Freshers FAQ & Helpful Links

Some exercise sessions (e.g., Business Law, Economics) are recorded, while others are not. In some cases, older recordings are provided, or the exercises are offered online. Always confirm with your tutor before skipping, so you don’t miss anything important.

In general, all mandatory lectures listed in the schedule (e.g., Math, ORDA, Production & Logistics, Business Law) are recorded. Electives, however, are usually not recorded in order to encourage attendance. While this rule of thumb holds in most cases, there are exceptions-so always check at the beginning of the semester to be sure. Most professors record their lectures. However, since TUM changed the tool used to make lectures available last year, it is possible that occasionally a lecture may be missing in subjects that are normally recorded due to technical errors. But whether the professor records or not, they will usually let you know in the first lecture. The situation is quite different for exercises. If they are centralized, they are usually recorded, but if they are divided into many small groups, there is usually a maximum of one recording. Tutorials are not recorded at all.

- Bookable group study rooms in each TUM library - StudiTUM houses - In front of the Carl von Linde - LMU Philologicum: “Forum”

It’s manageable as long as you plan your time wisely. However, it’s recommended to first focus on your GOPs in the first semester before starting a job, to make sure you pass your mandatory courses.

That is entirely up to you, at TUM you can take whatever courses and as many courses you like. Keep in mind, however, that your GOPs should ALWAYS have priority, as you will be exmatriculated if you do not pass 3 of the 4 after your 2nd semester.

"Here are my tips, mixed with advice from others who have already had the interview: - ⁠ ⁠Almost always, there's a question about current economic, economic policy, or technological topics. For example, the impact of the Ukraine war, inflation, electric vs. hydrogen cars, and so on. In most cases, you're asked about your general knowledge. Sometimes, you're allowed to choose a topic that interests you and briefly talk about it. - ⁠ ⁠There are also some very unusual questions. The examiners are more interested in a calm and thoughtful (not necessarily correct) answer. Examples include: "How much oxygen is in this room?" or "How much money would you need to open a pizzeria in Munich, and how much would a pizza cost?" - ⁠ ⁠Logic questions also come up. For example, I was presented with a kind of supply chain between 3-4 suppliers and had to figure out where problems could arise. There was information about capacities, trade directions, and so on, so you could quickly see where the bottlenecks might be. - ⁠ ⁠Motivation questions are also common: Why do you want to study in Munich? Why specifically at TUM (implicitly also: "Why not at LMU?")? Why are you interested in this particular program and not, for example, industrial engineering or pure business administration? - ⁠ ⁠Questions about the study program are also typical: Which specialization do you want to choose? It's enough to indicate simple preferences and explain why (for example, because you were already interested in this field in school). Also note that there are both technical and economic specializations that start in the later semesters. Knowing a few modules and understanding how the program works is certainly helpful. - ⁠ ⁠Questions about prices have also come up, like the price of a barrel of oil, an ounce of gold, the current level of the DAX, or current electricity costs per kWh. Here, it's more about knowing approximate values to show you're not out of touch with the world. If you can't answer a question, it's better to admit it rather than make something up. The examiners notice, ask more specific questions, and then you can quickly get tangled up. In general, it's not really predictable what will be asked, but these tips should cover a lot. I hope this helps you!“” - Kai Maegdefrau

A failed grade **DOES NOT** count toward your overall average. It will temporarily appear in your TUMonline account, but once you retake and pass the exam, the failed grade will be removed and replaced with the passing grade.

https://nav.tum.de/ If you want to check the location of a room, use the **TUM Roomfinder/NavigaTum**, link above. You can also look up rooms in Garching there.

Navigate to the course under “My Studies” in TUMOnline. Find the “green circle” for that course: That is the exam, for which you can see the exam date, and registration period. Important: You should ALWAYS check the registration deadline; there is no possibility of a late registration.

https://www.zhs-muenchen.de/zhs/startseite/. Refer to the provided link above to register for a **ZHS card** and access sports courses. **ZHS** stands for *Zentraler Hochschulsport*. The ZHS card is required before you can register for any ZHS courses.

According to §10 APSO (General academic and examination regulations), in the Bachelor’s program the following number of credits must be earned in the modules specified in the pertinent FPSO (Program-specific academic and examination regulations): • a minimum of 30 credits by the end of the third semester; • a minimum of 60 credits by the end of the fourth semester; • a minimum of 90 credits by the end of the fifth semester; • a minimum of 120 credits by the end of the sixth semester; • a minimum of 150 credits by the end of the seventh semester; and • a minimum of 180 credits by the end of the eighth semester. The credit requirement starts from the 3rd semester. In your first two semesters, your main focus should be on passing at least 3 out of the 4 GOPs.

You can retake exams as many times as needed within the 4-year period to graduate. Just make sure you have passed at least 3 out of 4 GOPs by the end of your 2nd semester and that you meet the credit requirements (30 credits per semester starting from the 3rd semester).

