- Founded
- 1472
- Students
- 52,658
- Programmes
- 143
- Taught in English
- 78
About Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich) is one of Germany's oldest and most research-intensive universities, founded in 1472 in Ingolstadt and relocated to Munich in 1826. It is a member of the U15 group of major German research universities and holds the prestigious "University of Excellence" designation under Germany's Excellence Strategy. In the winter semester 2025/26, 52,658 students were enrolled across 18 faculties spanning theology, law, medicine, natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences.
LMU acquired €330 million in sponsored research funds in 2024 and maintains around 840 professors. The university has partnerships with approximately 600 institutions across all continents and draws students and researchers from more than 130 countries. It offers over 300 degree programmes, with a growing number of master's programmes available in English.
The university's campuses are distributed across Munich, with the main administrative building at Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1 in the city centre. LMU collaborates closely with TU München, the Max Planck Society, and Fraunhofer Society, forming a strong research ecosystem in the Munich metropolitan area.
Founded in 1472 - one of the oldest universities in the German-speaking world
52,658 students enrolled (WS 2025/26) across 18 faculties
Member of the U15 group of major German research universities; holds 'University of Excellence' status
€330 million in third-party research funding acquired in 2024
APS certificate required for applicants with qualifications from India, China (PR), or Vietnam
Application deadlines: 15 July (winter semester) and 15 January (summer semester)
Key facts
- Type
- Universitäten
- Founded
- 1472
- Students
- 52,658
- International
- students from 130+ countries
- Faculties
- 18
- Programmes
- 143
Study programmes
143 accredited degrees at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 78 of them taught in English.
Showing 25–48 of 79 matching programmes
Clear filtersAdmissions & fees
What it costs
LMU Munich charges no tuition fees for bachelor's and consecutive master's programmes for all students regardless of nationality. Students pay a semester contribution (Semesterbeitrag) each semester, which covers the student services organisation (Studentenwerk), student body representation, and a semester transport ticket (MVV) for public transport in the Munich region. Note: Bavaria introduced tuition fees for non-EU/EEA international students from WS 2025/26 (€{{ verify: 2025-10 }} per semester at Bavarian public universities); confirm the current amount directly with LMU's registration office before advising students, as the exact figure had not been published on the LMU English website at the time of this extraction.
Admission requirements
International applicants must hold a university entrance qualification equivalent to the German Abitur (assessed via the KMK anabin database). For bachelor's and state-examination programmes taught in German, a recognised German language certificate is mandatory: TestDaF TDN 4 in all sections, DSH-2, Goethe C2, telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule, or ÖSD C2. English-taught master's and doctoral programmes are exempt from the German language requirement. Master's programmes additionally require a first academic degree (bachelor's or equivalent) in a related subject; individual faculties may require aptitude assessments. Applicants whose prior qualifications were issued in India, China (PR), or Vietnam must submit the APS certificate (Akademische Prüfstelle bei der Deutschen Botschaft) as part of the application. Applications are submitted via the LMU International Office; certain master's programmes use the online portal MoveIN (open 15 May - 15 July for the winter semester cycle).
Application deadlines
Winter semester (starting October): application deadline 15 July. Summer semester (starting April): application deadline 15 January. These are receipt deadlines - late submissions are not accepted. Applicants should check programme-specific pages as some faculties or restricted-admission programmes may have earlier deadlines.
How international applicants apply
No uni-assist - direct application: international applicants (EU and non-EU) submit the LMU 'Application for admission for international applicants' PDF form with certified documents by post to the International Office (Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, 80539 Muenchen), receipt deadlines 15 January (summer semester) / 15 July (winter semester); a defined list of master's programmes applies via the MoveIN online portal (open 15 May - 15 July). Exceptions: EU/EEA applicants to locally restricted subjects apply via the Studentenkanzlei, EU/EEA applicants to nationally restricted subjects via the Stiftung fuer Hochschulzulassung (hochschulstart.de); non-EU applicants always go through the International Office. APS certificate required for China, India and Vietnam.
Languages of instruction
Most bachelor's and state-examination programmes are taught in German. A growing number of master's programmes are offered entirely in English - spanning fields from American History to Physics - with no German proficiency requirement for those programmes. Teacher education programmes are offered in German only. Programmes taught in German require a recognised German language certificate (see admission overview).
Entry requirements, intake dates and language levels differ for every degree.
Scholarships at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
11 schemes run or administered by the university. Always confirm current amounts and deadlines on the official page.
Deutschlandstipendium (Germany Scholarship) at LMU
Students enrolled at LMU receive EUR 300 per month for one year under the national Deutschlandstipendium scheme, half funded by th...
