Master's Degree Programme in Biodiversity and Environmental Education

A survey of alumni who studied the previous ‘Biodiversity and Environmental Education’ degree programme at our university over the last 10 years reveals the following picture regarding their career paths (a graduate tracking survey conducted in 2025 with a response rate of approximately 50 percent): Just under half of the students made a seamless transition from their studies to employment. A further 40 percent had found a job within six months at the latest. The range of roles is wide, spanning nature conservation and ecology (approx. 35 percent), education and teaching (approx. 30 percent), consultancy and planning (approx. 25 percent), and research and administration (approx. 10 percent). The following employers have taken on our graduates:

• Public institutions and administration, such as environmental ministries, the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, state environmental agencies, district offices, towns and local authorities
• Nature conservation and environmental organisations, such as BUND, NABU and landscape conservation associations
• Education and research, such as environmental education centres, the Ministry of Education, educational platforms, museums, zoos and PhD programmes
• Consultancy and planning, such as planning offices, consultancy firms and local authority-owned companies

Admission to the programme requires prior study in the life sciences or educational sciences with a grade of 2.4 or higher. Your chances of securing a place on the course are improved by meeting specific selection criteria, for which relevant supporting documents (certificates, diplomas, etc.) are required:

• Final grade
• Vocational training and work experience relevant to the degree programme
• Work placements or voluntary work relevant to the degree programme (including FÖJ, FSJ, BFD)
• Certificates in the fields of biology, educational science or pedagogy, as well as publications or research placements

You must provide evidence of your suitability and motivation by submitting a CV, an abstract of your final thesis and a personal statement. 

International applicants whose first language is not German must demonstrate sufficient knowledge of German.

This Master’s programme has three main areas of focus:

1. Biodiversity and ecosystems
2. Education with an ecological focus
3. Research methods relating to both areas of specialisation

Academic and professional competence, as well as reflective and communication skills, are overarching programme objectives. They provide the professional foundations required to take on advisory, advocacy and leadership roles.

The degree programme is a further development of the previous Master’s programme in Biodiversity and Environmental Education. When students on the previous programme are asked about their experiences during their studies, they highlight two key aspects that characterise our teaching practice: the close interaction and exchange of knowledge amongst themselves, and the individual support provided by the teaching staff. We are continuing this tried-and-tested teaching and learning approach in this programme as well.

You will earn a total of 120 CP across ten modules. We offer modules 1 to 3 in the first semester and modules 5 to 7 in the second semester. Compulsory-elective module 4 spans both semesters. This gives you the opportunity to choose up to four compulsory-elective seminars from other Master’s programmes to complement the programme’s curriculum, for example from the ‘Migration, Education and Democracy’ programme and, from the 2026/27 winter semester onwards, also from the Digital Education programme: Psychology, Cognition, Design.