Data & Society (MSc) Technical University of Munich

The language of instruction for this programme is English.

Groundbreaking data-driven technologies harbour enormous potential. But they also pose immense social and societal risks. Therefore, students of the English-taught Master's degree programme in Data & Society (MSc) learn to analyse and shape technological developments in the context of human behaviour, social needs, and political conditions.

The programme is strongly interdisciplinary and application-oriented. It combines in-depth Engineering, Natural Sciences, and Informatics skills with a thorough understanding of the social, political, and ecological implications of innovative technological developments and their application. Students acquire specialised technical and social science skills in the areas of Data Perspectives, Human & Society, Regulatory, and Sustainable Development. They critically examine data, algorithms and AI-supported decision-making processes, human behaviour and social dynamics, ethical and philosophical considerations of technology, the political and legal framework conditions for the use of technology, and the requirements for sustainable technology use.

Graduates of the degree programme are competent engineers and scientists with specific expertise in evaluating modern technologies' opportunities, risks, and regulations. They are able to reflect on, analyse, and assess the economic, ecological, social, political, and ethical dimensions of data-based technologies and manage their use in line with specific requirements. As a result, they are just as well qualified to take on leadership roles in technology-driven companies or public administration as they are to continue their academic work within the framework of a doctoral dissertation.

For a comprehensive description of the programme, please refer to the degree programme documentation:

• Degree programme documentation for the Master’s programme in Data & Society (PDF, German)

Application Period

• winter semester: 1 April to 31 May
• summer semester: 1 October to 15 January

Please refer to the following website for more information on tuition fees at TUM: https://www.tum.de/en/studies/fees/tuition.

The programme is flexible and stackable. At least 90 credits must be earned in elective modules.

Of these, at least 12 credits must be earned in the elective area of "Method Orientation", at least 72 credits in the elective area of areas of "Specialisation" and at least six credits in the elective area of "Application Project".

In the elective area of specialisation, elective modules from a total of six thematically related module blocks of 12 credits each must be completed, whereby at least one thematically related module block of at least 12 credits must be completed from each of the four specialisation areas "Data Perspectives", "Human & Society", "Regulatory" and "Sustainable Development".

6,000 EUR

Please refer to the following website for more information on tuition fees at TUM: https://www.tum.de/en/studies/fees/tuition.

For more information, refer to: https://www.tum.de/en/studies/fees.

In order to cover personal expenses while studying in Munich, we recommend a budget of at least 1,000 EUR per month.

Please refer to the following page for more information: https://www.studentenwerk-muenchen.de/en/international/international-students-in-munich/in-preparation/cost-of-living/.

Applicants to the Master’s programme in Data & Society at the Technical University of Munich must complete the following steps:

1. Motivation Letter: Submit a written motivation letter of up to 150 words explaining why you have chosen the Data & Society programme at TUM. Highlight your fit for the programme and provide examples, such as relevant internships, study-abroad experiences, or any professional or academic training demonstrating your qualifications for this field.

2. Interview: Selected applicants will be invited to an interview. The interview will last between 20 and 30 minutes in English. It will cover your motivation for applying, your academic background in MINT (STEM) fields, and your ability to work scientifically and methodically. You will also be asked about your understanding of societal dynamics and global developments concerning technological innovations.

All information related to application and admission can be found here.

English: TOEFL (88 points minimum), IELTS (6.5 points minimum), or equivalent required for non-native speakers; alternatively, proof of undergraduate studies carried out entirely in English

Please refer to the following page: https://www.tum.de/en/studies/application/university-admission/languagecertificates/.

Application Period

• winter semester: 1 April to 31 May
• summer semester: 1 October to 15 January

Many international students can have their fees waived or receive scholarships to finance them. You can find all information on waivers and scholarships here.

There are various opportunities as teaching assistants and research assistants at the university. Munich is also an excellent place to find internships at companies.

Please refer to the following page for more details: https://www.tum.de/en/studies/during-your-studies/living-and-working/jobs-and-internships.

It’s not easy to find a place to live in Munich – but it’s not impossible either! The Technical University of Munich (TUM) supports students and staff in their search for accommodation by providing personal advice, in-house listings and useful information to ensure that you can quickly find a place to call your own.

For more information, see: https://www.tum.de/en/studies/during-your-studies/living-and-working/accommodations.

https://www.community.tum.de/en/career-service/

The Technical University of Munich (TUM) is one of Europe’s leading universities in research and teaching. As the "Entrepreneurial University", it doesn’t just seek to understand the world – it sets out to improve it. TUM’s unparalleled range of disciplines covers engineering and natural sciences, life sciences and medicine, management and social sciences – a combination found nowhere else in Europe. TUM leverages this enormous potential by intensively and intelligently combining the different subjects. This inspires modern fields of research and teaching extending from bioengineering to machine intelligence. At the same time, TUM links technological questions closely with social, political and ethical issues.

The outstanding course offering is strongly oriented toward research and, at the same time, tightly coupled to practical experience. TUM invests in the professional development of individual talent and gives its students room to live out their passion for science: students work on developments such as space elevators, robots, and gas turbines in autonomous research groups that carry on for generations. Managers regularly choose TUM as one of the 10 best universities worldwide for the quality of graduates (Global Employability University Rankings).

TUM has a dense network of industry partnerships, collaborating with companies such as BMW, Siemens, SAP, and Google. No other German university produces more start-up founders – the result of an unrivalled support infrastructure. TUM is an international university with a high proportion of foreign students and researchers as well as more than 150 partner universities around the globe. In 2006, 2012, and 2019, it won recognition as a German "Excellence University".

Munich – Germany’s innovation engine and world’s most livable city

TUM is based in the European metropolitan region of Munich: a research, business and cultural hub of global standing with cosmopolitan flair. In rankings of the world’s best locations for students, Munich regularly occupies the top spots and it was ranked the most liveable city in the world several times.

Munich is Germany’s innovation engine. Almost all major branches of industry have established a presence in the city, including global players from abroad. This is particularly true of high-tech fields such as IT, automotive and aerospace, as well as for medical engineering, biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Thanks to the economic power, the city’s first-rate educational and research institutions, and its location at the heart of Europe, Munich ranks as Europe’s leading ICT hub as an EU study confirms.

Munich and the surrounding area offer a virtually unlimited range of leisure activities. The Bavarian capital is famous for its museums, historic palaces and churches, as well as for theatres, music venues and clubs which ensure a varied nightlife. The English Garden – one of the world’s largest inner-city parks – and the Isar river create an oasis of green. From the roof terrace of TUM’s city campus, the Alps look close enough to touch, and the clear waters of the Bavarian lakes are just an hour away.