Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich

Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich was founded in 1472 in Ingolstadt and moved to Munich in 1826. It is a comprehensive university rather than a technical one, with faculties in law, economics, medicine, the humanities, social sciences, physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics.

Its medical faculty and university hospitals are among the largest in Germany, and its physics, philosophy and economics departments have strong international standing.

Most programmes at bachelor's level are taught in German. English-taught provision is concentrated at master's level and in specific international programmes, so language planning is central to any application here.

Requirements follow the German framework and are published faculty by faculty.

• Recognition of your secondary qualification for direct entry, or completion of a Studienkolleg preparatory year where the qualification is not recognised as equivalent.
• Language certification: TestDaF, DSH or an equivalent for German-taught programmes; IELTS or TOEFL for English-taught ones.
• A relevant bachelor's degree with sufficient matching coursework for master's entry, assessed by the faculty.
• An APS certificate where required for your country of qualification, obtained in advance.
• Restricted-admission programmes that allocate places by grade, with their own earlier application deadlines.

A public university, so the same no-tuition position as TUM, with the same caveats about programme type.

• No tuition fee for most first degrees including for international students.
• A modest semester contribution covering student services, usually including a transport ticket.
• Some specialist and executive programmes charge fees — confirm which category yours falls into.
• Blocked account proof of funds required for the student visa, covering a year of living costs.
• Munich living costs are the highest in Germany, and dominate the total.
• Health insurance is mandatory and must be arranged before enrolment.

This is the structural difference that surprises applicants most: at German public universities the cost of a first degree is largely the cost of living in Germany, not the cost of tuition. Work from LMU's enrolment and semester contribution pages for your specific programme and year of entry — it is the only figure that will be correct for you, and it is republished every year. We will confirm the current cost and what it includes before you commit to an application.

LMU is a public university, so most first degrees carry a semester contribution rather than a tuition fee, and funding is directed at living costs. Support runs through the national exchange programmes, the Deutschlandstipendium and the political and religious foundations.

• National exchange programmes — principally at postgraduate level.
• Deutschlandstipendium — administered by the university on achievement and circumstance.
• Foundation scholarships — consistently under-applied for by international candidates.
• Doctoral employment — research contracts within a department.

With no tuition fee to cover on most first degrees, funding here is aimed at living costs. Plan the visa's proof-of-funds requirement alongside any award rather than after it.

A large classical university spread through central Munich rather than on one campus, with a broad, non-technical subject range.

• Buildings distributed across the city centre, with the main building in Maxvorstadt — the university is part of the city fabric.
• A very broad subject range — humanities, law, medicine, sciences and social sciences — which gives a different atmosphere from a technical university.
• An active student association scene, plus a shared central sports programme with other Munich institutions.
• Excellent library and cultural access, with Munich's museums and theatres nearby.
• Externally administered student housing, affordable but with long waiting lists.
• German is more necessary here than at a technical university, since a larger share of teaching and student life is in German.

Check the language of instruction for your specific programme carefully. LMU teaches a great deal in German, and the English-taught provision is concentrated in particular master's programmes.