Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Please find useful information below about Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München as an exchange destination. Learn more about the location, the campus, courses and student life!
About
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich), founded in 1472, is one of Germany’s oldest and most respected universities. With a diverse student body of over 50,000, including a substantial number of international students, LMU offers a wide range of programmes in humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, medicine, and law.
The university is known for its strong emphasis on research and interdisciplinary collaboration, supported by numerous specialized research centres and institutes. LMU’s faculty includes many distinguished scholars and Nobel laureates, contributing to its reputation for academic excellence. The university provides a stimulating and inclusive environment, dedicated to fostering critical thinking and innovation among its students and researchers.
Consult LMU on QS World Rankings to learn more about their current world ranking and academic reputation in different subject areas.
Location
Munich, the capital of Bavaria, is known for its rich history, modern conveniences, and vibrant atmosphere. With a population of over 1.5 million, Munich blends old-world charm with a dynamic urban lifestyle that attracts residents and visitors alike.
Famous landmarks such as the Marienplatz, Nymphenburg Palace, and the BMW Museum highlight Munich’s unique blend of historic architecture and contemporary innovation. The city is a hub for technology, arts, and culture, offering a bustling cultural scene with museums, theatres, galleries, and annual festivals like Oktoberfest, which draw crowds from all over the world. Munich’s green spaces, like the sprawling Englischer Garten and picturesque city parks, provide plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities and relaxation. Easy-to-use public transportation makes it simple to explore Munich’s diverse neighbourhoods, lively markets, trendy shops, and delicious dining spots.
Level of competitiveness
This exchange is only open to students in the School of the Arts who are studying German as a modern language.
For competitiveness level please enquire with the STA Year Abroad team.
The level of competitiveness (Less competitive * / Competitive ** / Very competitive ***) refers to one's chances of being allocated an exchange space at this partner. This is an approximation determined by the number of applications received for this destination during the last academic year versus the total number of exchange spaces available to Queen Mary students.
Language of Instruction
German.
Students wishing to study on exchange at LMU should have acquired level B2 language skills in German by the time of the start of the exchange (a B1 level at the time of application can be considered).
Academic Calendar
German universities’ academic calendars are typically divided into two semesters, with the academic year starting and finishing somewhat later than the UK academic calendar.
Students may arrive earlier before the start of the semester to take advantage of an extensive cultural program with field trips and excursions, taking place twice a year in September (before semester 1) and March (before semester 2).
- Winter Semester (WiSe) (semester 1): October – February (lectures taking place through February even though semester officially ends 31 March).
- Sommer Semester (SoSe) (semester 2): April – July (lectures taking place through July even though semester officially ends 30 September).
Learn more about various cultural events and festivals in LMU’s calendar of events.
Courses
Consult the online course catalogue on LSF (no login required, simply click on the link “Vorlesungsverzeichnis” to access the online course catalogue). LMU’s up-to-date course catalogue is available only two months before the beginning of each semester. To get an idea of courses offered for the current/previous academic year, you can consult the previous catalogues and faculty websites, where there is often general information about choosing courses.
Exchange students at LMU must take at least 60% of their courses in their major area of study (per the subject area of the bilateral agreement through which the exchange is valid) and may take up to 40% of their remaining courses in no more than two further subject areas (example: 60% of courses in German Philology, 20% of courses in History and
20% of courses in Political Science). Language or Literature students may choose courses freely from all departments in the Faculty of Languages and Literatures. Learn more about choosing courses at LMU here.
Students with no previous knowledge and study experience in a subject area will solely be permitted to take introductory courses in that field. As a general rule, undergraduate students are not permitted to take master (postgraduate) courses (any exceptions to this rule will be decided by LMU).
There are numerous courses taught in English as well, yet Queen Mary students studying German as a foreign language should be studying in German unless otherwise advised by their academic advisor in the School of the Arts.
Credits
Students must enrol on a full courseload: 30 ECTS per semester / 60 ECTS for the full academic year (equivalent to 60 Queen Mary credits per semester / 120 Queen Mary credits for the full academic year).
The number of ECTS (credits) depends on the workload of a course, based on factors such as the number of teaching hours (SWS = "Semesterwochenstunden" / "SWS", which means semester hours per week), number and length of written or oral exams and preparatory and self-study. 1 ECTS = 30 hours of work, 1 hour of work = 45 minutes, 1 SWS = usually 15 attendance hours of 45 minutes each.
All coursework will be graded in accordance with the German grading system (“1”–“6”, with “1” being the best and “6” the worst grade). A course that is graded between 1 and 4 is passed. Some course are not graded (non-graded lectures). To reach a more differentiated evaluation, each grade can be raised and lowered by 0.3. Learn more about ECTS and grading at LMU.
At the end of a study period at LMU, exchange students may receive a Transcript of Records listing all the courses attended including grades and ECTS credit points. The transcript is not sent automatically – please consult LMU’s website for further information.
