Master of Science in Sustainability Management and Economics (MSc) Trier University

All obligatory modules are taught in English. However, a few elective courses are available in German only. Participants can choose to write the Master's thesis in either language.

The Master's in Sustainability Management & Economics is a comprehensive full-time programme designed with a flexible curriculum spanning sustainability management and economics. It cultivates academic experts who can fulfil the needs of both the private and public sectors in managing their socio-ecological transformation. The curriculum covers the full spectrum of social and environmental sustainability topics (including a natural science perspective) and also focuses on the governance and change management processes behind the transformation. The Master's in Sustainability Management & Economics has a highly flexible curriculum and qualifies for both a career in practice and in academia.

Why studying Sustainable Management & Economics at Trier University?

• Strong interdisciplinary focus covering disciplines such as (sustainability) management, (sustainability) economics, and sustainability science
• Small study groups and comprehensive study support
• Strong emphasis on research, providing opportunities to qualify for doctoral programmes in economics or management
• Attractive and future-proof job opportunities in a large variety of industries and sectors
• Wide range of specialisations and elective courses

Career prospects

The Sustainability Management & Economics degree programme equips students with the necessary skills for a diverse range of roles within the sustainability sector. With promising job prospects, graduates are well-positioned to pursue opportunities in areas such as:

• Sustainability manager in firms of all sizes
• Sustainability manager in public institutions, non-governmental organisations, or non-profit organisations
• Innovation and business development manager
• HR manager specialising in social sustainability
• Sustainability/ESG/environmental analyst in banks, consultancies, or auditing firms
• Academic career as a research associate in a university or research institute

Non-EU citizens:

• 15 January 2026 for the summer semester 2026 (admission also valid for the winter semester 2026/27)
• 31 May 2026 for the winter semester 2026/27 (admission also valid for the summer semester 2027)

German citizens, EU citizens, and applicants with a BA or MA degree from a German university:

• 15 March 2026 for the summer semester 2026 (admission also valid for the winter semester 2026/27)
• 15 September 2026 for the winter semester 2026/27 (admission also valid for the summer semester 2027)

The programme can be started both in the summer and winter semester.

Admission is generally valid for two subsequent semesters. Applicants from countries requiring a visa for entering Germany should consider applying by 15 January for beginning their studies in the winter semester of the same year, giving them more time to complete the visa process and to prepare their stay.

The curriculum consists of compulsory modules, compulsory elective modules, and elective modules. It concludes with a Master's thesis.

The compulsory modules provide an introduction to sustainability management and economics as well as to academic research. They also include a two-semester interdisciplinary research project with a focus on sustainability.

The compulsory elective modules include specific modules from the area of sustainability management and economics. Students can choose from a long list of modules in the areas of environmental and social sustainability as well as modules from change management and corporate governance and reporting. Sustainability modules from natural sciences can also be elected. A full list of compulsory elective modules is available below.

The elective modules are even more flexible and include modules from the full spectrum of management and economics so that it is possible to develop an attractive and specific profile for the job market. It is also possible to select a practical internship as an elective module. A full list of elective modules is available below.

Compulsory elective modules:

• International Environmental Economics
• Integrated Assessment Modelling
• International Energy Markets
• Innovation Management and Environmental Sustainability
• Environmental Systems Analysis
• Atmospheric Boundary Layer
• Advanced Aspects of Environmental Soil Sciences
• Nature Conservation, Restoration and Protection
• Polluted Site Remediation
• Soil Use and Sustainable Management
• Geological Hazards, Risk Assessment and Management
• Fluvial Hydrology
• Incentives in Organisations and Innovation
• Human Resource Management, Personnel Economics, and Organisation A/B
• Sustainability and Artificial Intelligence
• Business Analytics
• Management of Software Projects
• Organisation
• Political Economics
• Introduction to Green Monetary Policy and the EMU
• Sustainability Reporting
• Sustainable Finance
• Fundamentals of Political Communication

Elective modules:

• All compulsory elective modules
• National Taxation
• International Taxation
• Finance A/B/C/D
• Accounting
• Auditing
• Retail Management and International B2C-Marketing
• International Strategies and Retail Marketing
• Business and Service Sector Marketing
• International Labour Markets
• International Trade
• Econometrics
• Practical Internship

The study project and the Master's thesis can be written together with companies from Germany or abroad.

The topic of social and environmental sustainability is regarded from an international perspective. Many of the courses will include international comparisons and international case studies.

Students have the option to spend one or two semesters abroad during their Master's studies. This opportunity enables them to study at one of Trier University's partner universities.

A practical internship in a company or public organisation can be integrated as an elective module into the study programme.

The focus of the internship should align with sustainability-related themes, allowing students to potentially merge their internship experiences with the Master's thesis.

No tuition fees

Trier University does not charge tuition fees. Students only have to pay a semester contribution of approx. 380 EUR for the first semester and 360 EUR from the second semester onwards. This includes the "Deutschlandticket", which covers public transport and local trains all over Germany. The contribution also benefits Trier Student Services and the student union. It also enables students to buy meals at reduced prices at the university's canteens.

Students should expect expenses of approx. 1,000 EUR per month. For instance, monthly housing costs are approx. 290 to 400 EUR (in a students' dormitory or a room in a shared flat) and 450 to 650 EUR (for a single apartment on the private market). A meal in the student cafeteria costs approx. 3.50 to 5 EUR.

