Environmental Science – Soil, Water and Biodiversity (EnvEuro) University of Hohenheim

European double Master’s programme in Environmental Science

This degree programme focuses on the sustainable use and management of natural resources in Europe. It enables you to specialise in five different areas:

• Water Resources
• Soil Resources and Land Use
• Ecosystems and Biodiversity
• Environmental Management
• Climate Change

You will study at two of the four member universities of the Euroleague for Life Sciences and receive a full Master's degree from both universities. The partner universities in Germany, Sweden, Austria and The Netherlands are the best in Europe in the field of environmental sciences.

What you can expect:

• Full double degree from two member universities of the Euroleague for Life Sciences
• Five different specialisation options with a focus on soil, water and biodiversity
• Ideal precursor for an international career in the environmental sector

More information is available on the main EnvEuro website.

Objectives

The aim of the degree programme is to teach you the principles used in the environmental management of ecosystems in Europe. Graduates of the programme are therefore able to identify problems in the management of natural resources in an international context and develop solutions.

In addition, great emphasis is placed on international collaboration and exchange in the field of environmental management in Europe.

Occupational fields

This Master's degree programme will train you to become an expert in environmental sciences and give you access to a variety of career opportunities in companies and public institutions. Possible fields of work are, e.g.:

• Environmental and quality management in companies and organisations
• Environmental technology companies
• Consultancy firms for agriculture, landscape planning and environmental protection
• Impact assessment and risk analysis
• Research and development for international companies and organisations
• Research institutions
• Government agencies and institutions at EU, national, regional and local levels

Successful completion of this Master’s programme also qualifies students for participation in a doctorate programme.

The first year of study can begin at one of the four participating partner universities:

• University of Hohenheim, Germany
• Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden
• University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Austria
• Wageningen University, The Netherlands

At your chosen home university, you will complete your first year of study with a foundation semester and an advanced semester. During the first semester, you will choose one of five specialisations as well as the host university where you will spend the second year of study.

At the end of August of the first academic year, all students from the four participating universities take part in the mandatory Intro Days. This takes place in a hybrid form, both in presence and with online components at the respective home universities.

In the second year of study, you will switch to your host university. There you can continue the specialisation of the first year or choose a new one. You will then complete your studies with the Master's thesis, which is jointly supervised by lecturers from the home and host universities.

After completing your studies, you will receive a full Master's degree from both universities at which you studied.

Curriculum

• Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden
• University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Austria
• Wageningen University, The Netherlands

Internships are not compulsory, but they are recommended. The internship must be organised by the student and must fit the schedule of the programme. The CareerCenter Hohenheim runs a database for internship offers and assists in finding suitable placements.

Formal requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources, Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, or a related discipline with “above average” grades with a standard period of study of at least three years (180 ECTS in total)
• Proven knowledge in at least two of these areas (listed in the transcript of records): Mathematics/Statistics; Biology/Ecology; Chemistry/Physics
• If an applicant's final grade or grade point average of the degree is not above average, they must demonstrate their special suitability for the programme.
• Proof of proficiency in English

Additional requirements

In addition to basic IT skills, we expect the ability and willingness to work in intercultural teams. Students must also be willing to spend an academic year abroad.

Universities in Baden-Württemberg require their students to pay a semester contribution towards the administration costs, for student services and for the Student Parliament. Student services provide many benefits, such as discounted tickets for public transportation. The semester contribution amounts to approx. 175 EUR per semester.

Baden-Württemberg has the highest standard of living in Germany. The downside is that living costs are slightly above the German average. However, the cost of living can vary enormously depending on your personal lifestyle and where you live. It is generally more expensive to live in a bigger city like Stuttgart, where the University of Hohenheim is located. As a rule of thumb, 950 EUR to 1,000 EUR per month should be enough. The largest monthly expense is usually for rent, accounting for a third of the total cost of living for most students. These costs can be cut substantially by sharing a flat or living in a dorm. A typical example of monthly expenses could look like this:

• Rent: 350 EUR to 500 EUR
• Health insurance: approx. 110 EUR
• Public transport: approx. 60 EUR
• Study materials: 100 EUR
• Food and drink: 150 EUR to 250 EUR
• Leisure and hobbies: approx. 100 EUR

The University of Hohenheim provides students with the opportunity to take on assistant jobs within the campus premises. Students are entrusted with the responsibility of scheduling their working hours in a manner that does not interfere with their academic commitments. Additionally, students have the option to seek employment off campus as permitted by the Aliens Act. It is important to note that finding jobs off campus may be challenging without a strong command of the German language.

More information can be found here.

Numerous funding opportunities exist for Master's thesis projects abroad, which are offered by various foundations. Detailed information is available here.

BRICKS. The Qualification Programme for Entering the German Job Market

The BRICKS project at the University of Hohenheim helps international students prepare for their careers in Germany. The programme provides personalised career training, language development, practical experience, and networking opportunities with top companies, empowering students to shape their professional future in Germany.

CareerCenter Hohenheim

CareerCenter Hohenheim offers guidance and support to students and graduates in areas such as professional orientation, building a professional profile, and the application process. The centre actively fosters connections with business and industrial partners, ensuring early engagement with the professional world through information events, seminars on essential skills, internships, and more.

Student residences on campus

At the University of Hohenheim, several student residence halls are located on campus. They are managed by Student Services Tübingen-Hohenheim. There is a high demand for these rooms, which is why usually only a small number of applications will be successful.

International (non-EU) students have a much more difficult time than Germans in finding private accommodation at the start of their studies when they are searching from their home countries. Therefore, the university provides a quota of rooms for international students. This enables a larger number of new international students to have a room in a residence hall. To be able to offer this special assistance at the start of studies, the rental duration for these rooms is limited to two years for Master's students.

Additionally, the house-hunting assistance offers support in finding a room on the private market.