Sustainable Resource Management

Natural resources, such as soil, water, air or biological diversity, constitute the essential foundations of human life and economic activity. Their consumption is rapidly increasing worldwide, a process further intensified by global trends, such as population and economic growth. This results in increasing pressure on all natural resources, accompanied by yet more environmental problems. Moreover, rivalries and conflicting interests increasingly develop over the use of resources that are continuously becoming more and more scarce. This also leads with increasing frequency to international tensions, the comprehensive and lasting solution to which currently poses one of the greatest challenges to humanity.

The international master's program in Sustainable Resource Management addresses these challenges while taking into consideration their social, economic and ecological dimensions. As such, the focus lies on conveying suitable methods of analysis and management. At the same time, the development of specialist and personal competences in an intercultural context remains to the fore.

With eight available areas of specialization (Science Topics), the program offers a large degree of freedom when creating an individual competency profile. The available areas of focus include:

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

The program consists of a core area with six obligatory required modules, eight Science Topics, from which students choose modules worth 30 credits, , as well as elective modules (15 credits). 

The required modules in the first semester impart the fundamental competencies of resource management and constitute the basis for specialization within the discipline.

In the second and third semesters, core competencies are complemented by elective modules from the Science Topics and by a mandatory 8-week internship. In the fourth semester, the master's thesis constitutes the conclusion of the degree.

In detail:

• Overview degree program structure (PDF 107 KB)
• Module catalog: Description of program content (German) (PDF 1 MB)

Required language skills for admission:

You need sufficient English language skills if you wish to apply for this program. Evidence of your language proficiency has to be submitted before the end of the application deadline. Learn more about recognized certificates and other ways to prove your English language skills.

You can also prove your language competencies if you have taken examinations worth at least 60 ECTS in English-language examination modules in the undergraduate degree program or if English was the language of instruction in the undergraduate degree program.

This evidence of your language proficiency confirms that you comply with the minimum language requirements for admission to the program. Depending on the program and your individual background, it may be necessary for you to keep working on your language skills during your studies. Be sure to take a look at the services of our Language Center.  

Language of instruction:

The language of instruction for this program is English.

An advanced knowledge of relevant scientific methods of analysis and management enables graduates to independently handle complex tasks in connection with natural resources. As a graduate, you can analyze and assess the effects of human activities on natural resources. On the basis of the results, you conceive strategies for handling these resources responsibly, and apply these strategies. You understand the principles of sustainable activities and are conscious of the ecological, economic and socio-political significance of natural resources.

Moreover, independent of your choice of specialist areas, you have at your disposal a comprehensive specialist knowledge of Management and Protection of Forest Ecosystems | Wildlife and Protected Area Management | Landscape Management | Renewable Resources | Climate, Air and Water | Soils and Soil Management | Material and Waste Management | Sustainable Agricultural Value Chains.

Upon completing the international master's program in Sustainable Resource Management, opportunities arise in the context of managerial roles in companies as well as in national and international government, and non-governmental, organizations. Environmental consultancy and environmental information services offer further possible fields of professional activity, as do ecosystem conservation and research sectors.

In an aptitude assessment procedure, we will check whether you have the necessary qualifications and prerequisites for the degree program.

As part of the first stage of the aptitude assessment 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). 

The performance survey (online test) in stage 1 of the aptitude procedure is offered once per application stage. Date and time will be announced on the study program page. At the latest one week before the date, you will receive an invitation to the online test via email with all information about the test procedure.

Your application will be reviewed and evaluated by the Aptitude Assessment Commission. For details see the degree program website.
 

In detail:

• Applying for a master’s program: Application, admission requirements and more
• Important information about your application from the TUM school or department

• Degree Certificate and Diploma or Subject and Grade Transcript of Studies to Date
• Transcript of Records
• Proof of English Language Proficiency
• Complete and Current Résumé
• Passport
• Letter of Motivation (optional)
• if applicable: Proof of Internships or Professional Experience (optional)
• Preliminary Documentation (VPD) if the qualification for graduate studies (e.g. a bachelor's) is obtained outside the EU/EEA

We may require additional documents depending on your educational background and your country of origin. Complete the online application to receive a comprehensive list of the required documents. 

• Application for Enrollment (signed)
• Degree Certificate and Diploma (certified copy)
• Transcript of Records (certified copy)
• Most Current Photo (as for ID)
• Digital notification of your health insurance status from a German public health insurance provider (requested by applicant)

We may require additional documents depending on the type of educational background you earned and your country of origin. After accepting an offer of admission in TUMonline, you will receive a list of documents you must submit to TUM in hardcopy for enrollment.

Application period for winter semester: 01.01. – 31.05. 

During the application period, you must apply through the TUMonline application portal and upload your application documents. Please be aware that we can only process your application if you upload all required documents within the application period.

We will review your application as soon as it is complete. Please check your TUMonline account regularly, to see if we have any queries to your documents or if you have to amend one or more documents.

After receiving admission, you will see in TUMonline which documents you have to submit for enrollment, and in which form. Please note that you always have to send the signed application for enrollment and all notarized hardcopies by post.

We recommend that you submit the documents for enrollment as soon as possible after receiving admission. If individual documents are not available by then, you can submit them up to 5 weeks after the start of the lecture period. You will, however, only be enrolled once we have received all documents.

You can check the status of your application at any time in your TUMonline account.

Information about applying for a higher subject semester

Selection takes place through an aptitude assessment procedure. Aptitude assessment is a two-part procedure after the submission of an official application to a program. In this procedure, the TUM school or department determines whether you meet the specific requirements for its master’s degree program.

In the initial stages, the grades you obtained during your bachelor's program, as well as your written documents, will be evaluated using a point system. Depending on the amount of points accumulated, applicants are either immediately admitted, rejected or invited to an admissions interview. 

In detail: 

• Aptitude Assessment for Master
• Information on the Aptitude Assessment (see Appendix 2) (PDF 163 KB)

The online application process takes place through our application portal TUMonline.

• Important info from TUM School of Life Sciences on the application process: 

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 domestic or foreign university. Please note: The bachelor's degree must already be available at the time of application. Without a complete transcript or proof of successful completion (preliminary degree certificate), an application is not possible.
 

An internship is not required in order to gain admission to this course of study. 

During your studies, you need to supply proof of an internship of at least 8 weeks in a field related to the program.

• Internship Office: Your contact for questions regarding the internship