View source for Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich

{{short description|Public university in Munich, Germany}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}

{{Infobox university
 | name                   = Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
 | native_name            = {{lang|de|Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München}}
 | native_name_lang       = de
 | image_alt              = 
 | latin_name             = Universitas Ludovico-Maximilianea Monacensis<ref>{{Cite web |title=Search |url=https://archive.org/search?query=%22Universitas+Ludovico-Maximilianea+Monacensis%22&sin=TXT |website=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>
 | other_name             = University of Munich
 | former_name            = University of Ingolstadt (1472–1800)
 | motto                  = 
 | established            = {{start date and age|26 June 1472|df=yes}}
 | type                   = [[Public university|Public]]
 | budget                 = €802.8 million (2023)<ref name=facts_and_figures/>
 | president              = Bernd Huber
 | chancellor             = 
 | academic_staff         = 5,565 (2018)<ref name=facts_and_figures/>
 | administrative_staff   = 8,208 (2018)<ref name=facts_and_figures/>
 | students               = 54,616 <small>(WS 2024/25)</small><ref name=facts_and_figures>{{cite web |url=https://www.lmu.de/en/about-lmu/lmu-at-a-glance/facts-and-figures/students |title=Facts and Figures |website=LMU Munich |access-date=16 September 2025}}</ref>
 | doctoral               = 
 | city                   = [[Munich]]
 | state                  = Bavaria
 | country                = Germany
 | coordinates            = {{Coord|48|09|03|N|11|34|49|E|region:DE-BY_type:edu|display=inline, title}}
 | mapframe-zoom          = 12
 | campus                 = 
 | free_label             = [[Nobel Laureates]]
 | free                   = 44 (October 2023)
 | colours                = Green and white<br />{{Color box|#009440}} {{Color box|white}}
 | website                = {{URL|https://www.lmu.de/en/|lmu.de}}
 | logo                   = [[File:LMU Muenchen Logo.svg|200px|University of Munich logo]]
 | image_name             = Sigillum Universitatis Ludovico-Maximilianeae.svg{{!}}class=skin-invert
 | image_size             = 166px
 | affiliations           = [[German Excellence Universities]], [[Europaeum]], [[LERU]], [[U15 (German universities)|U15]]
}}

The '''Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich''',{{efn|{{blist|{{langx|de|link=no|Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München}}.|Abbreviated as '''LMU''' or '''LMU Munich'''.}}}} commonly referred to as the '''University of Munich''', is a [[public university|public]] [[research university]] in [[Munich]], Bavaria, Germany. Originally established as the [[University of Ingolstadt]] in 1472 by Duke [[Ludwig IX of Bavaria-Landshut]], it is Germany's [[List of universities in Germany|sixth-oldest university]] in continuous operation.{{efn|In modern Germany, only [[Heidelberg University]] (1386), [[Leipzig University]] (1409), the [[University of Rostock]] (1419), the [[University of Greifswald]] (1456) and the [[University of Freiburg]] (1457) are older. Although Cologne, Erfurt and Würzburg were originally founded earlier than the University of Munich, they shut down for longer periods.}}

In 1800, the university was moved from Ingolstadt to [[Landshut]] by King [[Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria]] when the city was threatened by the French, before being transferred to its present-day location in Munich in 1826 by King [[Ludwig I of Bavaria]]. In 1802, the university was officially named '''Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität''' by King Maximilian I of Bavaria in honor of himself and Ludwig IX.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uni-muenchen.de/ueber_die_lmu/profil/geschichte/landshut/index.html |title=Landshut (1800–1826) – LMU München |publisher=Uni-muenchen.de |access-date=28 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930192142/http://www.uni-muenchen.de/ueber_die_lmu/profil/geschichte/landshut/index.html |archive-date=30 September 2011}}</ref>

LMU is currently the second-largest university in Germany in terms of student population; in the 2024/25 winter semester, the university had a total of 54,616 matriculated students. Of these, 10,642 were freshmen, while international students totaled 11,415 or approximately 21% of the student population. As for the operating budget, the university records in 2023 a total of 802.8 million euros in funding without the university hospital; with the university hospital, the university has a total funding amounting to approximately 2.23 billion euros.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Facts and Figures – LMU Munich |url=https://www.lmu.de/en/about-lmu/lmu-at-a-glance/facts-and-figures/ |access-date=16 September 2025 |website=www.lmu.de |language=de}}</ref>

{{As of|2023|post=,}} the University of Munich is associated with [[List of Nobel laureates by university affiliation|44 Nobel laureates]]. Among these were [[Wilhelm Röntgen]], [[Max Planck]], [[Werner Heisenberg]], [[Otto Hahn]] and [[Thomas Mann]]. Notable alumni, faculty and researchers include [[Pope Benedict XVI]], [[Rudolf Peierls]], [[Josef Mengele]], [[Richard Strauss]], [[Walter Benjamin]], [[Joseph Campbell]], [[Muhammad Iqbal]], [[Marie Stopes]], [[Wolfgang Pauli]], [[Bertolt Brecht]], [[Max Horkheimer]], [[Karl Loewenstein]], [[Carl Schmitt]], [[Gustav Radbruch]], [[Ernst Cassirer]], [[Ernst Bloch]] and [[Konrad Adenauer]]. LMU has recently been conferred the title of "University of Excellence" under the [[German Universities Excellence Initiative]], and is a member of [[U15 (German universities)|U15]] as well as the [[League of European Research Universities|LERU]].

{{TOC limit|3}}

== History ==

=== 1472–1800 ===
[[File:Ingolstadt, Pfründnerhaus.jpg|thumb|University buildings in [[Ingolstadt]]]]
{{Main|University of Ingolstadt}}

The university was founded with papal approval in 1472 as the [[University of Ingolstadt]] (foundation right of [[Louis IX, Duke of Bavaria|Louis IX the Rich]]), with faculties of philosophy, medicine, jurisprudence and theology. Its first rector was [[Christopher I Mendel of Steinfels|Christopher Mendel of Steinfels]], who later became [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Chiemsee|bishop of Chiemsee]].

