Explanations of the Legal Framework
The framework for studying at TUM is well defined. Here you will find an overview of the most important regulations and their explanations.
The General Academic and Examination Regulations (APSO) of the Technical University of Munich apply to all Bachelor’s and Master’s Programs offered by TUM. They contain the general process regulations for examinations as well as general guidelines on study planning. The specific regulations applicable to a certain degree program are based on these general rules and are stipulated in the program-specific Academic and Examination Regulations.
Based on the General Academic and Examination Regulations (APSO), there are program-specific Academic and Examination Regulations (FPSO) for each program. They contain the binding regulations which form the basis for your studies. So be sure to get acquainted with the Academic and Examination Regulations applicable to your specific case.
The Academic and Examination Regulations contain crucial regulations, among others
- the admission requirements,
- the standard duration of study, the course of studies and the required ECTS to successfully complete the program
- the examination deadlines and progress monitoring, i.e. the number of credits you need to achieve at the end of a certain semester
- further relevant regulations and conditions you need to observe in order to complete your program.
The Academic and Examinations Regulations for all programs are available online.
Depending on the program, TUM uses different admission procedures.
For Aptitude Recommendation (SOV) and Aptitude Assessment (EfV for Bachelor’s and EV for Master’s) procedures, there are detailed regulations for each program. The Academic and Examination regulations define which requirements must be met for admission, and which admission procedure is implemented.
- For Aptitide Recommendation (SOV), the process as well as the factors (e.g. grades) considered and their weighting are defined in the Regulations on Aptitude Recommendation.
- For Aptitude Assessment for Bachelor’s programs the process as well as the factors (e.g. grades) considered and their weighting are defined in the Regulations on Aptitude Assessment.
- For Aptitude Assessment for Master’s programs the process as well as the factors (e.g. grades) considered and their weighting are defined in the appendix to the Academic and Examination Regulations.
These statues regulate
- the enrollment process, i.e. the conditions and deadlines for enrollment as a student of TUM,
- re-enrollment, i.e. the deadlines for the payment of the semester fee to continue enrollment in the next semester,
- the conditions and process concerning the application for leave of absence,
- disenrollment, i.e. how, why and when your student status ends, for example after you complete your studies.
A Notification is an official document with important, binding decisions concerning your studies. You will receive notifications via email, in your TUMonline account or by post.
The most important notifications in the course of your studies are
- the Notification of Admission, with the formal decision about your admission to a degree program.
- the Notfication of Enrollment, which confirms your student status.
- the Notification of Examination Results, with the summary of the course work or exams completed within a certain semester. It sums up the results of your exams, and helps you track your study progress.
- the Notification of Disenrollment/Withdrawal, which confirms the end of your student status.
- the Notification of Irreversible Failure of Examination Requirements with the information that a required examination has been failed in the last possible attempt.
Information about legal remedies is appended to each notification. It contains information about your options and deadlines if you think the information in a certain notification might be incorrect.
Be sure to always keep your contact details in TUMonline up to date. Otherwise you might miss crucial information about your studies.
After each semester, you receive a Notification of Examination Results from the Graduation Office and Academic Records department at your campus. You will either be notified by email about a new notification in your TUMonline-account, or the notification is sent to you by post.
This notifications sums up the grades and credits you achieved in the examinations you signed up for within the relevant semester. It also contains important informatoin about possible administrative or legal consequences resulting from the progress of your studies. Be sure to read the notification promptly and thoroughly. This is the only way to make sure your progress is documented correctly in TUMonline, and you are aware of your rights and duties. Be sure to also read the information on legal remedies attached to the notification.
Should you disagree with the summary of your subjects, grades and attributions of the relevant semester, be sure to contact your department, school or Graduation Office and Academic Records department directly.
TUM uses so-called Study Progress Monitoring to track study progress. It is stipulated in the General Academic and Examination Regulations (APSO) as well as in the Academic and Examination Regulations for each degree program.
Study Progress Monitoring defines the amount of credity you need to have achieved at the end of a certain semester. Not meeting these credit thresholds may have serious consequences, ultimately the iireversible failure of a degree program.
For example, Study Progress Monitoring may define the required amount of credits after each semester for bachelor’s as follows:
- 30 credits by the end of the third semester,
- 60 credits by the end of the fourth semester,
- 90 credits by the end of the fifth semester,
- 120 credits by the end of the sixth semester,
- 150 credits by the end of the seventh semester,
- and 180 credits by the end of the eighth semester.
This is an example – the regulations for a specific program are defined in the General Academic and Examination Regulations as well as in the program-specific Academic and Examination Regulations.
Irreversible failure means that an examination, which is mandatory within the course schedule defined in the applicable Academic and Examination Regulations has been failed in the last possible attempt, or that it is no longer possible to meet a necessary requirement for the registration to take such an examination - due to reasons for which the student him or herself is responsible. You thereby lose your right to take an examination.
One cause for irreversible failure is not achieving the minimum amount of credits required at the end of a certain semester, as defined by Study Progress Monitoring.
In case of irreversible failure, you will receive a Notification of IrreversibleFailure and will be disenrolled at the end of the semester in which the irreversible failure has been asserted.
Important info: Irreversible failure, as a rule, means you will no longer be able to study any program at TUM which is related to the program you were unable to complete successfully. More information on this is available in the Academic and Examination Regulations of a degree program. You might also no longer be able to study any related subject at another university – be sure to contact the university you intend to apply to beforehand to clarify this question.
The Notification of the Right to take an Examination, also known as Clearance Certificate, confirming that you have not lost your right to take an exam, i.e. have not finally failed a required examination.
For a Notification of the Right to take an Examination (“Unbedenklichkeitsbescheinigung”), please contact the person responsible for your degree program at the Graduation Office and Academic Records department.