This English-taught Master of Science is an interdisciplinary, fully online degree that examines development and transition processes with a special emphasis on sustainable agricultural and food systems. It is the university’s first fully online programme and is offered by the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Nutritional Sciences and Environmental Management (Faculty 09), a faculty known for expertise in analyzing agricultural and food systems. The standard study period is four semesters.
All courses and examinations are delivered remotely, so you can study from anywhere in the world. If you prefer some campus experience, optional on-site classes are available in Giessen during the summer vacations. The programme encourages students to initiate social and technological change aimed at making economic activities more sustainable, drawing on social, economic, political and natural science perspectives and their interdependencies.
Graduates learn to assess sustainability trade-offs through multiple disciplinary lenses, to understand the many dimensions of transition (economic, legal, political, social, agricultural and environmental), and to apply methods and strategies that promote sustainable transitions. The degree is designed to develop analytical skills for evaluating transition processes and to create practical solutions that can be applied in both private and public sector contexts.
Program details (concise)
What you'll gain (learning outcomes)
This Master's programme is organised as a sequence of modules, each running at four semester hours per week and concluded with a final examination as specified in the individual module descriptions. The overall degree grade is calculated from the results achieved in these module exams. Teaching combines synchronous online formats (lectures, seminars, group discussions) with asynchronous resources (recorded videos and independent assignments), giving a blended-learning experience suitable for distance and digital study.
Core modules (11 mandatory) provide a solid scientific foundation across the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainability and prepare you to specialise in a research area of your choice. Key core topics include transdisciplinary sustainability research; theory and practice of economic development; global food markets and sustainable food systems; international economics and climate change impacts on development; resource economics and renewable energy transitions; natural resources and ecosystem services; food politics; and scientific working and writing. Learning outcomes from these modules include the ability to critically analyse complex sustainability challenges, apply interdisciplinary research methods, and communicate scientific results effectively.
Profile modules (choose five) let you build a bespoke competence profile. Available options cover practical tools and specialised themes such as Python for environmental analysis, QGIS-based land-use projection, ecological economics, land governance for sustainable use in Africa, agriculture–ecosystem–climate interactions, nitrate pollution economics, sustainable plant protection, and focused modules on the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Several profile modules are offered as optional on-site block courses in Giessen during the summer vacation; if you want to attend in person or need details, contact the Faculty 09 study coordinators at studies@fb09.uni-giessen.de. A recommended programme schedule is also available as a downloadable PDF.
Requirements and key facts
This programme expects applicants to hold a Bachelor’s degree of at least three years’ duration (180 credits) — or an equivalent qualification — in a closely related scientific discipline, and to have achieved a final grade of "good" or "very good" (minimum 2.6 on the German grading scale). Typical suitable subject backgrounds include agricultural and nutritional sciences, environmental and resource studies, economics, law, and social or political sciences. Degrees outside these areas or awarded by foreign institutions will be assessed individually to determine whether they meet the programme’s entry requirements.
In addition to a suitable undergraduate degree, applicants must demonstrate sufficient prior knowledge in economics, law and/or the social sciences — specifically, at least 60 credit points (CP) in one of these fields. A motivation letter of about 500 words (±10%) must be submitted explaining your personal motivation for the programme and describing your subject-specific knowledge; the letter will be assessed according to the programme’s examination regulations. Final admission decisions are made by a specialist commission at JLU, and no provisional acceptance information can be provided before the application is complete.
Admission requirements (bullet summary)
Winter Semester (International)
15 August 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
15 August 2026
Graduates are prepared for professional roles that require interdisciplinary understanding of sustainability transitions. Typical career paths include positions in public administration, environmental and development NGOs, policy advisory roles, sustainability and transition consultancy, and private-sector sustainability teams within agriculture and food systems.
The programme also provides a strong analytical and scientific foundation for those considering research roles or further academic study in sustainability, environmental economics, resource management or related fields.
Trier University of Applied Sciences — Birkenfeld
Technische Universität Braunschweig — Braunschweig
Furtwangen University — Villingen-Schwenningen
University of Siegen — Siegen