Transportation Systems

The transportation system is a very important part of any modern economy and core element of daily human life. Our society and economy are challenged with new defiances like the concept of sustainability or the increasing demand for mobility. These new challenges also require new planning and management strategies in the area of transportation. There are experts needed who know how to design roads, traffic lights or how to create public transport networks etc. Besides, these professionals must be familiar with the concepts of transportation demand management, integrated land use and traffic management, freight logistic concepts and intermodal traffic management. Tasks like providing optimal transportation conditions for people and economy and enhancing the living quality of urban areas can only be met successfully in long term if the transportation system is considered as part of a complex system. Therefore, the interactions between transport, economy, land use and the natural environment must be included into transportation planning strategies.

The unique Master’s Program in Transportation Systems at the Technische Universität München (TUM) provides students with the necessary knowledge and skills to deal with these challenges. Besides, the students can specialize in one of the following fields of study:

• Transportation Infrastructure
• Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)
• Transportation Demand Management

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

• Degree program documentation for the master's program in Transportation Systems (PDF, English)

The first three semesters are composed of seminars and lectures – combined with field trips and exercise courses that are based on real life studies. In addition, the master’s program includes a project seminar that enables students to explore scientific questions and practical solutions in an experimental environment.

Besides, students have to do an intership in a transportation related industry or authority.

The fourth semester is dedicated to the master’s thesis.

• Overview Degree Program Structure

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.

As a graduate of the international Master’s program you possess the required knowledge and skills to deal with present and future challenges in the complex area of modern transportation. You know how to design and operate modern transportation systems and integrated intermodal transport management systems.

You are able to design railways and roads, simulate traffic, apply and design intelligent transport systems, as well as analyze transport data and statistics. Your skills allow you to advise municipalities in questions regarding transport planning strategies of today and anticipate future demand. You are capable of analyzing and evaluating the relevant economic, social and environmental aspects. Since the students of the master’s program come from all over the world, you are also experienced in working in multicultural teams.

As a graduate in Transportation Systems, you can start your career as a transport consultant or transport planner in different areas of the transportation sector. Possible areas of employment include governmental agencies, public transport authorities, urban and regional planning departments, as well as private or state owned transportation companies. You are also qualified to apply for positions in freight and logistics enterprises, the automotive sector or in infrastructure maintenance. Furthermore, you have the option to continue your research in scientific institutions and organizations worldwide.

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. Aptitude assessment allows the TUM school or department to which you are applying the opportunity 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.

If you receive an offer of admission, you will additionally have to submit individual documents as notarized hardcopies by post to be enrolled.

Generally, applicants with a qualification for postgraduate studies (e.g. a bachelor’s) obtained outside of the EU / EEA must have their documents reviewed in advance through uni-assist.

In detail:

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

• Bachelor-Zeugnis und Bachelor-Urkunde oder Fächer- und Notentranskript
• Transcript of Records
• Sprachnachweis Englisch
• Motivationsschreiben
• Zusammenstellung selbstgefertigter Arbeiten
• Lückenloser und aktueller Lebenslauf
• Personalausweis oder Reisepass
• Vorprüfungsdokumentation (VPD) bei Bewerbung mit Masterzugangsberechtigung aus Nicht-EU/EWG

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. 

• Antrag auf Einschreibung (unterschrieben)
• Bachelor-Zeugnis und Bachelor-Urkunde (beglaubigte Kopie)
• Transcript of Records (beglaubigte Kopie)
• Aktuelles Passbild
• Nachweis über eine studentische Krankenversicherung

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: 01.01. – 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. Please note that you always have to send the signed application for enrollment and all notarized hardcopies by post.

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. Aptitude assessment is a two-part procedure after the submission of an official application to a program. In this procedure, the TUM school or department 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. 

The online application process takes place through our application portal TUMonline