The Technical University Munich

The University Today

Today, the TU Munich is compiled of 12 faculties with 240 academic chairs, more than 240 professors and almost 4,000 staff members. 8,000 students were registered during the 100th anniversary of the university in 1968, and today about 19,000 students are matriculated for studies in more than 70 disciplines. Besides its locations in Garching and Weihenstephan, the main campus of the university is located on Arcisstrasse, in the heart of Munich. Globally recognized top research is conducted at the TU Munich and the quality of its teaching becomes evident by the high qualifications of its graduates. The Technical University is among the universities with the shortest times to complete the required course of studies. Past experience shows that the transition into their respective career fields is usually a smooth process for TUM graduates since many establish promising contacts during their time at the university.

In association with the other universities in Munich, the Technical University has access to an excellent infrastructure, which not only affects the conditions for studying here, but also offers possibilities for comprehensive cross-disciplined continuing education courses as well as recreational possibilities. Especially mentioned here should be the libraries, the services offered in the language center, the Leibniz computer center, and the sports center. A map showing the location of the TU facilities can be found here.

History

The preconditions for an academic course of studies in engineering, autonomous and separated from the universities, were created in the beginning of the 19th century, when the development of technology was based on exact sciences. This development, which was preceded by the founding of the Ecole Polytechnique in Paris in 1794, caused the demand for a "College of all Technical Studies" in Bavaria as well. As early as 1833, the Technical College of Munich was founded and annexed to the university which was moved only a few years before from Ingolstadt via Landshut to Munich. Merit for this should be granted to men like Georg von Reichenbach, Josef von Fraunhofer, and Josef von Utzschneider.

In the year 1868, King Ludwig II founded the independent Polytechnical University in Munich. Already in its founding year, the young university was able to move into the newly erected annex built according to the plans of Gottfried Neureuther on Arcisstrasse and begin its academic operation in five departments with 24 professors, 21 lecturers, and almost 450 students. This technical-academic college, which was renamed the Technical University Munich in 1970, is thus one of the oldest technical academies.

Nobel Prizes

The technical evolution of our modern times is reflected in its history. Many distinguished scientists and professors who secured their position in history with their excellent performances were active at the TU Munich.

Names like Rudolf Diesel, Claude Dornier, Carl von Linde, Heinz Maier-Leibnitz, and Wilhelm Messerschmitt are closely connected to the TU Munich. The fact that three of its scientists were awarded the Nobel Prize in the recent past is a mark of the university's high quality.

Rudolf Moessbauer (Physics 1961), Ernst Otto Fischer (Chemistry 1973), and Robert Huber (Chemistry 1988) had previously studied, earned their doctoral titles and their postdoctoral qualifications at the TU Munich.

Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Rudolf. L. Moessbauer, Nobel Prizes, Physics 1961

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Ernst Otto Fischer, Nobel Prizes, Chemistry 1973

Prof. Dr. Robert Huber, Nobel Prizes, Chemistry 1988