Forestry System Transformation (FST) Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development

The aim of the Master's programme Forestry System Transformation is to increase the taught knowledge and practical methodical skills in the field of forest ecosystem management and sustainable use or conservation of forest resources. The programme references different levels of action in the management of complex socio-ecological systems. These levels of action range from the local level, e.g. determining cultivation alternatives, to the global level, e.g. international environment and forestry policy strategies.

The degree programme examines socio-ecological interdependencies in particular. It takes a perspective of central institution analytics and ecological economics in regard to the recording and evaluating of forest ecosystem goods and services as well as the coordination of forest resource usage. The degree programme covers the analysis of development dynamics, current statuses and future development options for forest ecosystems as well as their services and social requirements in both rural and urban areas. These aspects are further examined from a social science perspective and are discussed under consideration of ecosystem processes and ecological limits.

First semester: Teaching the basics in order to record the status quo of forest ecosystems and management, social developments, governance systems and institutional conditions from the fields of analytics, strategy and instruments

Second semester: Focus on sustainability-based transformation strategies in the field of forest ecosystem management, their implementation and evaluation

Third semester: Carrying out an independent research project at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development or a selected institution in Germany or abroad, which is accompanied by a research colloquium

Fourth semester: Completion of the Master’s thesis and its defence as well as additional participation in an accompanying Master’s thesis colloquium

Applicants with a background in (forest) ecosystems, sustainable natural resource management, and/or socio-ecological systems research are welcome to apply. In particular, these include courses of study in the following fields: agriculture, forestry, agriculture and forestry; nature conservation; environmental sciences (except environmental technology); environmental and resource economics (or a teaching certification for any of the aforementioned subjects).

376 EUR per semester
This includes a semester ticket for public transport in Germany (Deutschlandsemesterticket).

Approximately 1,200 EUR per month

At the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development (HNEE), a variety of funding opportunities are available to support students’ international mobility in research, study, and internships—including the Erasmus+ and PROMOS programmes. Students can also apply for scholarships through the STIBET programme, which enables them to complete their studies or receive support for their outstanding commitment. In addition, HNEE awards the Deutschlandstipendium to support students with outstanding academic achievements. Various foundations also offer scholarships to support students throughout their academic journey.

Career service

There are two options for accommodation in Eberswalde: the students residence halls, managed by the student service (Studentenwerk), or a privately rented room or flat in Eberswalde.

Berlin is 50 kilometres from Eberswalde and can be reached by train in 30 minutes.

About 2,300 students from all over the world are registered at the Eberswalde University for Sustainable Development. At the moment 11% of the students come from abroad. Our university was founded in 1992. Eberswalde has been one of the major academic centres of forestry studies in Germany since 1830. Several other federal and regional state research institutions are situated on the Forest Campus.

The town of Eberswalde has a population of 43,000 and is located just 50 km north-east of Germany's capital, Berlin. Eberswalde is the county seat of the district of Barnim in the north-east of the state of Brandenburg. The city is also called "Waldstadt" because there are extensive forest areas around the city. In the north of Barnim, you can find the biosphere reserve Schorfheide-Chorin. The town has had 1,468 hectares of woodland since the 14th century with about 1,000 hectares of recreational forest and 271 hectares of nature reserves and ecologically significant habitats.