused issues with far-reaching implications. They bring together approaches, tools and expertise from research and teaching in various subjects, striving to find novel solutions to system-wide challenges.
Clusters of Excellence
We connect our researchers with those from other research institutions, pooling their expertise in high-performance research partnerships. TUM is currently involved in four Clusters of Excellence – researching the origins of the universe and life, sustainable energy supplies, quantum technology and systems neurology.
Scope for creativity
Innovation Networks and Mission Networks
Transdisciplinary teams made up of leading scientists and talented junior researchers pursue visionary research approaches, uncover potential for innovation at interfaces between disciplines and pool the knowledge and expertise of TUM to tackle decisive issues of human-centered engineering.
Institute for Advanced Study
As IAS Fellows, outstanding scientists from around the globe enjoy the creative scope to pursue unconventional research projects at TUM.
Corporate Research Centers
Acting independently of our Schools, Corporate Research Centers conduct basic research into decisive, highly specific areas of science, as well as application-oriented research in cooperation with industry.
- Center for Functional Protein Assemblies (CPA)
- Catalysis Research Center (CRC)
- Center for Translational Cancer Research (TranslaTUM)
- Institute for Food & Health (ZIEL)
- Research Neutron Source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II)
- Walter Schottky Institute – Center for Nanotechnology and Nanomaterials (WSI)
- World Agricultural Systems Center – Hans Eisenmann-Forum for Agricultural Sciences (HEF)
Support for researchers
Technical infrastructure, research funding and more
We offer excellent conditions for research, from our Technology Core Facilities’ (TCFs) outstanding equipment, infrastructure and expertise in high-performance technologies to access to research funding, and numerous other services that promote exceptional science.
Search all institutions
Find contact details for institutions and individuals on TUMonline.
Wiki: School transition
Staff information on the current schedule, FAQs and details of the reform process