What you can expect in our master's program

Study geology, earth sciences, natural resources, and sustainability in an interdisciplinary program: energy resources, geothermal energy, water supplies, minerals, and soils - the Earth’s resources form the foundation of the economy, energy supply, and social development. At the same time, we must protect the soil, subsurface, and natural habitats, secure supply chains, and respect ecological limits. In the study program Environment and Georesource Management at KIT, you will address precisely these challenges: you will combine geosciences, engineering, economics and environmental law in a forward-oriented program with a focus on sustainability, the circular economy, and responsible resource management.

Sustainable Management of Georesources: between Mining, Recycling, and Climate Protection. The development and use of georesources - from traditional raw materials and energy resources to groundwater - requires in-depth knowledge of geology and the geosciences. At the same time, economic conditions, global supply chains, social acceptance, environmental and mining laws, and political governance play a central role - all of which you will explore during your studies.

The key challenges include:

• sustainable raw material security and responsible mining
• transforming linear value chains into a circular economy and promoting recycling
• assessing and managing climate and environmental change
• protecting soil, subsoil and water resources
• risk management for natural hazards such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods and tsunamis

This program is a great fit for you if you're interested in topics such as sustainable resource management, the energy transition, the circular economy or environmental and spatial planning, and want to play an active role in shaping them.

Typical academic backgrounds include earth sciences, geoecology, environmental engineering, mineral resources engineering as well as environmental or resource management or related natural science or engineering programs.

In the master’s program, you will delve into core topics in environmental and georesource management through required courses and set your own academic focus by choosing a specialization - Energy and Raw Materials Management or Environmental Management. Within your specialization, you’ll have access to numerous elective modules that allow you to tailor your studies flexibly, for example in geoinformatics, raw material exploration and evaluation, energy and energy economics or circular economy and recycling. You can also delve deeper into topics such as water, environmental change, legal and economic frameworks or spatial planning, thereby developing your personal skill set.

The standard period of study of the program is four semesters, during which you will earn a total of 120 ECTS credits. In addition, you have the opportunity to take additional modules as part of the program’s elective offerings and broaden your academic horizons.

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.

Make your studies international

KIT offers a wide range of options for stays abroad, from individual courses to a year abroad overseas. 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.

Master's thesis

At the end of your studies, you will complete your master's thesis (30 CP), a scientific paper that allows you to apply and deepen the knowledge and skills you have acquired. It deals with a specific topic from your field of study and requires independent research, analysis and the preparation of a written thesis. The master's thesis takes 6 months to complete. You can start it as soon as you have achieved 70 CP.

As a graduate of the Environment and Georesources Management degree program at KIT, you will have a combination of geosciences, engineering, economics and environmental law. This opens up a wide range of career paths for you - from technical project work to strategic tasks in planning, consulting, administration or research.

Important professional fields include the raw materials industry and raw materials management. Here you will work with topics such as deposits, supply chains and the circular economy, analyze raw material deposits, evaluate projects and develop strategies for sustainable use and recycling.

You can also work in energy and water supply. With your knowledge of energy resources, geothermal energy, underground and water supplies, you will plan and support projects, evaluate resources and develop sustainable supply concepts, taking into account the legal framework.

In environmental and spatial planning as well as in public authorities, you will work on environmental impact assessments, infrastructure and raw materials projects or approval procedures. This also includes topics such as final disposal, geological storage and strategic spatial planning.

Other opportunities include consulting, expert opinions and the insurance industry, for example in risk analyses of natural hazards or sustainability strategies. If you want to work scientifically, you can also go into research and development, for example on recycling, energy, geological storage or the sustainable use of resources.

You will also be particularly in demand to manage complex projects, for example in mining, CO₂ storage, infrastructure or energy projects as well as international resource and supply chain projects.

With a master's degree, you will also qualify for more responsible positions, for example in strategic resource management, public administration, industry or consulting.

Characteristic features of Environment and Georesources Management M.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
  
• 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
  
• internationally oriented degree programs and diverse exchange programs
  
• modern laboratories and practical teaching methods
  
• Lernraum app
  
• diverse student initiatives, clubs and opportunities to actively participate in campus life
  
• stay in touch after graduation via the alumni network
  

Admission requirements

The requirements for admission to the master's degree program in Environment and Georesources Management are based on the current admission regulations:

• bachelor's degree
  an above-average bachelor's degree (or at least an equivalent degree) in Environment and Georesources Management (or a degree program with essentially the same content) at a university, university of applied sciences or university of cooperative education or at a foreign university. The above-average grade is measured by the average final grade of the bachelor's students in the bachelor's degree program Environment and Georesources Management at KIT in the last three years. The degree program must have been completed within a standard period of study of at least three years and with a minimum number of 180 ECTS credits.
• minimum knowledge and minimum achievements
  you must provide evidence of the following achievements in your bachelor's degree or as part of other degree programs:
  • Geology to the extent of 30 CP
    • of which at least 5 CP are in field training in the geosciences and
    • at least 5 CP in geoinformatics
  • Physics to the extent of 5 CP
  • Chemistry to the extent of 5 CP
  • Mathematics to the extent of 10 CP
  • Law to the extent of 5 CP
  • Economics to the extent of 5 CP
  • additional achievements in Natural Sciences, Geosciences or Engineering to the extent of 20 CP

Language requirements and certificates

For the master's degree program in Environment and Georesources Management, you need sufficient knowledge of the German language. Your German language skills must correspond to at least level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

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.

Weitere Ansprechpersonen:

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

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