Technical University of Munich Notable Alumni List

The Technical University of Munich (TUM) has produced a remarkable list of notable alumni throughout its long history. With a legacy dating back to 1868, TUM has educated many brilliant minds who have made important contributions in various fields, including science, engineering, literature, and business.

The Technical University of Munich (TUM) is ranked as the No. 1 university in Germany and has been leading for many years. It was started in 1868 and is known for research, innovation, and high-level study programs. If you are planning to study in Germany, then TUM is one of the top German universities you can apply to. According to the most recent QS World University Rankings 2026, the Technical University of Munich (TUM) placed 22nd in the world. TUM has been at the top of the German university rankings since 2015, so this is not the first time they have been named the best.

Heinrich Hertz and the famous author Thomas Mann are among the 17 Nobel Prize winners who graduated from the Technical University of Munich. Rudolf Diesel, the inventor of the diesel engine, and Norbert Reithofer, who was CEO of BMW before entering politics, are among the top notable alumni of the Technical University of Munich.

Technical University currently has more than 92,500 alumni from all over the world. The Technical University of Munich had a special ceremony this year honoring more than 200 notable alumni. Check complete details on the Technical University of Munich alumni list, their current profession, and other details. 

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Top 10 Notable Alumni of the Technical University of Munich

The Technical University of Munich (TUM) has a rich history of producing notable alumni who have made significant contributions in various fields. Here are ten notable alumni from TUM:

Thomas Mann (Author)

Thomas Mann (1875-1955) was a German author known for his profound literary works that explore themes of individualism and society. He received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1929 for his novels—Buddenbrooks (1900), Der Tod in Venedig (1912; Death in Venice), and Der Zauberberg (1924; The Magic Mountain). In his novel Buddenbrooks, he showed how a family lost its wealth through a wealthy commercial trade company. Mann shows continuous interest in philosophical questions alongside human existential challenges through his writing.

Rudolf Diesel (Engineer and Inventor)

Rudolf Diesel (1858-1913) German thermal engineer who invented the diesel engine. We all travel distance by diesel car but the man who invented this engine was a TUM graduate. His invention transformed how people travelled. In his discovery of getting a best and efficient motor engine, Rudolf Diesel invented what makes our life much easier and we travel miles in a day. 

Heinrich Hertz (Physicist)

Heinrich Hertz (1857-1894) is a German physicist, who made the important discovery of radio waves, which is generally regarded as proving James Clerk Maxwell's electromagnetic theory and opening the door for a number of advancements in communication technology.

The world remembers him for showing that electromagnetic waves existed, establishing modern wireless communication elements. The series of scientific achievements in radio technology made Hertz a recognized face worldwide.

Aurel Vlaicu (Aerospace Engineer)

Aurel Vlaicu (1882-1913) was a Romanian engineer, inventor, airplane builder, and revolutionary pilot. He created the odd-looking Vlaicu No. I aircraft in 1909; it was a parasol-winged monoplane known as La Folle Mouche or The Crazy Fly. It was the first Romanian aircraft to fly. The aeroplane designs created by Vlaicu demonstrated his skill in engineering and his deep love for flight capabilities.

Ernst Otto Fischer (Chemist)

Ernst Otto Fischer (1918 - 2007) was a German chemist who won the 1973 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He won the Nobel prize because his research on sandwich compounds brought major progress to organometallic chemistry. His studies produced long-lasting effects in both catalysis and materials science fields.

Gerhard Ertl (Chemist and Nobel Laureate)

Chemist Gerhard Ertl obtained worldwide recognition for his solid surface chemical processing research activities. He won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2007 for establishing pioneering chemical knowledge that helps catalyze industrial manufacturing processes and study surface chemistries.

Klaus von Klitzing (Physicist and Nobel Laureate)

Klaus von Klitzing (born 1943) is a physicist who won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1985 for discovering the quantum Hall effect. This phenomenon has profound implications for condensed matter physics and has contributed to our understanding of quantum mechanics.

Anton Zeilinger (Physicist and Nobel Laureate)

Anton Zeilinger (born 1936) is an Austrian physicist who is celebrated for his work in quantum information science. He received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2022 for his contributions to quantum entanglement and teleportation, which have opened new avenues in quantum computing and cryptography.

Wolfgang Ketterle (Physicist and Nobel Laureate)

The researcher Wolfgang Ketterle (born 1957) received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2001 for his studies about Bose-Einstein condensation. His research provides essential knowledge about quantum gases while simultaneously creating practical applications with theoretical importance.

Emil Erlenmeyer (Chemist)

During his life (1825-1909), Emil Erlenmeyer became famous for designing the Erlenmeyer flask, which remains a fundamental tool for chemical laboratory work today. Experimentation techniques substantially benefited from the organic chemistry contributions made by this scientist.

Technical University of Munich Acceptance Rate 

The acceptance rate at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) is a crucial factor for prospective students considering applying to this prestigious institution. Currently, the TUM acceptance rate is reported to be around 8%. This means that out of every 100 applicants, only about eight students are admitted, making TUM one of the most selective universities in Germany.

The acceptance rate of the Technical University of Munich can vary depending on the specific program. Some programs, especially in high-demand fields like computer science and engineering, may have even lower acceptance rates due to the competitive nature of these courses offered at the Technical University of Munich. For example, while the overall acceptance rate is 8%, certain programs might only accept a small fraction of applicants.

Popular Courses at Technical University of Munich (TUM)

The Technical University of Munich (TUM) offers many popular courses for both German and international students. Most students choose TUM for engineering, technology, and science courses. The university is known for giving strong research education and modern labs.

Here are some of the top courses at TUM:

• Mechanical Engineering
• Computer Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Aerospace Engineering
• Physics
• Mathematics
• Architecture
• Management and Technology
• Medical Engineering
• Environmental Science

Many courses at TUM are taught in English, so it is good for students who don’t speak German well. TUM always updates its study programs with latest research, so students learn what is useful in real world. If you want to study in Germany, then TUM is a great place to apply. You can also check the full TUM course list on the official website for more details.