How to Apply to TU München

10 min read Last updated April 20, 2026 1 open positions
Blake Crosley
Blake Crosley Researched using publicly available information, hiring data, and ATS analysis.

Key Takeaways

  • TUM operates a hybrid model: the prestige and freedom of a top global research university with the structure and benefits of a Bavarian public-sector employer governed by the TV-L collective agreement.
  • Most positions are posted on portal.mytum.de/jobs, but the actual hiring decision is made by the responsible chair holder or department; the central HR system is largely a routing layer.
  • Academic searches (PhD, postdoc, tenure-track, professor) value a long, complete CV with publications, funding, and teaching; non-academic roles use shorter CVs and SAP SuccessFactors-style keyword screening.
  • English is the working language for almost all research roles, but German at B2 or above is a strong differentiator for administrative, technical, and management positions and signals long-term commitment.
  • Interviews are technically demanding and structured around panels; the Berufungsvortrag (public job talk) is the centerpiece for tenure-track and full-professor searches.
  • Compensation is fixed by public-sector scales (TV-L E13 to E15 for academics, W2/W3 for professors), so negotiation focuses on equipment budgets, PhD lines, and startup packages rather than base salary.
  • Three campuses, three personalities: Munich city for medicine and management, Garching for engineering and natural sciences, Weihenstephan for life sciences and brewing; choose where you apply with intent.
  • Industry proximity is a genuine asset: BMW, Siemens, Airbus, Munich Re, and the Fraunhofer/Max Planck Societies all collaborate deeply with TUM and create career paths that bridge academia and industry.
  • Procedural correctness matters: complete dossiers, accounted-for timelines, formal address, and adherence to good scientific practice are baseline expectations, not differentiators.

About TU München

Technical University of Munich (TUM, Technische Universitaet Muenchen) is Germany's leading technical university and one of Europe's most prestigious research institutions, consistently ranked among the world's top 50 universities and frequently cited as ETH Zurich's strongest German peer. Founded in 1868 by King Ludwig II of Bavaria, TUM has grown into a sprawling research enterprise employing roughly 12,000 academic and administrative staff and educating more than 50,000 students across its three primary campuses in Munich (city center), Garching (the natural sciences and engineering hub north of Munich), and Weihenstephan (life sciences, near Freising). The university also operates the TUM Asia campus in Singapore, the TUM Speakers Series, and a growing portfolio of campuses in Heilbronn (management) and Straubing (sustainability), making it one of the most geographically distributed technical universities in continental Europe. TUM operates as a public university under Bavarian law (a Koerperschaft des oeffentlichen Rechts) but functions with the entrepreneurial spirit of an Excellence University, a designation it has held continuously under all three rounds of the German Excellence Initiative and the current Excellence Strategy since 2006. Its research is organized into seven schools (formerly fifteen faculties): Computation, Information and Technology; Engineering and Design; Natural Sciences; Life Sciences; Medicine and Health; Management; and Social Sciences and Technology. Eighteen TUM-affiliated researchers have been awarded Nobel Prizes, and the university maintains exceptionally tight links to industry titans headquartered nearby, including BMW, Siemens, Airbus, Allianz, Munich Re, Linde, MAN, Wacker Chemie, and the Fraunhofer and Max Planck Societies. For candidates, TUM is best understood as a hybrid: the prestige and intellectual freedom of a top research university combined with the operational rigor of a Bavarian public-sector employer. Compensation, vacation, pensions, and job security follow the German public-service collective agreement (TV-L), while research culture is unusually international, with English as the working language for the vast majority of doctoral, postdoctoral, and faculty positions. TUM is also notable for its TUM Agenda and TUM Talent Factory programs, which formalize career-development pathways for academics, and for an aggressive tenure-track system modeled more closely on US institutions than most European peers.

Application Process

  1. 1
    Search openings on the central TUM job portal at portal

    Search openings on the central TUM job portal at portal.mytum.de/jobs (academic, administrative, technical, and student positions are all posted here, alongside school-specific and chair-specific listings).

  2. 2
    Identify the responsible hiring chair, professor, or administrative unit named i

    Identify the responsible hiring chair, professor, or administrative unit named in the posting; for academic roles, an informal email to the principal investigator before submitting is welcomed and often expected.

  3. 3
    Prepare a complete German-style application dossier: cover letter (Anschreiben),

    Prepare a complete German-style application dossier: cover letter (Anschreiben), tabular CV (Lebenslauf) with photo optional but common, all relevant degree certificates and transcripts, work references (Arbeitszeugnisse) if available, language certificates, and for academic posts a research statement and publication list.