As a general rule of thumb: open-answer exams (e.g., Math) count for about 40%, single-choice exams (e.g., Economics, Financial Accounting, Business Ethics) around 60%, and mixed exams (e.g., Statistics, Logistics) about 50%. However, grading may be curved and can vary, so always confirm with the professor or tutors.

**Winter semester:** Lectures typically end in early February, with exams running until the end of February or early March. The summer semester then begins in early April, giving you about **one month** for an internship. **Summer semester:** Exams for BWL usually finish in mid-August (around August 9–15). However, depending on your specialization or retakes, exams may extend until the end of August, and in some cases even into September or October. Lectures for the winter semester generally start around October 13, leaving roughly **two months** available for an internship. Please note that dates may vary. You can find the official lecture periods here: [TUM Academic Calendar](https://www.tum.de/en/studies/application/application-info-portal/dates-periods-and-deadlines).

If you have general questions about your studies or schedule, we recommend contacting the Student Hub. They can either answer your questions directly or connect you with the right point of contact. The **Student Hub** is located on the 3rd floor of the Management Building, **room 3550**. For details on opening hours, please visit: [Student Hub Website](https://www.mgt.tum.de/campuses/munich/student-hub).

If you missed registering for an exam, need to submit a health-related request (e.g., asking for more time), or have other concerns (excluding point miscalculations or incorrect grading), you should contact the Examination Board at **examinationboard@mgt.tum.de**. Please note that if you forgot to register for an exam, they generally cannot add you afterward unless you have a valid reason. Simply forgetting is not accepted. To avoid this situation, always make sure to register for your exams on time.

If you have followed the recommended timetable, this should not be an issue. However, exercises and tutorials might be offered at times when other lectures are taking place. If you wish to attend the lecture, then simply reregister for a different group or just go to another one!

**It is entirely realistic** to finish within 6 semesters if you don’t plan on going abroad, follow the recommended course schedule, and avoid postponing exams too often. If you do take a semester abroad, completing in 6 semesters becomes more challenging, but not impossible-you’ll simply need to take additional electives in the earlier semesters and handle a heavier exam load than the standard schedule suggests.

In 2024, it was recorded and streamed live. I expect it to be the same this year again, but cannot promise. For the link, check Moodle.

No, except in those with limited places.

Some write digitally, some on a notebook, some type. It really depends on the subject and preference. I'd suggest having the opportunity to type and write on a screen.

Content wise they are the same; The lecturers (and of course the times) are quite different. Feel free to try out different slots in the first few weeks to find out what works best for you; Registration is normally not necessary.

**GOP** stands for *Grundlagen- und Orientierungsprüfung*. In our program, there are four GOPs: three in the first semester (Math 1, Economics 1, and Operations Research & Decision Analysis) and one in the second semester (Statistics). Each course has one exam with only one retake opportunity. To remain enrolled at the university, you must pass at least three out of the four GOPs.

For the project study you can refer to this page: [https://www.fa.mgt.tum.de/cm/teaching/project-studies/](https://www.fa.mgt.tum.de/cm/teaching/project-studies/). Generally, you need at least one other student to complete a project study with. It’s a good idea to apply to several companies, since applications are often rejected or go unanswered. You can either choose a company from the official TUM list or find one on your own. Once accepted, you should contact TUM (details are provided in the official project study page - link above). The university will assign you a supervisor from the relevant chair. You’ll also receive a link to officially register your project study so that your participation and final grade can be recorded in the system. Together with your partner/partners and supervisor at the company, you’ll create a milestones plan that outlines smaller projects or deliverables to be completed by the end of the study. At the conclusion, you will need to submit a written report and give a presentation on what you learned during the project. Since requirements can vary by semester and chair, make sure to clarify all expectations directly with your supervisor at the start. All info is on the website so make sure to read it carefully.

It stands for FachPrüfungs und StudienOrdnung. You can consider it a “rulebook” for all study-related issues. [FPSO.pdf](/faq/what-is-the-fpso/FPSO.pdf)

Because the course starts in December. Until then you have Foundations of Entrepreneurial Business.

Nope. Just take the courses as recommended in the “template timetable” and pass your GOPs. Don’t fail them!!!

Of course. It should be noted that registration is usually just a formality. It doesn't matter at all if you simply come to another session (this also applies to the exercises and tutorials). What can happen, and why there is a limit, is that the room may be full. However, since some people don't attend the lectures, exercises, and tutorials throughout the semester, it should work out. You can also officially deregister and re-register for the new group if you want; you can do that too, of course.

For starters, you only need to register for the lectures themselves; Normally information regarding the tutorials, exercises etc will be shared in the first lectures.

1. **Log in to TUMonline** → go to *Studies & Courses* → *My Studies*. Here you can see your credits, average grade, and course info.  2. Click on the **Semester Plan** (top center). This shows the recommended schedule and required courses for each semester.  3. **Select a course** from the plan and register directly through the detail page. This ensures you don’t sign up for the wrong course.  1. To **register for exams**, you can either go back to *My Studies* → *Exams / Exam Registration* and complete your exam sign-up. Or you can simply click on the course you want to register for. The click on the course marked with a red triangle to register for the lectures and for the exam click the course marked with the green circle.

