Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU)
Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU)
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat München (LMU) is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Europe. Founded in 1472, LMU combines a commitment to human values with the development of skills that make graduates competitive in the marketplace. It employs an intense interdisciplinary approach that fosters innovation.
Academic Highlights
LMU offers more than 200 degree programs across 18 faculties that include humanities and cultural sciences, law, economic and social sciences, medicine and natural sciences. It is considered one of the top research universities in Europe.
Location
LMU is located in the Bavarian capital of Munich, in Germany’s south. The university is spread across 10 campuses all within Munich.
Did you know?
Alumni of LMU include writers Bertolt Brecht and Thomas Mann, physicist Max Planck and Pope Benedict XVI. The university has produced 26 Nobel laureates.
Language of Instruction | English (limited in some areas), German | |||||
Program Duration | 1 semester, 2 semesters | |||||
Academic Level | Undergraduate, Postgraduate | |||||
| Minimum Result Required | 60% WAM | |||||
| Previous round cut-off (WAM (%) or GPA) | 69% WAM | |||||
Anticipated Places in Semester 2, 2027 | 4-5 places | |||||
Yellow | ||||||
Eligible Monash Campus | Monash Australia, Monash Malaysia | |||||
Agreement Scope | All Faculties | |||||
Handbook/Catalogue
LMU's course catalogue
Academic requirements
- At least 60% of your chosen subjects ('courses') will need to be from a single subject area.
- The other 40% of your chosen units ('courses') can be from no more than two further subject areas
- For example: 60% of courses in German Philology, 20% of courses in History and 20% in Political Science.
Language requirements
- Students are required to have obtained a B2 CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) to be eligible to apply for German-taught units.
- There are some units that are available in English - but the range is very limited. If you are only selecting units where language of instruction is English, you won’t be required to present a German language certificate.
Full-time Credit Load Equivalents
Semester | |
|---|---|
Min. 18 Monash points | Max. 24 Monash points |
22.5 ECTS | 30 ECTS |
or roughly 15 SWS | or roughly 20 SWS |
ECTS - European Credit Transfer System
*If your study load cannot exactly equate to 22.5 ECTS, then you will need to complete a study load as close to 22.5 ECTS without going under in order to receive 18 Monash credit points.
Year | |
|---|---|
Min. 36 Monash points | Max. 48 Monash points |
45 ECTS | 60 ECTS |
or roughly 30 SWS | or roughly 40 SWS |
Academic Calendar
LMU Summer semester (Monash semester 1): late April – late July
LMU Winter semester (Monash semester 2): mid-October - early February
LMU's Academic Calendar
Accounting | Ancient cultures | Anthropology | Banking and finance |
Biological sciences | Biomedical sciences | Chemistry | Chinese languages & culture studies |
Communications and media studies | Earth, atmosphere and environmental sciences | Econometrics and business statistics | Economics |
Education - early childhood | Education - primary schooling | Education - secondary schooling | French languages & culture studies |
German languages & culture studies | History | Human geography | Information technology |
Italian languages & culture studies | Japanese languages & culture studies | Jewish languages & culture studies | Law |
Legal studies | Linguistics | Literary studies | Management |
Marketing | Mathematical sciences | Philosophy | Physics and astronomy |
Politics and international relations | Psychological sciences | Public health and preventive medicine | Religious studies |
Sociology | Theatre and performance |
Note
- The listed disciplines are not necessarily exhaustive and other fields of study might also be available at the institution.
- Approval to study particular subjects at any institution is always at the discretion of the departmental/discipline and faculty advisers in your managing faculty(ies) and subject to available places at the host.
Accommodation
There is a very limited amount of student accommodation at LMU. Most students in Munich live in private, off-campus accommodation.
LMU also offers advice on accommodation.
Visas
As a general rule, Australian citizens do not need a visa to enter Germany but after entering will have to apply for a residence permit at the local ‘Auslaenderbehörde’ (Immigration Office) if staying for more than three months. Your host university will assist you with this. Students from other countries may be required to apply for a visa for study purposes at the German Consulate-General in Melbourne.
For more information on visas for a student exchange, please refer to the Consulate General of Germany here.
LMU also provides some guidance on obtaining a visa and residence permit.
Health and insurance
By law, all students must have sufficient health cover for their stay in Germany to become registered as a student at a German university and/or to apply for a student visa. Thus, non-EU-students should be careful in selecting a health insurance plan as it has to satisfy the very strict requirements of the university and the immigration office.
LMU provides further information on obtaining health insurance.
