Advisory and Innovation Services in Agri-Food Systems University of Hohenheim

The entire programme is taught in English.

Advisory Services for Sustainable Innovations

Are you interested in entering the agriculture and food sector, aiding companies or organisations in effectively responding to change? Then the Advisory and Innovation Services in Agri-Food Systems Master's degree programme in Agricultural Sciences is just right for you. In this programme, you will learn how to establish and promote sustainable practices in agri-food systems by providing professional advice and promoting innovation. Become part of this movement and help shape the future of the industry!

Objectives

This Master's degree programme combines practical expertise in agricultural production, economics, and engineering with social science skills for consulting and promoting innovation, resulting in a distinct professional profile. The programme aims to achieve various academic, practical, and personal qualification objectives:

• A broad understanding of agricultural production and farm management with a self-selected technical specialisation
• Technical and methodological knowledge and competencies for consulting and supporting individual and collective problem-solving and innovation processes
• A sophisticated understanding of economic factors that influence decision-making processes on farms and in the value chains of the agri-food industry
• Conceptual and analytical approaches for diagnosing and assessing agricultural knowledge and innovation systems (AKIS) as well as tools for planning, implementing, and evaluating policies and instruments of governance and coordination of innovation networks and knowledge systems in the context of the agri-food sector

Occupational Fields

Become an expert in knowledge transfer, consulting, and innovation promotion in the agricultural sector! The Advisory and Innovation Services in Agri-Food Systems specialisation offers you comprehensive training to provide tailor-made services in the various areas of agri-food systems. You will gain the ability to identify problems and effectively support and influence change processes in agricultural businesses and agri-food networks throughout the value chain. Graduates will have an excellent foundation for starting their career in:

• consulting and service companies
• agricultural administration
• organisational development in the agri-food sector and
• international cooperation and development organisations

With an above-average grade, it is possible to continue into a doctoral programme.

15 March for non-EU citizens
15 September for EU citizens

Currently, higher education is (almost) free at all public universities in Baden-Württemberg. Since the winter semester of 2017/18, universities in Baden-Württemberg charge moderate tuition fees for non-EU international students. These fees amount to 1,500 EUR per semester. Students from the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA) as well as exchange students are excluded from these fees. Refugees are also not affected.

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.

The programme is divided into three phases:

1. the acquisition of basic professional and methodological qualifications through compulsory and semi-elective modules,
2. the formation of a personal profile through elective modules, research and/or organisational internships, and
3. the development of scientific and in-depth professional skills through the completion of the Master's thesis.

The four compulsory modules on the topics of agricultural advisory systems, control mechanisms, innovation promotion, and business administration comprise a total of 24 ECTS credits. In addition, you will choose five compulsory elective modules with a total of 30 ECTS credits from various areas of agricultural sciences. You can then choose elective modules totalling 36 ECTS credits from the entire diverse range of Master's modules offered by the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences. Of these, up to 30 ECTS credits can be earned through a pre-professional internship. If desired, the third semester can be utilised for a semester abroad. It is simple to have the modules you take recognised.

Curriculum

An internship of several months in consulting and/or research organisations can be taken in the winter semester (third semester) as part of the one-semester "Advisory and Innovation Services Internship" internship module for 30 credits. In addition to the six-month internship period (can be split into two positions of three months each), students are required to complete a seminar paper, which is presented in three online seminar sessions (at the start, in the middle, and at the end), graded, and counts for 12 credits toward the Master's degree grade. The module is offered in the winter semester for 10 students at a time and only for students in this major.

1,500 EUR

Currently, higher education is (almost) free at all public universities in Baden-Württemberg. Since the winter semester of 2017/18, universities in Baden-Württemberg charge moderate tuition fees for non-EU international students. These fees amount to 1,500 EUR per semester. Students from the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA) as well as exchange students are excluded from these fees. Refugees are also not affected.

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. 175 EUR per semester.

Baden-Württemberg has the highest standard of living in 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, 950 EUR to 1,000 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 EUR to 400 EUR
• Health insurance: approx. 85 EUR
• Public transport: approx. 30 EUR to 50 EUR
• Study materials: 100 EUR
• Food and drink: 100 EUR to 150 EUR
• Leisure and hobbies: 50 EUR to 100 EUR

This major requires knowledge of agricultural sciences and land use and the economics and social sciences of agriculture in depth as taught in Bachelor's degree programmes in agricultural sciences, horticulture, speciality crops, and agricultural and forest ecology. The formal admission requirements are:

• Bachelor's degree in agricultural sciences or a related subject from a university or a university of applied sciences in Germany or abroad with a standard period of study of at least three years (180 ECTS in total)
• If an applicant's final grade or grade point average of the degree is not above average, he/she can demonstrate his/her special suitability for the programme if necessary.
• At least 6 ECTS credits in economics
• Proof of English proficiency

Additional requirements

• Good communication skills
• Enthusiasm for shaping change processes
• Interest in digital technologies
• Ability and willingness to work in intercultural teams

For more information, see www.uni-hohenheim.de/en/application-advisoryservices-info.

• IELTS (academic exam) with an overall band score of at least 6.5
• TOEFL 90 points in the Internet-based test
• Duolingo Test (at least 125 points)

For more information and other language tests that can be recognised, please refer to the application information website: www.uni-hohenheim.de/en/application-advisoryservices-info.

15 March for non-EU citizens
15 September for EU citizens

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

Hohenheim offers enrolled students assistant jobs on campus. Students are responsible for managing working hours and these hours should not conflict with their studies. Working off campus is also possible according to the Aliens Act. However, please be aware that without good knowledge of German, jobs are quite difficult to find.

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.

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.

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.