Environmental Sciences

The protection and the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems are at the center of the MSc Environmental Sciences programme at Freiburg University. Environmental Sciences is a comparatively young discipline, which deals with the impact of humans on the environment.
In Freiburg, the Environmental Sciences are shaped by interdisciplinary links with Forest Sciences, Geosciences, Geography and Hydrology. This combination brings students the benefit of having a wide array of courses, which tackle fundamental environmental issues from different perspectives, from those based on ecological and natural sciences to perspectives from socioeconomic and planning disciplines. By combining theory-driven modules with a number of application-oriented modules, students are provided with opportunities to apply and develop strategies for environmental problems at a regional, national and international level.
It is our aim to acquaint you with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills indispensable in the wide range of potential working areas for environmental scientists.
The division of the programme into elective tracks, and the flexible choice of courses via core and elective modules allow students an opportunity to build their individual educational profile.

Admissions Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a forestry or environmental science programme
• With an average grade of at least 2.9

• Language proficiency in English at  Level B2 of the Common European Framework. Note for German applicants: if you have taken English as a foreign language up to the Abitur level, your Abitur certificate is sufficient proof.
• Language proficiency in English or German at  Level C1of the Common European Framework, depending on the choice of elective track. Native speakers are exempt from the requirement to provide evidence.  

• Technical requirements in general: 50 ECTS from the areas of natural sciences and forestry sciences, social and economic sciences and quantitative methods

• Technical requirements for the different elective tracks:

  • Landnutzung und Naturschutz: 25 ECTS from the areas of ecology and ecosystem management.
  • Ökologie des Klimawandels: 25 ECTS from the fields of ecosystemic connections and ecological foundations.
  • Environmental Modelling and GIS: 25 ECTS from the areas of numerical and imaging computer applications as well as quantitative methods or scientific fundamentals.
  • Wildlife and Biodiversity: 25 ECTS from the areas of ecological and population biology.
  • Biomaterials and Bionenergy: 25 ECTS from the areas of biology and utilization techniques of renewable raw materials, as well as chemistry and other natural sciences.