In the period of [[Renaissance humanism in Northern Europe|German humanism]], the university's academics included names such as [[Conrad Celtes]] and [[Petrus Apianus]]. The theologian [[Johann Eck]] also taught at the university. From 1549 to 1773, the university was influenced by the [[Society of Jesus|Jesuits]] and became one of the centres of the [[Counter-Reformation]]. The Jesuit [[Peter Canisius|Petrus Canisius]] served as rector of the university.

At the end of the 18th century, the university was influenced by the [[Age of Enlightenment|Enlightenment]], which led to a stronger emphasis on [[natural science]].

=== 1800–1933 ===

[[File:Moritz Kellerhoven, König Max I. von Bayern.jpg|upright|left|thumb|Portrait of [[Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria]], after whom the University of Munich was renamed in 1802]]
[[File:Baeyer-Volhard LMU 1877.jpg|thumb|[[Adolf von Baeyer]], [[Hermann Emil Fischer|Emil Fischer]], [[Jacob Volhard]] and other chemists at LMU in 1877]]

In 1800, the Prince-Elector Maximilian IV Joseph (the later [[Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria|Maximilian I, King]] of [[Bavaria]]) moved the university to [[Landshut]], due to French aggression that threatened Ingolstadt during the [[Napoleonic Wars]]. In 1802, the university was renamed the Ludwig Maximilian University in honour of its two founders, [[Louis IX, Duke of Bavaria]] and [[Maximilian I, Elector of Bavaria]]. The Minister of Education, [[Maximilian von Montgelas]], initiated a number of reforms that sought to modernize the rather conservative and Jesuit-influenced university. In 1826, it was moved to [[Munich]], the capital of the [[Kingdom of Bavaria]]. The university was situated in the [[Old Academy (Munich)|Old Academy]] until a new building in the [[Ludwigstraße (Munich)|Ludwigstraße]] was completed. The locals were somewhat critical of the number of Protestant professors Maximilian and later Ludwig I invited to Munich. They were dubbed the "Nordlichter" (northern lights), and especially physician [[Johann Nepomuk von Ringseis]] was quite angry about them.<ref>"Wortgewaltiger Gegner der Nordlichter: Der Mediziner Johann Nepomuk von Ringseis", in: Ulrike Leutheusser, Heinrich Nöth (Hg.), "Dem Geist alle Tore öffnen". König Maximilian II. von Bayern und die Wissenschaft, München 2009, pp. 142–153; 2. Aufl. München 2011, pp. 142–153.</ref>

[[File:München Amalienstraße bei Universität.jpg|thumb|View of the University of Munich from Amalienstrasse around 1900]]

In the second half of the 19th century, the university rose to great prominence in the European scientific community, attracting many of the world's leading scientists. It was also a period of great expansion. From 1903, women were allowed to study at Bavarian universities, and by 1918, the female proportion of students at LMU had reached 18%. In 1918, [[Adele Hartmann]] became the first woman in Germany to earn the [[Habilitation]] (higher doctorate), at LMU.

During the [[Weimar Republic]], the university continued to be one of the world's leading universities, with professors such as [[Wilhelm Röntgen]], [[Wilhelm Wien]], [[Richard Willstätter]], [[Arnold Sommerfeld]] and [[Ferdinand Sauerbruch]].

=== 1933–1945 ===
{{See also|University education in Nazi Germany}}
During the [[Nazi Germany|Third Reich]], academic freedom was severely curtailed. In 1943, the [[White Rose]] group, consisting of anti-Nazi students, carried out a campaign opposing the National Socialists at this institution. The university subsequently removed Kurt Huber, a Nazi opposition fighter, from his position and revoked his doctorate upon his arrest.

Between 1933 and 1936, [[Karl Escherich]] served as rector at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, followed by [[Leopold Kölbl]] from 1936 to 1938, [[Philipp Broemser]] from 1938 to 1941, and finally, [[Walther Wüst]] from 1941 to 1945.

=== 1945–present ===
{{Panorama
|image   = 2017 LMU 1-4 rectlinear.jpg
|height  = 200px
|width   = 
|alt     = View of the main building of LMU from Professor-Huber-Platz in 2017
|caption = View of the main building of LMU from Professor-Huber-Platz in 2017
|dir     = 
|align   = center
}}
[[File:Lmu lichthof treppe.jpg|thumb|The ''Lichthof'' (atrium)]] 
[[File:LMU, Gang 1. OG.JPG|upright|thumb|Colonnade in the first floor]]

The university has continued to be one of the leading universities of [[West Germany]] during the [[Cold War]] and in the post-reunification era. In the late 1960s, the university was the scene of protests by radical students.

Today, the University of Munich is part of 24 Collaborative Research Centers funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and is host university of 13 of them. It also hosts 12 DFG Research Training Groups and three international doctorate programs as part of the Elite Network of Bavaria, an educational policy concept of [[Bavaria]] for the promotion of gifted pupils and students in the higher education sector. It attracts an additional 120 million euros per year in outside funding and is intensively involved in national and international funding initiatives.

LMU Munich has a wide range of degree programs, with 150 subjects available in numerous combinations. 15% of the 45,000 students who attend the university come from abroad.

In 2005, Germany's state and federal governments launched the [[German Universities Excellence Initiative]], a contest among its universities. With a total of 1.9 billion euros, 75 percent of which comes from the federal state, its architects aim to strategically promote top-level research and scholarship. The money is given to more than 30 research universities in Germany.

The initiative will fund three project-oriented areas: graduate schools to promote the next generation of scholars, clusters of excellence to promote cutting-edge research, and "future concepts" for the project-based expansion of academic excellence at universities as a whole. In order to qualify for this third area, a university had to have at least one internationally recognized academic [[center of excellence]] and a new graduate school. After the first round of selections, LMU Munich was invited to submit applications for all three funding lines. It entered the competition with proposals for two graduate schools and four clusters of excellence.

On Friday 13 October 2006, a blue-ribbon panel announced the results of the Germany-wide Excellence Initiative for promoting top university research and education. The panel, composed of the [[Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft|German Research Foundation]] and the German Science Council, has decided that LMU Munich will receive funding for all three areas covered by the Initiative: one graduate school, three "excellence clusters" and general funding for the university's "future concept".