Academic admission requirements include a Bachelor's degree in the field of economics or social sciences, or an equivalent qualification. The decision on equivalence is made by the examination board on a case-by-case basis.

Proof of English language proficiency as required by the University of Trier:
https://www.uni-trier.de/en/studies/application-admission/application-english-taught-master-programmes/proof-of-english-language-proficiency

Applicants must prove their English language proficiency level C1, based on the Common European Framework through one of the following tests. The test must have been taken within the last three years:

• TOEFL (Code 9208): at least 215 points (computer-based) or 550 points (paper-based) or 80 points (Internet-based)
• Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) / C1 Advanced
• IELTS (at least 6.5 points)
• UNIcert III

Applicants are exempt from providing above proof of English language proficiency if at least one of the following conditions is met:

• Native speaker coming from Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Malta
• Two years of full-time study in an English taught programme, undertaken within the past two years, in one of these countries: Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Malta
• At least five school years of English in secondary education and at least five points in English at "Abitur" level (only Germany and Luxembourg)

Non-EU citizens:

• 15 January 2026 for the summer semester 2026 (admission also valid for the winter semester 2026/27)
• 31 May 2026 for the winter semester 2026/27 (admission also valid for the summer semester 2027)

German citizens, EU citizens, and applicants with a BA or MA degree from a German university:

• 15 March 2026 for the summer semester 2026 (admission also valid for the winter semester 2026/27)
• 15 September 2026 for the winter semester 2026/27 (admission also valid for the summer semester 2027)

The programme can be started both in the summer and winter semester.

Admission is generally valid for two subsequent semesters. Applicants from countries requiring a visa for entering Germany should consider applying by 15 January for beginning their studies in the winter semester of the same year, giving them more time to complete the visa process and to prepare their stay.

Trier University offers some funding opportunities for international students in the final stage of their degree programmes (maximum duration: six months). However, there are no funding opportunities within the university for the whole course of study or the first three semesters of the programme.

Students from the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland enjoy unrestricted access to the German labour market. International students from other countries are allowed to work 120 full days or 240 half days per year.

The Career Service of Trier University and the "Agentur für Arbeit" provide an online database for student jobs. Jobs offers can also be found on the website of the "Bundesagentur für Arbeit": https://jobboerse.arbeitsagentur.de.

Additionally, some temporary student jobs can be found on the university's bulletin boards. However, many job offers will require at least some knowledge of German.

Accommodation is available in student halls of residence through the Student Services Office (Studierendenwerk Trier: http://www.studiwerk.de) or on the private market (e.g. http://www.hunderttausend.de). Monthly housing costs are approx. 290 to 400 EUR (for a basic dorm room with a shared bathroom) and 450 to 650 EUR (for a single apartment on the private market).

Trier University's Career Service offers special information sessions and workshops in English language for international students planning to start their career in Germany after finishing their degree. A career mentoring programme brings students in contact with local enterprises and alumni.

More information can be found here: www.career-international.de.

Orientation Seminar "Quick Start" (free of charge):

• Support with all formalities at the start of your studies
• Information: work and residence permit in Germany, financing your studies/scholarships, health insurance and healthcare system in Germany
• Networking opportunities: overview of organisations and useful contacts for international students at Trier University & meeting with other students during social/cultural events
• Orientation on campus and in the city: guided tour on campus and in the city centre
• Workshops: understanding cultural similarities and differences, academic writing, studying successfully, presenting successfully, digital learning and communication

German as a foreign language: courses at all levels A1 through C1 (free of charge)

With an open eye for individual and society...

... we create innovation.

... we share knowledge.

... we bridge borders.

Trier University was founded in 1473, and it reopened in 1970 as a modern campus university. Built on a high plateau overlooking the Moselle River and surrounded by luscious green nature, it is said to be one of Germany's most beautiful campuses. Faculty and departmental buildings are connected by bridges and grouped around the forum and the central library.
Trier University has a strong focus on the humanities, social sciences, and economics, but it is also steadily strengthening its information science and environmental science programmes. There are six faculties that together cover more than 30 subject areas. Many research projects are interdisciplinary in nature and embedded in global networks.
With its roughly 1,200 employees and 10,500 students (including about 14% international students), Trier University embraces contrast: young yet true to tradition, internationally oriented yet regionally rooted, and at the geographic edge of Germany but in the heart of Europe.

http://www.uni-trier.de

Mission statement: https://www.uni-trier.de/en/university/about-trier-university/translate-to-englisch-leitbild

Trier is situated in the western part of the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate in the Moselle Valley. The city is proud of its rich history, which is reflected in its museums and its many historical sites. Thanks to its landmarks, the Porta Nigra, the Trier Cathedral, and other significant architectural monuments, Germany's oldest city was declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.
Today's cityscape is a fusion of history and modern lifestyle, not least characterised by a vibrant student life. With bars, cafés, and a colourful range of cultural offerings and festivals, Trier is a tourist attraction with international appeal and a beautiful place for the city's 110,000 residents to live.
The economy of the city is characterised by a few major enterprises and many medium-sized businesses. Trier is in the heart of Europe, as evidenced by its proximity to Luxembourg, which is an important financial centre and the site of several EU institutions, as well as its proximity to France and Belgium. Nine twin towns and cities across Europe, Asia, and the USA attest to Trier's international orientation.

http://www.trier.de