For prospective students

Degree

B.Sc. or equivalent degree of minimum 6 semesters of study.

At the time of application the applicant must have already acquired a minimum of 150 ECTS.

In addition:

The applicant must submit proof of having passed Bachelor-level (or higher) exams in all of the following subject groups, for at least 3 ECTS (or ECTS-equivalent; in Germany 1 ECTS = 30 hours of work per semester) per subject group:

(1) Geology, Structural Geology/Tectonics/Geodynamics,
(2) Stratigraphy/Sedimentology/Geomorphology,
(3) Petrology/Mineralogy/Microscopy/Crystallography,
(4) Geological Maps and Profiles/Geological Mapping

and also proof of having passed at least one Bachelor-level (or higher) exam in at least one of the following fields:

(5) Resource Geology/Petroleum Geology,
(6) Geophysics/Geochemistry/Geobiology,
(7) Geodesy/Remote Sensing/GIS/Photogrammetry

For example, an applicant who has passed exams in courses named "Stratigraphy", "Sedimentology", "Geomorphology", but not in any of the other subject groups at points 1, 3 or 4, does not qualify. The syllabus of each course passed in the subject groups above must be submitted with the application as well, if the B.Sc. degree is not in a discipline belonging to the Geosciences/Earth Sciences group (e.g., it is in Math, Physics, Biology, Engineering, etc.).

Language Proficiency

Candidates for the Program must have a minimum CERF English level of C1. As proof, one of the following standardized tests is required, with minimum scores as indicated:

▪ TOEFL iBT with at least 97 points and with no individual section below 22 points (for tests taken before Jan. 26th, 2026) or at least 5.0 score and with no individual section below 4.5 (for tests taken after Jan. 26th, 2026). Use the code 4464 to select the score recipient when you register for the test. If you do not use the correct code, we will neither receive your test results nor be able to verify them online, and your application will not be processed.
▪ IELTS (Academic Version) with at least 7.0 final score, and no less than 6.5 in any sub-score. When applying for the test, please use the following information to identify our program: Master's Degree Program in Geology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität; Address: Geologie, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, Luisenstr. 37, 80333, München, Germany. Please also include a scan of your Test Report Form in your application package, making sure that the "test report form number" is readable.
▪ Cambridge C1 Advanced with at least 180 points. You must send us a scan of your certificate, and your Candidate's ID number and secret number for verification. Failure to provide any of these will prevent your application from being processed.
▪ Cambridge C2 Proficiency. You must send us a scan of your certificate, and your Candidate's ID number and secret number for verification. Failure to provide any of these will prevent your application from being processed.

TOEFL and IELTS test results older than two years at the time of application submission will not be accepted.

At the discretion of the selection committee, alternative proof may be accepted in documented cases (for example, B.Sc. degree from an institution where English is the only language of instruction, or 1.0 in English as an Abitur subject combined with a Bachelor thesis written in English). Supplying alternate proof does not mean that such proof will automatically be accepted. If the proof is rejected, the applicant will still need to register for a standardized test and supply the results at the latest before the enrollment period at LMU ends (for German students) or before July 15th (for international students).
For any tests that you take, please be aware that the results may take up to 6 weeks to reach us. Therefore, plan accordingly, and keep in mind that your preferred test location may not be available if you do not register well in advance of the test date. If you fail to use the code or address listed above, we will not be able to check your score, and your application will be rejected.

German proficiency at level A1 is required if neither the previous degree was completed in a German-language program nor the higher education entrance qualification was obtained in German. If proof of such proficiency is not available at the time of application, it will have to be submitted no later than one year after starting the Master's Program in Geology. A declaration of intention for the submission of proof must be attached to the application.

Each application that satisfies all prerequisites and has been properly submitted will be evaluated by two members of the selection committee on the basis of the following criteria:
CriterionMaximum pointsField of Bachelor's Degree25Final grade of Bachelor's Degree25Essay50The points from the three criteria will be added together by each evaluator, and an arithmentic mean of the grades from the two evaluators will be calculated. On the basis of this mean the application will be categorized as:
Total pointsCategoryDecision0 - 64not qualifiedrejection65 - 74ambiguousinvitation to interview75 -100qualifiedletter of acceptance will be issuedWe will conduct interviews with applicants whose application cannot be decided based solely on the information submitted ("ambiguous" category above). The interview will be conducted by the two evaluators and will form the basis of the final decision of the selection committee. Applicants will be informed about the day and time of the interview at least one week ahead of time. The interview lasts 20 minutes and is conducted in English.
In case of rejection, the application can be resubmitted once, no earlier than the following academic year. Further attempts are not allowed.

There are three main steps to submit an application to the Master's Program in Geology:

1. Identify which category of applicant you belong to (German, Bildungsinländer, EU, non-EU), and verify that you possess the necessary prerequisites for the program.
2. Gather documentation and scan it.
3. Fill online application and attach documentation (all documents must be pdf only).