Amount: EUR 300/month
Deadline: annually in the summer semester (March-April application window)
Bachelor, Master
German Language Course Funding
Funding of max. EUR 150 after successfully completing a German language course (min. 80% attendance). For international students w...
Amount: max. EUR 150 (one-time reimbursement)
Deadline: 30 November 2026
Bachelor, Master, PhD
LMU Completion Grant
Completion grant for doctoral candidates in the final phase of their doctorate at LMU.
Amount: not stated on page
Deadline: varies
PhD
LMU Travel Grant
Travel grant for doctoral candidates at LMU for research-related travel.
Amount: not stated on page
Deadline: varies
PhD
One-time financial assistance for international students
One-off emergency assistance of 650 euros funded by the State of Bavaria for international students and doctoral candidates facing...
Amount: EUR 650 (one-time)
Deadline: 30 November 2026
Bachelor, Master, PhD
Oskar Karl Forster Scholarship for books and learning materials
Book money for students and printing cost subsidies for doctoral candidates. Up to EUR 500 as one-off payment for purchase of book...
Amount: up to EUR 500 (one-off)
Deadline: 4 November 2026
Bachelor, Master, PhD
SIST LMU Completion Scholarship
Support for international students in the final phase who will earn their first academic degree at LMU within one year; evidence o...
Amount: not stated on page
Deadline: 15 January - 8 March 2026
Bachelor, Master
SIST LMU Equality Scholarship
Semester-long scholarship funded by the DAAD for international students and doctoral candidates with a history of academic excelle...
Amount: semester-long stipend (amount not stated on page)
Deadline: 01 March 2025 - 22 October 2026 (rolling window)
Bachelor, Master, PhD
SIST LMU Study Completion Scholarship
Support for international students in the final phase who will earn their first academic degree at LMU within one year; evidence o...
Amount: not stated on page
Deadline: 15 January - 8 March 2026
Bachelor, Master
SIST LMU Study Scholarship
Study scholarship funded by the State of Bavaria for international students and doctoral candidates registered at LMU in regular f...
Amount: not stated on page
Deadline: 15 January - 8 March 2026
Bachelor, Master, PhD
STIBET Mentoring Scholarship Program
Mentoring scholarship program for international students funded through DAAD STIBET programme, combining financial support with me...
Amount: not stated on page
Deadline: varies
Bachelor, Master, PhD
Student accommodation
What Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München publishes about housing. German universities do not allocate rooms themselves, so the links below are where applications actually go.
Rooms are allocated by
Studierendenwerk München
Not by the university. Apply to them directly, and expect a waiting list.
The university's housing page
Deadlines and application forms are published here, and they change every intake.
Open housing pageRoom types mentioned
What that page describes. Availability varies by intake.
From the university
The Studentenwerk München manages student housing (dormitories across the city); demand is high and early application is strongly advised.
Campuses & locations
Central administration and humanities/social sciences faculties; Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, 80539 München
Medicine, life sciences, and biomedical research facilities in the southwest of Munich
LMU operates facilities across several Munich districts; five large campus sites are planned per the university's development strategy
Living in München
Munich is the capital of Bavaria, home to approximately 1.5 million residents, and is consistently ranked among Europe's most liveable cities. The city offers world-class cultural institutions (Bavarian State Opera, Munich Philharmonic, numerous museums), a strong technology and media industry, and easy access to the Bavarian Alps and alpine lakes. It is well connected by air and rail to other European cities, making it a practical base for European travel.
Student life & support
LMU's International Office ([email protected]) provides dedicated support for international degree students, including an International Student Guide covering arrival procedures, address registration, health insurance, banking, and academic culture. The Studentenwerk München manages student housing (dormitories across the city); demand is high and early application is strongly advised. The university offers orientation programmes, mentoring, and student groups. German language courses are available through LMU's language centre for international students who wish to improve their German alongside their studies, including those enrolled in English-taught programmes.
Want our guides higher up in Google?
Mark GradGermany as a preferred source and Google gives our pages more room when you search about studying in Germany. Takes one tap, and you can undo it any time from the same screen.
More universities in Bayern
View all in Bayern →Akademie der Bildenden Künste München
Kunst- und Musikhochschulen · 7 programmes
Akademie der Bildenden Künste Nürnberg
Kunst- und Musikhochschulen · 1 programme
Augustana-Hochschule Neuendettelsau
Universitäten · 1 programme
Evangelische Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften - Evangelische Fachhochschule Nürnberg
Fachhochschulen / HAW · 18 programmes
Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg
Universitäten · 122 programmes
Hochschule der Bayerischen Wirtschaft für angewandte Wissenschaften - HDBW gGmbH
Fachhochschulen / HAW · 17 programmes
Interested in Studying at
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München?
Our team can help you with the application process, documentation, and everything you need to get started.