Sustainable Land Management and Conservation (Double Degree Programme) Anhalt University of Applied Sciences

The Master’s programme contains various stages for assessing the sustainability of (agro-)ecosystems and for developing management strategies considering the environment. Students will gain knowledge on topics such as the functioning of agro-ecosystems in different world regions or on potential measures for nature conservation of (partially) managed landscapes. Students will become skilled for communication with land users and other stakeholders or for planning conservation and sustainable land management. Thereby, students will be put into the position to apply and further develop tools in assessing and predicting impacts of land management on nature (e.g. field methods, computational models or laboratory methods). Graduates are able to work independently in planning and implementing nature conservation measures in agricultural landscapes, to work scientifically with the aforementioned knowledge and skills and to practically advise land users, especially farmers, in sustainable land management.

The students will possess a background in basic knowledge and skills in the above-mentioned areas of competence that will be obtained during team projects of different problems in agroecology, nature conservation, and sustainable land management. In particular, they will be able to adjust to methodological, environmental and societal changes quickly. They will develop social competences, which will be refined during the applied and scientific study projects at different stages of the programme and in different team compositions.

With this qualification, students will have gained knowledge and skills in the subject in order to accomplish the following:

1. apply their knowledge and be able to integrate their ideas and problem-solving skills
2. compile, assess and interpret relevant information
3. make sound decisions when discoveries are made which concern social, environmental, commercial, scientific and ethical issues
4. sustain the momentum of independent learning processes
5. formulate and argue professional opinions/criteria
6. be able to interact on a professional level with professionals and non-professionals
7. work transdisciplinary and have the capability to take responsibility in teams

The standard period of study for the double degree programme including the examination period is four semesters. The programme always begins in the winter semester either at Anhalt University at the beginning of October or in the winter semester of a partnering university abroad. If the programme start is at the partnering university abroad, courses start at Anhalt University in the summer semester followed by a second semester, the winter semester.

The course of study includes theoretical and practice-oriented courses in the form of modular lectures and a Master's thesis jointly supervised by lecturers from both universities of the double degree programme and defended in a colloquium.

The first and second semesters provide an intensive programme of study encompassing the following modules:

First semester

Compulsory modules:

• Biogeography and Ecosystems Analysis
• Landscape Ecology and Agroecology
• Applied Statistics
• Project Planning and Implementation

Second semester

Compulsory modules:

• Global Environmental Problems and International Nature Conservation
• Sustainable Land Management
• Advisory in (Agro-)Ecological Management
• Project Sampling and Data Processing

Electives (one to be chosen in the first and second semester):

• Specific Geoinformatics and Remote Sensing
• Ecological Modelling
• Ecological Restoration
• Molecular Biological Methods in Nature Conservation
• Feeding Ecology, Wildlife and Livestock Management

The course contents is taught in an application-oriented manner on a scientific basis. The teaching and learning methods used include seminars, projects, exercises, and excursions.

Third semester

In the third semester, the students will study at a partnering university abroad and follow the respective curriculum for an equivalent of 30 ECTS.

Fourth semester

In the fourth semester, the students will do their Master's thesis research at the partnering university, but jointly supervised with Anhalt University.

Multiple international partner universities for the double degree programme (e.g. Copperbelt University in Zambia, University of Namibia, Bahir Dar University in Ethiopia, Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Kenya), China University of Geosciences (CUG)

Bachelor's degree or equivalent diploma (three years) in nature conservation, agroecology, agricultural science, environmental science, or equivalent

Further selection criteria:

• Above-average academic performance (based on certificates and achievements of previous studies)
• Motivation letter
• Suitable personality (communication- and team working skills, flexibility, adaptability to new situations)

96 EUR semester fee

(This covers a contribution to the Student Services and Student Union, but no public transport semester ticket is included. Please see the university website for updated information.)

992 EUR per month to cover living expenses (including accommodation, excluding health insurance costs) have to be proven for visa purposes. Actual costs might be lower.

Affordable railway fares/student discounts on trains are available.

For more information, please visit: https://www.daad.de/en/studying-in-germany/living-in-germany/finances/.

Non-EU students should be aware that student visas entail strict regulations regarding work. Local student jobs are open to international students, as are student tutor positions at Anhalt University (depending on qualifications and job availability).

Career Service: The Career Service of the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences offers our international students a wide range of tailor-made services for a successful career start in Germany. It supports students in designing a professional curriculum vitae, helps with further qualifications and helps to develop new career perspectives. The Career Service is also a point of contact for companies and institutions that are looking for highly qualified staff with an international background and want to establish contact with students at an early stage.

Generally, there are two ways of finding a student apartment in Bernburg. You can request a spot in one of the residence halls or look for an apartment on the private market.

1. Residence halls: Accommodation near the campus is offered by the Studentenwerk Halle / student services. It is recommended that new students contact Studentenwerk Halle before coming to Bernburg. Please visit the website http://www.studentenwerk-halle.de.

2. Private accommodation is usually outside of the Strenzfeld campus. You can use this platform for finding a private room or apartment: https://www.wg-gesucht.de/en/

Programme advisers will assist students in finding appropriate accommodation on the private market.

For more detailed information, please consult our websites:
https://www.hs-anhalt.de/en/international.html
https://www.hs-anhalt.de/en/life/bernburg/housing.html