What is it all about?

The bachelor's degree program in Environment and Georesources Management at KIT is an interdisciplinary program that combines geosciences, engineering, business administration and law. The program provides you with a broad spectrum of knowledge and skills that will prepare you for a career in various fields such as public authorities, industry, law, politics and consulting. The interdisciplinary focus will enable you to understand and analyze complex relationships between environmental and georesource management, legal frameworks, political implications and economic issues.

The focus of the bachelor's degree program is on imparting basic knowledge in the fields of environmental and georesource management and on developing interdisciplinary methodological skills. You will acquire the ability to analytically solve problems relating to climate and environmental change, the circular economy and securing raw materials. Following the foundation part of your studies, you will have the opportunity to choose specialization modules from various subject areas such as geodesy and informatics, energy management, industrial production and regional planning in order to pursue your personal interests even further.

Program structure

During your studies, you have various subjects, which consist of one or more modules. A module deals with a specific topic and consists of one or more courses. In the module handbook for your degree program, you will find a description of the modules and their subject assignment as well as a study plan. This gives you an orientation as to which courses you should attend in which semester in order to complete your studies within the standard period of study. It takes into account a balanced distribution of courses over the individual semesters. It also ensures that you are first taught the important basics before moving on to more advanced topics. Your individual course of study may differ from this.

The degree program mainly comprises compulsory subjects:

• Mathematical Foundations (12 CP): in this subject, you will learn the basics of higher mathematics, which you will need in your studies.
  
• Chemical-Physical Foundations (25 CP): in the modules of this subject, you will learn more about general and inorganic chemistry, both theoretically and in practical courses. The basics of physics are covered in the Experimental Physics module, in which the physical laws of nature can be experienced in numerous experiments.
  
• Geology (60 CP): in terms of scope and content, this subject forms the core of the degree program. Here you will learn about the fundamental aspects of geology. You will immerse yourself in the dynamics of the earth, examine minerals and learn about their chemical composition. During excursions, you will collect geological data using suitable field methods and create geological maps afterwards. And of course you will also learn about key aspects of georesources, your actual research subject in this degree program.
  
• Fundamentals of Economics (9 CP): you will acquire basic knowledge of finance, including the functioning of financial markets, aspects of accounting, logistics, market research and the systematic presentation of a modern production economy.
  
• Fundamentals of Law (10 CP): in addition to legal and constitutional fundamentals, you will study core aspects of constitutional law, business law and administrative law. You will also deal with questions of environmental law, e.g. site selection law for a final repository, international environmental law, environmental planning law, etc.
  
• Geoinformation Systems (9 CP): in this subject, you will deal with a wide range of spatial data. This includes data processing in geoinformation systems, factual data management, data modeling and databases. Statistics are also included.
  
• Climate and Ecozones (7 CP): you will learn the basics of climatology, e.g. processes and patterns in the atmosphere, their interaction with ecosystems, the importance of spatial and temporal scales. You will also learn about the relationship between climate and ecosystems, which, in addition to physical-geographical aspects and land use, shape the formation of specific landscape zones on our planet.
  
• Interdisciplinary Qualifications (6 CP): the interdisciplinary qualifications in this degree program are subject-related, i.e. lecturers from your department will teach you the basics of scientific work and communication. You will get to grips with scientific literature research and present your findings.
  

In addition to the fixed modules of the foundation part of your studies, you have options in the subject specialization, especially in the higher semesters:

• Subject Specialization (30 CP): in this subject, you can follow your interests. You choose a total of three modules from several modules, each worth 10 credit points. The modules on offer are: Geodata and Informatics, Energy Economics, Industrial Production, Regional Planning, Geology in the Field.
  

Internship

The study program does not include a compulsory internship. You can complete a voluntary internship during your studies. If it serves the objectives of your studies and covers at least half of the lecture period, you can apply for a semester off (leave of absence). Such an internship offers you valuable experience outside the university and can make it easier for you to start your career later on.

Stays abroad

KIT offers a wide range of options for stays abroad, from individual courses to a year abroad. Especially if you are interested in a longer stay abroad, it is advisable to contact the International Students Office or the KIT Department of Civil Engineering, Geo and Environmental Sciences directly to find out about outgoing options at an early stage.

