Sustainable Resource Management (Master of Science)

The pressure on natural resources, which are the basis of our lives, is continuously increasing due to human activity. Soil, water, air and biological diversity are the source of food, raw materials and energy. They are living and recreational space and serve as sinks for harmful emissions. Suboptimal use creates social and economic problems: The global climate is changing dramatically. Environmental problems, soil degradation and species loss are increasing. Biodiversity suffers. Competition for use and conflicts of interest arise.

The aim of the Master's program in Sustainable Resource Management is to provide you with the necessary knowledge for sustainable resource management. You will improve your conflict management skills and develop your soft skills and rhetorical skills. Explore concepts for sustainable management, consider social and political aspects, apply appropriate management methods and discuss possible solutions with your fellow students from all over the world.

This international Master’s opens up new horizons for you! Each year, about 100 students from more than 30 different countries worldwide start their studies here. The proportion of international students is around 75% – intercultural exchange is very important to us.

Global environmental and climate changes require widespread adjustments and reorientation of current forms of economy and life. Sectors geared to sustainable development are gaining in importance and show increasing employment figures worldwide.

With your Master's degree in Sustainable Resource Management, you have the opportunity to take on management tasks in large companies, take on positions in national and international governmental and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), or to work in environmental consulting.

Your profound knowledge of foreign languages and the social and intercultural skills that you have acquired during your international studies will be helpful. You can advise companies and organizations in the fields of sustainable development, resource use and management based on your scientific knowledge. In addition, the fields of science, education, ecosystem protection and management are open to you.

The four-semester Master’s program consists of compulsory modules, elective modules, a general education subject and a professional internship.

The first semester consists of six compulsory basic modules to bring all students to the same well-founded level of knowledge, to impart basic skills and to facilitate the entry into the study program for international students.

Building on this, from the second semester onwards you will choose six elective modules out of eight science topics. In each science topic we have four elective modules (5 credits each) and you have to earn 30 credits in total. You can choose from the following science topics:

• Management and Protection of Forest Ecosystems
• Wildlife and Protected Area Management
• Landscape Management
• Renewable Resources
• Climate, Air and Water
• Material and Waste Management
• Sustainable Agricultural Value Chains
• Soils and Soil Management

By choosing either a few main areas of focus or by being rather broad in your education, you start to build your individual profile. In addition, in the second and third semesters you are obliged to take one general subject and three additional elective modules. You are free to choose these according to your own interests and inclinations from a broad range of subjects.

A further component of the program is an internship of at least eight weeks in the field of resource management. During the internship, you will gain valuable initial experience, gain insight into the diverse employment opportunities in your area of specialization and establish contacts with potential employers. You can of course complete the internship in Germany or abroad and even divide it into several sections (with a minimum length of four weeks per internship section). In order to receive your 12 credits, you will have to write a report on your internship.

In the fourth semester, you will complete your studies by writing a Master's thesis on a topic of your choice.

Interest aroused? Just take a look at an exemplary curriculum!

After successfully completing your studies, you will be an expert in the field of sustainable resource management. You will understand the ecological, economic and socio-political significance of natural resources and the conflicts that can arise from improper use. Sustainable management and action is just as much a focus for you as the sustainable management of natural resources and the associated social aspects.

You will have learned to analyze and evaluate production chains, material flow systems, technical processes and human activities with regard to sustainability. You are well versed in the use of suitable analysis tools. Building on this, you can derive solutions, develop concepts for implementation, and identify and involve key stakeholders. If necessary, you can apply suitable project management methods. You will also take into account the socio-political and economic developments associated with this.

In addition to fundamental knowledge in the field of sustainable resources and their management, you will have honed your own interests and developed an individual profile depending on your fields of specialization.

During your studies, you learn to work in a scientifically and professionally sound manner and to communicate the results of your work in a suitable way. Due to the international nature of the program, you will have developed a high level of social and intercultural competence in addition to excellent foreign language skills, which will be helpful working in an international environment.

The prerequisite for the application is a qualified bachelor's degree of at least six semesters or an at least equivalent degree in engineering, natural sciences, economics or social sciences or comparable courses of study, which you have acquired at a German or foreign university. Important: The bachelor's degree must already be available at the time of application. Application is not possible without proof of successful completion of studies (certificate of completion of studies).

Proof of language skills: Applicants whose language of education is not English must provide proof by means of a recognized language test such as the "Test of English as a Foreign Language" (TOEFL) (at least 88 points), the "International English Language Testing System" (IELTS) (at least 6.5 points) or the "Cambridge Main Suite of English Examinations". If you can provide evidence of examinations in your undergraduate degree program amounting to at least 60 ECTS in English-language examination modules, this also counts as proof of English language proficiency. You can find more information about the language certificate here.