Find out more about Queen Mary’s credit transfer and grade conversion process.
Queen Mary student feedback
Blog posts on Queen Mary Global Bloggers:
- Naomi in Berlin (different city but relevant for country)
- Dimitar in Berlin (different city but relevant for country)
- Amy Cropper in Berlin (different city but relevant for country)
Instagram takeovers:
- HU Berlin Takeover by Osaf (different city but relevant for country)
Accommodation
The “Studierendenwerk München Oberbayern” is responsible for providing housing for exchange students. The allocation of rooms is, however, coordinated by the International Office.
Queen Mary students who are nominated to LMU and who wish to apply for student housing must tick the appropriate box in the online application form for admission. Late applicants cannot be considered for student housing. Please note that there are not enough rooms for all students so guarantees are not possible; students should ensure that they follow procedures early well in advance of deadlines to increase their chances of being allocated a room.
Students who have a special educational need and/or a disability (SEND) can be prioritised for housing if confirmed by Queen Mary to the International Office, so any nominated Queen Mary student with SEND should confirm this to the School of the Arts so that confirmation can be provided well in advance of the application deadline and of LMU’s room allocations.
Rooms are single bedroom with a shared kitchen and maybe shared bathroom. Rooms are rented from September to the end of February (winter semester), as well as March to the end of July (summer semester); usually with a maximum rental period of one semester. While the average rent depends on the location and student dorm, rent is generally lower than what students pay in London and the UK (see further information under the ‘Cost of living’ section below).
Due to a challenging housing market in Munich, exchange students are advised to also begin looking for private accommodation as soon as possible while simultaneously applying for university-managed housing and completing the relevant housing application, as a back-up measure in case they end up not securing student housing.
Private accommodation: Queen Mary students who intend to look for private accommodation are advised to follow the partner’s guidance as soon as possible to begin their accommodation search safely. Guidance about searching for private accommodation safely is also available on the QMplus resource page, “Pre-departure” tab from early spring.
Cost of living
LMU provides information on the cost of living as a student here. You can find more general, up-to-date information about the cost of living in Munich here.
Bear in mind that living expenses can vary depending on individual lifestyle. Please consult the estimated minimum and maximum cost of living figures for this destination country available in our “Estimated Costs of Living” document available on our Finance page.
Mandatory fee for student services: Every student registered at a German university is obliged to pay a semester fee for student services and local student/administrative fees, provided by the “Studierendenwerk.” The fee is charged by LMU as part of the registration process on behalf of the Studierendenwerk. This also gives students access to reduced costs in daily life in Germany, such as local transportation.
Adequate health insurance is mandatory for all exchange students. Students should arrive with adequate travel insurance to cover themselves initially upon arrival until they are officially registered as an LMU student. Exchange students must then take out German health insurance cover at a monthly cost for the duration of their stay at LMU, which covers doctor visits and prescribed medication.
- Insurance packages for study abroad from the UK/an exchange student’s home country are unlikely to fulfil German requirements and will likely be rejected
- Exchange students who take out private health insurance cannot change to public health insurance during their studies
- Queen Mary’s accident and emergency travel insurance cover alone is not sufficient for an exchange in Germany and will not be accepted by LMU at registration
- Accident, personal and third-party liability insurance for the duration of the exchange in Germany is strongly recommended
Support services
Exchange students who are nominated to LMU should let the university know in their application form if they have any special educational needs and/or disabilities. Learn more about LMU’s disability services and contact LMU with any specific questions: behindertenberatung@lmu.de.
As a current Queen Mary student you will be able to find a summary sheet for this partner university on our QMplus page, with an overview of the local student support services available on the following topics: specific learning differences, physical impairments, sensory impairments, long term medical conditions, autism spectrum conditions, mental health and wellbeing difficulties, special accommodation provision, non-emergency health care, emergency services, harassment and trauma and suicide prevention.
As a current Queen Mary student you will be able to find a summary sheet for LMU on our QMplus page, with an overview of the local student support services available on the following topics: specific learning differences, physical impairments, sensory impairments, long term medical conditions, autism spectrum conditions, mental health and wellbeing difficulties, special accommodation provision, non-emergency health care, emergency services, harassment and trauma and suicide prevention.
Activities and Societies
There are numerous student groups from humanitarian organisations, international groups, religious groups, career-oriented organisations, and social media groups. Students also have access to the university library, Bavarian State Library, and online database. There are also plenty of cultural events throughout the year; like various theatre shows, art exhibits, concerts, and festivals. Art, music, literature, and more - LMU Munich.
There is also a university sports centre which provides low-cost opportunities to participate in 90 different kinds of sports (Sport - LMU Munich). There are multiple cafeterias and restaurants found on campus. There are also plenty restaurants, food markets, and grocery stores found throughout Munich.