In January 2012, scientists at the Ludwig Maximilian University published details of the most sensitive listening device known so far. This has led to the college being inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Guinness Book of World Records|last=Glenday|first=Craig|isbn=978-1-908843-15-9|pages=[https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec0000unse_r3e7/page/194 194]|url=https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec0000unse_r3e7/page/194|year=2013|publisher=Guinness World Records Limited }}</ref>

In September 2018, the Munich public prosecutor's office investigated a university vice president on suspicion of embezzlement. The vice president should have claimed "excessive travel expenses".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Knoll|first=Günther|title=Untreue-Verdacht gegen einen der LMU-Vizepräsidenten|url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/muenchen/untreue-verdacht-teure-dienstreisen-ermittlungen-an-der-lmu-1.4115779|access-date=11 February 2023|website=Süddeutsche.de|date=4 September 2018 |language=de}}</ref> The following year, veterinary students reported that the LMU violated animal welfare standards. According to them, the LMU keeps pigs in tight grid boxes, so that some animals showed scratches, bumps and respiratory diseases from lying down. Students who reported these circumstances said that they were threatened with deregistration from the university.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Scherf|first=Martina|title=Eingepfercht für die Forschung|url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/muenchen/muenchen-lmu-tiermedizin-schweine-tierquaelerei-1.4708209|access-date=11 February 2023|website=Süddeutsche.de|date=3 December 2019 |language=de}}</ref> In the beginning of 2020, the LMU locked around 80 students in a room who wanted to discuss the topic "Climate Burns, University Burns," about why universities are doing research for companies that are harmful to the [[climate]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Buchwald|first=Sabine|title=In der Großen Aula eingesperrt|url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/muenchen/muenchen-lmu-klimaschutz-studenten-eingesperrt-1.4769236|access-date=11 February 2023|website=Süddeutsche.de|date=24 January 2020 |language=de}}</ref>

== Campus ==
[[File:LMU Muenchen Standortkarte.png|thumb|left|LMU's institutes and research centers are spread throughout Munich.]]
[[File:Entrance to LMU Munich main building.jpg|thumb|Entrance to LMU's main building]]
[[File:München- U-Bahnhof Universität- auf Bahnsteig zu Gleis 2 1.4.2010.jpg|thumb|[[Universität (Munich U-Bahn)|Underground station Universität]] serves LMU's main campus via lines [[Munich U-Bahn#U3|U3]]/[[Munich U-Bahn#U6|U6]].]]
[[File:Klinikum Grosshadern Sued.png|thumb|[[Klinikum Großhadern|LMU Klinikum – Campus Großhadern]], the hospital]]
LMU's institutes and research centers are spread throughout Munich, with several buildings located in the suburbs of [[Oberschleißheim|Oberschleissheim]] and [[Garching bei München|Garching]] as well as [[Maisach]] and [[Bad Tölz]]. The university's main buildings are grouped around Geschwister-Scholl-Platz and Professor-Huber-Platz on [[Ludwigstrasse]], extending into side streets such as Akademiestraße, Schellingstraße, and Veterinärstraße. Other large campuses and institutes are located in [[Großhadern]] ([[Klinikum Großhadern]]), [[Martinsried]] (chemistry and biotechnology campus), the Ludwigsvorstadt (Klinikum Innenstadt) and in the [[Altstadt-Lehel#Lehel|Lehel]] ([[Institutsgebäude am Englischen Garten|Institut am Englischen Garten]]), across from the main buildings, through the [[Englischer Garten]].

The university's main building is situated in [[Geschwister-Scholl-Platz]] and the university's main campus is served by the [[Munich U-Bahn|Munich subway]]'s [[Universität (Munich U-Bahn)|Universität]] station.

=== Great Assembly Hall (Große Aula) ===
[[File:Lmu grosse aula.jpg|thumb|Große Aula]]
The große Aula is located in the university main building at Ludwigstraße in Munich. The Aula was constructed as part of the main building by [[Friedrich von Gärtner]] and completed in 1840. The hall is situated in the first [[Storey#European scheme|floor]] and extends to the second floor.

The Aula was not destroyed during [[World War II]] and, thus, is one of few usable pre war venues in [[Munich]]. The Aula was used for the first performances of concerts after the war. Furthermore, it was venue for the constituent assembly of the state of [[Bavaria]], where the current Bavarian constitution was enacted.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.innovations-report.de/html/profile/profil-262.html | title=Geschichte der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München | publisher=innovations-report.de | access-date=5 October 2010 | archive-date=18 March 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318012946/https://www.innovations-report.de/html/profile/profil-262.html | url-status=dead}}</ref>

Today, the Aula hosts mainly concerts, talks and lectures.

== Academics ==

=== Fields of study ===
Despite the [[Bologna Process]] which saw the demise of most traditional academic-degree courses such as the ''[[Diplom]]'' and ''[[Master of Arts|Magister Artium]]'' in favour of the more internationally known [[Bachelor's degree|Bachelors]] and [[Master's degree|Masters]] system, the University of Munich continues to offer more than 100 areas of study with numerous combinations of majors and minors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uni-muenchen.de/ueber_die_lmu/index.html |title=Herzlich willkommen! – LMU München |publisher=Uni-muenchen.de |access-date=28 October 2011}}</ref>

In line with the university's internationalisation as a popular destination for tertiary studies, an increasing number of courses mainly at the graduate and post-graduate levels are also available in English to cater to international students who may have little or no background in the German language.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.en.uni-muenchen.de/students/degree/index.html |title=Degree Students – LMU Munich |publisher=En.uni-muenchen.de |access-date=28 October 2011}}</ref> Some notable subject areas which currently offer programmes in English include various fields of [[psychology]], [[physics]] as well as business and management.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uni-muenchen.de/studium/studienangebot/studiengaenge/studienfaecher/index.html |title=Studienfächer und Studiengänge von A bis Z – LMU München |publisher=Uni-muenchen.de |access-date=28 October 2011}}</ref>

