Technical University of Munich Notable Alumni List

Technical University of Munich has produced a remarkable list of notable alumni throughout its long history. TUM has educated many brilliant minds. They have made important contributions in various fields.

Technical University of Munich is ranked as #1 university in Germany. It has been leading for many years. It was started in 1868 and is known for research and innovation. If you are planning to study in Germany, then TUM is a best option for you. 

According to the most recent QS World University Rankings 2026, Technical University of Munich ranks 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. 

Top 10 Notable Alumni of the Technical University of Munich

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

Thomas Mann

Thomas Mann was a German author. He was known for his literary works that explore themes of individualism. He received Nobel Prize for Literature in 1929 for his novels. 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

Rudolf Diesel was a German thermal engineer. He invented diesel engine. His invention transformed how people travel. His discovery of most efficient motor engine has made our lives much easier.

Heinrich Hertz

Heinrich Hertz is a German physicist. The one who made the important discovery of radio waves. This is generally regarded as proof of James Clerk Maxwell's electromagnetic theory. The world thanks him for showing that electromagnetic waves existed.

Aurel Vlaicu

Aurel Vlaicu was a Romanian engineer and inventor. He created the odd looking Vlaicu No. I aircraft in year 1909. It was a parasol winged monoplane. It was known as La Folle Mouche or The Crazy Fly. It was the first Romanian aircraft to fly. Designs were created by Vlaicu show his skill in engineering.

Ernst Otto Fischer

Ernst Otto Fischer was a German chemist. He who won nobel prize in 1973. His research on sandwich compounds brought major progress to organometallic chemistry. His studies produced lasting effects in both catalysis and materials science fields.

Gerhard Ertl

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.

Popular Courses at TUM

Technical University of Munich offers many popular courses. Most students choose TUM for engineering and science courses. Check out some popular courses at the university:

• Mechanical Engineering
• Computer Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Aerospace Engineering
• Physics

That's all about the topic. We have covered a quick overview on the famous alumni of this university.