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TUM Department of Mechanical Engineering
The Department of Mechanical Engineer-
ing of the Technical University of Munich
has stood for engineering excellence since
1868. It was founded amongst others by
the pioneer of refrigeration Carl von Linde
and the well-known mathematician and
materials scientist Johann Bauschinger.
It has been the workplace of famous uni-
versity teachers such as Gustav Niemann,
author of the most important authoritative
work on mechanical engineering science,
the mechanical engineer August Föppl
and the thermodynamics researcher
Wilhelm Nußelt. The lectures given by Carl
von Linde inspired Rudolf Diesel to make
his groundbreaking inventions. Other
important students of the faculty were the
aircraft designers Claude Dornier and Willy
Messerschmidt.
Today, the Department of Mechanical
Engineering is one of the most successful
engineering faculties of the world. Leading
international surveys rank the TUM
Department of Mechanical Engineering
in the world’s top group. This success is
primarily a result of published scientific
excellence, based on a balanced mix of
publicly funded projects and industrial
cooperation. The department benefits
from a highly innovative environment in
a prestigious university and the Garching
campus, one of the largest and most mod-
ern research centers in Europe, as well
as from powerful partners in industry with
their headquarters or research centers
in and around Munich. Young talented
people form the core of the Technical
University of Munich. Integrated into an
environment of experienced scientific
personalities, they are supported to
develop their performance and individual
strengths.
The educational objectives are expertise,
judgment and responsibility. In addition
to technical sovereignty and entrepre-
neurial courage, modern engineers are
also expected to achieve in mental and
emotional creativity, cultural sensibility
and social skills are as important, which
is an important cornerstone of the training
at the department (c.f. 50 and 51). Today,
about 5000 students are enrolled at the
Department of Mechanical Engineering;
more than one-fifth are international
students from 32 countries.
TUM Department of Mechanical Engineering