=== Faculties ===
[[File:Edificio principal, Jardín Botánico, Múnich, Alemania 2012-04-21, DD 04.JPG|thumb|LMU's Institute of Systematic Botany is located at [[Botanischer Garten München-Nymphenburg]].]]
[[File:Chemistry faculty of the LMU 2003.JPG|thumb|Faculty of chemistry buildings at the [[Martinsried]] campus of LMU Munich]]
The university consists of 18 faculties which oversee various departments and institutes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.en.uni-muenchen.de/about_lmu/academics/faculties/index.html |title=Faculties – LMU Munich |publisher=En.uni-muenchen.de |access-date=28 October 2011}}</ref> The official numbering of the faculties and the missing numbers 06 and 14 are the result of breakups and mergers of faculties in the past. The Faculty of Forestry Operations with number 06 has been integrated into the [[Technical University of Munich]] in 1999 and faculty number 14 has been merged with faculty number 13.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.forst.wzw.tum.de/index.php?id=29 | title=Geschichte der forstwissenschaftlichen Ausbildung in Bayern | publisher=Technische Universität München | access-date=6 January 2010 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504174835/http://www.forst.wzw.tum.de/index.php?id=29 | archive-date=4 May 2014 | df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uni-muenchen.de/lmu/fakultaeten.html |title=Fakultäten |access-date=6 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302121800/http://www.uni-muenchen.de/lmu/fakultaeten.html |archive-date=2 March 2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Hofmann|first=Andreas C.|title=Warum die LMU München (keine) 20 Fakultäten hat. Zur Ausdifferenzierung des Wissens an der Ludovico-Maximilianea im Spiegel der Geschichte ihrer Fakultäten|url=https://www.aventinus-online.de/bavarica/bildungsgeschichte/art/Warum_die_LMU_M/html/ca/6ea08aa7e6bef50e8d5fb959715193d7/indexee27.html|access-date=11 February 2023|language=de-DE|magazine=aventinus bavarica|issue=15|date=29 May 2010}}</ref>{{reliable source?|date=September 2023}}
* 01 Faculty of [[Catholic Church|Catholic Theology]]
* 02 Faculty of [[Protestantism|Protestant Theology]]
* 03 Faculty of Law
* 04 Faculty of [[Business administration|Business Administration]]
* 05 Faculty of Economics
* 07 Faculty of Medicine
* 08 Faculty of [[Veterinary medicine|Veterinary Medicine]]
* 09 Faculty for History and the Arts
* 10 Faculty of Philosophy, Philosophy of Science and Study of Religion
* 11 Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences
* 12 Faculty for the Study of Culture
* 13 Faculty for Languages and Literatures
* 15 Faculty of [[Social Sciences]]
* 16 Faculty of Mathematics, [[Computer science|Computer Science]] and Statistics
* 17 Faculty of [[Physics]]
* 18 Faculty of [[Chemistry]] and [[Pharmacy]]
* 19 Faculty of [[Biology]]
* 20 Faculty of [[Earth science|Geosciences]] and [[Environmental science|Environmental Sciences]]

=== Research centres ===
[[File:LMU München - Audimax2.JPG|thumb|Audimax]]
In addition to its 18 faculties, the University of Munich also maintains numerous research centres involved in numerous cross-faculty and transdisciplinary projects to complement its various academic programmes.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.en.uni-muenchen.de/about_lmu/academics/research_centers/index.html |title=Research Centers – LMU Munich |publisher=En.uni-muenchen.de |access-date=28 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103163450/http://www.en.uni-muenchen.de/about_lmu/academics/research_centers/index.html |archive-date=3 November 2011}}</ref> Some of these research centres were a result of cooperation between the university and renowned external partners from academia and industry; the [[Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society]], for example, was established through a joint initiative between LMU Munich and the [[Deutsches Museum]], while the Parmenides Center for the Study of Thinking resulted from the collaboration between the [[Parmenides Foundation]] and LMU Munich's Human Science Center.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.parmenides-foundation.org/education/eunice/about-eunice/mca/apply/about-us/ |title=About us " MCA " EUNICE " Education " Parmenides Foundation |publisher=Parmenides-foundation.org |access-date=28 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928044421/http://www.parmenides-foundation.org/education/eunice/about-eunice/mca/apply/about-us/ |archive-date=28 September 2011}}</ref>

Some of the research centres which have been established include:
* [[Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich]] (CIPSM)
* [[Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences]] (GSN)
* [[Helmholtz Zentrum München]] – German Research Center for Environmental Health
* [[Nanosystems Initiative Munich]] (NIM)
* [[Parmenides Foundation|Parmenides]] Center for the Study of Thinking
* [[Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society]]

=== Tuition and fees ===

Universities in Bavaria do not charge tuition fees. Instead, a mandatory semester fee has to be paid that is fully transferred to the student union for providing, amongst other services, housing and lunch options for students.

=== Rankings ===
{{Infobox Germany university rankings
| QS = =58
| QS_change = Rise
| QS_N = 2
| QS_N_change = Same position
| QS_year = 2026
| QS_ref = <ref name="QS">{{cite web|url=https://www.topuniversities.com/world-university-rankings?countries=de|title=QS World University Rankings 2026|access-date=15 August 2025|website=[[QS World University Rankings]]}}</ref>
| THE = =38
| THE_change = Same position
| THE_N = 2
| THE_N_change = Same position
| THE_year = 2025
| THE_ref = <ref name="THE">{{cite web|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2025/world-ranking|title=World University Rankings 2024|access-date=27 September 2024|website=[[Times Higher Education World University Rankings]]|date=27 September 2024}}</ref>
| ARWU = 42
| ARWU_change = Rise
| ARWU_N = 1
| ARWU_N_change = Same position
| ARWU_year = 2025
| ARWU_ref = <ref name="ARWU">{{cite web|url=https://www.shanghairanking.com/rankings/arwu/2025|title=2025 Academic Ranking of World Universities|website=[[Academic Ranking of World Universities]]|access-date=15 August 2025}}</ref>
}}
The 2026 [[QS World University Rankings]] rank LMU Munich 58th overall in the world and 2nd in Germany.<ref name="QS"/> In the 2024 QS Subject Rankings, the university is highly ranked in the arts and humanities, natural sciences, and life sciences and medicine.<ref name="QSSubject">{{cite web|url=https://www.topuniversities.com/subject-rankings/2024|title=QS World University Rankings by Subject|access-date=10 April 2024|website=[[QS World University Rankings]]}}</ref>

