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Who is suitable for the distance learning programme in Environmental Sciences?
The interdisciplinary, part-time Master's programme in Environmental Sciences at FernUniversität in Hagen is aimed at anyone who wishes to acquire or deepen current environmental knowledge at an academic level – regardless of their previous field of study. It particularly addresses employees from business, science, associations, and administration. The programme is organised so flexibly that it can easily be combined with employment, family commitments, or special life situations (such as a disability or a stay abroad). The target group consists of individuals who take on environmentally relevant tasks or wish to further qualify for responsible positions in environmental protection or sustainability management. Career changers without a direct environmental background in their first degree are also welcome if they have an interest in an interdisciplinary, practice-oriented engagement with environmental issues.
What do you need to be admitted to the Master's in Environmental Sciences?
- Completed degree: You need a Bachelor's or equivalent higher education degree with 180, 210, or 240 credit points (CP). The subject of your first degree does not matter; career changers may also be admitted.
- Work experience: At least one year of employment after your first higher education qualification (postgraduate activity) must be demonstrated. The employment performed does not need to be in the original field of study.
- Proof by documents: A copy of the higher education degree and corresponding work certificates are required for enrolment.
There are no further requirements such as a specific grade point average, language skills, or a fixed application deadline. You can start studying at any time and decide your own learning pace (duration depending on previous achievements: four, six, or eight semesters).
What personal requirements should you bring?
- Interest in interdisciplinary work: The programme links content from engineering, natural, social, legal, and economic sciences. Openness to various disciplinary perspectives is important.
- Self-motivation and self-organisation: As a distance learning course, the Master’s requires independent learning and structured work.
- Work experience: The ability to connect practical issues and scientific methods will make your studies easier.
- Digital competence: Access to digital learning platforms and the use of e-learning offerings are part of the concept.
- Willingness to communicate: Interaction with fellow students and lecturers is expected in group work, forums, and study projects.
The Master's programme is particularly suitable for professionals who wish to further their education flexibly and with a scientific basis for tasks in environmental management, research, administration, or non-profit organisations.
What Awaits You in the Master’s Programme in Environmental Sciences (FernUni Hagen)?
In the part-time master’s programme “Environmental Sciences” at the FernUniversität in Hagen, you acquire comprehensive, interdisciplinary knowledge from the fields of engineering, natural sciences, law, social sciences, and economics – specially tailored to current challenges in the environmental sector. The content is delivered in cooperation with the Fraunhofer Institute for Environmental, Safety, and Energy Technology (UMSICHT) and offers you both scientific and practice-oriented knowledge.
What Study Content and Competences Does the Programme Convey?
- Law, Social Sciences, and Economics:
- Corporate sustainability management
- Market-oriented sustainability management
- Environmental economics
- Environmental policy and environmental political science
- Environmental psychology
- Environmental law
- Environmental mediation
- Natural and Engineering Sciences:
- Ecology and environmental chemistry
- Waste management and substitute materials
- Sustainable energy supply (energy systems, networks, economics)
- Water and land use
- Interdisciplinary perspectives of climate science
- Interdisciplinary Cross-sectional Topics:
- Interdisciplinary introduction to environmental sciences
- Sustainable development, mobility and transport
- Environment – technology – society
- Sustainable site development
- Political ecology of global land acquisition
- Applied systems analysis
The programme enables you to analyse environmental problems from a cross-disciplinary perspective, develop sustainable solution strategies, and apply current scientific methods in practice. You will learn about technical as well as societal, economic, and legal framework conditions of environmental management and integrate these into your professional and everyday life.
Course Structure: How Is the Distance Learning Programme Organised?
The continuing education master’s programme “Environmental Sciences” is modular in design and typically lasts four semesters. Depending on your prior education and individual learning pace, the duration of study may extend to six or eight semesters.
- Start possible at any time: You can begin your studies flexibly and adjust them to your life and work situation.
- Module structure: The programme consists of three major teaching areas (law, social sciences, economics; natural/engineering sciences; cross-sectional topics). Within these areas, you select modules according to your interests.
- Mandatory courses: Requirements include, in addition to the modules, two interactive on-site seminars, a presentation as well as – depending on prior education – a practical report and the final master’s thesis.
- Learning formats: You study using clearly arranged digital study guides, online seminars, video lectures, and working materials. Interaction with lecturers and other students takes place via digital learning platforms and presence phases.
- Assessments: Exams include, among others, term papers, presentations, written exams, online tests, and assignments to be submitted. The master’s thesis concludes the programme.
Career Prospects & Employment Opportunities
With the Master of Science in Environmental Sciences degree, you are qualified for numerous professional fields that require interdisciplinary environmental competence. Typical areas of application are:
- Nature and environmental protection authorities (public law sector)
- Agricultural, forestry, and water management offices
- Companies with environmental management or in the environmental/energy sector
- Environmental and sustainability consulting, planning, and expert activities
- Innovative environmental research in companies and institutes
- Teaching and research at (technical) universities and further education institutions
- NGOs, foundations, associations with focuses on nature, environment, or climate protection
- Self-employment with environmental products or services
- Consultancy and tasks in political organisations, authorities, or international institutions
The master’s degree also entitles you to pursue a doctorate. Due to the broad, interdisciplinary profile, you are versatile and can increasingly address international labour markets.
Costs and Financing
The programme costs a total of between €7,950 and €11,200, depending on your prior education (i.e. the number of credit points already acquired) and the number of modules taken. In addition, there is a semester fee of €250.
- Payment is usually made in instalments per semester (e.g. approx. €1,650 per semester for a typical four-semester programme).
- The costs include all teaching materials and access to digital learning platforms.
- Additional expenses may arise for travel and accommodation for the mandatory on-site seminars.
As a part-time continuing education programme, tax deductibility as work-related expenses is possible. Many employers financially support the studies through educational leave or partial cost coverage; scholarship programmes, further education scholarships, and educational bonuses (depending on the federal state) are available. The FernUni provides individual information on this.
Overall, the distance learning model offers you a flexible and family-friendly continuing education opportunity without compromising on accredited university-level standards.
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