  4. 4
    Submit through the channel specified in the posting, which is typically a dedica

    Submit through the channel specified in the posting, which is typically a dedicated email address (e.g., [email protected]) for chair-level positions or the central TUM application portal for administrative and centrally managed roles; note that some schools use SAP SuccessFactors for technical and management roles.

  5. 5
    Expect an acknowledgment within one to two weeks; first-round interviews are usu

    Expect an acknowledgment within one to two weeks; first-round interviews are usually conducted via Zoom for international candidates and on-site for local applicants, often with the professor plus one or two senior researchers.

  6. 6
    For academic and tenure-track positions, prepare for a multi-stage process inclu

    For academic and tenure-track positions, prepare for a multi-stage process including a public job talk (Berufungsvortrag), a closed teaching demonstration, panel interviews with the appointments committee (Berufungskommission), and reference checks; the full timeline can span six to twelve months.

  7. 7
    Final offers for civil-servant and TV-L positions follow Bavarian public-sector

    Final offers for civil-servant and TV-L positions follow Bavarian public-sector salary scales (TV-L E13 to E15 for most academics, W2/W3 for professors); negotiation focuses on starting package, equipment budget, and PhD/postdoc lines rather than base salary.

Resume Tips for TU München

recommended

Use a tabular German Lebenslauf format with clear reverse-chronological sections

Use a tabular German Lebenslauf format with clear reverse-chronological sections (education, professional experience, publications, teaching, third-party funding, languages, references); avoid US-style narrative bullets for academic roles.

recommended

Include exact dates (month/year) for every position and degree; gaps longer than

Include exact dates (month/year) for every position and degree; gaps longer than three months should be briefly explained, as German HR norms expect a fully accounted timeline.

recommended

List language proficiency using the CEFR scale (A1 through C2); German at B2 or

List language proficiency using the CEFR scale (A1 through C2); German at B2 or higher is a meaningful differentiator for administrative and technical roles, though most academic roles operate in English.

recommended

For academic positions, separate publications by category (journal articles, pee

For academic positions, separate publications by category (journal articles, peer-reviewed conferences, book chapters, preprints) and mark first-/corresponding-author contributions; include DOIs and citation counts where relevant.

recommended

Highlight third-party funding (Drittmittel) you have won or co-written, includin

Highlight third-party funding (Drittmittel) you have won or co-written, including DFG, ERC, BMBF, EU Horizon Europe, or industry grants; this is the single strongest credibility signal for tenure-track applicants.

recommended

For technical and administrative roles, mirror the keywords in the German job po

For technical and administrative roles, mirror the keywords in the German job posting (Stellenausschreibung) verbatim, especially the listed Aufgaben (responsibilities) and Anforderungen (requirements), since SAP SuccessFactors and internal screeners filter on exact terms.

recommended

Attach scanned copies of all relevant Zeugnisse (degree certificates, work refer

Attach scanned copies of all relevant Zeugnisse (degree certificates, work references) as a single PDF; missing documents are a common reason for early rejection in German public-sector hiring.

recommended

Keep the CV to two to four pages for non-academic roles and as long as needed (t

Keep the CV to two to four pages for non-academic roles and as long as needed (typically six to fifteen pages) for academic and professorial applications, where completeness outweighs brevity.

ATS System: TUM Job Portal (portal.mytum.de) with SAP SuccessFactors for select administrative roles

TUM uses a hybrid hiring infrastructure. The central job portal at portal.mytum.de/jobs aggregates listings from all schools, chairs, and administrative units, but the actual application channel varies by role: most academic and chair-bound positions accept applications by direct email to the responsible professor or administrative contact (typically as a single PDF dossier), while a growing share of central-administration, IT, and management roles route through SAP SuccessFactors with structured form-based applications. There is no single applicant-tracking system across TUM; each school and central unit operates its own intake. This means keyword optimization matters most for SuccessFactors-routed roles, while academic and research applications are read end-to-end by the hiring chair and committee.