The [[Times Higher Education World University Rankings|Times Higher Education Ranking]] 2024 ranks LMU Munich 2nd in Germany, and 38th in the world.<ref name="THE"/> In the 2023 THE subject rankings, LMU is ranked first in Germany in the arts and humanities, law, and psychology.<ref name="THESubject">{{cite web|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/by-subject|title=World University Rankings by subject|access-date=27 October 2023|website=[[Times Higher Education World University Rankings]]}}</ref>

The [[Academic Ranking of World Universities]] ranks LMU Munich 1st nationally and 42nd in the world as of 2025.<ref name="ARWU"/> In the subjects of physics, education, communication, public administration, and hospitality, it is ranked first in Germany.<ref name="ARWUSubject">{{cite web|url=https://www.shanghairanking.com/rankings/gras/2023|title=ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2023|website=[[Academic Ranking of World Universities]]}}</ref>

In 2018 and 2019, the LMU took 1st place based on the number of [[DAX]] [[board of management]] members.<ref>Michael Proft. (2018). 7. DAX-Vorstands-Report</ref><ref name="Klaus Hansen">Klaus Hansen. (2019). 8. DAX-Vorstands-Report</ref> The top 3 universities in 2019 were the LMU Munich, the [[RWTH Aachen University|RWTH Aachen]] and the [[Technische Universität Darmstadt]].<ref name="Klaus Hansen"/> According to the funding report of the [[Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft|German Research Foundation]] (DFG) of 2021, which breaks down the grants from 2017 to 2019, LMU Munich ranked 1st among German universities. By area, it ranked 1st in the [[List of life sciences|life sciences]], 2nd in the [[humanities]] and [[social science]]s, and 6th in the [[natural science]]s.<ref>{{citation|title=Förderatlas 2021|date=2021|author=Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft|edition=1st|location=Bonn|publisher=Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft e.V.|language=de|isbn=978-3-96827-003-6}}</ref> In November 2018 Expertscape recognized it as one of the top ten institutions in the world in [[pancreatic cancer]].<ref name="rank_pancreatic_neoplasms">{{cite web|url=http://www.expertscape.com/the-leaders/pancreatic+neoplasms |title=Expertscape: Pancreatic Neoplasms, November 2018 |publisher=expertscape.com |date=November 2018 |access-date=26 November 2018}}</ref>