Documents Required

1. Standard CV in English, including all biographical information, complete academic background, professional experience and practical training.
2. Proof of proficiency in the English language (for details see Prerequisites).
3. Proof of German A1 level (if available; proof of German knowledge may also be submitted within one year of starting the program).
4. Essay (for details see Essay below).
5. Degree certificates (for details see Degree Certificates below).

EssayBetween 700 and 1,000 words, written in English. All external sources used in its preparation and any ideas by other people must be fully and correctly cited. The essay can only be submitted as PDF accessible to editing tools (i.e, it must not be an image).
The essay forms an integral part of the evaluation of your application: it should be well crafted and thought-through.
The International Master's Program in Geology is a research-oriented program. As such we expect applicants to possess above average skills and knowledge in at least one of the following fields and a sound background in at least one other:

• stratigraphy
• sedimentology
• tectonics
• structural geology
• petrology and mineralogy
• geochemistry
• resources geology
• geophysics

Applicants are expected to have experience with one or more methods of geological research (e.g., field mapping, microscopy, data processing, analytical techniques, computer modeling and programming) and good spatial skills. They are also expected to be highly proficient in reading and understanding complex texts and sets of instructions, and to be adept at problem-solving.
In your essay:

• Describe in detail why and how you meet the above criteria.
• Present and discuss your academic and career objectives, being as specific as possible with regard to your particular research interests within the field of Geology.
• Explain why you intend to pursue your graduate studies with us, how this relates to your accomplishments in your previous academic studies, and what you expect to learn and gain from our program.

Degree Certificates
As part of your application you need to provide proof that you hold a Bachelor's degree or a corresponding equivalent university degree. For this you must submit, in a single PDF, the following documents:

• Degree certificate(s)
• Transcript(s) of Records

Your transcripts must show also that you satisfy the prerequisites concerning previous courses passed (and, if necessary, course syllabi may need to be included, see prerequisites). At the time of application you must have acquired a minimum of 150 ECTS (i.e., the transcripts that you submit must show that 150 ECTS worth of modules have been passed, which is the equivalent of 5 out of 6 semesters of a Bachelor program).
Additionally we need

• From German, EU and British applicants: Your Diploma Supplement(s) or, alternatively your Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR), which incorporates the European Diploma Supplement
• If your degree was issued from a university outside the European Union, and your transcript of records does not list the grading scheme used, you must supply an official document listing information on the grading scheme that was employed at your university at the time of your studies.
• Applicants from People's Republic of China, Mongolia and Vietnam need to additionally submit the original certificate from the Akademische Prüfstelle (APS) of the respective German Embassy.
• Applicants from India: The German Mission in India recently started requiring APS certificates as part of the documents needed to apply for student visa. Should you have an APS certificate when applying with us, please upload it as part of your documents. However, this is not mandatory, yet.

Please also note the following:

• The requested documents are only needed from institutions of higher education. Please do not upload in our online portal school leaving certificates, etc.
• Letters of reference, internship certificates, etc. are NOT considered. Please do not upload any.
• Documents must be provided in their original language and additionally as certified translations into either German or English, if this is not their original language.
• Make sure that all the documents you upload have your family name as the first part of the document name. Example: Your family name is Smith, then your CV should be named smith_CV.pdf
• Documents provided by email/mail or handed in personally will not be taken into account.
• Incomplete applications (with the exception of missing final grade and proof of German proficiency) cannot be processed. It is the responsibility of the applicant to verify completeness before final submission. Applications can be saved as many times as desired before submission.
• If your application is rejected, you can apply again in the next application period. After a second rejection, re-application is no longer allowed.

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Application to the LMU International Office

All applicants from EU and non-EU countries must, in addition to sending an application to our program, apply to the University’s International Office (Referat für internationale Angelegenheiten), which assesses whether an international applicant fulfills the formal requirements for admission to the university itself.
We recommend that you prepare your application to the University's International Office simultaneously with your application to the master program in Geology. The application period of the International Office officially begins mid-May, but you can send in your application already at the beginning of May. It ends on July 15 for intake in the winter semester. Please apply as early as possible, otherwise the timeframe may get tight to obtain a visa or prepare your move before the semester starts. It is important to know that you can apply to the International Office already before you have received the "letter of acceptance" ("Eignungsbescheid") from our master program. You can hand the "letter of acceptance" in when you enroll in person at the International Office (usually in October). In such cases the admission letter from the International Office will be conditional upon acceptance to the program, i.e., you will only be allowed to enroll if you have the letter of acceptance from us. For non-EU students who need a visa, keep in mind that the letter of acceptance from the program may be required also during your visa application process if you have received conditional admission from the International Office. We therefore strongly suggest that you apply to our program with all documents (including final grade and English language certificate) by the February 28th deadline, to avoid delays.
We recommended sending applications to the International Office by registered letter or a courier service to have proof of delivery (the July 15th deadline refers to receipt of documents by the International Office, not mailing date). Applicants will be notified by email about successful admission to the University.
Please adhere to all the guidelines for application to the International Office described on their website. You can contact the International Office directly via the email address: zulassung.international@lmu.de (during the evaluation period, however, the International Office is closed and cannot be contacted).