When travelling on a Monash Abroad approved program, you are automatically covered under the Monash University Student Travel Insurance policy. This will provide cover to and from your exchange.
Orientation and extra-curricular
Orientation is mandatory for exchange students. During this time, you can also register to take preparatory language courses. Find out more here.
As an exchange student, you can opt into the LMU Buddy program, and have an LMU student mentor you and help you settle into life as an exchange student.
LMU has a vibrant student life for exchange students to enjoy.
Cost of living
LMU provides some guidance on estimated living costs in Munich in their handbook for exchange students.
Funding
The DAAD offers various scholarships to Australian students, there may be scholarships available to exchange students and are subject to change. Find out more here.
Students taking German language courses may be eligible for the Walter Mangold Study Abroad Scholarship.
For information about funding available to support study on exchange overseas, see the Financial Information page on the Monash Abroad website.
Important notes
Academic requirements
- At least 60% of your chosen subjects ('courses') will need to be from a single subject area.
- The other 40% of your chosen units ('courses') can be from no more than two further subject areas
- For example: 60% of courses in German Philology, 20% of courses in History and 20% in Political Science.
To begin your application and study plan, click the button below.
Have you been to the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and want to share your experience? If you'd be willing to write a testimonial, email us at monashabroad.enquiries@monash.edu.
Tristan Jamson
Bachelor of Laws/Arts
Semester 2, 2019
Studied: Arts and Law units
Study Experience
Before the semester started I took part in the LMU's language and culture orientation program for exchange students. It consisted of language classes and excursions to places of historical significance like Dachau Concentration Camp and Neuschwanstein. It was such a great way to meet people from all over the world and get in the headspace of speaking German. The people I met during those four weeks before university classes began remained my closest friends throughout my time in Munich, and I can't help but think how different my experience would have been had I not done the orientation program. The other obvious highlight was the opportunity to undertake academic subjects in German. This was terrifying for the first couple of weeks and I had serious doubts as to whether I was doing the right thing. But this made it all the more satisfying when at the end of the semester it all worked out well and, more importantly, I had a tangible improvement in my language skills to show for it. If you meet the minimum language requirement (or are a level below and can negotiate), I can't recommend enough that you do at least some of your classes in German! It requires patience and perseverance, yes, but it is seriously rewarding and an invaluable source of inspiration for taking your skills further.
Culture
I lived at the Olympic Village, which was originally built for the 1972 Olympics and is now operated by the Munich Student Union. It was in a brilliant location in the Olympic Park, meaning that leisure and sporting opportunities were only ever a quick walk away. The public transport in Munich is fantastic, so getting around to social and cultural events at whatever hour is generally never an issue. It is of course Berlin which is known for its 'Klubkultur', but Munich's nightlife can definitely compete once it becomes more familiar. The city also has an incredible range of cafés, restaurants, gardens, museums and galleries. As is to be expected anywhere in Germany, there is a great love for football, and I was lucky enough to finally have the chance to see FC Bayern Munich play at the stunning Allianz Arena - highly recommend! But the best part about being in Munich is its proximity to the Alps and other places of amazing natural beauty. Whether I was in need of a ski or just there to see the sights, those were the places that really blew me away and which I remember most fondly.
Benefits of going on exchange
Independence, confidence and adaptability I think are three really important benefits. Taking yourself off to a foreign country where you don't know many people and are left to your own devices is of course notorious for that, but applying this to an academic context is another thing entirely. In many ways it's like starting uni all over again, and I distinctly remember drawing on the experience of my first year at Monash to navigate my way through the difficulties of university bureaucracy and applying yourself in new surroundings when I began studying in Munich. But having had that experience meant that it felt more natural the second time around, and the things I worried about when first beginning my degree didn't bog me down on exchange; simply because you learn not to worry about what you can't actually control and to just take things as they come.
Top tips
- Apply for student union housing when sending your formal application to the university (it's usually far cheaper than other housing.
- Apply for a German "blocked account" before leaving Australia (this makes it quicker and easier to get the required residency permit once in Germany).
It might go without saying, but really try to push yourself to get out of your host city to do some travel. There were times where I had planned trips but then closer to the date was really hesitant to follow through with them because of keeping up with uni work. With the benefit of hindsight I can happily say that the travels I had in those situations were some of the best, and that they in fact gave me a valuable break from studying. The reality is that exchange isn't just about study but also seeking inspiration from the world around you. Everyone needs to find their own balance between the two, but I think most exchange students would attest that it can best be found by erring on the side of adventure.