Application

During the application period you have to apply for a place in the winter semester via the application portal TUMonline. Upload your documents for admission to the Sustainable Resource Management degree program directly on the portal.

More details on the online application process you will find here

Aptitude assessment procedure

In a subsequent aptitude assessment procedure, we will check whether you have the necessary qualifications and prerequisites for the degree program.
Your application will be assessed and evaluated by the Aptitude Assessment Commission according to the following categories (weighting in parentheses):

++ N E W ++: As part of the first stage of the aptitude procedure, the qualification acquired in your first degree program will be assessed on the basis of your final grade, as well as your existing specialist knowledge on the basis of a written performance survey (online aptitude test).

Your application will be reviewed and evaluated by the Aptitude Assessment Commission according to the following categories (weighting in parentheses):

- Final degree grade (43%)
- Performance assessment in the form of an online aptitude test (57%)

• The performance assessment (online test) for the Master's program Sustainable Resource Management is offered once per application period and will take place in June 2023 for the application for the winter semester 2023-24 (see here for the date)! At the latest 1 week before the date you will receive an invitation to the online test via email with all information about the test procedure.
• The online test will be in written form and in English (duration: 40 minutes).
• The online test covers the following topics:

      - General and interdisciplinary basic knowledge with regard to global challenges of resource management, research methods and general knowledge of sustainability (75%).
      - Specific knowledge on one of the fields of engineering, natural sciences, economics or social sciences (25%).

The total score for the first level is the sum of the calculated final grade point total and the performance assessment score.

Applicants who have achieved at least 52 points have passed the aptitude assessment.
Applicants who have achieved less than 46 points have not passed the aptitude assessment.
The remaining applicants will be invited to an interview (second stage).

The admissions process is described in the appendix to the Academic and Examination Regulations of the program.
If you are admitted to this program, you will still need to submit your certified paper copies for enrollment and pay the semester fees.
As soon as you have received admission and accepted your study place, the relevant information will appear in your TUMonline applicant account.

• Curriculum
  The degree chart gives you an overview and recommendation, which modules you should take in which semester according to academic and examination regulations (FPSO).
   
• Timetable (TUM ID required for login):
  This timetable is intended to give you an overview of the planned compulsory and elective modules of a semester. It is for orientation purposes only and will not be updated during the semester! 
  
  Via TUMonline you can have a timetable created for each semester according to FSPO.
  
  You can also create your own individual timetable, which can contain not only the dates of the selected courses, but also your personal appointments.
  
  First steps with TUMonline

• General Academic and Examination Regulations at TUM (APSO)
• Academic and Examination Regulations (FPSO)
  • Academic and Examination Regulations 20231 (from start of degree program WS 23/24)
  • Academic and Examination Regulations 20201 (until start of degree program WS 20/21)
  • Academic and Examination Regulations 20151 (until start of degree program WS 19/20)
• Examination dates & registration via TUMonline
  In TUMonline you can register for the module examinations that accompany your studies. 

  Important: You can only take most of the exams if you have actively registered yourself via TUMonline within the registration period. The registration and deregistration period will be displayed at the exam date.

• Further examination matters
  • Academic progress check
  • Examinations
  • Recognitions
  • Theses

• Board of Examination
  The board of examination is a committee consisting of university professors and lecturers of the degree program. The chairperson of the board of examination of your degree program is Apl. Prof. Dr. rer. silv. Gabriele Weber-Blaschke. Applications to the board of examination are received by the secretary and submitted to the board of examination for decision. You can reach the secretary by sending an email to examination.co@ls.tum.de.

A pre-study internship is not required for admission to the course. However, in order to successfully complete your studies, you must complete and provide evidence of a 8-week subject-related internship (12 ECTS). The internship delivers insights into various fields of business activities concerning sustainable resource management and into specific operation procedures of enterprises or organizations. It provides the possibility to explore your career options and to contact potential employers.

The internship can be divided into several sections. Please note, however, that an internship section shorter than 4 weeks cannot be credited. Students have to look themselves for an internship and to plan it without getting in conflict with the lecture time. The recommended period for the internship is the lecture-free time between the 2nd and 3rd semester (August – October). An internship report must also be prepared.

Further details can be found on the website of the “Praktikantenamt Weihenstephan”. Please contact the Praktikantenamt before you sign contracts and make sure that your internship can be accepted at TUM.

More information about

• Internships
• Excursions