This international Master’s programme is designed to train specialists who can increase agricultural food production while protecting the environment and conserving resources for future generations. It addresses one of today’s major global challenges: intensifying food systems in an environmentally sustainable way. The course is broad and interdisciplinary, taught in English, and gives students scope to shape an individual study profile with a strong emphasis on sustainability and environmental protection. Ecological, economic, political and administrative perspectives are considered throughout the curriculum.
You will learn to analyse interactions within agroecosystems and to assess the behaviour and environmental impacts of chemical substances from physical, biological and chemical viewpoints. The programme also trains you in developing and applying models and simulations for environmental systems and in processing and interpreting geodata using geographic information systems (GIS). Emphasis is placed on developing integrated, global problem-solving approaches that combine scientific, economic and policy perspectives.
Graduates are prepared for a wide range of careers in national and international organisations and companies, including roles in environmental and quality management, agricultural and environmental consulting, research and development in industry, and positions at research institutions. The degree also provides qualification to start a doctoral project; admission to many PhD programmes and graduate colleges typically requires above-average Master’s grades.
Key skills and competences you will gain
Curriculum overview
The program begins with a focused first year that establishes core technical and analytical skills. You will take five compulsory modules that build in-depth competence in areas such as environmental modelling, environmental economics, quantitative methods and GIS software. In addition to these core courses, you choose four semi-elective modules from the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences’ master’s offerings, allowing you to broaden your knowledge across related topics and tailor the curriculum to your interests. These first-year studies are designed to give you practical and theoretical tools to analyse environmental processes, evaluate economic trade-offs, handle quantitative data and work with spatial information systems.
In the second year you gain greater flexibility and specialise further. You select five elective modules from a wide catalogue, guided by a personal mentor drawn from the teaching staff who helps you plan your program and ensures smooth academic progress. The second year also culminates in a research-based Master’s thesis aligned with your chosen specialisation. Learning outcomes across the two years include the ability to apply environmental models to real-world problems, conduct economic and quantitative analyses relevant to agricultural and environmental policy, use GIS for spatial planning and decision-making, and design and execute an independent research project that contributes to environmental protection and sustainable food production.
Program requirements (structure and key elements)
This master's programme requires an above-average Bachelor's degree in Agricultural, Natural or Environmental Sciences, Natural Resource Management, or a closely related field. Your prior degree should have a standard period of study of at least three years, or be an equivalent qualification obtained elsewhere. If your final grade or GPA does not meet the “above-average” requirement, you will need to provide evidence of special suitability for the programme as requested by the admissions committee.
You must also demonstrate proficiency in English and show the personal competencies the programme values: team spirit, a willingness to work in intercultural teams, and an interest in interdisciplinary approaches. International applicants should be prepared to submit certified transcripts and, where applicable, certified translations and official language test certificates as proof of their qualifications and language skills.
Requirements (bullet points)
Winter Semester (International)
15 March 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
15 September 2026
Graduates are qualified to work across environmental and quality management roles in companies and organisations, agricultural and environmental consulting firms, research and development departments of international companies, and research institutions. The programme also provides the academic foundation required to pursue doctoral studies; many research-focused employers and graduate schools expect above-average Master’s grades.
Internships (recommended) and the university’s CareerCenter support job placement and practical experience. Graduates’ interdisciplinary training and GIS/modelling skills make them suitable for positions that require technical analysis as well as policy- or administration-oriented problem solving.