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Master’s · Automotive & Mobility

Automotive Engineering M.Sc.

Technical University of Munich · Garching · Official programme page

24 facts from 10 official pages · last checked 14 November 2026

Reviewed by Dennis Maaß, admission and immigration expert
Published 8 November 2026 · Last reviewed 8 November 2026

Key facts

Length, deadlines and costs

Language
English and German
Source
“Required Language Proficiency German or English”

www.tum.de/en/studies/degree-programs/detail/automotive-engineering-master-of-science-msc · checked 14 November 2026

TUM's page states only the language proficiency required for admission, not a separate language of instruction.

Study mode
On campus
Source
“Main Locations Garching”

www.tum.de/en/studies/degree-programs/detail/automotive-engineering-master-of-science-msc · checked 14 November 2026

TUM's key-data block names the teaching location(s) and gives no online or distance mode of study.

Attendance
Full-time
Source
“Type of Study Full-time”

www.tum.de/en/studies/degree-programs/detail/automotive-engineering-master-of-science-msc · checked 14 November 2026

Length
4 semesters
Source
“Standard Duration of Studies 4 semesters (fulltime)”

www.tum.de/en/studies/degree-programs/detail/automotive-engineering-master-of-science-msc · checked 14 November 2026

Credits
120 ECTS
Source
“Credits 120 ECTS”

www.tum.de/en/studies/degree-programs/detail/automotive-engineering-master-of-science-msc · checked 14 November 2026

Intakes
Winter, Summer
Source
“Start of Degree Program Possible for both winter and summer semester”

www.tum.de/en/studies/degree-programs/detail/automotive-engineering-master-of-science-msc · checked 14 November 2026

Non-EU deadline
30 Nov 2026 (summer 2027)31 May 2027 (winter 2027)
Source
“Application Period Winter semester: 01.04. - 31.05. Summer semester: 01.10. - 30.11.”

www.tum.de/en/studies/degree-programs/detail/automotive-engineering-master-of-science-msc · checked 14 November 2026

Standing annual application periods; the dates are recorded for the next cycle (winter 2027/28 and summer 2027). TUM publishes one period for everybody - there is no earlier deadline for non-EU applicants. The uni-assist VPD must be applied for inside the same period.

Non-EU tuition
€6,000 per semester (until summer 2027) Non-EU/EEA students newly enrolling from winter semester 2024/25.€6,800 per semester (new students from winter 2027/28) New non-EU/EEA students from winter semester 2027/28 (TUM's higher rate in the same tier).
Source
“The tuition fees for international students from third countries for this degree program are 6,000 euros per semester”
“Tuition fees for international students from non-EU/EEA countries at TUM will increase for the winter semester 2027/28. The tuition fees will then be for Bachelor's programs : 2,300 euros or 3,400 euros for Master’s programs : 4,600 or 6,800 euros” page

www.tum.de/en/studies/degree-programs/detail/automotive-engineering-master-of-science-msc · checked 14 November 2026

Rises for winter semester 2027/28 to 2,300 or 3,400 EUR for bachelor's and 4,600 or 6,800 EUR for master's programmes; the rate at the start of studies keeps applying to students already enrolled. Waiver scholarships, exemptions and waivers must be applied for by the deadline.

Application fee
Not stated by the university
3 pages checked, 14 Nov 2026

TUM states no application fee anywhere: the application runs through TUMonline. The only charge at application is uni-assist's handling fee for the preliminary documentation (VPD), recorded in institution.otherFees.

Places
Selection procedure
Source
“Admission Category Aptitude Assessment for Master”

www.tum.de/en/studies/degree-programs/detail/automotive-engineering-master-of-science-msc · checked 14 November 2026

No fixed number of places: admission depends on the two-stage aptitude assessment (Eignungsverfahren), in which grades and written documents are scored and applicants are admitted, rejected or invited to a 20-minute interview.

Programme accreditation
Accredited
Source
“The system-accreditation was renewed on 26 June 2020 and is valid through 30 September 2028. It applies to all degree programs that have passed TUM's internal quality management assessment procedures.”

www.tum.de/en/studies/teaching/quality-management/system-accreditation · checked 14 November 2026

TUM is system-accredited, so its degree programmes are accredited through TUM's internal quality-management procedure rather than one by one.

