Application

Are you an international student planning to spend a semester or longer at LMU? With the help of mobility programs such as Erasmus+, UK, SEMP and LMUexchange, it is not only possible to study abroad — it's also easy. Here you'll find everything you need to know about application procedures, language requirements and your Learning Agreement.

Application requirements

LMU cooperates with universities around the world within the framework of the programs Erasmus+, UK, SEMP and LMUexchange. If you are interested in becoming a visiting student here, your university must be an LMU partner university. An overview of all LMU partner universities can be found in our database. Your home university is responsible for nominating students for an exchange at LMU. As soon as your home university nominates you - further information on this process can be found in our nomination section - LMU's International Office will send you the information you need to apply.

Application process

Your university has nominated you and you wish to study at LMU next semester? Great! Then you should submit your online application (please register first) by the following deadlines:

  • 15 May for the winter semester
  • 15 November for the summer semester

An overview of the administrative processes for exchange students can be found in our timeline.

An application is considered complete if it includes the following documents:

If you have health problems or want to study at LMU with your child, please indicate this in the application form.
You can find all the services LMU offers in our online sections Diversity and Studying with a disability.

Please state in your online application that you are applying for student housing. Housing applications received after the application deadline will not be considered. Further information on housing issues can be found in our student housing section.

Learning Agreement (LA)

A Learning Agreement is a study agreement between the student, the university in Germany (receiving university) and the home university (sending university). It sets out the student's program of studies which all three parties have to agree on. Later, the student receives recognition for the courses successfully completed abroad.

All exchange students must submit either an Online Learning Agreement (OLA) or a Learning Agreement (LA) with their application. Erasmus students can only submit an Online Learning Agreement (OLA). With the help of the contact list you can identify the responsible person for your Learning Agreement at the faculty / department where you intend to take at least 60% of your courses.

A regular student at LMU would normally have a semester workload of 30 ECTS but this is not compulsory for exchange students. Find out at your home university how many credits (ECTS) you will be expected to gain during your stay at LMU. You should then list the courses you wish to attend at LMU in the Learning Agreement. Please note that the selected courses simply represent your intention and will only be finalized at the beginning of the semester in consultation with your departmental coordinator.

Erasmus+ students

Your home university will inform you about how to access the online platform for the Online Learning Agreement (OLA). Please prepare the Learning Agreement via this online platform and share it with your home and host university.

You can then proceed as follows:

  1. Complete the OLA on the platform and sign it digitally. The “responsible person” at LMU to sign your Learning Agreement is the departmental coordinator. By consulting the contact list you will be able to identify the responsible person at the faculty / department of LMU where you plan to take at least 60% of your courses.
    In case you have to fill in an “administrative contact”, please name "Gebhard/ Lacoste" with the email address: erasmus-incoming@lmu.de
  2. Your home university will then automatically be notified by email in order to also sign your OLA.
  3. Once your OLA has been signed by your home university, please create a PDF copy of the OLA and submit it with your online application. The signature by the host university (LMU) only takes place after you have submitted your application and LMU has checked your application documents.
  4. When your OLA has been signed by your home university and by you, the responsible person at LMU (the Erasmus departmental coordinator) will receive an automatic notification by email to also sign your OLA.
  5. Your OLA is then complete.
  6. You can download the Erasmus+ App to track your OLA and find further useful information.

All other exchange students
(UK, SEMP, LMUexchange)

Please proceed as follows:

  1. You should fill out the Learning Agreement form which is provided by your home university or, alternatively, use the LMU Learning Agreement (PDF, 639 KB) provided by LMU's International Office.
  2. If the Learning Agreement form requires you to name the person responsible for signing your Learning Agreement at LMU, please consult the contact list to identify the responsible person at the faculty/department where you intend to take at least 60% of your courses.
  3. Once the Learning Agreement has been signed by both the responsible person at your home university and by you, please upload a PDF copy of the Learning Agreement and submit it with your online application. The signature by the host university (LMU) only takes place after you have submitted your application and LMU has checked your application documents.
  4. After submitting your online application, your Learning Agreement will be checked and signed by the relevant responsible person at the faculty / department where you will be taking most of your courses.
  5. When signed, the Learning Agreement will be sent back to you by email.

Erasmus+, UK and SEMP students must take at least 60% of their courses in the subject area named in the Erasmus+/ UK/ SEMP exchange agreement. If the agreement is for more than one subject area (faculty-wide agreement), students should take at least 60% of courses in their major / minor.

LMUexchange students must take at least 60% of their courses in their major / minor only.

Erasmus+, UK, SEMP and LMUexchange students can 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% in Political Science).

Language skills

By the time you start studying at LMU, you must have the language level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference (at least B1 for your application). Some departments have higher requirements (see section below).

German: Good German language skills are important in order to study at LMU. Even though some departments offer modules in English, most courses at a bachelor's level are offered in German.
On commencing your studies at LMU
you should have acquired level B2 language skills.

English: The same requirement applies if you plan to take courses in English. A list of departments that offer English language courses can be found under choosing courses.

The faculty / department will review your application on an individual basis. Please note, that you do not have to prove your German skills if you only take classes in English.

The following departments require different language levels on commencement of studies:

  • America Institute (North America Studies): English B2 at the time of application and C1 level at the start of your studies, and German B1 (no German requirement if you only choose courses taught in English)
  • English Philology: English B2 at the time of application and C1 level at the start of your studies, and German B1 (no German requirement if you only choose courses taught in English)
  • Political Science: German B1 at the time of application and B2 level at the start of your studies (bachelor's / master's) and English B1 at the time of application and B2 level at the start of your studies (bachelor's), C1 (master's)
  • Medicine: German C1 for clinical electives, B2 in all other cases (already when applying)

The following language certificates (not older than 2 years) are accepted:

For GermanFor English
  • Goethe certificate (B2: TDN 3)
  • TestDaF
  • onDaF
  • telc German
  • Deutsche Hochschulzugangsberechtigung (university entrance qualification awarded by a German speaking institution, for example Abitur or Matura)
  • Confirmation of Language Skills (PDF, 88 KB) (signed by the coordinator at your university)
  • TOEFL (internet based: minimum score B2: 72 / C1: 95 / paper based)
  • TOEIC (minimum score B2: 785 / C1: 945)
  • IELTS (minimum score B2: 5.5 / C1: 7.0)
  • Cambridge English (B2: First (FCE) / C1: Certificate in Advanced English (CAE))
  • Confirmation of Language Skills (PDF, 88 KB) (signed by the coordinator at your university)

Information regarding courses are in the choosing courses section.
Please refer to your departmental coordinator for all academic questions.

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