Overview
This two-year Master of Science programme, launched in 2010, is taught entirely in English and prepares students to manage and protect crops in both temperate and warmer climates. It addresses the growing global need for efficient, sustainable crop production by equipping students with the scientific and practical tools required for crop health management and protection.
Curriculum and learning approach
The course is research- and job-oriented and takes an interdisciplinary perspective on crop protection. Students study both fundamental and applied topics across a wide range of disciplines, including plant pathology, nematology, entomology, virology, weed science, pesticide use and regulation, toxicology, molecular phytopathology, mycotoxin research, plant nutrition and plant breeding. In addition to subject-specific modules, the programme includes training to strengthen interdisciplinary research abilities, oral presentation skills and scientific writing.
Practical training and career outcomes
A compulsory six-week internship places students in professional settings such as agrochemical companies, research or consulting institutions, federal regulatory authorities or breeding firms, providing direct industry and regulatory experience. Graduates leave with broad and specific expertise in crop protection at regional and global scales, enhanced teamwork and professional skills, and the capacity to approach problems across disciplines. Alumni commonly move into PhD programmes worldwide or take up positions in industry, research organisations and advisory services in Germany or their home countries.
Key facts and requirements
Program structure and practical focus
This two-year, English-taught MSc runs over four semesters and requires 120 ECTS in total. Teaching mixes lectures, seminars, laboratory classes, field courses and project work to build both conceptual understanding and hands-on skills. The programme’s credit breakdown is: 81 ECTS from advanced coursework, 9 ECTS for a six-week internship (including a written report and oral presentation), and 30 ECTS for the Master’s thesis together with the thesis colloquium.
Semester-by-semester path and major modules
In semester 1 you cover foundational practical and subject-matter courses such as Basic Laboratory Techniques, Integrated Management of Pests and Diseases, Pesticides – Mode of Action and Application Techniques, and Mycology. Semester 2 includes compulsory research-skills modules (Scientific Presenting and Writing; Paper Reviewing and Statistics) plus specialist courses like Pests and Diseases in Temperate Zones, Weed Biology and Management, and Basics of Molecular Biology in Crop Protection. The six-week internship is expected to be completed in the break following semester 2. In semester 3 you choose from options such as the Internship Seminar, Virology, Pesticides – Toxicology, Metabolism, Regulation and Registration, Molecular Weed Science, or Plant–Herbivore Interactions. The final semester is dedicated to an independent research project: designing and performing experiments, collecting and analysing data, writing the thesis and defending it in a colloquium.
Key learning outcomes
Graduates will acquire practical laboratory and field techniques, applied knowledge of integrated pest and disease management, and a detailed understanding of pesticide action, toxicology and regulatory aspects. Training in molecular methods, virology, weed science and plant–herbivore interactions develops modern diagnostic and research skills. Compulsory modules in statistics, paper reviewing and scientific presenting/writing sharpen your ability to analyse data, critically evaluate literature, and communicate scientific results. The internship and thesis provide supervised real-world and research experience, culminating in an independently conducted study that is documented and defended.
Requirements and core components
This program seeks applicants who have completed a rigorous undergraduate education in agricultural sciences or a closely related discipline. Successful candidates normally hold a Bachelor’s degree (BSc) of at least six semesters’ duration and have achieved an above-average academic grade; particularly strong applicants will have very good final grades. The selection emphasizes solid subject knowledge at the bachelor level.
If you studied outside Germany, note that your degree must be comparable in both content and length to the required BSc. Six semesters corresponds to three academic years; if your country’s degree system differs, the admissions office will assess equivalence according to the university’s regulations. For full details on formal criteria and how international qualifications are evaluated, consult the official admission regulations linked below or contact the admissions office directly.
Admission requirements — key points
Winter Semester (International)
1 March 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
15 June 2026
Graduates are prepared for international careers in crop health management across industry, research and advisory sectors. Typical employers include agrochemical companies, breeding firms, research institutions, consultancy services and federal regulatory bodies. Many alumni also progress to PhD positions worldwide, supported by the programme's research-focused training and thesis component.
Professional roles graduates can expect include crop protection specialist, research scientist, regulatory affairs or pesticide registration officer, extension/advisory consultant, and positions within plant health policy or toxicology units. The interdisciplinary and practical training (labs, field courses, internship) enhances employability in both applied and research settings domestically and internationally.
University of Hohenheim — Stuttgart
University of Hohenheim — Stuttgart
University of Hohenheim — Stuttgart
Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences — Freising