The green one is for the exam and the red one is for the lectures and exercises.

Although they are two separate courses with separate lectures, the exams are combined. You will receive one exam paper for each course. However, you must pass both parts individually-you cannot fail one and compensate with a high score on the other. Typically, you need at least 50% in each part (check with the professor for the exact threshold). Both exams are graded separately, and your final grade is the average of the two.

All relevant material is actually provided on PowerPoint slides, which are usually sufficient. If you want to read more about specific topics, the professor will usually recommend a few books in the first lecture. (Some professors even base their entire course on one book, but you don’t actually have to read them. Only if you want to read more about a topic). Don't worry, you don't have to buy them; most are available to borrow from the library or as PDF downloads from the online library. I recommend taking part in the campus tour, as, to my knowledge, the library staff will also tell you how that works.

Bonuses usually also apply to retake exams, but this can vary by course. Always confirm with your professor or tutor to be sure.

*(Information based on WiSe24 lecture, may vary)* - **Tuesday:** Lecture video (with optional on-site lecture) - **Wednesday:** Guest lecture (via Zoom) The lecture videos remain available throughout the semester, so you can structure your learning flexibly. The Wednesday guest lecture is usually connected to the Tuesday lecture content. **Important:** Both formats are exam-relevant!

Given the course in WiSe25 is held by an entirely new lecturer, I cannot say for sure how it is structured. For us it was the following: Tue&Thu: Lectures Mon/Tue: “Q&A Sessions” (according to my sources it is unclear if this will take place again) Mon: Central exercise (The “H” problems of the problem sheets were discussed) Thu: Additional exercise (Tutors are in the lecture hall to help you solve your problems)

Foundations of Entrepreneurship and Business Ethics are each worth 3 credits. They were originally one combined course, which is why each now runs for only half a semester. When one ends, the other begins, but the exams are held and graded separately.

In the first and second semesters, you follow a fixed schedule with mandatory courses. First semester courses: **• Math 1 (GOP 6 credits) • Economics 1 (GOP, 6 credits) • Business Ethics (3 credits) • Financial Accounting (6 credits) • Entrepreneurship (3 credits) • Operations Research and Decision Analysis (GOP, 6 credits)** Out of these six subjects, three are GOPs. Passing these GOPs is a requirement for continuing your studies: you must successfully complete them by the end of your second semester. For GOPs, you are allowed only two attempts (the main exam plus one retake). For all other courses, however, you may take as many attempts as necessary, as long as you pass them before finishing your degree and keep up with your GOP requirements. In total, there are four GOPs: three in the first semester and one (statistics) in the second. To remain enrolled, you must pass at least three out of the four. If you fail two GOPs (including their retakes), you will be kicked out of the program.

An exercise is usually held by a doctoral student or a professor. Tutorials are held by a student from a higher semester who usually took the exam themselves a year ago. In addition, tutorials are usually much more interactive (similar what you are used to from school). The size of the classes also varies; tutorials have a maximum of 30 students. Exercises can be significantly larger. And in an exercise, the lecturer usually only explains the tasks and solutions. In a tutorial, you usually have time to solve the tasks yourself first and then, as mentioned, everything is discussed in a more interactive way. And since the tutorials are usually held by students themselves, they naturally have very useful tips.

We will release the registration pages and event info soon. Keep your eyes peeled and follow @sctumsom on Instagram. Also make sure you are in the WhatsApp groups!

You should have received a document from the faculty, please check your “Welcome Email”. We will update this page if we have any information.

Of course you can! Refer to the official precourse page for this, [Vorkurs Mathematik für Management and Technology, Aerospace, Engineering Science, Geodäsie & Geoinformation - TUM - TUM School of Computation, Information and Technology](https://www.cit.tum.de/cit/studienbeginn/vorkurse-ferienkurse-mathematik/management-technology-aerospace-engineering-geodesy/)

**Bachelors** Meet the SC (29th Sep) Campus Tour (6th Oct) Bavarian Lunch (7th Oct) Welcome Day (9th Oct) Campus Rallye (11th Oct) City Rallye (12th Oct) City Trip (18th Oct) Fresher’s Weekend (24th-26th Oct) **Masters** Campus Tour + Bavarian Lunch (8th Oct) Welcome Day (9th Oct) Campus Rallye (11th Oct) City Rallye (12th Oct) City Trip (18th Oct) Registration is not open yet, but we will ensure you all receive the registration links before it is opened. No worries!

It should be running Windows 11 or MacOS: Both work (especially for computer engineering / informatics). For mechanical engineering it can look a bit different. My tip: Don’t have an ARM64 laptop as your **only** device. While it works fine most of the time, sometimes compatibility issues may arise.