Studying

Programme structure

1rst study semester at Göttingen University

3 compulsory classes (18 C):

  • M.INC.1001: International Nature Conservation
  • M.INC.1005: Population biology in nature conservation
  • M.Biodiv.483: Assessment of Wildlife Species for Nature Conservation

2 elective classes (12 C), e.g.:

    Winter Semester
  • M.INC.1003: Animal Conservation
  • M.INC.1006: Data analysis for field biologists
  • M.FES.721: Ecological Functions of Wildlife: Implications for Conservation and Management
  • M.FES.111: Introduction to Ecological Modelling
  • M.FES.122: Ecological Simulation Modelling
  • M.Forst.739: Basics and application of Geographic Information Systems in life sciences
  • M.Agr.0009: Biological Control and Biodiversity
  • M.Agr.0047: Naturschutz interfakultativ I
  • M.Agr.0048: Naturschutz interfakultativ II
  • M.Agr.0052: Ecology and Nature Conservation (G/E)
  • M.Agr.0058: Plant herbivore interactions
  • M.Agr.0089: Ökologisches Seminar
  • M.Bio-NF.306: Introduction to behavioural biology
  • M.Biodiv.401: Biodiversity (G/E)
  • M.Biodiv.402: Plant ecology and ecosystems research (G/E)
  • M.Biodiv.403: Vegetationsökologie und Vegetationsgeschichte
  • M.Biodiv.404: Animal Ecology
  • M.Biodiv.406: Regionale Vegetationsökologie und Phytodiversität (G/E)
  • M.Biodiv.412: Conservation biology
  • M.Biodiv.435: Field studies in phytodiversity, vegetation ecology and palaeoecology (G/E)
  • M.Biodiv.435: M.Biodiv.436: Vegetation ecology: Project study of vegetation and phytodiversity (G/E)
  • M.Biodiv.450: Plant ecology: Impact of global climate change on plant communities and their functional traits(G/E)
  • M.Biodiv.450: M.Biodiv.478: Field studies in systematics, biodiversity and ecology of marine (G/E)
  • M.Biodiv.605: Project studies in animal evolution and biodiversity (G/E)
  • M.FES.112: Biodiversity Measurement
  • M.FES.113: Soil Hydrology
  • M.FES.115: Statistical Data Analysis with R
  • M.FES.311: Tropical Forest Ecology and Silviculture
  • M.FES.313: Monitoring of Forest Resources
  • M.FES.718: Botanical/Biogeographical excursion
  • M.FES.719: Remote Sensing Image Processing with Open Source Software
  • M.Forst.212: Ökologische und politische Grundlagen des Waldnaturschutzes
  • M.Forst.214: Biodiversität
  • M.Forst.786: Wald-Wild-Seminar
  • M.Geg.03: Globaler Umweltwandel / Landnutzungsänderung
  • M.SIA.A11: Tropical animal husbandry systems
  • M.SIA.E11: Socioeconomics of rural development and food security
  • M.SIA.I12: Sustainable international agriculture: basic principles and approaches
  • M.WIWI-VWL.0008: Development Economics I: Macro Issues in Economic Development
  • M.WIWI-VWL.0055: Globalization and Development
  • SK.Bio.311: Ethnobotany (G/E)
  • SK.Bio.331: Research internship (8 weeks)
  • Summer Semester
  • M.Agr.0002: Honigbienen und Wildbienen in der Agrarlandschaft
  • M.Agr.0061: Projektpraktikum Naturschutz in der Agrarlandschaft
  • M.Agr.0089: Ökologisches Seminar
  • M.Agr.0197: Sustainability – Basics and Application (G/E)
  • M.Bio-NF.401: International Nature Conservation at the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, Vilm
  • M.Biodiv.401: Biodiversity (G/E)
  • M.Biodiv.403: Vegetationsökologie und Vegetationsgeschichte
  • M.Biodiv.423: : Plant ecology: Study of habitats (G/E)
  • M.Biodiv.424:Field studies of plant ecology, phytodiversity, and ecosystems research (G/E)
  • M.Biodiv.426: Reproduction and evolution of flowering plants
  • M.Biodiv.428: Biodiversity and biogeography of embryophyta (G/E)
  • M.Biodiv.431: Vegetation ecology: Applied vegetation ecology and multivariate analysis (G/E)
  • M.Biodiv.435: Field studies in phytodiversity, vegetation ecology and palaeoecology (G/E)
  • M.Biodiv.435: M.Biodiv.436: Vegetation ecology: Project study of vegetation and phytodiversity (G/E)
  • M.Biodiv.443: Field studies in animal ecology and zoological biodiversity (G/E)
  • M.Biodiv.482: Field studies in conservation biology (G/E)
  • M.Biodiv.488: Conservation biology: Ornithology
  • M.Biodiv.605: Project studies in animal evolution and biodiversity (G/E)
  • M.FES.124: Modern Concepts and Methods in Macroecology and Biogeography
  • M.FES.221: Modern Methods in Ecology
  • M.FES.321: Ecopedology of the Tropics and Subtropics
  • M.FES.711: Exercises in Forest Inventory
  • M.FES.713: Forestry in Germany
  • M.FES.729: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning
  • M.Forst.221: Fernerkundung und GIS
  • M.Forst.222: Klima- und Bodenschutz
  • M.Forst.739: Basics and application of Geographic Information Systems in life sciences
  • M.Forst.786: Wald-Wild-Seminar
  • M.INC.1004: Protected Areas
  • M.SIA.E12M: Quantitative research methods in rural development economics
  • M.SIA.E14: Evaluation of rural development projects and policies
  • M.SIA.E24: Topics in Rural Development Economics I
  • M.SIA.E37: Agricultural policy analysis
  • M.SIA.E40: Agriculture, Environment and Development
  • M.SIA.I20: Agriculture and ecosystem services
  • M.SIA.P10: Tropical agro-ecosystem functions

