International Programmes 2023/2024

Agricultural Economics (AgEcon) Agricultural Economics (AgEcon)

University of Hohenheim • Stuttgart

Degree
Master of Science (MSc)
Teaching language
  • English
Languages

The entire programme is taught in English.

Full-time / part-time
  • full-time
Mode of study
Fully on-site with voluntary online elements
Programme duration
4 semesters
Beginning
Winter semester
Application deadline

For admission to the AgEcon programme:
15 March for non-EU citizens
15 July for EU citizens

For DAAD scholarships:
15 December for programme commencing in October of the following year

More information on the scholarship application procedure: www.uni-hohenheim.de/en/agecon-scholarships

Tuition fees per semester in EUR
Varied
Additional information on tuition fees

Universities in Baden-Württemberg charge tuition fees for non-EU international students. These fees amount to 1,500 EUR per semester. However, since AgEcon is funded by the DAAD as a development-related postgraduate course, applicants who are citizens of certain African, Caribbean, or Pacific states or a least developed country can be exempted from the tuition fee. This is also a possibility for applicants who have received a DAAD scholarship (regardless of their citizenship).

Combined Master's degree / PhD programme
No
Joint degree / double degree programme
No
Description/content

Decision-Makers for Global Agricultural Economy and Agricultural Policies

This research-based and methods-oriented programme deals with the economic and agricultural policy relationships between the agricultural and food economy, the environment, and rural areas. In this English-language and international Master's programme funded by the DAAD, economic growth, sustainability, and social justice are central topics, especially in an international and development-related context.

  • Studies focused on methods and internationality
  • DAAD-funded programme with full scholarships for outstanding applicants from developing countries
  • Many different career possibilities for agricultural economists

Objectives

This degree programme values a well-founded education in business and economic theories and methods as well as applying these to concrete problems and issues in the international agricultural and food sectors.

The degree programme aims to educate agricultural economists in the following competencies:

  • Theoretical concepts of agricultural economics
  • Quantitative and qualitative research methods
  • Integration of sustainability issues into policy analysis
  • Interdisciplinary analysis of complex systems
  • Communication and presentation techniques

Occupational fields

As the agri-food sector becomes more diverse, global, and highly technical, a growing variety of career opportunities is opening up for well-trained agricultural economists. At Hohenheim, students acquire the analytical skills and the necessary understanding of political contexts to be able to work in governmental and non-governmental organisations, international organisations, and the private sector. The programme also opens up excellent opportunities to complete a doctorate and pursue an academic career.

Typical areas of work for agricultural economists are found in the following areas:

  • companies in the upstream and downstream sectors of the food and agricultural industries
  • regulatory bodies along the value-added chain
  • governmental and non-governmental organisations
  • national and international organisations
  • teaching and research institutions
Current information

For further information on this degree programme, we invite you to attend our Master’s info event (online via Zoom): www.uni-hohenheim.de/en/masters-informational-events

Course organisation

In the first year of study, students complete the five compulsory modules:

  • Agricultural and Food Policy
  • Applied Econometrics
  • Environmental and Resource Economics
  • Farm System Modelling
  • Microeconomics

In addition, five elective modules can be chosen from the fields of agricultural development, international agricultural trade, world food economy, agricultural and food policy, methods of empirical economic and social research, etc. Lectures are supplemented by computer exercises, group discussions, seminar papers, and case studies, which are worked out and presented in groups or as individual papers.

In the second year of study,

students can choose five further elective modules from a large catalogue of subjects. This ensures a solid education in the sub-disciplines of agricultural economics, while at the same time providing sufficient freedom to put together a programme that suits individual career planning. The academic programme advisers from among the instructors advise students on selecting their modules and planning their studies in order to make sure everything goes smoothly and progresses as planned.

In the second year of studies, the Master's thesis is also completed according to the students’ chosen specialisation.

Curriculum

A Diploma supplement will be issued
Yes
Certificates for specific modules are awarded
Yes
International elements
  • Integrated study abroad unit(s)
  • International guest lecturers
  • Specialist literature in other languages
  • Language training provided
  • Training in intercultural skills
  • Study trips
  • Projects with partners in Germany and abroad
  • International comparisons and thematic reference to the international context
Integrated study abroad unit(s)

Students are encouraged to spend one semester during the second year at a partner university abroad to gain additional experience and to further strengthen their individual profile. The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences cooperates with 80 partner institutions in research and teaching worldwide. Of these institutions, 40 are part of the ERASMUS programme. Therefore, part of the last year of studies can be spent abroad or part of the thesis research can be conducted abroad (within one of the numerous international research projects with which the University of Hohenheim is involved). Special travel grants are available for outstanding students.

Integrated internships

Internships are not compulsory, but they are recommended. The internship must be organised by the student and has to fit the schedule of the programme. The CareerCenter Hohenheim runs a database for internship offers and assists in finding suitable placements.

