Sustainable Transition (M.Sc.)
Master of Science (M.Sc.) - digital degree programme, taught in English
Overview
- Flyer Sustainable Transition
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Grafik: Till Schürmann
- JLU Digital Campus
- Englischer Studiengang
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This course of study is taught in English.
- Digital degree programme
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Digital degree programme
- Overview-rest
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Do you want to understand development and transition processes? Do you want to initiate social and technological change to make economic activities more sustainable? Are you interested in social, economic, political and natural sciences, especially in their interdependencies? Do you want to study from anywhere in the world at one of Germany‘s oldest universities? Then join us in working towards a more sustainable future, with a special emphasis on sustainable agricultural and food systems, and explore our international Master’s degree programme Sustainable Transition!
The Master‘s degree programme Sustainable Transition is the first fully online degree programme at Justus Liebig University Giessen, offered by the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Nutritional Sciences and Environmental Management (Faculty 09), a faculty with recognised expertise in the scientific analysis of agricultural and food systems. The standard duration of the programme is four semesters. All courses and examinations are offered online and can be taken remotely. If you wish to be physically present in Giessen during your studies, you can attend on-site courses during the summer vacations.
Target Group
As a student of our M.Sc. programme, you will
- analyze and understand the concept of sustainability and the trade-offs involved through the lens of different disciplines,
- comprehend the various areas of transition, including economic, legal, political, social, agricultural, and environmental aspects, and how they relate to sustainability,
- gain knowledge as well as analytical competences in methods and strategies to enhance transition processes towards a more sustainable economy,
- be skilled in evaluating transition processes from a sustainability perspective and developing solutions for sustainable transitions applicable to the private and public sector.
Composition of the Study Programme
- Composition of the Study Programme
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Degree
Master of Science (MSc)
Duration of Studies
4 semesters – 120 credit points (cp)
Composition of the Degree Programme
The study programme is organized in modules (courses). Our modules offer a wide spectrum of different teaching methods including synchronous online teaching such as lectures, seminars and group discussion as well as asynchronous elements such as videos and individual work tasks. Each module comprises four semester hours per week and is completed with a final examination as given in the module description. The final grade of the study programme is calculated from the achieved module grades.
The programme schedule consists of 11 mandatory modules (core modules), 5 optional modules (profile modules) and the Master‘s thesis. Having completed the core modules, the students are well equipped with a solid scientific education and ready to deepen their knowledge in specific research areas. By individually choosing their profile modules from a diverse range of study areas students shape their individual competence profile.
Structure of the Master's Degree Course
The Master’s degree course consists of 16 modules (120 credits):
Modules Core Competence 11 mandatory modules 66 credits Profile Competence 5 optional modules 30 credits Master’s thesis 24 credits Total 16 modules 120 credits Core Modules (Mandatory Courses)
- Transdisciplinary Sustainability Research (6 CP)
- Theory and Practice of Economic Development (6 CP)
- Global Food Markets (6 CP)
- International Economics (6 CP)
- Climate Change and Economic Development (6 CP)
- Sustainable Food Systems (6 CP)
- Resource Economics and Sustainable Development (6 CP)
- Renewable Energy Transition (6 CP)
- Natural Resources and Ecosystem Services (6 CP)
- Food Politics (6 CP)
- Scientific Working and Writing (6 CP)
Profile Modules (6 CP each)
Students tailor their individual profile by selecting 5 modules from the profile module catalogue for digital degree programmes. Among the modules for this study programme are the following:
- The Economics of Nitrate Pollution
- Python for Environmental Scientists
- Land Use Chance Projection with QGIS
- Agriculture, Ecosystem Functioning and Climate Change
- Land Governance for Sustainable Land Use in Africa
- Special Topics of the UN Sustainable Development Goals I
- Special Topics of the UN Sustainable Development Goals II
- Concepts of Ecological Economics
- Sustainable Plant Protection
On-Site Courses during the Summer Vacation
Several profile modules are offered as block modules with physical attendance in Giessen during the summer vacation. These modules are optional and you can attend them if you wish to be physically present in Giessen during your studies. If you are interested in attending some of these modules, please contact the study coordinators of the Faculty 09 at studies for further information.
Master Thesis (24 CP)
Students dedicate the major part of the 4th semester to writing the Master's thesis. With the thesis, they prove their capability to investigate a given topic independently and scientifically within a given timeframe. The core module Scientific Working and Writing supports students in their research process.
Application
- Start WS-engl: Commencement of studies
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Commencement of Studies
Only possible in the winter semester.
- Bewerbergruppen-engl
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Application Procedure
Depending on where you obtained either your university entrance certificate or your Bachelor degree, we differentiate two application procedures:
Case A
You need to use JLU’s application portal if
- you hold a completed Bachelor’s degree obtained at a German university (the country of origin of your university entrance certificate is of no importance).
- your German Bachelor programme is not yet complete. Please provide a preliminary report. The country of origin of your university entrance certificate is of no importance.
- you want to change to another degree programme at JLU. The country of origin of your university entrance certificate is of no importance.