{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 100%; font-size: 90%"
|+ [[QS World University Rankings|QS]] World University Rankings by Subject 2024<ref name="QSSubject" />
! Subject !! Global !! National
|-
! {{Left|Arts & Humanities}}
! data-sort-value="38" | {{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;=38
! data-sort-value="2" | {{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;2
|-
| Linguistics
| data-sort-value="65" | {{Center|1={{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;=65}}
| data-sort-value="2–3" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;2–3}}
|-
| Theology, Divinity and Religious Studies
| data-sort-value="24" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;24}}
| data-sort-value="4" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;4}}
|-
| Archaeology
| data-sort-value="36" | {{Center|1={{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;=36}}
| data-sort-value="5" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;5}}
|-
| Classics and Ancient History
| data-sort-value="8" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;8}}
| data-sort-value="3" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;3}}
|-
| English Language and Literature
| data-sort-value="59" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;59}}
| data-sort-value="3" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;3}}
|-
| History
| data-sort-value="27" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;27}}
| data-sort-value="2" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;2}}
|-
| Modern Languages
| data-sort-value="45" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;45}}
| data-sort-value="3" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;3}}
|-
| Philosophy
| data-sort-value="6" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;6}}
| data-sort-value="1" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;1}}
|-
! {{Left|Engineering and Technology}}
! data-sort-value="216" | {{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;=216
! data-sort-value="8" | {{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;8
|-
| Computer Science and Information Systems
| data-sort-value="90" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;90}}
| data-sort-value="3" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;3}}
|-
! {{Left|Life Sciences & Medicine}}
! data-sort-value="46" | {{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;=46
! data-sort-value="2" | {{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;2
|-
| Anatomy and Physiology
| data-sort-value="37" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;37}}
| data-sort-value="1" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;1}}
|-
| Biological Sciences
| data-sort-value="26" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;26}}
| data-sort-value="1" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;1}}
|-
| Dentistry
| data-sort-value="51–100" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;51–100}}
| data-sort-value="1–4" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;1–4}}
|-
| Medicine
| data-sort-value="38" | {{Center|1={{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;=38}}
| data-sort-value="2" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;2}}
|-
| Pharmacy and Pharmacology
| data-sort-value="55" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;55}}
| data-sort-value="2" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;2}}
|-
| Psychology
| data-sort-value="47" | {{Center|1={{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;=47}}
| data-sort-value="1" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;1}}
|-
| Veterinary Science
| data-sort-value="39" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;39}}
| data-sort-value="1" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;1}}
|-
! {{Left|Natural Sciences}}
! data-sort-value="42" | {{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;=42
! data-sort-value="2" | {{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;2
|-
| Chemistry
| data-sort-value="48" | {{Center|1={{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;=48}}
| data-sort-value="3" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;3}}
|-
| Earth and Marine Sciences
| data-sort-value="51–100" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;51–100}}
| data-sort-value="1–7" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;1–7}}
|-
| Environmental Sciences
| data-sort-value="151–200" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;151–200}}
| data-sort-value="7–11" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;7–11}}
|-
| Geography
| data-sort-value="101–150" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;101–150}}
| data-sort-value="3–6" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;3–6}}
|-
| Geology
| data-sort-value="51–100" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;51–100}}
| data-sort-value="1–6" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;1–6}}
|-
| Geophysics
| data-sort-value="51–100" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;51–100}}
| data-sort-value="1–7" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;1–7}}
|-
| Materials Sciences
| data-sort-value="101–150" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;101–150}}
| data-sort-value="7–8" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;7–8}}
|-
| Mathematics
| data-sort-value="114" | {{Center|1={{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;=114}}
| data-sort-value="5" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;5}}
|-
| Physics and Astronomy
| data-sort-value="32" | {{Center|1={{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;=32}}
| data-sort-value="3" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;3}}
|-
! {{Left|Social Sciences & Management}}
! data-sort-value="93" | {{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;=93
! data-sort-value="2" | {{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;2
|-
| Accounting and Finance
| data-sort-value="92" | {{Center|{{New entry|size=16}}&nbsp;92}}
| data-sort-value="2" | {{Center|{{New entry|size=16}}&nbsp;2}}
|-
| Anthropology
| data-sort-value="51–100" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;51–100}}
| data-sort-value="2–5" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;2–5}}
|-
| Business and Management Studies
| data-sort-value="151–200" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;151–200}}
| data-sort-value="4" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;4}}
|-
| Communication and Media Studies
| data-sort-value="23" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;23}}
| data-sort-value="1" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;1}}
|-
| Economics and Econometrics
| data-sort-value="41" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;41}}
| data-sort-value="1" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;1}}
|-
| Education and Training
| data-sort-value="101–150" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;101–150}}
| data-sort-value="2–4" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;2–4}}
|-
| Law and Legal Studies
| data-sort-value="43" | {{Center|1={{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;=43}}
| data-sort-value="1" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;1}}
|-
| Politics
| data-sort-value="51–100" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;51–100}}
| data-sort-value="2–4" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;2–4}}
|-
| Social Policy and Administration
| data-sort-value="101–130" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;101–130}}
| data-sort-value="4" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;4}}
|-
| Sociology
| data-sort-value="77" | {{Center|1={{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;=77}}
| data-sort-value="3" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;3}}
|-
| Statistics and Operational Research
| data-sort-value="51–100" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;51–100}}
| data-sort-value="3–5" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;3–5}}
|-
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 100%; font-size: 90%"
|+ [[Times Higher Education World University Rankings|THE]] World University Rankings by Subject 2024<ref name="THESubject" />
! Subject !! Global !! National
|-
| Arts & humanities
| data-sort-value="15" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;15}}
| data-sort-value="1" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;1}}
|-
| Business & economics
| data-sort-value="36" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;36}}
| data-sort-value="2" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;2}}
|-
| Clinical & health
| data-sort-value="50" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;50}}
| data-sort-value="3" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;3}}
|-
| Computer science
| data-sort-value="62" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;62}}
| data-sort-value="4" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;4}}
|-
| Education
| data-sort-value="61" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;61}}
| data-sort-value="3" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;3}}
|-
| Law
| data-sort-value="25" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;25}}
| data-sort-value="1" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;1}}
|-
| Life sciences
| data-sort-value="41" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;41}}
| data-sort-value="3" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;3}}
|-
| Physical sciences
| data-sort-value="27" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;27}}
| data-sort-value="2" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;2}}
|-
| Psychology
| data-sort-value="23" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;23}}
| data-sort-value="1" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;1}}
|-
| Social sciences
| data-sort-value="61" | {{Center|1={{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;=61}}
| data-sort-value="4" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;4}}
|-
|}
{{col-break|gap=0.5em}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 100%; font-size: 90%"
|+ [[Academic Ranking of World Universities|ARWU]] Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2023<ref name="ARWUSubject" />
! Subject !! Global !! National
|-
! colspan="3" | Natural Sciences
|-
| Mathematics
| data-sort-value="101–150" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;101–150}}
| data-sort-value="6–9" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;6–9}}
|-
| Physics
| data-sort-value="36" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;36}}
| data-sort-value="1" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;1}}
|-
| Chemistry
| data-sort-value="101–150" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;101–150}}
| data-sort-value="5–9" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;5–9}}
|-
| Earth Sciences
| data-sort-value="76–100" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;76–100}}
| data-sort-value="3–4" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;3–4}}
|-
| Geography
| data-sort-value="201–300" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;201–300}}
| data-sort-value="10–15" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;10–15}}
|-
| Ecology
| data-sort-value="201–300" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;201–300}}
| data-sort-value="17–27" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;17–27}}
|-
| Atmospheric Science
| data-sort-value="101–150" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;101–150}}
| data-sort-value="6–9" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;6–9}}
|-
! colspan="3" | Engineering
|-
| Electrical & Electronic Engineering
| data-sort-value="401–500" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;401–500}}
| data-sort-value="12–16" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;12–16}}
|-
| Biomedical Engineering
| data-sort-value="151–200" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;151–200}}
| data-sort-value="6–10" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;6–10}}
|-
| Computer Science & Engineering
| data-sort-value="301–400" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;301–400}}
| data-sort-value="8–10" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;8–10}}
|-
| Materials Science & Engineering
| data-sort-value="151–200" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;151–200}}
| data-sort-value="6–7" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;6–7}}
|-
| Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
| data-sort-value="101–150" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;101–150}}
| data-sort-value="3–5" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;3–5}}
|-
| Environmental Science & Engineering
| data-sort-value="301–400" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;301–400}}
| data-sort-value="13–18" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;13–18}}
|-
| Biotechnology
| data-sort-value="201–300" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;201–300}}
| data-sort-value="10–16" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;10–16}}
|-
| Remote Sensing
| data-sort-value="76–100" | {{Center|{{New entry|size=16}}&nbsp;76–100}}
| data-sort-value="3" | {{Center|{{New entry|size=16}}&nbsp;3}}
|-
! colspan="3" | Life Sciences
|-
| Biological Sciences
| data-sort-value="51–75" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;51–75}}
| data-sort-value="4" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;4}}
|-
| Human Biological Sciences
| data-sort-value="41" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;41}}
| data-sort-value="3" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;3}}
|-
| Agricultural Sciences
| data-sort-value="401–500" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;401–500}}
| data-sort-value="20–22" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;20–22}}
|-
| Veterinary Sciences
| data-sort-value="76–100" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;76–100}}
| data-sort-value="3–4" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;3–4}}
|-
! colspan="3" | Medical Sciences
|-
| Clinical Medicine
| data-sort-value="76–100" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;76–100}}
| data-sort-value="4" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;4}}
|-
| Public Health
| data-sort-value="101–150" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;101–150}}
| data-sort-value="4" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;4}}
|-
| Dentistry & Oral Sciences
| data-sort-value="101–150" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;101–150}}
| data-sort-value="8–14" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;8–14}}
|-
| Medical Technology
| data-sort-value="16" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;16}}
| data-sort-value="3" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;3}}
|-
| Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
| data-sort-value="51–75" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;51–75}}
| data-sort-value="5–8" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;5–8}}
|-
! colspan="3" | Social Sciences
|-
| Economics
| data-sort-value="51–75" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;51–75}}
| data-sort-value="2" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;2}}
|-
| Statistics
| data-sort-value="101–150" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;101–150}}
| data-sort-value="2–6" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;2–6}}
|-
| Law
| data-sort-value="201–300" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;201–300}}
| data-sort-value="3–6" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;3–6}}
|-
| Political Sciences
| data-sort-value="51–75" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;51–75}}
| data-sort-value="3–4" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;3–4}}
|-
| Sociology
| data-sort-value="76–100" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;76–100}}
| data-sort-value="4–5" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;4–5}}
|-
| Education
| data-sort-value="51–75" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;51–75}}
| data-sort-value="1" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;1}}
|-
| Communication
| data-sort-value="16" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;16}}
| data-sort-value="1" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;1}}
|-
| Psychology
| data-sort-value="51–75" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;51–75}}
| data-sort-value="1–4" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;1–4}}
|-
| Business Administration
| data-sort-value="201–300" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;201–300}}
| data-sort-value="4–8" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;4–8}}
|-
| Management
| data-sort-value="201–300" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;201–300}}
| data-sort-value="3–7" | {{Center|{{Fall|size=9}}&nbsp;3–7}}
|-
| Public Administration
| data-sort-value="26" | {{Center|{{Rise|size=9}}&nbsp;26}}
| data-sort-value="1" | {{Center|{{Same position|size=9}}&nbsp;1}}
|-
| Hospitality & Tourism Management
| data-sort-value="151–200" | {{Center|{{New entry|size=16}}&nbsp;151–200}}
| data-sort-value="1" | {{Center|{{New entry|size=16}}&nbsp;1}}
|-
|}
{{col-end}}

