Founded in 1472, LMU Munich is one of Europe’s leading research universities, renowned for its comprehensive programs across humanities, social sciences, medicine, and natural sciences (physics, chemistry, biology, geosciences, mathematics, computer science).
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, known as LMU, is one of the largest and oldest universities in Germany, with about 52,000 students and 8,000 staff, and roughly one student in five from abroad. It was founded in 1472 in Ingolstadt, moved to Landshut in 1800 and settled in Munich in 1826. The main building stands on Geschwister-Scholl-Platz, named after the student resistance group of the White Rose, whose members studied here.
The university offers a full range of subjects, from law, economics and the humanities to physics, chemistry, biology and medicine. Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen held a chair of physics at LMU, and Werner Heisenberg and Max Planck are among the scientists tied to the city and the university. The medical faculty works with the university hospital at Großhadern, and the life sciences are concentrated at the Martinsried biocentre south-west of the city, next to several Max Planck institutes.
LMU has held the status of University of Excellence since the first German competition, which brings extra funding for research clusters in quantum science, cell biology, neuroscience and the humanities. Departments such as physics and psychology are among the strongest in Germany, and the university works with the Max Planck Society, the Helmholtz centres and the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre in the region.
Public universities in Bavaria do not charge tuition for most students, but each term requires a semester contribution of roughly one hundred euros, and a transport ticket is sold separately. Many bachelor’s degrees are taught in German, so applicants need proof of German, while a number of master’s programmes are taught in English. Admission to popular subjects is restricted and handled through the university or the national service Hochschulstart.
Munich is an expensive city, and student housing is scarce, so applying early for a place in a residence of the Studentenwerk is wise. The city offers museums, the Isar river and the Alps within a short train ride.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Astroscience, Bioengineering, Bioinformatics, Chemistry, Computer Vision, Data Analytics, Ecology and Sustainability, Fluid Dynamics, Geotechnics, Life Sciences, Manufacturing, Marine Science, Materials, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Microbiology and Genetics, Nanotechnologies, Optics, Physics, Process Control, Signal Processing, Software Engineering, Statistics, Structural Engineering, Telecommunications, Thermodynamics
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Member of LERU, German U15. Numerous Nobel laureates. Strong international collaborations.
Research:
Quantum optics & Photonics, Nanoscience & Advanced materials, Protein biochemistry & Structural biology, Earth & Environmental sciences, AI & Data science.
Famous Alumnis:
Numerous Nobel laureates including Max Planck, Werner Heisenberg, Wilhelm Röntgen.
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
8000
Current students***:
52000
Foreign students***:
20%
Cumulative former students***:
N/A
Pros
Globally top-ranked comprehensive university, excellence in research across many fields, particularly sciences, located in Munich.
Cons
Very large and can be competitive, less focused on applied engineering compared to TUM.
Best For
Leading comprehensive research university with world-class programs in physics, chemistry, and life sciences.
Where this university leans on astroscience, bioinformatics and geotechnics, Freie Universität Berlin does the same, and it is also a public institution, and runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes.
For students who like the astroscience, bioinformatics and geotechnics focus of this university but want another option nearby, Universität Leipzig fits well: it is smaller, enrolling about 30,000 students against roughly 52,000 here, and is also a public institution.
Among national alternatives, Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg stands out for its focus on astroscience, bioinformatics and nanotechnologies, and it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and is smaller, enrolling about 27,000 students against roughly 52,000 here.
Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main is the closest domestic counterpart for astroscience, bioinformatics and geotechnics; it is also a public institution, and teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral.
Among national alternatives, Universität zu Köln stands out for its focus on astroscience, bioinformatics and geotechnics, and it has almost the same size, at about 48,000 students, and is also a public institution.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań in Poland is the nearest foreign match on astroscience, bioinformatics and geotechnics; it is slightly smaller, at about 35,000 students against roughly 52,000 here, and is also a public institution.
University of Warsaw, in Poland, takes a similar route through astroscience, bioinformatics and geotechnics; it runs the same bachelor's, master's and doctoral programmes, and is slightly smaller, at about 40,000 students against roughly 52,000 here.
Sorbonne Université, in France, takes a similar route through astroscience, marine science and bioinformatics; it teaches at the same levels, namely bachelor's, master's and doctoral, and covers sound engineering and aerospace as well.
For astroscience, bioinformatics and geotechnics outside the home country, Université de Strasbourg in France is a natural reference; it has almost the same size, at about 57,000 students, and is also a public institution.
Peking University, in China, takes a similar route through astroscience, bioinformatics and geotechnics; it is slightly smaller, at about 45,000 students against roughly 52,000 here, and is also a public institution.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
Where is LMU Munich?
The main building is at Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1 in the centre of Munich, and other sites are at Großhadern and Martinsried.
How large is it?
About 52,000 students and 8,000 staff, with around 20 percent of students from abroad.
When was LMU founded?
In 1472 in Ingolstadt. It moved to Landshut in 1800 and to Munich in 1826.
Why is the square named after Scholl?
Hans and Sophie Scholl belonged to the White Rose resistance group and studied at LMU.
What is LMU best known for?
Medicine, law, economics, physics, psychology, life sciences and the humanities.
Is LMU a University of Excellence?
Yes. It has held the title since the first German Excellence Initiative.
Does LMU charge tuition?
Public universities in Bavaria generally charge no tuition fees for most students, but a semester contribution of roughly one hundred euros applies. Check the current tariff.
In which language are courses taught?
Many bachelor's degrees in German, and a number of master's programmes in English.
How do you apply?
Through the university application portal, or through Hochschulstart for subjects with national restrictions. International applicants may need certified documents and proof of German.
Is housing easy to find?
No. Munich is expensive, so applying early for a Studentenwerk residence is advised.
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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