TU Munich Motivation Letter: What MSc Programs Actually Require

TUM does not want a "letter of motivation"

That statement comes directly from TUM itself. While most German universities request a Motivationsschreiben and leave the interpretation open, TUM makes an unusual distinction:

"The statement of purpose is not just a letter of motivation. Instead, you should explain why you are suitable and committed to studying at TUM." -- TUM Style Guide

This matters more than most applicants realize. TUM explicitly wants evidence of suitability and commitment -- not a generic statement about your passion for the field. They have seen thousands of letters that open with "I have always been passionate about computer science" and they are telling you, in writing, that this is not what they want.

TU Munich is the most popular German university for international students. It is one of only 11 Universities of Excellence (Exzellenzuniversitaten) and a member of the TU9 alliance of leading technical universities. With an overall admission rate of roughly 30% or lower at competitive German universities, your motivation letter is one of the few documents where you can differentiate yourself beyond GPA.

This guide covers exact requirements for specific TUM MSc programs, the structured prompt format some programs use, what gets flagged as plagiarism, and how to navigate the TUMonline portal.

For the broader German university landscape, see our complete guide to motivation letters at 15 German universities. For comparison with US requirements, see the 134-university US SOP requirements survey.

Table of Contents

• TUM program-specific requirements table
• The CSE structured prompt: a case study in specificity
• What TUM evaluates that other German universities do not
• The TUMonline application portal
• TUM's plagiarism and citation policy
• How to address TUM specifically in your letter
• TUM deadlines and timeline for international applicants
• Common mistakes in TUM applications
• TUM vs. other German universities: expectations compared

TUM program-specific requirements table

Requirements vary significantly across TUM programs. Do not assume one program's guidelines apply to another.

Key observation: The range runs from 500 words (Power Engineering) to a multi-question structured form (CSE). Always check the specific requirements page for your target program on the TUM website.

Source: TUM Style Guide

The CSE structured prompt: a case study in specificity

The M.Sc. Computational Science and Engineering program at TUM provides the most detailed motivation letter requirements of any German program we surveyed. Instead of an open-ended essay, CSE applicants must answer four specific questions with per-question word limits:

Question 1: Motivation (max 150 words)

"State your motivation to join the CSE program."

This is the shortest section. At 150 words, you cannot afford to waste space on generic statements. The committee wants to know why CSE specifically -- not why you like science or engineering broadly.

Question 2: Mathematical and computational background (max 200 words)

"Provide your mathematical and computational background and relate it to the CSE program. What steps have you taken to prepare yourself for the CSE program? Do not simply list related courses."

The instruction "do not simply list related courses" is critical. They want you to demonstrate understanding of how your background connects to CSE coursework and research. Name specific mathematical concepts or computational techniques you have worked with and explain how they prepare you for CSE modules.

Question 3: Additional qualifications and projects (max 200 words)

"Describe any additional qualifications and/or multi-disciplinary projects you may have previously worked on and relate them to the CSE program. Do not simply list related courses."

Again: "do not simply list." This section rewards applicants who have done projects crossing disciplinary boundaries -- the essence of computational science. If you have applied computational methods to problems in physics, biology, finance, or engineering, this is where you make that case.

Question 4: Specialization interests (continues)

"Describe the specializations in the CSE program that you are interested to study during your masters..."

This question tests whether you have actually reviewed the CSE curriculum. Mentioning specific TUM CSE specialization tracks (e.g., computational mechanics, scientific computing, computational biology) demonstrates genuine research into the program.

Scoring: The CSE motivation letter is worth a maximum of 25 points in the overall admission evaluation. This is one of the few German programs that assigns an explicit numerical score to the motivation letter.