Special promotion / funding of the programme
  • DAAD development-related postgraduate course
Course-specific, integrated German language courses
No
Course-specific, integrated English language courses
No
Pace of course
Instructor-led (Specific due dates for lectures/assignments/exams)
Phase(s) of attendance in Germany (applies to the entire programme)
Yes, compulsory
Types of online learning elements
  • Access to databases with study material
  • Discussion forums and / or groups
  • Flipped Classroom
  • MOOC (Massive Open Online Course)
  • Online sessions
  • Online study material provided by institution
  • Online tutorials
  • Wikis
Tuition fees per semester in EUR
1,500 EUR
Additional information on tuition fees

Universities in Baden-Württemberg charge tuition fees for non-EU international students. These fees amount to 1,500 EUR per semester. However, since AgEcon is funded by the DAAD as a development-related postgraduate course, applicants who are citizens of certain African, Caribbean, or Pacific states or a least developed country can be exempted from the tuition fee. This is also a possibility for applicants who have received a DAAD scholarship (regardless of their citizenship).

Semester contribution

Universities in Baden-Württemberg require their students to pay a semester contribution towards the administration costs, for student services and for the Student Parliament. Student services provide many benefits, such as discounted tickets for public transportation. The semester contribution amounts to approx. 185 EUR per semester.

Costs of living

Baden-Württemberg has the highest standard of living in all of Germany. The downside is that living costs are slightly above the German average. However, the cost of living can vary enormously depending on your personal lifestyle and where you live. It is generally more expensive to live in a bigger city like Stuttgart, where the University of Hohenheim is located. As a rule of thumb, 800 to 900 EUR per month should be enough. The largest monthly expense is usually for rent – accounting for a third of the total cost of living for most students. These costs can be cut substantially by sharing a flat or living in a dorm. A typical example for monthly expenses could look like this:

  • Rent: 350 to 400 EUR
  • Health insurance: approx. 85 EUR
  • Public transport: approx. 30-50 EUR
  • Study materials: 100 EUR
  • Food and drink: 100 to 150 EUR
  • Leisure and hobbies: 50 to 100 EUR
Funding opportunities within the university
Yes
Description of the above-mentioned funding opportunities within the university

Numerous funding opportunities exist for Master's thesis projects abroad, offered by various foundations. Detailed information is available here.

Academic admission requirements

Formal requirements

  • An above-average Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Sciences or Economics or a related programme with a standard period of study of at least three years or an equivalent degree
  • At least 6 ECTS credits in microeconomics and statistics
  • Proof of English language skills
  • Result of the AgEcon pre-test
    It is compulsory to complete the test before the application deadline, but the test results will not influence the chances of admission.

For more information, go to www.uni-hohenheim.de/en/application-agecon-info

Content requirements

We expect good English and IT skills as well as the ability and willingness to work in intercultural teams.

Language requirements
  • IELTS (academic exam) with an overall band score of at least 6.5
  • TOEFL 90 points in the Internet-based test

For more information, please refer to the application information website: www.uni-hohenheim.de/en/application-agecon-info.

Application deadline

For admission to the AgEcon programme:
15 March for non-EU citizens
15 July for EU citizens

For DAAD scholarships:
15 December for programme commencing in October of the following year

More information on the scholarship application procedure: www.uni-hohenheim.de/en/agecon-scholarships

Submit application to

Online application: www.uni-hohenheim.de/en/application-agecon-info

Possibility of finding part-time employment

University of Hohenheim provides students with the opportunity to take on assistant jobs within the campus premises. Students are entrusted with the responsibility of scheduling their working hours in a manner that does not interfere with their academic commitments. Additionally, students have the option to seek employment off campus as permitted by the Aliens Act. It is important to note that finding jobs off campus may be challenging without a strong command of the German language.

Accommodation

Student residences on campus

At the University of Hohenheim, several student residence halls are located on campus. They are managed by Student Services Tübingen-Hohenheim. There is a high demand for these rooms, which is why usually only a small number of applications will be successful.

International (non-EU) students have a much more difficult time than Germans in finding private accommodation at the start of their studies when they are searching from their home countries. Therefore, the university provides a quota of rooms for international students. This enables almost all new international students to have a room in a residence hall. To be able to offer this special assistance at the start of studies, the rental duration for these rooms is limited to two years for Master's students.

After this period, the house-hunting assistance offers support in finding a room on the private market.

Career advisory service

CareerCenter Hohenheim offers guidance and support to students and graduates in areas such as professional orientation, building a professional profile, and the application process. The centre actively fosters connections with business and industrial partners, ensuring early engagement with the professional world through information events, seminars on essential skills, internships, and more. They assist individuals in entering their desired careers through activities like company contact fairs, company presentations, access to the JobTeaser job board, and personalised advising. It is important to note that these services are provided free of charge.

Support for international students and doctoral candidates
  • Welcome event
  • Buddy programme
  • Specialist counselling
  • Cultural and linguistic preparation
  • Visa matters
General services and support for international students and doctoral candidates

The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Hohenheim has established coordination offices for all its international Master's programmes. These offices serve as dedicated support systems for prospective, current, and alumni students, offering a wide range of assistance. The coordination offices aim to provide comprehensive support to individuals at different stages of their academic journey, addressing their needs and concerns effectively.

University of Hohenheim

University location

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