Program overview
Sustainability and sustainable development have become guiding principles across politics, business and civil society. This MSc in Environmental Governance responds to the practical challenge of coordinating diverse actors—state, market and civil society—to implement sustainable solutions. Established in 2005, the programme takes a strongly interdisciplinary approach grounded in the social sciences, while also equipping students with basic scientific literacy about technical environmental challenges. It deliberately bridges the gap between technically focused environmental management degrees and narrowly disciplinary environmental policy programmes.
Structure and learning goals
This is a two‑year, full‑time programme (four semesters, 120 ECTS) taught in English that trains students to understand both the environmental problems facing the planet and the social causes and governance processes that shape responses. You will explore human–environment interactions through a range of disciplines, approaches and perspectives, and gain methodological skills for designing and managing context‑sensitive environmental governance processes across different social settings.
Who this programme is for
The programme targets graduates and early‑career professionals from a wide variety of academic backgrounds who are curious about complex environmental problems and open to new viewpoints. The student body is internationally diverse (students from more than 20 nationalities), and admissions are selective, considering academic excellence and geographic representation (including candidates from industrialised, transition and developing countries and regions). Candidates with engineering or natural science backgrounds are welcome, but should be prepared to devote a substantial portion of their two‑year studies to social science theories and concepts.
Key facts and entry-related points
The programme is delivered in a mixed format: traditional semester-long teaching during the winter semester and intensive three-week block modules in the summer. Each module is worth 5 ECTS, and modules are designated as either core or elective. Ten core modules provide the programme’s foundational curriculum while six elective modules let you shape a specialist pathway that matches your interests and career goals. Altogether the programme requires 120 ECTS to graduate.
Core modules give structured grounding in the theoretical, institutional and methodological aspects of environmental governance, while elective options enable deeper study in particular policy areas, tools or regional contexts. Practical learning is emphasised through a seven-week internship (10 ECTS) that applies classroom knowledge in a professional setting, and a 30 ECTS Master's thesis that demonstrates independent research and problem-solving ability. Graduates can expect to emerge with interdisciplinary knowledge of governance processes, applied research skills, experience working with stakeholders, and the ability to design and critically assess governance solutions for environmental challenges.
Requirements and key facts
You must hold a bachelor’s degree (BSc or an internationally equivalent first degree) with a grade that is clearly above the average. Suitable academic backgrounds include environmental and social science disciplines as well as related fields; examples are listed below but other closely related degrees may also be considered.
It’s important that your previous studies include at least some courses that are directly relevant to Environmental Governance so that you have a foundation for the master’s curriculum. If you are applying for a DAAD EPOS scholarship (targeted at candidates from developing countries), additional conditions apply regarding professional experience and the recency of your last degree.
Tip for international applicants: ensure your transcripts clearly indicate the relevant coursework and grading scale to demonstrate that your degree and grades meet the stated requirements.
Winter Semester (International)
15 May 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
15 May 2026
Graduates are prepared for roles that require designing, managing and evaluating environmental governance processes across public, private and civil society sectors. Typical career paths include positions in governmental agencies, international organisations, NGOs, consultancy firms, sustainability/officer roles in industry, and research or policy institutes focused on environmental policy and natural resource management.
The programme’s interdisciplinary social-science training combined with practical internship experience makes graduates competitive for jobs that demand stakeholder coordination, policy analysis, programme design and implementation, and interdisciplinary project management in national and transnational contexts.