=== ''One Munich Strategy Forum'' ===

The LMU and the [[Technical University of Munich]] have come together to work on "One Munich Strategy Forum", with a €2.5 million fund from the state of [[Bavaria]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=ONE MUNICH Strategy Forum: TUM and LMU to jointly explore new research fields|url=https://www.lmu.de/en/newsroom/news-overview/news/one-munich-strategy-forum-tum-and-lmu-to-jointly-explore-new-research-fields.html|access-date=10 November 2021|website=www.lmu.de|language=en}}</ref>

=== Munich International Summer University ===
The Munich International Summer University (MISU at LMU) is the Summer University by LMU, which takes place annually in Munich and depending on the course also involves stays at different European cities. MISU invites international students to attend short-term programs at the LMU Munich in order to progress academically even in winter or summer breaks at their home university. MISU hereby offers two course formats: On the one hand German Language classes are held at different times over the year. On the other hand, MISU offers 16 subject-specific Summer Schools and Winter Schools covering a wide range of academic fields. Around 1000 students from nearly 90 countries joined MISU short-term programs in 2019.<ref>Munich International Summer University: "MISU at LMU Annual Report 2019", 2019.</ref>

Germany has a long tradition of hosting summer programs for international students.<ref>Joachim Hoffmann: ''Zur Geschichte der Universitätsferienkurse''. In: ''Informationen Deutsch als Fremdsprache'', Nr. 12,4, 1985, p. 341–352.</ref> The LMU Munich organised its Summer University for the first time in 1927. Labelled as ''Sommerkurse für Ausländer'' (''Summer Courses for Foreigners'') the Summer University ran annually until 1934 and primarily consisted of German Language courses for international students.<ref>Ulrich Bauer: ''Sommerschulen für Interkulturelle Deutschstudien. Geschichte-Konzeptualisierung-Modellbildung. Ein Beitrag zur Angewandten Lehrforschung Interkultureller Germanistik'', IUDICIUM Verlag, 2002, p. 73.</ref> After a longer intermittence period, LMU's Summer University resumed as ''Internationaler Münchner Sommer'' (''International Summer in Munich''). Since then the number of courses has increased and the range of subject-specific Summer Schools was extended to further academic disciplines. From 2008 onwards LMU's Summer University operates under the name Munich International Summer University (MISU).<ref>Munich International Summer University: ''MISU at LMU Annual Report 2019'', 2019, p. 8.</ref>

A central aim of MISU is to boost the internationality of the LMU Munich in terms of research and teaching.<ref>LMU Munich: [http://www.en.uni-muenchen.de/about_lmu/research/excellence_initiative/institutional_strategy/internationality/index.html ''Internationality of LMU Munich''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200206101139/http://www.en.uni-muenchen.de/about_lmu/research/excellence_initiative/institutional_strategy/internationality/index.html |date=6 February 2020}}.</ref> Compared to semester-based [[student exchange programs]], short-term programs such as Summer Schools have the advantage for international students to receive a very intensive and concise insight into the research areas and campus at the LMU Munich.<ref>Kathleen Campbell: ''Short-term study abroad programs: objectives and accomplishments''. In: ''Journal of International Mobility'', Nr. 4, 2016.</ref> MISU hereby has the objective to combine excellent academic education with extra-curricular activities. Participants are thus not only supervised intensively by established researchers on selected topics but are also introduced to the history, culture and politics of Munich, Bavaria and Germany. Moreover, the Summer University allows the LMU Munich to intensify cooperation with international partner universities. MISU's short-term programs therefore strengthen the LMU's international visibility as one of the highest ranked universities in Europe.<ref>{{Cite web|date=20 August 2019|title=World University Rankings|url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings/2020/world-ranking|access-date=11 February 2023|website=Times Higher Education (THE)|language=en}}</ref>{{fv|date=September 2023}}

== Notable alumni and faculty members ==
{{Main|List of Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich people|List of Nobel laureates by university affiliation}}

The alumni of Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich played a major role in the development of [[quantum mechanics]]. [[Max Planck]], the founder of [[Quantum mechanics|quantum theory]] and Nobel laureate in [[Physics]] in 1918, was an alumnus of the university. Founders of [[quantum mechanics]] such as [[Werner Heisenberg]], [[Wolfgang Pauli]], and others were associated with the university.
Most recently, to honor the Nobel laureate in [[Chemistry]] [[Gerhard Ertl]], who worked as a professor at the University of Munich from 1973 to 1986, the building of the [[Physical Chemistry]] was named after him.