2nd study semester at Lincoln University

3 courses of own choice, e.g.

    Semester I
  • ECOL 631 - Animal Behaviour
  • ECOL 608 - Research Methods in Ecology
  • ECOL 609 - Conservation Biology
  • ERST 601 - Advanced Theory in Resource Studies
  • ERST 606 - Advanced Geographic Information Systems A
  • ERST 620 - Advanced Environmental Management Systems
  • ERST 630 - Environmental Policy and Planning
  • ERST 631 - Environmental Sciences in Environmental Policy
  • ERST 632 - Economics in Environmental Policy
  • Semester II
  • ECOL 612 - Wildlife Management
  • ECOL 630 - Advanced Ecology
  • ENSC 601 - Advanced Climate Change and Land Use
  • ERST 607 - Advanced Geographic Information Systems B
  • ERST 621 - Principles of Environmental Impact Assessment
  • ERST 624 - Advanced Professional Planning Methods and Practice
  • ERST 633 - Integrated Environmental Management
  • ERST 636 - Aspects of Sustainability: An International Perspective
  • MAST 603 - Mana Kaitiaki (Māori Resource Management)
  • MGMT 615 - Planning and Assessing International Development Projects
  • MGMT 635 - Advanced Agricultural Systems Management
  • RECN 626 - Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism
  • TOUR 604 - Tourist Behaviour

3rd semester: Internship

an internship of at least 12 weeks in conservation practice

4th semester: Thesis

6 months Master Thesis

Full Modules Overview

The internship semester aims to provide hands-on experienced through interaction with practitioners, and is therefore an important component of the programme. Students will acquire practical skills by assisting in field and project work at a scientific host institution or at an international nature conservation organization or NGO. The practical project will cover three months minimum.

In the past, students have e.g. been working at the following office or field based locations:

  • IUCN World Headquarters, Switzerland
  • KfW, Germany
  • Bundesamt für Naturschutz, Bonn, Germany
  • UNEP offices in Germany, UK and Kenya
  • Conservation International, Indonesia
  • Department of Conservation, New Zealand
  • Seychelles Islands Foundation, Seychelles
  • Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama
  • WWF: Ecuador, Costa Rica, Malaysia and USA
  • Wildlife Conservation Society, Fidji

Internship semester

The internship semester aims to provide hands-on experienced through interaction with practitioners, and is therefore an important component of the programme. Students will acquire practical skills by assisting in field and project work at a scientific host institution or at an international nature conservation organization or NGO. The practical project will cover three months minimum.

In the past, students have e.g. been working at the following office or field based locations:

  • IUCN World Headquarters, Switzerland
  • KfW, Germany
  • Bundesamt für Naturschutz, Bonn, Germany
  • UNEP offices in Germany, UK and Kenya
  • Conservation International, Indonesia
  • Department of Conservation, New Zealand
  • Seychelles Islands Foundation, Seychelles
  • Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, Panama
  • WWF: Ecuador, Costa Rica, Malaysia and USA
  • Wildlife Conservation Society, Fidji