Ecology and Environmental Change
Overview
Contents of the subject Ecology and Environmental Change
The Master programme "Ecology and Environmental Change" brings together different fields of ecology (animal and plant ecology, chemical ecology, conservation ecology and theoretical evolutionary ecology) to explore how individuals, populations, communities and ecosystems respond and adapt to environmental change. Over the course of the Master programme, students learn to design and conduct laboratory and field experiments, acquire chemical-analytical methods, learn how to build eco-evolutionary models, and strengthen their statistical analysis and scientific communication skills.
In the first year, students take classes including Ecosystem Wadden Sea (with excursion), Environmental change and chemical communication, Models in conservation biology, Animal Ecology in a changing world, Effects of environmental change on plant chemistry, Plant ecology in a changing environment, Nature conservation and environmental protection (with excursion). The second year consists of individual research modules and the Master thesis.
All classes are taught in English and international applicants are very welcome! German skills are not required, but free German classes are offered for students at Bielefeld University.
Contact persons
Advantages
Career prospects
International focus
English-language course
What are the access requirements?
Access to the Master programme is granted to those who can provide evidence that they have a first university degree which has a standard period of study of at least six semesters, qualifies for exercising a profession and is in accordance with the subject-specific regulations.
In any case, please read the specific Admission requirements for this Masters programme in the Subject-specific regulations (PDF).
Degrees from accredited Bachelor programmes at German ‘Berufsakademien’ are equivalent to Bachelor degrees from universities.
Applicants with a university degree obtained abroad are granted access provided that the degree they have acquired is deemed sufficient for this purpose and they can provide evidence of the required language skills.
Further information on the application process for prospective international students and the language requirements.
Special conditions apply to applicants with a foreign certificate of education.
What formalities are important?
Course start
Studies can be commenced only in winter semester.
Length and scope of studies
The standard period of studies is 4 semesters. Information on studying part time.
The studies Ecology and Environmental Change comprise 120 credit points.
Application, admission, and enrolment
The study places for this degree programme are subject to local admission restrictions (numerus clausus). You need to apply within the currently applicable application deadlines.
As soon as you receive a positive response in the application and status portal (notice of access from the faculty) and receive your admission notice from the Student Office, you can submit your application for enrolment within the set deadline.
Step by step to a Master programme with NC
Special conditions apply to applicants with a foreign certificate of education.
The courses
You will find the programme of lectures for this course in the eKVV.
An overview of the introductory and information events is provided by the central student counselling services.
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The information on admission restrictions / numerus clausus (NC) refers to applications for the winter semester 2026/27 and summer semester 2027.
Information on NC values from previous years