Source: TUM CIT - CSE Motivation Letter PDF

What the CSE format teaches about all TUM applications

Even if your target program does not use structured prompts, the CSE format reveals what TUM values across all programs:

1. Specificity over generality -- every question demands you connect your answer to the CSE program specifically
2. Evidence over claims -- "do not simply list" means they want demonstrated understanding, not checked boxes
3. Program knowledge -- you must have reviewed the curriculum, specializations, and faculty
4. Conciseness -- the strict word limits force precision

Apply these principles to any TUM motivation letter, even the open-ended ones.

What TUM evaluates that other German universities do not

The "Aptitude Assessment" (Eignungsfeststellung)

Most TUM master's programs use an aptitude assessment process rather than a simple application review. The motivation letter is one component of this assessment, which may also include:

• GPA evaluation against minimum thresholds
• Evaluation of prerequisite coursework (ECTS credits in specific subjects)
• Motivation letter scoring
• In some programs: an interview

This differs from universities like RWTH Aachen or LMU Munich, where the process is more purely document-based for most programs.

Citation requirements

TUM is the only German university in our survey that explicitly warns about plagiarism in motivation letters:

"All ideas from other sources must be correctly cited as quotations. Incorrect or missing citation can lead to rejection as plagiarism." -- TUM Style Guide

This is unusual. Most universities do not expect formal citations in motivation letters. At TUM, if you reference a professor's research, a paper, or any external source, you must cite it properly. This reflects TUM's broader emphasis on academic integrity.

Explicit rejection of generic letters

"A generic letter of motivation is not sufficient. Please specifically address your desired degree program and TUM and make clear why you have chosen this specific degree program." -- TUM Style Guide

While every university prefers tailored letters, TUM is one of the few that puts this in writing as a formal requirement. A letter that could apply to any university will be treated as insufficient.

The TUMonline application portal

All TUM applications go through TUMonline, TUM's own portal. Unlike universities that use uni-assist for the entire process, TUM handles applications directly.

How it works for international applicants:

1. uni-assist VPD: If your country requires credential evaluation, you first obtain a VPD (Vorprufungsdokumentation) from uni-assist. This evaluates whether your academic credentials are equivalent to German qualifications. Processing time: 4-6 weeks.

2. TUMonline application: You create a TUMonline account and submit your application, including:

   • VPD (if applicable)
   • Motivation letter / Statement of Purpose (PDF upload)
   • Transcripts and degree certificates
   • Language proficiency certificates
   • CV
   • Other program-specific documents

3. Document upload: Motivation letters are uploaded as PDF files. Make sure your PDF is properly formatted and readable.

Important: uni-assist does NOT evaluate your motivation letter. The VPD process is purely about academic credential equivalency. Your motivation letter is evaluated by TUM's own admissions committee.

Source: TUM - Preliminary Documentation by uni-assist

TUM's plagiarism and citation policy

This deserves its own section because it catches applicants off guard.

If you reference TUM research in your motivation letter -- which you should, since demonstrating program knowledge is expected -- you need to cite it. For example:

Acceptable: "Professor Muller's recent work on reinforcement learning for autonomous navigation (Muller et al., 2025, published in ICRA proceedings) aligns with my research interest in..."

Risky: "TUM researchers have done groundbreaking work in reinforcement learning for autonomous navigation, which aligns with my interest in..." (no citation)

You do not need a formal bibliography with page numbers. A parenthetical reference that identifies the source is sufficient. The key is that ideas attributed to others must be clearly marked as such.

This is directly relevant if you are using AI tools to draft your letter. AI-generated text may include claims or paraphrased ideas without proper attribution, which TUM could flag. If you use AI assistance in drafting, review every factual claim and add appropriate citations. Better yet, run your letter through GradPilot to check for AI detection issues before submitting.