Admission

What you need to apply

3-year bachelor’s
Accepted
Source
“Regardless of the program you are interested in, you need an undergraduate degree which is at least equal to a German bachelor's degree with a duration of 3 years (6 semester) to be eligible to apply for a master's program.”

www.tum.de/en/studies/application/application-info-portal/application-international · checked 14 November 2026

TUM sets three years / six semesters as the floor for every master's programme, so a 180-ECTS Indian, Nigerian or Pakistani bachelor's is enough in principle. The degree still has to be equivalent (anabin/uni-assist VPD) and to cover the subject requirements of the programme's FPSO.

Subject background
A recognised undergraduate degree (normally a bachelor's) plus a pass in the programme's aptitude assessment; the subject requirements are set in the programme's Academic and Examination Regulations (FPSO).
Source
“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.”

www.tum.de/en/studies/degree-programs/detail/automotive-engineering-master-of-science-msc · checked 14 November 2026

TUM states the subject-specific requirements only in each programme's FPSO, not on the programme page.

Minimum grade
Not stated by the university
2 pages checked, 14 Nov 2026

TUM publishes no minimum grade or GPA: the bachelor's grade is scored inside the aptitude assessment instead of being used as a cut-off.

How your grade is converted
uni-assist converts the grades and credits into the German grading system in the preliminary documentation (VPD), which every applicant with a non-German qualification must obtain.
Source
“In addition, the VPD contains a conversion of all your credits and grades into the German grading system or the ECTS grading system.”

www.tum.de/en/studies/application/application-info-portal/uni-assist · checked 14 November 2026

The VPD has to be applied for within TUM's application period; a confirmation that it was applied for in time can be uploaded while it is pending.

English
IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 88 · Home Edition accepted · Duolingo not accepted · PTE 65. Cambridge: CAE or CPE, grades A, B or C. IELTS Online Academic 6.5 and PTE Academic Online 65 are accepted as well. TOEFL MyBest scores and TOEFL ITP are not. TUM states that the 1-6 TOEFL score introduced in 2026 is accepted but publishes no band figure, so only the 88 on the 0-120 scale is recorded.. Exemption: Previous school or degree education with English as the language of instruction in at least 50% of the programme; for some master's programmes a set number of ECTS in English modules or an English-language bachelor's thesis.
Source
“Only English language certificates of the below mentioned list are recognized. Other English language certificates are not recognized. … Minimum Requirements: Internet based Test (iBT): 88 . Only the Test Date Score is valid, MyBest Score will not be accepted. iBT Home Edition: 88 . … A corresponding score is also displayed under the new TOEFL scoring system with its scale from 1 to 6 and is accepted for the application. … TOEFL ITP is not accepted. … IELTS Academic with a minimum overall band score of 6.5 . … CAE (Cambridge Advanced English), Grades A, B, C CPE (Cambridge Proficiency English), Grades A, B, C … PTE Academic with an Overall Score of at least 65 points.”

www.tum.de/en/studies/application/application-info-portal/admission-requirements/language-certificates · checked 14 November 2026

TUM's central list is closed: certificates outside it, the Duolingo English Test among them, are not recognised. The TOEFL iBT Home Edition is accepted at the same 88, but only the Test Date Score - the MyBest Score is not. Proof must be uploaded before the end of the application period.

German
Not stated by the university
2 pages checked, 14 Nov 2026

TUM's page for this programme names no required language proficiency, so whether German is needed is not stated.

GRE / GMAT / GATE
Required for degrees from India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, China, Iran (GRE General or GATE)
Source
“M.Sc. Automotive Engineering : GRE (general) or GATE, if you have completed your qualification for postgraduate studies (e.g. your Bachelor's) in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, China or Iran. Minimum score: QR 164, AW 4.0.”

www.tum.de/en/studies/support-and-advice/faq · checked 14 November 2026

Mandatory for applicants whose bachelor's was obtained in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, China or Iran; the GRE General Test (the Subject Test is not enough) or the Indian GATE. Graduates of an Indian Institute of Technology upload their IIT transcript instead. The GRE at Home is accepted.

Selection
Two-stage aptitude assessment (Eignungsverfahren): bachelor's grades and the written documents (CV, letter of motivation, essay, curricular analysis) are scored; the points decide between direct admission, rejection and a 20-minute interview, which may be held by telephone or video for international applicants.
Source
“In the initial stage of this procedure, 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 number of points accumulated, applicants are either immediately admitted, rejected, or invited to a 20 minute admissions interview carried out by the school. … For some degree programs, the first stage of the aptitude assessment differs for applicants who have obtained their Bachelor's degree in a country outside the scope of the "Lisbon Convention": They have to take an online test.”

www.tum.de/en/studies/application/application-info-portal/admission-procedures · checked 14 November 2026

Applicants whose bachelor's comes from outside the Lisbon Convention area - India, Nigeria and Pakistan among them - may have to sit an online test in the first stage instead; the programme page's "How do I apply?" section says whether that applies. At the TUM School of Engineering and Design and the TUM School of Management a written test or an assessment of the academic record plus the essay can replace the interview.

