Master
Ecology and Environmental Change
Ecosystems are currently facing multiple challenges such as climate change, land use, pollution, etc. Students will learn the necessary skills to understand the various responses of organisms to their rapidly changing environments. The Master programme 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.
All classes are taught in English and international applicants are very welcome!
Information event
The events for the 2025 application phase have already taken place.
For information and advice, please contact Barbara Caspers.
We look forward to receiving your application!
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- Structure
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
Teaching combines theoretical and practical work which are closely linked. Working in small groups prepares students for scientific work in research groups. The courses teach the necessary knowledge, skills, and methods enabling the students to perform scientific work, present scientific data, critically assess scientific findings, and act in a responsible manner.
- Topics
In this master programme, students gain knowledge and skills in the areas of fundamental and applied ecology, with a special focus on aspects of global environmental change. Using model species, they get to know the role of diverse abiotic and biotic parameters in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, addressing trends of global change and adaptations of organisms to these parameters.
They acquire skills in scientific methods such as laboratory and field experiments as well as in ecological modelling. In particular, they develop a broad repertoire of ecological, taxonomic, chemical-analytical, evolutionary and theoretical concepts and approaches, enabling them to understand complex concepts in basic and applied research and to apply their skills in environmental aspects.
- Job perspectives
The combination of basic and applied concepts of ecology as well as the numerous methods and tools convey qualifications for both scientific and more applied areas of the job market.
Graduates interested in research may pursue a scientific career by working on a PhD, in order to qualify for research positions in universities, research institutes or industry.
Graduates focused on applied aspects are qualified for a broad spectrum of job opportunities such as in communal, national and European government agencies, in economy and in nature conservation. They are furthermore qualified for working in the areas of outreach, including scientific publishing, scientific journalism and museum education.
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Application & Formalities
An overview of programme related details can be found in the university's “Study Information”. This includes, for example,
- legal regulations for the degree program including the requirements for access and admission (subject-specific regulations)
- contact persons etc.
- How to apply
Please apply online. You will find lots of information regarding enrollment including deadlines and our application portal here (it is possible to change the language with a click on "EN" in the line under the wide picture).
You will need to provide the following application documents:
- A document detailing your qualifications, goals and motivation for the Master’s programme. Please answer the following questions in full sentences in English (no bullet points, please)
- How do your past studies qualify you for the Master’s programme Ecology and Environmental Change? Briefly state the most relevant theoretical and practical skills you gained. There is no need to go into details of courses taken, especially not for courses offered at Bielefeld University. Please mention also any relevant work, internship or volunteering experiences.
(max. 400 words)
- What are your main learning goals for the Master’s programme? What research fields are of particular interest to you and what skills would you like to develop over the course of the Master’s programme?
(max. 400 words)
- What career goals could you imagine pursuing after completing the Master’s programme and how might the programme help you to achieve these goals?
(max. 400 words)
- How do your past studies qualify you for the Master’s programme Ecology and Environmental Change? Briefly state the most relevant theoretical and practical skills you gained. There is no need to go into details of courses taken, especially not for courses offered at Bielefeld University. Please mention also any relevant work, internship or volunteering experiences.
- Your Bachelor’s certificate (or the certificate of your prior studies qualifying you for the Master’s programme) and transcript of records. If the final certificate is not available, a current transcript of records is sufficient at the time of the application.
- Proof of English language skills (at least level B2 on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages). If you have a high-school or university diploma from an English-speaking institution, this is automatically fulfilled (please provide certificate). Otherwise please provide an English language certificate recognised by German universities (TOEFL, telc, IELTS, Unicert, or Cambridge Certificate).
- A document detailing your qualifications, goals and motivation for the Master’s programme. Please answer the following questions in full sentences in English (no bullet points, please)