How to address TUM specifically in your letter

Based on TUM's own guidelines and the evaluation criteria we have documented, here is what your TUM motivation letter should address:

1. Why this specific TUM program

Not "why computer science" or "why Germany" -- why this particular MSc program at TUM. Reference:

• Specific courses in the curriculum that align with your background or interests
• The program's specialization tracks and which ones you would pursue
• How the program's structure (research-oriented vs. coursework-heavy) fits your goals

2. Why TUM specifically

Generic praise will not work. Reference:

• Specific TUM research groups or labs relevant to your interests
• Recent TUM publications (with citations) that connect to your background
• TUM facilities, institutes, or industry partnerships relevant to your field
• TUM's position within the TU9 alliance or its Excellence University status -- but only if you explain why this matters for your goals specifically

3. Your academic preparation

Show that you have the prerequisites:

• Relevant coursework (do not just list -- explain what you learned and how it prepares you)
• Projects that demonstrate competence in the program's core areas
• Technical skills relevant to the specific TUM program

4. Career or research trajectory

Where does this degree lead? German admissions committees want to see that you have thought beyond the degree:

• Short-term goals (during the program)
• Medium-term goals (first position after graduation)
• How TUM specifically enables these goals

For guidance on structuring your opening, see our SOP introduction writing guide. For deciding whether to name specific professors, see our analysis of how many professors to name in your SOP.

TUM deadlines and timeline for international applicants

Critical planning detail: TUM's May 31 deadline is six weeks earlier than the standard July 15 deadline at most German universities. If you are applying to both TUM and other universities, start with TUM.

Recommended timeline:

Common mistakes in TUM applications

Based on TUM's own published guidance and common patterns:

1. Submitting a generic motivation letter. TUM explicitly states this is insufficient. If your letter could work for RWTH Aachen or KIT with minor edits, it is too generic for TUM.

2. Ignoring the citation requirement. Mentioning TUM research without citations risks a plagiarism flag. This is unique to TUM among German universities.

3. Wrong length. Submitting 3 pages for a program that expects 1 page, or 200 words for a program expecting 800. Check your specific program's requirements.

4. Not addressing structured prompts. If your program provides specific questions (like CSE), you must answer each one directly. An essay that happens to touch on the topics is not the same as structured responses to each prompt.

5. "Dear Sir or Madam" anxiety. TUM explicitly states that a generic salutation is acceptable. Do not waste time trying to find the exact admissions officer's name.

6. Missing the May 31 deadline. Many applicants plan around the standard July 15 deadline and miss TUM's earlier cutoff.

7. Confusing uni-assist's role. Submitting your motivation letter to uni-assist instead of through TUMonline. uni-assist only handles credential evaluation.

TUM vs. other German universities: expectations compared

The biggest difference: TUM is the most prescriptive German university in our survey. Where other universities leave the format open, TUM provides specific guidelines, structured prompts, and explicit warnings. This is both a challenge and an advantage -- if you follow TUM's instructions precisely, you have a clear blueprint that most competitors will not follow as carefully.

The bottom line on TUM applications

TUM's motivation letter requirements are more specific than most German universities, and this works in your favor if you pay attention to the details. The key principles:

1. It is a statement of purpose, not a generic motivation letter. TUM says so explicitly.
2. Program specificity is non-negotiable. Reference the exact program, courses, specializations, and research groups.
3. Cite your sources. Unique to TUM, but important enough to treat as a requirement.
4. Check your program's exact requirements. The difference between CSE's 4-question structured form and Informatics' open essay format is significant.
5. Submit through TUMonline, not uni-assist. The VPD goes to uni-assist; everything else goes directly to TUM.

If you are applying to TUM alongside other German universities, start with TUM first -- both because of the earlier May 31 deadline and because TUM's detailed guidelines will help you write stronger letters for other universities too.

For research-vs-coursework track considerations that affect how you frame your letter, see our guide on MS SOP differences between research and coursework tracks.

---

Data sourced from official TUM pages including the TUM Style Guide, TUM CIT, and TUM International Office. Verified as of February 2026. Always consult the specific program page on tum.de for the most current requirements.

Writing your TUM motivation letter? GradPilot reviews motivation letters, SOPs, and personal statements with AI detection scoring and content feedback. Choose a rubric, submit your essay, and get instant feedback. Students from 50+ countries. First quick review free.