India, Pakistan, Nigeria

Rules for applicants from India, Pakistan and Nigeria

English test waiver
Possible for applicants from India, Nigeria, Pakistan, with a previous degree taught in English
Source
“You can prove your English language skills through the language of instruction in your previous school or academic education - for example, completed a full secondary school education in English (secondary school leaving certificate must open up direct access to higher education in Germany) or if the language of instruction in a Bachelor's or Master's degree program was English - by submitting your transcript of records or your degree certificate as evidence. The language of instruction needs to have been English in at least 50% of the program. If the language of instruction is not stated in these documents, you can submit an official confirmation issued by your prior university.”

www.tum.de/en/studies/application/application-info-portal/admission-requirements/language-certificates · checked 14 November 2026

The exemption is nationality-neutral - it turns on the language of instruction of the previous degree - so applicants from India, Nigeria and Pakistan whose bachelor's was taught at least 50% in English can submit their transcript or degree certificate, or a confirmation from their university, instead of IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge or PTE. Outside this route TUM's list of accepted certificates is closed. For some master's programmes a set number of ECTS from English modules or an English-language bachelor's thesis is accepted as well; the programme's FPSO says whether that applies.

Rules that name these countries
  • India, Pakistan: Applicants from India and Pakistan for a bachelor's or master's programme must apply to uni-assist for a preliminary documentation (VPD) in addition to applying to TUM directly.
    Source
    “India Applicants for bachelor's or master's degree programs need to apply for a Preliminary Documentation (VPD) via uni-assist … Pakistan Applicants for bachelor's or master's degree programs need to apply for a Preliminary Documentation (VPD) via uni-assist in addition to applying to TUM directly.”

    www.tum.de/en/studies/application/application-info-portal/special-conditions-for-certain-countries · checked 14 November 2026

    TUM adds for India that the VPD is not needed when applying to the Studienkolleg.

  • India: Indian applicants for a master's programme must upload their university diploma, transcript of records and an APS certificate to uni-assist for the preliminary documentation.
    Source
    “India Applicants for bachelor's or master's degree programs need to apply for a Preliminary Documentation (VPD) via uni-assist … Master's degree applicants : please upload the following documents to uni-assist for your preliminary documentation: University Diploma Transcript of Records (TOR) APS (Akademischen Prüfstelle) certificate (not necessary after passing the "Feststellungprüfung" after preparatory study at Studienkolleg)”

    www.tum.de/en/studies/application/application-info-portal/special-conditions-for-certain-countries · checked 14 November 2026

    The APS certificate is still listed as mandatory when the degree was obtained outside India; in that case it is waived only once the final graduation documents are uploaded to TUMonline within the enrolment period. It is not needed after passing the Feststellungsprüfung at a Studienkolleg.

  • India, Pakistan: Applicants who completed the qualification for postgraduate studies (usually the bachelor's) in India or Pakistan must submit a GRE General or GATE result with a minimum score of QR 164 and AW 4.0.
    Source
    “M.Sc. Automotive Engineering : GRE (general) or GATE, if you have completed your qualification for postgraduate studies (e.g. your Bachelor's) in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, China or Iran. Minimum score: QR 164, AW 4.0.”

    www.tum.de/en/studies/support-and-advice/faq · checked 14 November 2026

    The same list also names China, Bangladesh and Iran. TUM calls the overview non-binding and points to each programme's academic and examination regulations. The GRE at Home is accepted; the GRE Subject Test does not suffice.

  • India: Indian applicants with a degree from an Indian Institute of Technology do not need to provide a separate GATE and upload their IIT transcript instead of the GRE/GATE document.
    Source
    “Graduates with a degree from an Indian Institute of Technology do not need to provide a separate GATE. When applying, please upload your transcript from the Indian Institute of Technology instead of the GRE/GATE document.”

    www.tum.de/en/studies/support-and-advice/faq · checked 14 November 2026

    The upload slot in the application portal cannot be left empty.

The rules for your country across all universities, and the visa rules on English tests, are on the India, Pakistan and Nigeria pages.

More on this programme

Every value was read on an official page and is stored with a verbatim quote; open “Source” to see it. “Not stated by the university” means none of the pages we checked says, and lists those pages. Rules change: confirm with the university before you apply or pay.