September 30, 2026

TUM TOEFL Requirements 2026: Scores (1–6 and 0–120)

TUM accepts 88 for many English-taught master’s programs; about 4.5 is an approximate planning band, and MyBest scores are not accepted.

Verified requirement

Central previous-scale minimum: 88 overall for programs that require TOEFL as English proof.
Approximate revised-scale band: about 4.5. TUM accepts revised score reports but does not publish a direct numeric 1–6 minimum on the central page reviewed.
Section minimums: no university-wide TOEFL section floor is stated centrally.
Program note: many English-taught master’s programs use 88, while proof can sometimes be met through prior English-medium study or program-specific academic evidence.
Score conditions: MyBest scores are not accepted; the Home Edition is accepted under the current central policy.

Last verified July 18, 2026. Always confirm on the official admissions page.

How the requirement works on the two score scales

Requirement	0–120 scale	1–6 scale
Central TOEFL minimum	88	About 4.5, approximate
Section floors	None stated centrally	None stated centrally

TUM’s official page gives 88 on the 0–120 scale. It confirms acceptance of reports that display the revised system, but it does not state one numeric 1–6 admission threshold.

Using the supplied ETS transition bands, 88 falls near about 4.5 for planning. The free TOEFL score converter can support study tracking, but 4.5 must not be described as TUM policy. During the 2026–2028 transition, reports carry both scales, so the old-scale requirement remains usable.

How competitive is TUM really?

The 88 requirement is proof of English proficiency, not a prediction of admission. Aptitude assessment, academic background, prerequisites, and program capacity remain separate.

A score of 88 corresponds to about 4.5 on the new scale, and that 4.5 should be treated as an approximate band. The main nuance is that individual programs define how English proof is satisfied, and some accept evidence from prior English-medium study.

Moving from about 4.0 to 4.5 normally needs several weeks of timed sectional work. Without central section floors, applicants should still build a balanced profile rather than depend on one unusually strong section. A balanced result is also easier to reproduce under full timing.

How to prepare for an 88 or about 4.5 at TUM

Use Target, Gap, Route. Target means confirming that the intended program uses 88 and checking whether another form of English proof is accepted. Record the exact wording and the date checked.

Gap means taking a timed diagnostic and recording every section, even though the central page does not publish section floors. Compare the total with 88, then identify which section contributes most to the shortfall.

Route most weekly practice to the weakest section. Keep a complete mock every one or two weeks to confirm that the overall 88 target is stable and that gains transfer to the full test.

Start with the free Essentials Edition of the Aidoss Academy Target Score Diagnostic Workbook to measure the section gap. Then use the Complete Digital Edition or the 90-Day Self-Study Planner to turn that result into a weekly route.

Classify errors as comprehension, timing, response development, or language control. This turns a broad total-score gap into a practical weekly route and prevents repeated testing without correction.

Use two full checkpoints before the application deadline. The first tests whether targeted work is improving the total. The second checks repeatability and leaves time for official reporting.

Build the testing calendar backward from the deadline. Leave enough time to receive the score, verify the result, and upload or send the required evidence without using the application deadline as the final test date.

Track every diagnostic with the date, total, four section scores, and main error category. After each weekly cycle, compare the newest result with 88 and change the route only when another section becomes the largest gap.