Translation of documents
For your application to the Geology master program: A certified translation has only to be provided for those required documents that are neither issued in English nor in German.
Conversion of gradesThe calculation of equivalent grades for the purpose of acceptance into our master program will be carried out on the basis of the modified Bavarian formula for the calculation of final results:
x=1+3 [(Nmax-Nd)/(Nmax-Nmin)]
where x is the calculated grade, Nmax is the best possible grade in the foreign grading system, Nmin is the minimum required grade for a "pass" in the foreign grading system, and Nd is the grade shown on the foreign transcripts.

Online Application Form for the Master Degree Program in Geology.
You will have to upload your documents via the online application form. Please note that we do not accept any documents sent to us via email or mail. After you have successfully created an account in the online application system, you will receive an application number. Please use it for any correspondence with us.
Before you start filling the form, read through all the sections of the "Applications" pages, and read the form itself, so that you can have all documentation ready in the form that is required for upload.
Make sure that you upload all required documents and complete the form before the end of the application period (check deadlines for your specific group; different deadlines apply) and submit the form, otherwise your application cannot be regarded as successfully submitted. If you are not able to provide your English test results by the application deadline, you can upload a short note to explain the delayed submission instead, and send the results later (you will be given a contact point for this). A final decision on your application, however, cannot be made until the test results have been received. If you need a visa, that could make it difficult to obtain one in time for enrollment.
You will receive an automatically issued e-mail as acknowledgement of receipt for your application. Only a copy of this e-mail will be accepted as proof that you successfully submitted your application.
Please note the following technical information:

• Some internet browsers block verification signs (shown at the end of the registration site). Your browser will ask whether "insecure elements" should be loaded (maybe you will just see a shield icon appearing in the address bar) - you should enable your browser to process and will then see the verification sign.
• Some e-mail providers identify e-mail issued automatically as spam. As we use automatic replies, please check your spam folder before contacting us about missing e-mail.

If your application is successful, and you are either a German citizen or "Bildungsinlander", you can enroll for the Master’s Program in Geology by presenting the Letter of Acceptance ("Eignungsbescheid") you received from us together with all other required documents to the Studentenkanzlei. Please find the deadlines under the section "Postgraduate (u.a. Master) und Promotionsstudiengänge" of the Studentenkanzlei's website.
International applicants who have received admission to both the master program and the university have to enroll at the International Office (Referat Internationale Angelegenheiten) with the Letter of Acceptance from our Master's program as well as the letter of admission received from the International Office (i.e., the admission to the University). The registration deadline will be indicated in the letter of admission from the International Office.
Enrollment is only possible with your final degree certificate. If you are not able to present a final degree certificate up to the official enrollment dates, you may have the possibility of retroactive enrollment. Please ask for more information regarding late enrollment at the Studentenkanzlei or the International Office, depending on your cas

There is no tuition charged.

The following fee will still be charged each semester:

• Basic Fee: 87 EUR. No waiver possible. Failure to pay on time results in exmatriculation of the student.

Dorm spaces are limited, and most students in Munich live in private accommodation. Information about application for dorms, and where to find sources of private housing, can be found at the students union (Studentenwerk).

Be aware that September is a bad month to look for housing, due to both the large number of new student arrivals, and the overlap with the Oktoberfest. The Oktoberfest also drives up prices of temporary lodging to unreasonable levels, and reduces the number of available rooms of any kind to almost zero for several weeks. Students are strongly advised to either arrange for long-term accommodation well before coming to Munich, or at least reserve temporary accommodation (e.g. youth hostel) several months in advance. Student housing is managed exclusivley by the students union. LMU does not provide any kind of accommodations for students.

For more details about cost of living, and what monthly budget you should have, please consult the International Student Guide of LMU.

Geology and the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences do not offer scholarships or other financial aid.

There might be the possibility to work as a student worker (Studentische Hilfskraft) with us, but this depends on job openings being available. Because often such jobs are teaching assistantships in undergraduate courses, which are taught in German and which at times involve field trips, being fluent in German and being able to drive vans increase your chances of getting a job.

If you are an international student from the University of Utah (USA), University of Arizona (USA), or University of Alberta (CAN), coming as part of the official exchange program between your university and LMU, please inquire with us about the possibility of working as a student assistant during your semester here. Such inquiries should be sent directly to Prof. Dr. Anke Friedrich at Ls-Geologie@geo.uni-muenchen.de.

For more information on scholarships for international students please see the webpages of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). The DAAD database contains a listing of both DAAD scholarships, and some scholarships sponsored by other organizations. The best time to inform yourself about scholarships is well before you even apply for admission to the Master program, because you may be required to apply before entering Germany, or up to a year before actually beginning your studies. Foreign students who have been residing in Germany for more than about 15 months at the time of application are usually not eligible for DAAD scholarships.

Other scholarship opportunities can be found by co