Case B
You need to submit your application to uni-assist if
- you hold a completed Bachelor’s degree obtained at a foreign university (the country of origin of your university entrance certificate is of no importance).
- you obtained your university entrance certificate abroad and attended but not completed yet a Bachelor programme at any other university within EU. Please provide a preliminary report.
- Application: deadline, intake capacity, fees
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Intake Capacity ("Numerus Clausus")
The intake capacity of this degree programme is not limited internally by the university.
Deadline
- Application for enrolment starts:
- for applicants with a German Bachelor's: June 1
- for applicants with an international Bachelor's degree: May 1
- Application deadline:
- for applicants with a German Bachelor's: September 1 // extended until October 11
- for applicants with an international Bachelor's degree: August 15
Fees
Giessen University does not charge study fees as such; it does, however, charge administrative fees. These fees currently amount to about 100 Euro per semester but they may vary from semester to semester. (details).
- Application for enrolment starts:
- Further information-admission international
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For further information please contact:
Registrar’s Office / Studierendensekretariat
Goethestrasse 58
Postal address: Postfach 11 14 40, 35359 Giessen
Tel.: 0641/99-16400
international.admission@admin.uni-giessen.de / stud-sekretariat@admin.uni-giessen.de
- Application: Admission requirements
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Admission Requirements
Applicants must hold a Bachelor's degree with at least 180 ECTS-points and the grade good or very good (Minimum Grade of 2.6 German grading system) in one of the following scientific fields:
- Agriculture
- Nutrition
- Natural or environmental sciences
- Economics
- Political science
Proof of sufficient knowledge in economics, and/or the social sciences, i.e. at least 60 ECTS points in at least one of these subjects.
The application includes a letter of motivation with 500 words (+/- 10%) outlining the candidate’s personal motivation and his or her subject-specific knowledge.
Applications will be examined individually as to whether the study requirements are fulfilled. A specialist commission at JLU will then finally decide on the admission. The criteria for the evaluation of the motivation letter are given in the examination regulations. We cannot provide information on the status of acceptance before the application process is fully completed.
- Application: Language requirements
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Language Requirements
As the entire degree course is taught in English, applicants must provide proof of sufficient knowledge of written and spoken English. Accepted proofs of language proficiency:
- either: TOEFL-Test ITB (internet-based test) with at least 95 points or IELTS-Test with at least grade of 7 in the academic test;
- or: Proof of obtaining a local higher education entrance qualification in one of the following countries: Australia, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, USA, United Kingdom, South Africa;
- or: Proof of a Bachelor’s degree in English in one of the following countries: Australia, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, USA, United Kingdom, South Africa;
- or: Proof of the UNIcert III certificate.
- Application: Technical requirements
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Technical Requirements
As students have to work with learning management systems, elaborate knowledge and submit several different written tasks, we expect the following technical requirements:
- Reliable internet connection,
- Computer with sufficient screen size (about 15 inches), camera and headset, whereas several different devices and combinations are possible, for instance: laptop with integrated camera or web cam plus headset and possibly an additional screen. Be careful about your choice of a tablet, as statistic programmes, for instance, do not run on every device. We therefore recommend to use a laptop or a classic workstation computer.
Please refrain from studying with only a smartphone, as you need to work with literature, complex statistic programmes, and to write term papers.
Career Options
Contact
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Course Specific Academic Counselling ("Studienfachberatung")
- Sustainable Transition (englischsprachig)
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Prof. Dr. Ramona Teuber
Department of Agricultural Policy and Market Research
Zeughaus, Senckenbergstraße 3, 35390 Giessen
Phone +49 (0) 641 99 37020
Ramona.Teuber@agrar.uni-giessen.de
Office hours: by appointment
Further Information
- Further Information: Dokumente
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Examination regulations
- Examination- and study regulations (in German)
(including module descriptions and course of study plans) - Examination Committee and Regulations (Informationen in English)
- General study regulations for modular and multi-stage study programmes
Courses offered in the course catalogue
- Examination- and study regulations (in German)
- JLU Digital Campus
- Links Faculty 09
- Master's Degree Programmes of Faculty 09
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taught in English
- Agrobiotechnology (taught in English)
- Insect Biotechnology and Bioresources (taught in English)
- Sustainable Transition (taught in English - Digital degree programm)
- Transition Management (taught in English)
taught in German
- Agricultural and Resource Economics (taught in German)
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology (taught in German)
- Food Economics (taught in German)
- Nutritional Sciences (taught in German)
- Beverage Technology (offered in cooperation with the Geisenheim University) (taught in German)
- Crop Science (taught in German)
- Livestock Sciences (taught in German)
- Nutritional Sciences and Home Economics / Ecotrophology (taught in German)
- Oenology (offered in cooperation with the Geisenheim University) (taught in German)
- Environmental Sciences (taught in German)
- Wine Economics (offered in cooperation with the Geisenheim University) (taught in German)
- Any more questions?
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Any more questions?
Information and consulting services of the JLU can be found in the category "Contact" on this page!
