Overview The MSc in Integrated Natural Resource Management is an interdisciplinary programme taught in English that frames research and practical training around the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It explores the societal–nature interface by bringing together concepts from ecological systems, political science, institutional analysis and both institutional and neoclassical economics. Students also receive training in advanced research methods relevant to analysing and implementing more effective natural resource management.
Why this programme is useful for international students The course connects natural and social science perspectives to help you understand complex environmental problems and policy processes. International students will have close contact with scientists from policy- and sustainability-focused research institutes and think tanks in the Berlin–Brandenburg region, an area notable for its dense concentration of such organisations—offering strong local networks for research and applied projects. Studying in Berlin provides an international environment and access to policy-oriented research that complements classroom learning.
Requirements (concise)
This Master's programme is designed as an interdisciplinary training in the sustainable use and management of natural resources. It combines four compulsory modules — Agroecosystems, Environment and Sustainable Resource Use; Environmental and Resource Economics; Soil and Water Protection; and Institutional Economics and Political Economy — with an independent Master's thesis. Together these core modules give students a foundation in ecological processes, resource economics, protective measures for soil and water, and the institutional and political contexts that shape resource decisions.
The curriculum is structured around four integrated knowledge areas: natural-science applications for resource systems; social-science approaches to resource use and protection; advanced empirical methods for analysing interactions among social, natural and technical systems; and management of environmental and natural resource systems. Graduates will be able to integrate biophysical and socioeconomic information, apply quantitative and qualitative empirical methods, design and evaluate sustainable resource-management strategies, and interpret policy and institutional dynamics influencing resource outcomes.
Students personalise their degree by selecting focal modules from two of six priority areas — Methodology and Modelling of Sustainability; Sustainable Production Processes; Sustainability Institutions and Policies; Land and Water; Biodiversity and Nature Conservation; and Climate Change and Renewable Energy — which shape their profile and expertise. Elective modules can be taken from any Master’s programme at universities in the Berlin area to broaden or deepen specialisation. A small study project may be taken in place of two electives, and the programme is completed by submitting a Master's thesis.
Key requirements and options
Typical learning outcomes (what you will be able to do)
Applicants must hold a completed Bachelor's degree in either a natural science or a social science field. The program accepts a wide range of undergraduate backgrounds that provide relevant foundations for integrated natural resource management, so candidates with degrees from both science and social science traditions are eligible.
If you earned your degree outside Germany, make sure it is from a recognized institution and provides comparable academic preparation to a German Bachelor’s degree in a relevant subject. Check the program’s official page for details on document verification, any additional prerequisites, and how your specific degree will be assessed.
Required academic backgrounds (examples)
For full details and the latest admission information, visit: https://hu.berlin/INRM
Winter Semester (International)
31 May 2026
Summer Semester (International)
15 January 2027
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
31 May 2026
Summer Semester (EU/EEA)
15 January 2027
Graduates are prepared for professional roles that require integrated understanding of ecological, economic and institutional dimensions of natural resource management. Typical employers include policy‑oriented research institutes, governmental and non‑governmental organisations, environmental consultancies, and international development agencies focused on sustainability and resource governance.
The programme also builds strong methodological and research skills suitable for academic research careers or further doctoral studies. The emphasis on applied, policy‑relevant work and connections to Berlin’s research organisations supports pathways into research positions and advisory roles at the science–policy interface.