Global Change: Ecosystem Science and Policy Justus Liebig University Giessen

University College Dublin (UCD), Ireland

Courses are held entirely in English.

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 in "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:

• You will be involved in active research groups in both universities and will get involved in their ecosystem experiments and field studies.
• You will learn to adapt your role as a scientist, dealing either with expert or citizen interest groups or lay audiences.
• You will acquire transferable skills during a work placement (six weeks minimum contact time) that will make you a sought-after and effective employee.

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 2025/2026:

EU citizens: 9,890 EUR

Non-EU citizens: 29,100 EUR

The fees cover the whole Master's degree programme and also include the JLU semester contribution.

Time schedule:

• The course starts in September at UCD in Dublin, Ireland (September – December).
• This first semester is followed by a work placement in an organisation or company (January to February).
• The second semester continues at JLU in Giessen, Germany (March to July).
• The third semester is entirely dedicated to the individual research project, which can be undertaken in working groups either at UCD or JLU. On completion of the research project, students prepare their Master’s thesis in the form of a scientific paper (August – December).

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:

• Global Change Ecology – Introduction
• Science and Policy
• Data Analysis and Interpretation
• Designing Global Change Research Projects
• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Environmental Law and Policy
• Global Change: Modelling and Advanced Techniques
• Adaption to Global Change
• Biodiversity Informatics
• Political Consulting – Environmental Policy and Development Cooperation
• Resource Economics, Sustainability and Environmental Management
• Sustainable Agroecosystems

Optional modules, e.g.:

• Peatlands and Environmental Change
• Ecological Mapping and QGIS
• Management of Sustainable Fisheries
• Biology and Ecology of Coastal Wetlands
• Field Methods in Global Change Research
• Global Governance
• Natural Resources and Ecosystem Services
• Renewable Energy Transition
• Man in Past Climates and Climate Change Impacts 

The programme comprises at least one semester at UCD in Dublin, Ireland (September to December) and one semester at JLU in Giessen, Germany (March to July). The third semester, which is entirely dedicated to the individual research project, can be completed either at UCD or JLU.

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:

• International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna
• World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in Geneva
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ireland
• Research Institute for Sustainability (RIFS) in Potsdam
• Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)
• ICLEI European Secretariat in Freiburg
• Rural Investment for a Sustainable Europe (RISE) Foundation in Brussels
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Brussels
• Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) in Tokyo
• Marine Institute, Ireland
• Department of Agriculture, Forestry and the Marine, Ireland
• Sustainable Food Trust, UK
• Scottish Wildlife Trust, UK
• etc.

Yes, but not specified

Tuition fees in 2025/2026:

EU citizens: 9,890 EUR

Non-EU citizens: 29,100 EUR

The fees cover the whole Master's degree programme and also include the JLU semester contribution.

Included in the tuition fees

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:

• Biology
• Agricultural Studies
• Natural or Environmental Sciences

Following a case-by-case assessment, other study programmes may be accepted such as zoology, ecology, geology or biochemistry as equivalent and may also be subjected 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.

Financial aid for international students at JLU in the closing phase of their degree:
A partial scholarship is possible for three to six months, amounting to 300 to 450 EUR per month (funding phase starting April or May every year). A Presidential Commission will decide on the awarding of the scholarships based on academic achievements, indigence, social or intercultural commitment, recommendations from academic staff and compliance with formal requirements. More information: https://www.uni-giessen.de/en/international-pages/study/grants/closingphase?set_language=en

Students may apply for a room in a shared flat or a single room in the halls of residence or search for private accommodation. More information via www.uni-giessen.de/acc

Career Service and special opportunities for international students: www.uni-giessen.de/en/faculties/research-centers/zfbk/career_services/

Accommodation:

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 (fixed deadline!). Accommodation cannot be guaranteed for applications received later.
Check out the students' residences here.
(“Unterhof” is the students’ residence 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 (JLU), Germany, is a comprehensive university with a longstanding tradition which attracts around 26,000 students. JLU offers the full range of traditional and modern subjects with top-level teaching and research ‒ extending from classical natural sciences, law and economics, social and educational sciences, linguistics and cultural studies to a unique selection of life science subjects such as human and veterinary medicine, agricultural, environmental and nutritional sciences and food chemistry. The leading personae who carried out research and taught at JLU include a number of Nobel Prize winners, such as Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen (Nobel Prize for Physics in 1901) and Wangari Maathai (Nobel Peace Prize in 2004). Since 2006, research at JLU has received continuous funding from the Excellence Initiative schemes and the Excellence Strategy of the German Federal Republic and Federal States.

With around 94,000 inhabitants, Giessen has one of the highest student densities throughout Germany. Four higher education institutions with altogether 40,000 students provide a unique college-town atmosphere. The city offers plenty of leisure options for students, such as canoeing on the Lahn river, walks and picnics in its multiple green areas, cinemas with student concession tickets, the municipal theatre with a programme consisting of plays, opera and ballet as well as swimming pools and sports facilities, and a variety of pubs, restaurants and night life venues. 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.