Pakistani philosopher and poet Sir [[Muhammad Iqbal]], regarded as the "Poet of the East" and "The Thinker of Pakistan", earned his PhD degree from the Ludwig Maximilian University, [[Munich]] in 1908. Working under the guidance of [[Fritz Hommel|Friedrich Hommel]], Iqbal published his doctoral thesis in 1908, entitled ''[[The Development of Metaphysics in Persia]]''.<ref name="pktoday73">{{cite news|title=Allama Iqbal's 73rd death anniversary observed with reverence|url=http://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2011/04/allama-iqbal%E2%80%99s-73rd-death-anniversary-observed-with-reverence/|first=Imran|last=Sharif|work=[[Pakistan Today]]|date=21 April 2011|access-date=6 August 2012}}</ref><ref name="phdthesis">{{cite web|title=The development of metaphysics in persia|url=http://www.h-net.msu.edu/~bahai/diglib/books/F-J/I/Iqbal/metaphys/iqbfn.pdf|work=London Luzac and Company|first1=East|last1=Lansing|first2=Mi.|last2=H-Bahai|orig-year=1908|year=2001|access-date=1 May 2012}}</ref><ref name="Mustansir Mir2">{{cite book|title=Tulip in the desert: A selection of the poetry of Muhammad Iqbal|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Okxr1alsVqIC|publisher=c.Hurts and Company, Publishers Ltd|location=London|first=Mustansir|last=Mir|page=2|isbn=978-967-5-06267-4|year=1990}}</ref><ref name="Roy Jackson">{{cite book|title=Fifty key figures in Islam|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w6flsOIT5PsC|first=Roy|last=Jackso|page=181|isbn=978-0-415-35467-7|year=2006| publisher=Taylor & Francis }}</ref>

The [[Anti-fascism|anti-Nazi]] resistance [[White Rose]] was based in this university.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.weisse-rose-stiftung.de/fkt_standard.php?aktion=cs&ma=cs&c_id=mamura&topic=070&mod=11&page=1&lang=de |title=DenkStätte Weiße Rose |publisher=Weisse rose Stiftung e.V. |access-date=22 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160407050426/http://www.weisse-rose-stiftung.de/fkt_standard.php?aktion=cs&ma=cs&c_id=mamura&topic=070&mod=11&page=1&lang=de |archive-date=7 April 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

<gallery class="center">
File:Pope Benedict XVI 2.jpg|[[Pope Benedict XVI]] was a student and professor at LMU Munich.
File:Roentgen2.jpg|[[Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen]] received the [[Nobel Prize in Physics]] in 1901.
File:Ferenc Krausz (cropped).jpg|[[Ferenc Krausz]] received the [[Nobel Prize in Physics]] in 2023.
File:Theodor Haensch.jpg|[[Theodor W. Hänsch]] received the [[Nobel Prize in Physics]] in 2005.
File:Otto Hahn (Nobel).jpg|[[Otto Hahn]] received the [[Nobel Prize in Chemistry]] in 1944.
File:Bundesarchiv Bild183-R57262, Werner Heisenberg.jpg|[[Werner Heisenberg]] received the [[Nobel Prize in Physics]] in 1932.
File:Max Planck 1933.jpg|[[Max Planck]] received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1918.
File:Hans Bethe.jpg|[[Hans Bethe]] received the 1967 Nobel Prize in Physics.
File:Thomas Mann in 1926.jpg|[[Nobel Prize in Literature|Nobel Prize]]-winning novelist [[Thomas Mann]] gave numerous lectures at LMU Munich.
File:Karl Jaspers 1946.jpg|[[Karl Jaspers]] was a German-Swiss psychiatrist and philosopher.
File:Iqbal in 1931.jpg|Philosopher, Persian and Urdu poet Sir [[Muhammad Iqbal]] studied philosophy at LMU Munich.
File:Hans-Werner Sinn 17Jan2008 .jpg|[[Hans-Werner Sinn]], professor of economics at LMU Munich
File:Dean Blake Van Leer.jpg|[[Blake Ragsdale Van Leer]], United States Army officer and president of [[Georgia Institute of Technology]]
File:Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F078072-0004, Konrad Adenauer.jpg|[[Konrad Adenauer]] was [[Chancellor of Germany (1949–present)|Chancellor of Germany]] from 1949 to 1963.
File:Valdas Adamkus 16072008.jpg|[[Valdas Adamkus]], President of Lithuania 1998–2003 and 2004–2009
File:Bertolt-Brecht.jpg|[[Bertolt Brecht]], poet, playwright and theatre director
File:Max Weber 1894.jpg|The sociologist [[Max Weber]] was a professor at LMU Munich.
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1987-0313-507, Rudolf Hess.jpg|[[Rudolf Hess]] was the Deputy Führer of [[Nazi Germany|National Socialist Germany]] from 1933 to 1941.
File:Josef Mengele, Auschwitz. Album Höcker (cropped).jpg|[[Josef Mengele]] was a [[Schutzstaffel]] (SS) officer.
File:Hermann Göring - Röhr.jpg|[[Hermann Göring]] was one of the most powerful figures in the [[Nazi Party]].
File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-1989-0630-504, Heinrich Brüning.jpg|[[Heinrich Brüning]] served as [[Chancellor of Germany]] during the [[Weimar Republic]] from 1930 to 1932.
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[Education in Germany]]
* [[List of forestry universities and colleges]]
* [[List of modern universities in Europe (1801–1945)]]
* [[List of universities in Germany]]

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=n}}
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München}}

*{{Official website}}
*[http://www.panorama-cities.net/munich/universitaet.html 360° Panorama at the Ludwig Maximilian University]
*[http://www.en.uni-muenchen.de/misu Munich International Summer University (MISU at LMU Munich)]{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}

{{Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich}} 
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