The Technical University of Munich (TUM) is consistently ranked Germany's #1 or #2 university overall, and its TUM School of Engineering and Design runs one of Europe's strongest Mechanical Engineering departments, based in a city that is home to BMW, Siemens, Audi, and a dense cluster of automotive and industrial engineering employers. For international applicants, MSc Mechanical Engineering offers a rare combination: a globally respected engineering degree (QS ranks TUM #25 worldwide for 2027), taught in English, with essentially no tuition fees for international students regardless of nationality.
This guide walks through what TUM publishes about MSc Mechanical Engineering admissions, real costs, English-test requirements, and graduate outcomes.
Acceptance Rate: What TUM Actually Publishes
TUM does not publish an official acceptance rate for MSc Mechanical Engineering, or for its master's programmes generally, at either the university-wide or department level. This is standard for German public universities, which don't run the centralised admissions-statistics reporting common at US universities. What is known:
- TUM's School of Engineering and Design is one of the most established mechanical engineering faculties in Europe, and MSc Mechanical Engineering draws applicants from across Germany and internationally.
- Admission is based on TUM's assessment of whether an applicant's prior Bachelor's degree covers Mechanical Engineering's specific subject prerequisites (core mechanics, thermodynamics, materials, mathematics), not a single GPA cutoff or a disclosed acceptance percentage.
- No verified figure exists for how selective the programme is in percentage terms. Applicants should not assume a lower bar just because tuition is minimal; TUM's assessment of subject-prerequisite fit is a real gate.
Bottom line: treat any specific acceptance percentage you encounter for TUM MSc Mechanical Engineering as unverified. TUM's own materials do not publish one.
Fees and Cost of Attendance
TUM does not charge tuition fees to international (non-EU) master's students, only a modest per-semester administrative contribution, making this one of the most cost-efficient mechanical engineering master's degrees available internationally.
| Cost Item | Amount (USD/year) |
|---|---|
| Tuition (international students) | $345 |
| Living expenses (Munich) | $20,010 |
| Total estimated cost of attendance | $20,355 |
Across the full two-year MSc Mechanical Engineering, total cost lands around $40,000-$41,000, driven almost entirely by Munich's cost of living rather than tuition. The per-semester contribution (roughly EUR 144-152) also includes a public transport pass and student services access. There is no international-student tuition surcharge; domestic and international students pay the same rate.
Admission Requirements
MSc Mechanical Engineering admission runs through uni-assist or TUM's own TUMonline system, per TUM's published graduate requirements:
- Bachelor's degree transcript, assessed against Mechanical Engineering's specific subject prerequisites
- English language proficiency test score (IELTS, TOEFL, or Cambridge English), since the programme is English-taught
- Motivation letter/statement of purpose, required by some (not all) TUM programmes; confirm on the current MSc Mechanical Engineering page
- CV/resume
- GRE/GMAT: not required for TUM master's admission generally
TUM does not publish one university-wide minimum GPA; instead, it evaluates whether an applicant's Bachelor's coursework maps onto the technical foundation the programme expects. Deadlines vary by programme but commonly fall around mid-January for the following Winter semester and mid-July for Summer semester intake.
How to Get Into TU Munich's MSc Mechanical Engineering
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Confirm your Bachelor's degree covers the core mechanical engineering prerequisites. TUM assesses subject-specific fit rather than accepting any engineering-adjacent Bachelor's automatically, so applicants from related fields (e.g. aerospace, industrial engineering) should be ready to demonstrate prerequisite coverage explicitly.
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Use the motivation letter to show a specific technical direction, if required for your track (e.g. automotive, robotics, energy systems), rather than a generic "I want to study mechanical engineering in Germany" pitch.
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Clear the English-proficiency requirement with margin. Since TUM doesn't publish a strict GPA cutoff, a comfortable English score removes one of the few clearly gate-keeping requirements.
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Apply early relative to the January (Winter) or July (Summer) deadline. Processing through uni-assist, particularly for credential equivalence checks, can take time for international applicants.
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Plan financially for Munich living costs, not tuition. With tuition near zero, the real budgeting question is Munich's cost of living, one of Germany's highest, not degree fees.
English Proficiency Requirement (IELTS/TOEFL)
MSc Mechanical Engineering is taught in English. TUM sets requirements per programme rather than as one confirmed university-wide figure, but publishes this general range for its Master's-level English-taught engineering and CS programmes, which Mechanical Engineering falls under:
- IELTS Academic: minimum 6.5 overall, recommended 7.0
- TOEFL iBT: minimum 88, recommended 95
- Also accepted: Cambridge English (C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency)
- Waiver: available for applicants who completed a prior degree taught entirely in English, subject to programme approval
Since TUM does not confirm one precise number specific to MSc Mechanical Engineering separate from this general Master's-level range, verify the exact figure on the current programme page. For general context on studying at TUM, see TU Munich and RWTH Aachen: The Complete Guide, this site's combined guide covering both of Germany's leading technical universities.
Career Outcomes
TUM does not publish Mechanical Engineering-specific employment or salary figures. Its broader graduate recruiter list gives a strong proxy, since mechanical engineers are core hires for Munich's industrial base:
- Top recruiters (university-wide graduate): BMW, Siemens, McKinsey & Company, Boston Consulting Group, SAP
- Undergraduate-level recruiters for comparison: BMW, Siemens, Audi, Allianz, SAP
Munich's status as Germany's highest-paying job market, anchored by automotive and industrial giants (BMW, Siemens, Audi), gives MSc Mechanical Engineering graduates unusually direct proximity to major employers without relocating. Treat the university-wide recruiter list as directional context rather than a programme-specific guarantee, since TUM does not break out Mechanical Engineering placement or salary data separately.
FAQ
Does TU Munich publish an acceptance rate for MSc Mechanical Engineering? No. TUM does not publish an official acceptance rate for this programme or its master's programmes generally. No verified selectivity percentage exists.
Is MSc Mechanical Engineering really tuition-free for international students? Yes. TUM charges no tuition to international master's students, only a modest per-semester administrative contribution of roughly EUR 150, which also covers a public transport pass.
What IELTS or TOEFL score do I need for MSc Mechanical Engineering? TUM's general Master's-level English-taught programme range is IELTS 6.5 (recommended 7.0) or TOEFL iBT 88 (recommended 95). Confirm the exact figure on the current programme page.
Is the GRE required for TUM's MSc Mechanical Engineering? No. GRE/GMAT are not standard requirements for TUM master's admission.
How much does MSc Mechanical Engineering cost in total? Tuition is effectively $345/year, with total cost of attendance (mostly Munich living expenses) around $20,355/year, or roughly $40,000-$41,000 across the full two-year programme.
Can I stay in Germany after graduating? Yes. TUM graduates are eligible for Germany's 18-month Job Seeker Visa, followed by the EU Blue Card once a qualifying job offer is secured, with permanent residency possible in as little as 21 months on the Blue Card with B1-level German.