Waiver scholarships, exemptions and waivers for international students
TUM offers waiver scholarships, waivers and exemptions for students required to pay tuition fees.
Since the winter semester 2024/25, the Technical University of Munich is charging tuition fees for international students from non-EEA countries who are newly enrolled in a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree program.
Studying at TUM remains free of tuition for students from Germany, the European Economic Area or equivalent states, as well as from states with corresponding agreements, and for students who have acquired their higher education entrance qualification or an undergraduate degree in the German education system. You can find an overview of which groups are subject to fees and which are not here.
Applicants and students that are subject to the tuition fees can apply for waiver scholarships, waivers, and exemptions. These always correspond to the amount of tuition fees for international students from third countries for the respective degree program. No payment is made.
There are different application periods for different types of scholarships, waivers, and exemptions. These can be found below in the information on the respective scholarships, exemptions, and waivers. Applications are only possible during these periods.
You will need an application number from TUMonline to apply for all types of scholarships, exemptions, and waivers. The application number is generated there when you submit an application for a study place. You can find all the information you need in our online application instructions.
If you have already been admitted, you can also enter your TUM student number. You can find these numbers in your TUM online account under “Applications”.
Please note: If your application for a scholarship, exemption, or waiver has been approved, you must confirm your acceptance in the application portal. You will receive all the necessary information by e-mail.
What waiver scholarships, exemptions and waivers are available?
Waiver scholarships for international students required to pay tuition fees
Please note: Applications for waiver scholarships must be submitted before the semester for which the waiver is requested! The exact deadlines can be found below for each type of waiver scholarship.
High-achieving students who wish to enroll in a Master’s program at TUM for the first time or who are in their first semester of study at TUM can apply for this merit-based waiver scholarship.
The awarding of the waiver scholarship is based on the best grades at the university at which the entrance qualification for Master's programs was obtained. The number of waiver scholarships is limited.
Scope of the waiver scholarship
Successful applicants will have their tuition fees for international students from third countries waived for two semesters. Re-application is possible. Please note: No payment will be made.
Application deadlines
Applications can be submitted
- between 1 January and 31 May for the following winter semester,
- between 1 November and 15 January for the following summer semester.
Submission of application
The application can be submitted online during the respective application period. You will find the link to the form for an application for a waiver scholarship here in due time.
Depending on the verification, the original ranking document must be sent in addition as hardcopy (see Required documents below).
Required documents
With your application, you must submit a ranking certificate confirmed by the university at which you obtained your entrance qualification for Master's programs. This certificate must contain the following information:
- The name of the issuing university
- The address of the issuing university
- The contact details of the confirming body
- Name of the responsible person at the university of origin
- Name of the ranked individual
- Date of birth of the ranked individual
- Ranking as a percentage within the cohort or rank within the cohort with indication of cohort size
- Definition of the cohort (which degree program/field of study was ranked)
- Date of issue
- Verification, at least one of the following options must be met:
- Valid online verification code from the university
OR - Qualified electronic signature and qualified electronic seal
OR - Ink stamp of the university of origin and wet signature of the responsible person at the university of origin
- Valid online verification code from the university
If the electronically attached ranking certificate does not have a valid online verification code from the issuing institution of higher education, nor a qualified electronic signature and a qualified electronic seal, the original ink-stamped and wet-signed document must be submitted no later than two weeks after the end of the application period (June 14 for the winter semester, January 29 for the summer semester) to the TUM Center for Study and Teaching – Fees and Scholarships; otherwise the ranking certificate is deemed not attached. The date of receipt by TUM is the relevant date for meeting the deadline.
TUM CST Fees and Scholarships
Arcisstraße 21
80333 München
Germany
Please note: All foreign-language certificates must be translated into German or English. The translation must be carried out by a sworn or authorized or publicly appointed translator. The document must bear the original stamp and signature of the translator as well as their name and form of authorization in plain text.
Needy applicants for Bachelor’s or Master’s programs can apply for a need-based waiver scholarship from the 1st semester onwards.
The prerequisite for receiving the waiver scholarship is proof that the necessary financial means to pay the tuition fees for are lacking. Income and assets of the student as well as the income and assets of parents and spouses are decisive. The number of waiver scholarships is limited.
Scope of the waiver scholarship
Successful applicants will have their tuition fees for international students from third countries waived for the standard duration of study. Please note: No payment will be made.
Application deadlines
Bachelor’s applicants can submit their application
- between 15 May and 15 July for the following winter semester,
- between 1 November and 15 January for the following summer semester.
Master’s applicants can submit their application
- between 1 January and 31 May for the following winter semester,
- between 1 November and 15 January for the following summer semester.
Submission of application
The application can be submitted online during the respective application period. You will find the link to the relevant form here in due time.
Bachelor’s applicants
You will find the link to the relevant form for an application for a waiver scholarship for Bachelor’s students starting in the summer semester 2026 here in due time.
Master’s applicants
You will find the link to the relevant form for an application for a waiver scholarship for Master’s students starting in the summer semester 2026 here in due time.
Required documents
When applying, you must provide the following information about your family circumstances and the financial situation of you, your parents and, if applicable, your spouse, and upload the relevant documents:
- Complete Bank statements of all accounts for the last 18 months (Current accounts, savings accounts, blocked accounts, PayPal, stocks and shares, cryptocurrency)
- Income Tax Assessment Notice issued by the tax authority or equivalent for the last 18 months
- Pension statements or equivalent for the last 18 months
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Death certificates of parents/spouse (if applicable)
- Registration certificates (if applicable)
- Birth certificates (if applicable)
- Current school certificates or enrollment certificates of siblings between 14 and 23 years old (if applicable)
- CV
Students who perform outstandingly in their studies at TUM can apply for a merit-based waiver scholarship with effective start in the 3rd semester and onwards.
The number of waiver scholarships is limited.
Scope of the waiver scholarship
Successful applicants will have their tuition fees for international students from third countries waived for two semesters. Re-application is possible. Please note: No payment will be made.
Application deadlines
Applications can be submitted
- between 31 May and 30 June for the following winter semester,
- between 30 November and 31 December for the following summer semester.
Submission of application
The application can be submitted online during the respective application period.
You will find the link to the relevant form for an application for a waiver scholarship here in due time.
Required documents
When applying, you must upload your current TUM transcript of records. You can have this created in your TUMonline account in the application “Transcripts” in the “Exams” section.
Only if applicable: Evidence of the founding of a start-up
- Current letter of recommendation from the professor of TUM supervising the start-up
- Current letter of recommendation from UnternehmerTUM