Environmental and Resource Management

The international study course Environmental and Resource Management offers an integrated approach to current international issues helping to improve the quality of professional environmental management for the 21st century. Recognising that environmental questions can no longer be solved by a single academic discipline, the course offers classes in a wide range of fields, including technical subjects as well as classes in natural sciences, sociology and economics. Based on these three main directions, more specific classes are offered. These deal with current environmental issues, such as techniques for resource protection, concepts in environmental planning, risk and impact assessment, as well as socio-economic implications. The acquisition of management skills and social competence is therefore valued as highly and as indispensably as the technical and scientific knowledge.
The three programmes can be studied either consecutively or independently. While the Bachelor's programme offers a broad approach to the subject, building a solid base, the Master's programme allows more room for individual fields of interest and adapts to the student's academic background. It is during this phase that one must choose a major field of study for the completion of the Master's thesis. During the PhD programme, participants must become specialists, carrying out individual research for their scientific PhD thesis taken from the wide field of Environmental and Resource Management. PhD candidates are integrated into an international and interdisciplinary group with fellow PhD students and scientists.

Fore more information, please visit: http://www.b-tu.de/environment-bs.

Educational organisation

The course is organised in modules. These are interdisciplinary units of related classes. Modules provide an atmosphere of orientation for the students and lead to large-scale synergetic effects within the study course, and beyond. Each module consists of lectures, seminars, and practical units. In addition, BSc students will have to study one semester abroad. Four days of scientific excursions are mandatory. The programme also requires completion of a thesis. Students are expected to manage their studies largely independently.

Study abroad unit(s)

One mandatory semester abroad in the BSc programme

Internships

No mandatory internships

Forms of assessment

Credits are given according to ECTS. The Bachelor's programme comprises 180 credits, collected as performance verifications after successful attendance of mandatory and compulsory elective modules.

Course objectives

A graduate in Environmental and Resource Management will have developed and mastered the ability to evaluate, survey and control complex processes by determining the technology, the economics, and the infrastructure of integrated environmental protection and resource conservation. Furthermore, an ERM graduate will be fully conversant with issues in environmental protection and conservation of natural resources, especially in connection with non-renewable resources. The graduate will be capable of making sound decisions in selecting sustainable economic and technical methodology of production and resource management. The graduate will be in a position to verify plans and evaluate them in light of their ecological relevance and technical efficiency, all the while weighing the aspects of environmental and resource protection and developing and implementing appropriate strategies of action. Furthermore, the graduate will acquire competence in environmental politics and will thus not only be able to understand the world-wide structural changes on all levels, but also be able to model these changes with regard to environmental protection and resource management.

Language requirements

• TOEFL (550 paper-based; 213 computer-based; 79 internet-based)
• Cambridge Certificate (Advanced or Proficiency, min. grade B)
• IELTS (min. 6.0)

Native speakers are exempt from this regulation.

Academic requirements

For Bachelor's programme: Higher education entrance qualification (e.g. Secondary School Leaving Certificate, high school diploma, A-levels, Abitur, etc.)

---

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

Enrolment fees

Students are required to pay an enrolment fee of approx. 259 EUR per semester. This fee includes some services offered by the student services (Studentenwerk Frankfurt/Oder) and the BTU student council. The fee also pays for a semester ticket, which permits free travel on all public transport with VBB in the state of Brandenburg and in Berlin as well as free use of the regional train (RE 18 and 15) to Dresden.

Costs of living

The cost of studying abroad can differ significantly from studying in your home country. We recommend that students budget between 550 to 700 EUR per month for accommodation, health insurance, living expenses, books, etc. Of course, this amount depends entirely on the individual lifestyle.
Monthly costs:

• rent (incl. utilities): 170-280 EUR
• groceries: 150 EUR
• health insurance, medical fees, medication: 80 EUR
• miscellaneous (clothing, study materials, other activities): 100-200 EUR

Total: 550-750 EUR
You will not need to pay for public transport in Berlin and Brandenburg. The semester ticket for buses and trains operated by VBB is already included in the semester fee.

Job opportunities

There are job opportunities both in town and on campus. Nevertheless, please do not come to Germany expecting to be able to finance your entire studies by working. The study load is high, and it is not always easy to find a part-time job. Non-EU citizens are allowed by law to work for a maximum of 120 days per year. Students who are employed by the university in one of the institutes or departments ("Studentische Hilfskräfte") are exempt from this regulation, but other restrictions apply.

Funding opportunities within the university

The International Office is pleased to be able to grant a limited number of scholarships for foreign students. These include exchange scholarships for students from partner universities, scholarships for completion of studies and scholarships involving tutorial work.
http://www.b-tu.de/en/international/incoming-students/during-studies/scholarship

Arrival support

The university's International Relations Office assists foreign students with registration and enrolment procedures at the university upon arrival. It also holds an information session at the beginning of each semester covering administrative procedures and cultural events that are offered throughout each semester. The BTU holds an orientation week each October prior to the beginning of classes. During this week, each faculty offers orientation sessions. New students are provided with detailed programme information as well as academic advice and have the opportunity to meet professors and other students at these orientation sessions. The student organisation, OTIWO, offers cultural events throughout this week. Attendance is highly recommended! The university's tutor group "BTU Buddies" and the student council are there to assist English-speaking students in the international programmes. For example, they will accompany the students when registering for health insurance and with municipal authorities.

Services and support for international students

To ensure that international students feel comfortable on the BTU campuses and around the cities of Cottbus and Senftenberg, the Student Activities Office, run by the International Relations Office, offers services such as cultural events, excursions, job and career advice, home stays with German families, and much more.
For more information, please consult this website. See: https://www.b-tu.de/en/international/incoming-students/during-studies
Furthermore, intensive guidance is provided by professors, lecturers, and programme officers within the study programmes.

Accommodation

Most students live in on-campus student residences. Rooms are mostly either single with a shared kitchen and bathroom or one-room apartments. Prices range from 190 to 270 EUR. More information on accommodation is available at http://www.studentenwerk-frankfurt.de.
Private off-campus accommodation is also available. You can rent your own apartment or share with other students. Private accommodation can be found on the Internet at: https://www.b-tu.de/en/international/incoming-students/arrival.