Bachelor's thesis

At the end of your bachelor's degree, you will complete your bachelor's thesis, an academic paper that allows you to apply and deepen the knowledge and skills you have acquired. It usually deals with a specific topic from your field of study and requires independent research, analysis and writing. The bachelor's thesis takes a maximum of 6 months to complete. The bachelor's thesis can also be completed externally, for example in a company.

Characteristic features of Environment and Georesources Management B.Sc. at KIT

• interdisciplinary combination of geosciences, engineering, economics and environmental law in one degree program
  
• strong focus on sustainability, circular economy and responsible resource management
  
• linking theory and practice relating to raw materials, energy (e.g. geothermal energy) and environmental issues
  
• training for interface roles between technology, management, politics and law
  
• broad range of topics: from mining and recycling to climate, environmental and natural hazard management
  
• flexible study structure with consecutive bachelor's and master's degree programs and specialization options
  
• practical preparation for complex future tasks such as energy transition, securing raw materials and sustainable spatial planning
  

What KIT has to offer

• central campus close to the city forest and right next to the city center
  
• orientation week before the start of lectures
  
• 24-hour library offering single and group working places
  
• wide range of inexpensive catering options (dining hall, cafeteria, Koeri and Pizzawerk)
  
• numerous interdisciplinary offers for personal and professional development, e.g. Lernlabor, Schreiblabor and Perspektivenlabor
  
• study abroad, e.g. via Erasmus
  
• excellent university sports facilities with a large selection of sports
  
• comprehensive cultural offerings with university orchestras, choirs and theater groups
  
• extensive support for career entry and self-employment
  
• Lernraum app
  
• internationally oriented degree programs and diverse exchange programs
  
• modern laboratories and practical teaching methods
  
• diverse student initiatives, clubs and opportunities to actively participate in campus life
  
• stay in touch after graduation via the alumni network

Higher education entrance qualification (HZB)

Germans and persons of equal status to Germans (i.e. EU/EEA nationals and non-EU/EEA nationals with a German higher education entrance qualification) are entitled to study at KIT if they have one of the following qualifications:

1. General higher education entrance qualification (Abitur)
2. (relevant) subject-restricted higher education entrance qualification (not Fachhochschulreife)
3. Delta examination of the University of Mannheim (for holders of a Fachhochschulreife)
4. recognized advanced vocational training (e.g. master craftsperson) or vocational training, professional experience and aptitude test for those with professional qualifications

For further options, see §58 of the "Landeshochschulgesetz" (State Higher Education Act).

Please note: German nationals with a foreign school-leaving qualification must have the relevant "Regierungspräsidium" (regional authority) certify that their qualification is equivalent to the German Abitur.

For non-EU/EEA nationals with a foreign school-leaving certificate (hereinafter also referred to simply as non-EU/EEA nationals), the school-leaving certificate from some countries is recognized as a direct university entrance qualification in Germany. In many cases, however, in addition to the school-leaving certificate, a university entrance examination and/or a successful year of study in the home country and/or the "Feststellungsprüfung" must be proven with valid documents in order to be allowed to study a bachelor's degree in Germany. You can find the country-specific regulations in the DAAD admissions database or on the Anabin website (in German only) of the "Zentralstelle für ausländisches Bildungswesen" (Central Office for Foreign Education). Further information is available from the International Students Office.

Sprachvoraussetzungen und -nachweise

Für den Bachelorstudiengang Umwelt- und Georesourcenmanagement benötigst du ausreichende Kenntnisse der deutschen Sprache. Deine Deutschkenntnisse müssen mindestens dem Niveau C1 des Gemeinsamen Europäischen Referenzrahmens für Sprachen (GER) entsprechen.

Important: you must provide proof of the required language skills regardless of your citizenship and by the end of the enrollment period at the latest, but preferably at the time of application.

In what form do I have to provide the language certificates? Please read the following chapters on this website carefully. If you have any further questions, please contact

• Students Office if you are applying as a German, German national or a person with German equivalent status
• the International Students Office if you are a non-EU national

Proof of sufficient German language skills

As proof of your German language skills, your higher education or master's entrance qualification (e.g. Abitur, university degree or a professional qualification that entitles you to study) is sufficient if you have acquired it at a German-speaking institution with German as the language of instruction.

