Your First Semester Courses in Management & Technology

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.

To see when and where these lectures actually take place, have a look at the 1st semester course schedule (winter semester 2025/26, your own will look similar) or check the Download Center for the current version.

The structure of Mathematics 1 can change depending on the lecturer and semester.

You will usually have lectures plus exercises/tutorials. Check TUMonline and Moodle at the beginning of the semester for the current schedule and format.

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.

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.

Because the module combines two formats: a regular lecture and a guest lecture. Both are exam-relevant.

The exact structure (days, times, and whether sessions are on site or online) can change from semester to semester. Check TUMonline and Moodle at the beginning of the semester for the current format.

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.

As a rule of thumb, the mandatory lectures in your schedule (e.g. Math, ORDA, Production & Logistics, Business Law) are recorded, while electives usually are not, in order to encourage attendance.

This is a rule of thumb, not a guarantee: it depends on the course and semester, and recordings can occasionally be missing due to technical issues. Always check Moodle or ask in the first lecture.

Exercises vary by course, and tutorials are usually not recorded.

It depends on the course. Some exercises are recorded or offered online, while others are not.

Always check Moodle or ask the tutor/course team before relying on a recording.

Usually, standard lectures do not have mandatory attendance. However, some courses such as seminars, practical courses or courses with limited places may require participation.

Always check the course information or Moodle page for the exact rules.

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.

The Project Study is a 12-credit group project and is completed in a team of two to five students.

You can apply to projects offered by TUM chairs and companies, or find a project yourself. Once you have a project, it must be supervised through TUM School of Management and officially registered.

The exact requirements can vary, so always check the current Project Study page before starting: Project Studies.