Environmental Governance (MEG) University of Freiburg

The concept of sustainable development and the concomitant notion of sustainability have become fundamental principles of action in politics and society. Similarly, in the field of economics, a commitment to the principles of sustainability has emerged as a central strategic competitive advantage for companies. One of the key challenges to implementing the overarching concept of sustainable development is the need for effective governance processes between the diverse stakeholders.

The MSc programme in Environmental Governance (MEG) addresses this particular need. Since its establishment in 2005, it has been training academics in the broader field of Environmental Governance, understood as new modes of social coordination between market, state, and civil society actors. With that, the MEG aims to fill the gap between technically oriented environmental management programmes and purely disciplinary environmental politics programmes. MEG is exceptional in its highly interdisciplinary approach. At its core, the programme is a social science programme in nature, provides students with basic scientific literacy in the more technical aspects of pressing environmental challenges.

The MEG programme is a two-year (four semester), full-time programme (120 ECTS) and aims to guide students towards:

• Realising the development of a sound knowledge base of the most pressing environmental issues facing the planet and their underlying societal causes
• Understanding the reflection on human-environment interactions from a wide spectrum of disciplines, approaches and world views
• Managing the provision of methodological knowledge and skills for the context-sensitive design and management of environmental governance processes

Target Group:

The programme has been designed for graduates and young professionals with a diverse range of academic backgrounds. It seeks applicants who are receptive to the intricacies of complex environmental problems and inclined to engage with novel perspectives and viewpoints. It is expected that students will show a keen interest in working with and learning from a diverse group of fellow students, hailing from over 20 different nationalities and representing a wide range of backgrounds. The MEG programme employs a selective admission process based on criteria of academic excellence and geographical representation (encompassing industrialised countries, countries in transition and developing countries as well as geographic regions). 

The curriculum places a significant emphasis on social sciences, yet the programme remains open to practitioners and students with a background in engineering or the natural sciences. However, these students must demonstrate a high level of motivation and a willingness to dedicate large parts of their two-year studies to social science theories and concepts.

Teaching is organised in a semester mode for the winter semester and in three-week block modules for the summer semester. Students earn five ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits upon successful completion of each module. Modules are classified as either core or elective. There are 10 core modules and six elective modules, allowing students to tailor their programme of study. A total of 120 credits are required for the successful completion of the programme. A seven-week internship (10 ECTS) and a Master's thesis (30 ECTS) are also included in the curriculum.

To find out more about specific modules, please refer to our comprehensive Module Handbook.

During the summer break between the second and third semesters, students are required to complete an internship of at least seven weeks, earning 10 ECTS credits. Our MEG internship supervisor is available to support students in securing suitable opportunities. Additionally, students can access a curated list of past internships for inspiration and guidance here.

Applicants must hold a BSc (or an equivalent first degree) with a grade well above average in one of the following fields: 

• Environmental Management
• Environmental Sciences
• Agricultural or Forest Sciences
• Geography
• Political Sciences
• Sociology
• Law
• Economics
• Ethnology
• International Cooperation
• Development Studies
• Nature Conservation
• Environmental Management
• Land Use Planning
• Natural Resource Management, among others. 

At least some of the courses taken in the aforementioned degrees must be relevant to Environmental Governance.

Applicants for DAAD EPOS scholarships for candidates from developing countries must have two years of work experience at the time of application, and the last university degree must not be older than six years.

190 EUR per semester:

• Administrative fee: 80 EUR
• Contribution to the constituted student body: 7 EUR
• Contribution to the student union: 103 EUR

Participants must ensure that sufficient funding is available to finance their participation in a course of study. The average cost of living in Freiburg for one month is currently approx. 850 EUR to 1,000 EUR.

Some details:

• Rooms in private accommodation, including extra costs: 350 EUR – 700 EUR
• Rooms in student residences, including extra costs: 250 EUR – 550 EUR
• Private expenses amount to around 350 EUR per month.
• Health insurance is available for approx. 120 EUR per month.
• Transport: A special student ticket for regional transport costs approx. 96 EUR per semester.

Financing your studies and living expenses in Germany solely through a part-time job can be quite challenging. Engaging in work that demands significant time can negatively impact your academic performance, potentially prolonging your studies and, at worst, jeopardising your residence status. Therefore, we strongly advise limiting work commitments to no more than five to seven hours per week. The department offers a limited number of positions as student research assistants or tutors.

Students are permitted to work up to 140 full days or 280 half days per year and a maximum of 20 hours per week. For further details, please find more information here.

A one-day career development workshop specifically for MEG students takes place at the end of the third semester.

The "Service Center Studium" regularly offers a training event for career entry for international students.

As Freiburg is an attractive city, finding a suitable and affordable place to live can take a little while. The University of Freiburg offers all newly enrolled international students the possibility to apply for student housing via the International Office. In addition to these dormitories, which are run by the Studierendenwerk Freiburg (www.swfr.de/en), several independent residence halls are listed on the university website (https://uni-freiburg.de/internationaloffice/housing/). The Studierendenwerk Freiburg and the International Office also offer a list of available private rooms.

The University of Freiburg was founded in 1457 as a classical comprehensive university, making it one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Germany. Awarded for its excellence in both research and teaching, the university also boasts a long history, with numerous Nobel laureates. Brilliant scholars and creative thinking distinguish it today as a modern, top-notch university, well equipped for the challenges of the 21st century. As an organisation with around 24,500 students, 288 degree programmes, and 6,536 employees (2021), the University of Freiburg is committed to family friendliness, equal opportunities, and environmental consciousness in its day-to-day operations. The structure of the university is multifaceted, ranging from 11 academic faculties – from the humanities and the social and natural sciences all the way to engineering – to 19 research centres. This goes to show that we are a dynamic, large-scale institution with a diverse educational offering. As studies, research, and continuing education are all an integral part of this offering, we maintain a close relationship with the city and the region as well as with the international academic community. Bilateral partnerships, research projects, joint study courses and memberships in international networks such as the League of European Research Universities (LERU) and of EUCOR – The European Campus are examples of the university's strong transnational relations. All our students, including those from abroad, can take courses at the Universities of Basel (Switzerland) and Strasbourg (France) without having to enrol. Via EUCOR, The European Campus mobility grant, they also receive allowances for travel expenses to their partner institutions.

Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in south-western Germany on the edge of the Black Forest. Freiburg was founded by Konrad and Duke Bertold III of Zähringen in 1120 as a free market town – hence its name, which translates to "free town". Freiburg holds a central position in Europe at the border triangle of Switzerland, France, and Germany, and is the city with the most hours of sunshine per year in Germany. It is nestled in one of the oldest cultural landscapes north of the Alps, a location which has had an unmistakable influence on the town. The university plays an essential part in the quality of life in Freiburg; both in the academic sphere and in the perception of the general public, the activities of the university are of central importance. Since its founding, teaching, learning and research have formed an indivisible whole.

With approx. 230,000 inhabitants, Freiburg has a friendly size, offering the safe surroundings of a smaller city whilst at the same time excelling in terms of culture, shopping and infrastructure. Both the inhabitants and the city government of Freiburg attach great importance to ecological values and sustainable development. This "green city" atmosphere influences many aspects of city life – from the numerous cyclists on the streets to cutting-edge solar energy research. Surrounded by the beautiful landscapes of the Black Forest and the wine-growing regions of the Rhine Valley, Freiburg is a popular destination for tourism and leisure activities.