  • Read each posting carefully to identify the application channel (direct email to chair vs. SuccessFactors form vs. central HR email) and follow it exactly; mismatched submissions are routinely rejected without review.
  • Bundle your full dossier into a single PDF named clearly (e.g., LastName_FirstName_Application_PositionRef.pdf); avoid sending multiple attachments unless explicitly requested.
  • For SuccessFactors postings, mirror the German keywords from the Aufgaben and Anforderungen sections in your CV and cover letter to pass automated screening.
  • For chair-direct postings, address the cover letter to the named professor by full title (Sehr geehrter Herr Professor X / Sehr geehrte Frau Professorin Y) and reference the specific posting ID.
  • Send a brief, professional follow-up email two weeks after submission if you have heard nothing; this is acceptable and often appreciated in the German academic context.
  • Keep certified copies of all certificates ready; for finalists, TUM HR will request originals or notarized copies before issuing a contract.

Complete TUM Job Portal (portal.mytum.de) with SAP SuccessFactors for select administrative roles Resume Guide →

Interview Culture

TUM interviews follow a distinctly German academic and public-sector style that rewards precision, technical depth, and intellectual honesty over polished self-promotion.

For research and academic positions, the process is typically structured around a panel rather than a single hiring manager: the principal investigator (chair holder), one or two senior postdocs or group leaders, and frequently an HR representative or equal-opportunities officer (Frauenbeauftragte) who ensures procedural fairness. Interviews are almost always conducted in English at the doctoral, postdoctoral, and professorial level, though candidates fluent in German often switch into German for small talk and HR portions, which is read positively as a signal of long-term commitment to Bavaria. Expect deeply technical questioning. Interviewers will probe the methods sections of your publications, ask you to derive equations on a whiteboard, request that you defend specific design choices in your previous research, and challenge you to extend your work to adjacent problems. Hand-waving is penalized; saying 'I do not know, but here is how I would find out' is rewarded. For engineering and computer-science chairs, expect at least one round to include a coding exercise, system-design discussion, or proof sketch. For experimental disciplines, prepare to discuss specific instruments, error budgets, and reproducibility practices. For tenure-track and full-professor searches (W2 and W3), the centerpiece is the Berufungsvortrag, a public job talk delivered in a lecture hall to faculty, students, and the appointments committee. The talk is usually 45 to 60 minutes and covers research vision, key results, future program, and teaching philosophy. A separate teaching demonstration (Lehrprobe) with real students often follows. Candidates are then interviewed by the Berufungskommission and meet individually with potential collaborators across the day. Decisions are not made on the spot; the committee deliberates, ranks candidates on a Berufungsliste, and forwards the list to the TUM president and Bavarian state ministry for confirmation, a process that frequently takes three to nine months. For administrative, technical, and management roles, interviews are shorter and more conventional: one to three rounds, behavioral and situational questions, and increasing emphasis on cultural fit with the relevant unit. Across all roles, punctuality is non-negotiable, formal dress is the norm for first interviews, and addressing senior staff with their full title (Frau Professor Doktor X, Herr Doktor Y) until invited to use first names is expected.

