Conservation and Landscape Planning

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Graduates will be able to define, to develop and to implement innovative strategies, methods and measures for the protection of biodiversity using the instruments of conservation biology, with a strong focus on landscape planning. They have broad and in-depth knowledge of plant and animal ecology, and can apply this knowledge in conservation strategies and spatial planning. Thus, graduates are able to develop and to implement tasks within the field of nature conservation. This includes the preparation of surveys and expert reports, i.e. the analysis, modelling and management of trends in species and habitats, and the planning of conservation or restoration.

Through a series of study projects the students enhance their subject-specific expertise, social competence and other personal skills. In addition, the internship enables them to understand habitats and species relevant to nature conservation in a foreign country. They become familiar with (inter)national conservation regulations, as well as procedures and instruments of landscape planning in Germany and abroad. They can implement essential methods of landscape planning and nature conservation such as assessment, prediction and goal setting for projects in their host country.
Graduates are therefore qualified to take up leading positions in state, private and freelance nature conservation and landscape planning, or to work as professional researchers in the corresponding fields. The Master's degree is the standard degree of university studies at TUM and qualifies students for both practical and research purposes and entitles them to do a doctorate.

After completing the Master's Program, various employment opportunities open up in public, private and freelance landscape, environmental planning and research. Professional options are offered by environmental consultancies and public administration as well as associations and international non-governmental organisations.

The Master's Program Nature Conservation and Landscape Planning takes a project-based approach. The first two semesters focus on individual projects in the fields of landscape planning and nature conservation, which are supplemented by elective modules. This provides a high degree of freedom of choice when developing an individual study profile. The third semester consists of an internship abroad, in which the theoretical knowledge will be applied in practice. The fourth semester is dedicated to the Master's thesis.

The prescribed study period of the Master's Program is four semesters in total. By including competences that have already been achieved in a bachelor's program of more than six semesters, the duration of the master's program can be adapted to the pre-studies. The prescribed period of study is thus reduced to two or three semesters (e.g. for an eight-semester Bachelor's degree in the field of landscape planning), the total duration of study for the Bachelor's/Master's degree remains 10 semesters.

• Overview Degree Program Structure (PDF 104 KB)
• Module Catalog: Description of Program Content

Required language skills for admission:

You need sufficient German 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 German language skills.

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 German.

• Information on exams
• Information on studying abroad

The tuition fees for international students from third countries for this degree program are 4,000 euros per semester. This amount is charged for full-time study. Tuition fees are charged proportionately for part-time study.

Many international students can have their fees waived or receive scholarships to finance them. You can find all information on waivers and scholarships here.

Please note: The semester fee as a contribution to the student union must be paid additionally. It varies depending on where you are studying. You can find all information on the semester fee here.

Minimum requirements to apply for a Master's program at TUM are a recognized undergraduate degree (e.g. a bachelor’s) and the successful completion of the aptitude assessment procedure. Aptitude assessment allows the TUM school or department to which you are applying the opportunity to evaluate your individual talents and motivation for study.

During the application period, you must apply through the TUMonline application portal and upload your application documents.

If you receive an offer of admission, you will additionally have to submit individual documents as notarized hardcopies by post to be enrolled.

Generally, applicants with a qualification for postgraduate studies (e.g. a bachelor’s) obtained outside of the EU / EEA must have their documents reviewed in advance through uni-assist.

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 German Language Proficiency
• Curricular Analysis
• Complete and Current Résumé
• Letter of Motivation (optional)
• Passport
• Preliminary Documentation (VPD) if the qualification for graduate studies (e.g. a bachelor’s) was obtained outside the EU/EEA (from winter semester 2025/26: outside Germany)

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: 01.04. – 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.

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
• Description of the Aptitude Assessment (appendix 2, German) (PDF 284 KB)