In concrete terms, this means that you do not have to submit additional proof of German if you

• have obtained your Abitur at a German-speaking school in Germany or abroad,
• are a graduate of a bilingual secondary school in Germany or abroad and have passed a bilingual German examination, such as the AbiBac or the Gemischtsprachiges International Baccalaureat (GIB) or
• you graduated from a foreign school, but there is another official agreement with the respective country regarding the recognition of your school-leaving certificate or language certificate as proof of language proficiency for university studies in Germany.

A complete list of foreign school-leaving qualifications and language certificates that are recognized as proof of sufficient German language skills can be found on the website of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Laender (KMK) in the Federal Republic of Germany.

If you have already completed a German-language degree at a German university, this can also count as proof of German language proficiency - but only if the diploma supplement, transcript of records or degree certificate clearly states that German was the sole language of instruction and examination.

If, on the other hand, you did not obtain your higher education or master's entrance qualification at a German-speaking institution with German as the language of instruction, you must provide proof of German language proficiency at least at DSH-2 level. This corresponds to CEFR level C1.

Only the following certificates are accepted in accordance with the KIT admission and enrollment regulations:

• passed German section of the Feststellungspruefung (assessment test)
• passed German language test for university admission (DSH) with overall result DSH-2
• passed Test of German as a Foreign Language (TestDaF) with level 4 in all four parts of the exam
• German Language Diploma of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs - second level (DSD II)
• Goethe certificate C1 or higher
• passed telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule exam
• Austrian Language Diploma C1 or higher

Note: The above-mentioned tests are accepted as proof of language proficiency for an unlimited period of time, even if the provider specifies an expiration date.

What if I cannot provide suitable C1 proof of German at the time of application?

If you are unable to provide any of the C1 certificates listed above demonstrating your German language skills by the application deadline, you may still be admitted if you can provisionally demonstrate at least B1 language proficiency. Proof of B1 level is provided by a recognized language certificate or other certification from a language or other educational institution that clearly shows that B1 level has been achieved.

But please don't forget: you still have to submit the C1 certificate by the end of your enrollment period at the latest, which is stated in your admission letter.

Therefore, check early on whether you can provide the necessary language certificates by the deadline and, if necessary, plan to take a recognized language test.

In justified cases, you can apply for an extension of the enrollment deadline to provide proof of your language skills, but this extensvion can only be granted up to the day before the start of the lecture period. Please contact the Student Office or the International Students Office - depending on who is named as your point of contact in your letter of admission.

Additional necessary requirements for enrollment

For Germans and those with German equivalent status, an additional necessary requirement for enrollment is proof of participation in a study orientation test (e.g. www.was-studiere-ich.de) or a study orientation consultation in accordance with §7 of the "Landeshochschulgesetz" (State Higher Education Act), e.g. by the Student Advisory Service (ZSB) of KIT. Non-EU/EEA nationals do not have to provide this proof.

• all year round Information events of the Student Advisory Service (ZSB) on your desired degree programs, application and admission as well as starting your studies
• Try out KIT - clarify your interests and support your study decision by taking advantage of the diverse summer offers or participating in taster lectures.
• Campus Day: experience the campus live (together with your family) in spring and make your first personal contacts with the departments and their students
• Studieninformationstag: visit KIT on the state-wide study information day in November and experience the lecture hall feeling for the first time
• topMINT: you don't know yet what you want to study and need to bridge the summer? Take advantage of our orientation semester before you start your studies.
• Use our central online portal studienstart.kit.edu with all the important information and services you need to prepare for your studies and your first semester at KIT. Be it preparatory courses, study-related courses or mentoring programs.
• Orientation phase before the start of lectures - from students for students to get to know KIT, your fellow students and your student council. You will receive specific information on this when you enrol.
• You will be welcomed by KIT with a colorful supporting program at the welcome event for first semester students. You will receive the invitation after your enrollment.

Weitere Ansprechpersonen:

• KIT-Fakultät für Bauingenieur-, Geo- und Umweltwissenschaften
• Institut für Angewandte Geowissenschaften
• Fachstudienberatung
• Vorsitzender des Prüfungsausschusses
• Informationen zum Auslandsstudium
• Fachschaft Geowissenschaften

Teaching calendar

Course catalog

• Course catalog current term
• Course catalog current term PDF (English)
• Archive of previous catalogs