What TU München Looks For

  • Demonstrable technical excellence in a clearly defined field, evidenced by publications, patents, shipped systems, or third-party funding rather than self-described expertise.
  • Independent research agenda for academic candidates: a coherent vision that complements rather than duplicates existing TUM strengths in AI, quantum, robotics, mobility, life sciences, or sustainable engineering.
  • International orientation and English fluency at C1 or higher for all research roles; TUM positions itself as Germany's most internationally networked technical university.
  • Track record of attracting external funding (DFG, ERC, BMBF, EU Horizon Europe, industry partnerships), even at the postdoctoral level where co-authored proposals count.
  • Teaching capability and willingness to invest in mentoring doctoral students; TUM expects faculty to supervise PhD candidates actively and to teach in both Bachelor and Master programs.
  • Industry collaboration aptitude, given TUM's tight links to BMW, Siemens, Airbus, Munich Re, and the Fraunhofer Society; experience translating research into practice is genuinely valued.
  • Integrity and procedural correctness; German public-sector employers take adherence to good scientific practice (gute wissenschaftliche Praxis) and equal-opportunity rules extremely seriously.
  • Long-term commitment signals, especially basic German language ability or willingness to learn, given that TV-L contracts and tenure-track positions are multi-year commitments to the Bavarian system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to speak German to work at TUM?
For academic roles (PhD, postdoc, faculty), no: English is the working language across nearly all chairs and English-only candidates are routinely hired and promoted. For administrative, technical, IT, library, and management positions, German at B2 or higher is typically required because the role interfaces with Bavarian public-sector systems, students, and external suppliers. Even for academic roles, basic German (A2 to B1) materially improves daily life in Munich and is read by hiring committees as a long-term commitment signal.
What does TUM pay, and is salary negotiable?
Salaries follow the Bavarian public-service scale (TV-L). PhD students are typically paid at TV-L E13, often at 50 to 75 percent of full-time depending on discipline (sciences and engineering tend toward 75 to 100 percent, humanities toward 50 to 65 percent). Postdocs sit at full-time E13 or E14. Senior research scientists and group leaders can reach E15. Professors are paid on the W scale (W1 junior, W2, W3) with negotiable performance-based supplements (Leistungsbezuege). Base salary is essentially fixed by law, but for senior and professorial roles, the startup package, equipment budget, PhD/postdoc lines, and supplements are genuinely negotiable.
How long does the TUM hiring process take?
PhD and postdoc roles: typically four to twelve weeks from application to offer when the chair has identified a candidate. Administrative and technical roles: six to ten weeks. Tenure-track (W1, W2 with tenure-track) and full-professor (W3) appointments: six to twelve months from posting to signed contract, because the process involves a public job talk, committee deliberation, ranked Berufungsliste, faculty council vote, university president sign-off, and Bavarian state ministry confirmation.
Should I email the professor before applying for a research role?
Yes, almost always. For PhD, postdoc, and research-staff positions tied to a specific chair, a concise English email to the professor (or in some life-science fields, the group leader) is expected before or alongside a formal application. Include a one-paragraph summary of your background, why you specifically want to join their group, and an attached CV. This is not seen as pestering; it is the de facto first screening step at most German universities.
What documents do I need for a TUM application?
A standard German-style dossier: cover letter (Anschreiben), tabular CV (Lebenslauf) in reverse-chronological order, scanned copies of all degree certificates and transcripts (with certified translations into German or English if originals are in another language), language certificates (TOEFL, IELTS, TestDaF, DSH, Cambridge), work references (Arbeitszeugnisse) if you have worked in Germany or DACH previously, and for academic roles a research statement and full publication list. Bundle everything into a single, well-named PDF.
Is TUM a good employer for international candidates?
Yes, exceptionally so by German standards. TUM is the most internationally oriented technical university in Germany, with English as the working language across most research groups and a dedicated TUM Welcome Office that handles visa, residence-permit, accommodation, and family-relocation support. International staff and students together exceed 25 percent of the population. The downsides are German bureaucratic norms (which apply equally to Germans), Munich's exceptionally high cost of housing, and the fact that public-sector pay does not scale with seniority as steeply as in industry.
What is the difference between a TUM tenure-track professorship and a regular W2/W3 chair?
TUM tenure-track positions begin as W2 with a six-year evaluation track leading to permanent W3, modeled after US assistant-to-full transitions; this is the TUM Faculty Tenure Track system introduced under TUM Agenda. Regular W2 and W3 chairs are direct permanent appointments through the traditional Berufungsverfahren, often with significantly larger startup packages, more PhD lines, and a named chair (Lehrstuhl) with associated infrastructure. Tenure track is more accessible to early-career researchers; W3 chairs are typically reserved for established full professors.
What kind of teaching load does a TUM faculty member carry?
Teaching load is set by Bavarian state law (LUFV) at nine semester hours per week (SWS) for full professors and four SWS for tenure-track assistant professors during the tenure-track phase. One SWS equals roughly 45 minutes of contact teaching per week over a 14-week semester. In practice this translates to two to three lecture courses plus seminars per academic year for full professors, with tenure-track faculty teaching meaningfully less to protect research time.
Does TUM hire people without a PhD for technical or research-adjacent roles?
Yes. Many technical-staff (Technische Angestellte), IT, laboratory-management, scientific-coordinator, project-management, and administrative-science roles require a Bachelor or Master but not a doctorate. These positions are paid on TV-L bands E9 through E14 depending on responsibility, are often permanent (entfristet) rather than fixed-term, and offer a stable Munich-based career path that is increasingly competitive with industry given Munich's tight labor market.
How do I apply for a TUM PhD position specifically?
There are two main routes. Route one: apply directly to a chair where a PhD position is advertised on portal.mytum.de/jobs or the chair website; this is the most common path in engineering, computer science, and natural sciences. Route two: apply to one of TUM's structured doctoral programs through the TUM Graduate School, which include the Munich School of Engineering, the Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology, and various international research training groups. Either route requires a Master's degree (or equivalent) and acceptance by a TUM professor as your doctoral supervisor (Doktorvater/Doktormutter).

Open Positions

TU München currently has 1 open positions.

Check Your Resume Before Applying → View 1 open positions at TU München

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