University College Dublin (UCD), Ireland
Courses are held entirely in English.
Rolling procedure, early application is recommended (by 15 July for the following winter semester)
If you would like to apply at short notice, please enquire with the UCD programme director.
Tuition fees in 2024/2025:
The fees cover the whole Master's degree programme.
Check online for the current fee structure.
[In the area that applies to you ("EU" or "Non-EU"), select "Course/Programme Fees" and "Graduate Taught Fees".]
Do you really want to make a difference in the world? Are you passionate about life sciences and already have a Bachelor's degree in this field? Do you like to travel, make international contacts and gain experience abroad? Then you've come to the right place!
The international Master's programme "Global Change: Ecosystem Science and Policy" provides the perfect combination of science, data management and policy advice on global change, complemented by practical experience and one or more stays abroad. It is offered jointly by Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU), Faculty of Biology and Chemistry, in the heart of Germany, and University College Dublin (UCD), School of Biology and Environmental Science, in Ireland. The programme has a duration of 16 months and comprises 120 ECTS credit points. It is taught entirely in English.
Global change refers to planetary-scale changes occurring in complex socio-ecological systems. Understanding the intricate changes in our land, air and water requires advanced scientific knowledge in measurement, modelling and prediction. During your studies you will learn how best to tackle the global challenges of our time, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, resource consumption, etc.
After three semesters, graduates will receive a joint Master's degree (MSc) from both universities and will be able to build an important bridge between science and policy.
This programme is unique in that:
Time schedule:
Modules:
The course is modular and credits will be awarded for each successfully completed module based on the ECTS (European Credit Transfer System). The Master of Science in Global Change requires students to complete a total of at least 14 modules (12 core modules and two optional modules).
Core modules:
Optional modules, e.g.:
You will obtain your Master's degree at two excellently established universities, University College Dublin (UCD) and Justus Liebig University Giessen (JLU), with their complementary and multidisciplinary research profiles and will be involved in active research groups there. In addition, a work placement in an international organisation or company is integrated into the programme.
The work placement allows students to gain an initial insight into the different areas of work they may wish to pursue in the future. It also enables them to gain practical work experience and establish contacts with potential future employers. It can be carried out in various organisations or companies all over the world. Benefit from our contacts and complete the work placement in renowned institutions such as:
Tuition fees in 2024/2025:
The fees cover the whole Master's degree programme.
Check online for the current fee structure.
[In the area that applies to you ("EU" or "Non-EU"), select "Course/Programme Fees" and "Graduate Taught Fees".]
289.80 EUR
It might be possible to receive financial support through a scholarship. For more information, please contact the programme coordinators at JLU or UCD.
Applicants must hold a Bachelor's degree with at least 180 ECTS-points and an average grade of 2.48 (UCD grade points) or better in one of the following scientific fields:
On an individual basis, the Examination Board may accept other study programmes such as zoology, ecology, geology or biochemistry as equivalent and may also subject them to specific requirements.
If English is not your native language, proof of your proficiency in English will be required unless you completed your primary degree in English in an English-speaking country. The minimum acceptable score on the TOEFL Internet-based test is 100; on the IELTS, it is 6.5. Applicants who obtained a previous degree from an English-speaking university may be exempt from this requirement.
There are also other recognised proofs of English language proficiency. Please contact UCD for more information.
Rolling procedure, early application is recommended (by 15 July for the following winter semester)
If you would like to apply at short notice, please enquire with the UCD programme director.
Halls of residence and private accommodation: www.uni-giessen.de/acc
JLU offers career services, more information can be found here.
caAccommodation:
For your time in Giessen, you will be guaranteed a room in one of the students’ residences of Studentenwerk if you apply by 15 January. Please note this is a fixed deadline. Accommodation cannot be guaranteed for applications received later.
Check out the student's residences here.
(“Unterhof” is the students’ residence, which is closest to the natural science campus of JLU.)
Additional information regarding accommodation can be found here.
Other:
Information for international students regarding culture, sports, language courses, shopping, mobility, medical treatment etc.: click here
Founded in 1607, Justus Liebig University Giessen is one of Germany's top research universities. It is not only rich in tradition but also highly innovative. Another unique feature is JLU Giessen's extraordinarily broad range of subjects. Additionally, JLU Giessen's 26,500 students and its ever-growing student community substantially contribute to making Giessen the city with the highest student ratio of all university towns in Germany. This singles out JLU Giessen as a key player in the region. However, with 40% international doctoral students, an international student community of around 11%, high-profile international partnerships, and two top-class international research facilities funded by Germany's nationwide Excellence Strategy, JLU is also a very active and highly attractive networking partner worldwide.
Internationalisation is at the heart of JLU's institutional self-concept, and its internationalisation strategy with the motto "future through internationalisation" is a critical success factor for research and teaching as well as the personal development of its members. Excellent basic research combined with socially relevant application, the exploitation of interdisciplinary synergies, support for outstanding next-generation scholars, first-class university teaching, and an explicit international orientation define JLU Giessen in the fifth century of its existence, making it fit for the future.
With around 92,000 inhabitants, Giessen is Germany's most student-dominated city and its two universities with their "extra population" of 40,000 students provide a unique college-town atmosphere. The city centre offers plenty of diversion for students, including film theatres (with student concession tickets), the municipal theatre with its experimental studios, swimming pools and sports and workout facilities, and a wide variety of pubs, restaurants (continental and ethnic), and night life venues. Therefore, you can add lots of flavour to your studies. The great thing about Giessen is that it's an easy place to navigate and, when the mood takes you, to escape into the picturesque surrounding countryside or the metropolis of Frankfurt am Main, which is about 60 kilometres away.
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