Politics & Technology

Whether it’s the climate crisis, the energy transition, or digitization: Many of the most pressing issues of the 21^st century are shaped by the close correlation between technology and politics. Students in the English-taught Master’s program Politics & Technology (M.Sc.) learn to analyze these interdependencies and to competently support and shape transformation processes in a sustainable way.

The program combines content from the natural and engineering sciences with a political science perspective. Students engage just as intensively with policy-oriented questions as they do with technology- and economy-related issues. They develop a deeper understanding of the current and future challenges that new technologies pose for politics and society. In doing so, they learn to identify, assess, and shape the roles of governments, industry, social actors, and individuals in driving change at the local, national, European, and international levels. Depending on their individual interests and career aspirations, students can specialize in one o Data & Society, Governance, Political Economy, or Sustainability, or alternatively gain a comprehensive insight into all of these areas.

Graduates of the program are specialists in evaluating and shaping the complex interactions between politics and technology. They are able to conduct forward-looking policy analyses and develop evidence-based recommendations for advancing political frameworks and governance structures. Thus, they are exceptionally well qualified for careers in academia as well as in politics, public administration, interest groups, international organisations, or the private sector.

For a comprehensive description of the program, please refer to the degree program documentation:

• Degree program documentation for the Master’s program in Politics & Technology (PDF, German) 

Required language skills for admission:

You need sufficient English language skills if you wish to apply for this program. Evidence of your language proficiency has to be submitted before the end of the application deadline. Learn more about recognized certificates and other ways to prove your English language skills.

This evidence of your language proficiency confirms that you comply with the minimum language requirements for admission to the program. Depending on the program and your individual background, it may be necessary for you to keep working on your language skills during your studies. Be sure to take a look at the services of our Language Center.  

Language of instruction:

The language of instruction for this program is English.

• Contact Examination Board
  • Chair: Prof. Dr. Christian Djeffal
  • Secretary: Hedi Schmid
• Contact BAföG Confirmations
  • Ivana Jurik

• Information on exams
• Information on studying abroad

The tuition fees for international students from third countries for this degree program are 4,000 euros per semester. This amount is charged for full-time study. Tuition fees are charged proportionately for part-time study.

Many international students can have their fees waived or receive scholarships to finance them. You can find all information on waivers and scholarships here.

Please note: The semester fee as a contribution to the student union must be paid additionally. It varies depending on where you are studying. You can find all information on the semester fee here.

Minimum requirements to apply for a Master’s program at TUM are a recognized undergraduate degree (e.g. a Bachelor’s) and the successful completion of the aptitude assessment procedure. The aptitude assessment allows the TUM school to which you are applying to evaluate your individual talents and motivation for study.

During the application period, you must apply through the TUMonline application portal and upload your application documents.

Here you will find detailed information on the requirements for the documents you need to upload for application and admission to TUM.

Generally, applicants with a qualification for postgraduate studies (e.g. a Bachelor’s) obtained outside of Germany must have their documents reviewed in advance through uni-assist (Preliminary Documentation).

In detail:

• Applying for a Master’s program: Application, admission requirements and more 
• Important information about your application from the TUM school

• Degree Certificate and Diploma or Subject and Grade Transcript of Studies to Date
• Transcript of Records
• Proof of English Language Proficiency
• Essay
• Statement of purpose (Letter of Motivation)
• Complete and Current Résumé
• Passport
• Preliminary Documentation (VPD) if the qualification for graduate studies (e.g. a Bachelor’s) was obtained outside Germany)

We may require additional documents depending on your educational background and your country of origin. Complete the online application to receive a comprehensive list of the required documents. 

• Application for Enrollment (signed)
• Degree Certificate and Diploma (authentic document)
• Transcript of Records (authentic document)
• Most Current Photo (as for ID)
• Digital notification of your health insurance status from a German public health insurance provider (requested by applicant)

We may require additional documents depending on the type of educational background you earned and your country of origin. After accepting an offer of admission in TUMonline, you will receive a list of documents you must submit to TUM in hardcopy for enrollment.

Application period for winter semester: 01.04. – 31.05.

Information about applying for a higher subject semester

During the application period, you must apply through the TUMonline application portal and upload your application documents. Please be aware that we can only process your application if you upload all required documents within the application period.

We will review your application as soon as it is complete. Please check your TUMonline account regularly, to see if we have any queries to your documents or if you have to amend one or more documents.

After receiving admission, you will see in TUMonline which documents you have to submit for enrollment, and in which form.

We recommend that you submit the documents for enrollment as soon as possible after receiving admission. If individual documents are not available by then, you can submit them up to 5 weeks after the start of the lecture period. You will, however, only be enrolled once we have received all documents.

You can check the status of your application at any time in your TUMonline account.

Selection takes place through an aptitude assessment procedure. The aptitude assessment is a two-part procedure after the submission of an official application to a program. In this procedure, the TUM school determines whether you meet the specific requirements for its Master’s degree program.

In the initial stages, the grades you obtained during your Bachelor’s program, as well as your written documents, will be evaluated using a point system. Depending on the amount of points accumulated, applicants are either immediately admitted, rejected, or invited to an admissions interview. 

• Aptitude Assessment for Master
• Description of the aptitude assessment (appendix 2, German) (PDF 291 KB)