Marine Ecosystem and Fisheries Sciences University of Hamburg

Courses are held in English (100%), and the Master's thesis has to be written in English.

The Master of Science in Marine Ecosystem and Fisheries Sciences is set up as a consecutive and research-oriented degree programme. Graduates will have learned the practical and theoretical methods of the research fields of Biological Oceanography (BO) and Fisheries Science (FS) and will be able to apply them in laboratory, field and theoretical studies. Students will possess the ability to develop scientific hypotheses through problem analysis and are able to select approaches to best test these hypotheses. Graduates will be familiar with the current discourse on anthropogenic effects on marine ecosystems and, with their professional knowledge, will be able to contribute to social debates regarding the management and conservation of ocean ecosystems and living marine resources. Consequently, graduates will be in a position to excel in a future scientific career and/or to contribute to assessment and management of the status of ocean ecosystems.

The programme starts in the third week of October with an orientation course to get all information about the Universität Hamburg, the Institute of Marine Ecosystem and Fisheries Sciences and the Master's programme itself.

The application period starts in the winter semester of the same year: 15 February to 31 March.

First Semester

Introduction to Biological Oceanography and Fisheries Science (lecture, seminar), Biodiversity of Marine Life (lecture, seminar, lab course), Data Handling and Visualisation (lecture, exercise)

Second Semester

Advanced Biological Oceanography and Fisheries Science (lecture, seminar), Data Analysis and Modelling 1 (lecture, exercise), Marine Ecosystem Dynamics and Management (lab course), Fish Biology and Population Dynamics (lab course)

Third Semester

Plankton Ecology and Evolution (lab course), Dynamics of Marine Food webs: Zooplankton-Ichthyoplankton Coupling (lab course), Advanced Marine Ecosystem Modelling (lab course), Environmental Policy and Management (lecture, exercise), Data Analysis and Modelling 2 (lecture, exercise)

Fourth Semester

Master's thesis

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No tuition fees

There is a semester fee of approx. 340 EUR per semester. This fee includes a semester ticket covering public transport in the Hamburg metropolitan area.

Without additional costs for further insurances, private vehicles, etc., you ought to expect the following expenses:

• housing: approx. 400 to 700 EUR per month
• living expenses: approx. 500 to 700 EUR per month

A Bachelor of Science in Marine Ecosystem and Fisheries Sciences, or a Bachelor’s degree from another degree programme, provided that applicants can substantiate at least 81 ECTS credits of completed coursework in natural science fundamentals from the following disciplines, which are comparable to the curriculum of the Bachelor of Science in Marine Ecosystem and Fisheries Science at Universität Hamburg:

a) Mathematics (including physics and bioinformatics, if available) with a total of at least six ECTS credits and

b) Chemistry (general, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry as well as biochemistry) with a total of at least six ECTS credits and

c) Statistics with a total of nine ECTS credits and

d) Biology (including biological oceanography and fisheries science) with a total of at least 60 ECTS credits

Applicants must have adequate English-language skills. Adequate language proficiency may be demonstrated as follows:

a) Proof of proficiency in English at a B2 level in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages through a course at an accredited institution or

b) International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Test with a score of at least 5.0 or

c) Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) internet-based test with a score of at least 72 points or

d) Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE), Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE), Higher Business English Certificate (BEC), First Certificate in English (FCE) or

e) A higher education degree in an English-language degree programme or

f) A higher education entrance qualification for English-language higher education institutions or

g) A six-month stay in an English-speaking country or

h) Seven years of English instruction at a German school

The application period starts in the winter semester of the same year: 15 February to 31 March.

International full-time students may apply for merit scholarships or exam grants granted by Universität Hamburg. For more information, please use the provided link. We also recommend contacting our colleagues in the Department of International Affairs for further guidance: http://www.uni-hamburg.de/internationales/studieren-an-der-uhh/finanzierung-des-studiums_e.html

Are you looking for a part-time job? Stellenwerk, Hamburg's cross-university job platform posts attractive job and internship advertisements every day.

Part-time work, an internship, or self-employment—the Counselling Centre for Social & International Affairs (BeSI) advises you on all aspects of social security.

Students from countries outside the EU, the EEA, and Switzerland are subject to special regulations for part-time work when studying. Contact the Counselling Centre for Social & International Affairs for more information.

There are several job opportunities in diverse areas of Universität Hamburg. Many of these jobs are offered exclusively to students enrolled at the university. For job ads of this kind, check out departmental bulletin boards, departmental websites, www.stellenwerk.de (wanted ads for Hamburg’s universities), or ask directly in your department.

• tutors
• student assistants (in the academic area) and student employees (in the administrative area)
• library assistants
• test subjects for studies conducted in the fields of psychology or in the social sciences

Are you searching for an apartment or a room? Although affordable housing in Hamburg is rare, please do not despair. Patience and luck will help you find suitable accommodation.

Start looking for accommodation as soon as you can. For more information on how to find accommodation, please visit: Finding accommodation in Hamburg.

For more information on how to find accommodation and how to plan your first steps in Hamburg, please see: https://www.uni-hamburg.de/piasta/beratung/doc/willkommen.pdf.