International Master's in Farm Management (MFM) Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences

The International Farm Management Master's degree programme is taught ENTIRELY in English.

The programme focuses on applied studies in the fields of agricultural economics and management as well as in applied information technologies. Specific training methods such as instruction in small seminars/workshops, special projects and computer-based business simulations provide practical relevance and experience in the team approach to solving problems. Case studies and special projects are used to carry out international comparisons of costs, structural parameters and organisational solutions.

Compulsory modules are as follows:

• Production Economics in Agriculture
• Business Management in Agriculture
• Farm Management and Controlling
• Farm Planning
• Business Informatics and Empirical Social Research
• Agricultural policy
• International Agricultural Marketing Strategies
• Project Planning and Evaluation
• the Master's thesis

Some of the compulsory elective modules are:

• Crop Production, Livestock Production, and/or Agricultural Mechanisation
• Consulting Methods, Farming Systems Research, and/or Agricultural Mechanisation
• International Trade in the Agricultural Sector
• Sustainable Energy Management
• German as Foreign Language

Students must choose one of the following specialisations:

• Strategic Management Consulting in Agriculture
• Technical and Economic Consulting in Agricultural Mechanisation or
• Applied Research and Development projects.

Two essential, compulsory internship placements are included in the programme:

• practical study semester in the first semester
• a business internship in the agricultural industry upstream or downstream of agriculture (must be completed during the semester break; min. four weeks)

1 January for the following summer semester

First semester: practical semester (internship)

The practical semester consists of two parts: the practical training on specially selected training farms and the theoretical part of the course.

The students live on the farm together with the farming family. They are involved in day-to-day farm work and participate in the farmer's management decisions. In addition to weekly online units for subject-specific support and language tuition, two courses are held at the university, an animal husbandry course and an in-depth course on applied production economics. In addition to the technical training, weekly German lessons are offered online. These are supplemented by practice sessions on the learning platform.

During this first semester, students are supervised by staff from the university. Towards the end of the practical semester, there are examinations and interviews in applied economics.

Second & third semesters: theoretical semesters (on campus)

The second semester at the university has five compulsory modules, each with five EC (European credit points):

• Business Management in Agriculture
• Production Economics in Agriculture
• Farm Management and Controlling
• Business Informatics and Empirical Social Research
• Farm Planning

The remaining five EC come from one elective profile module such as the seminar in Crop Production and Livestock Production, the seminar in Agricultural Mechanisation and Crop Production or the seminar in Livestock Production and Agricultural Mechanisation.

In the third semester at the university, there are lectures in two compulsory modules (each with five EC):

• Agricultural Policy Seminar
• International Agricultural Marketing Strategies.

The remaining 20 EC come from one specialisation (10 EC):

• Strategic Management Consulting in Agriculture
• Technical and Economic Consulting in Agricultural Mechanisation or
• Applied Research and Development

and from two mandatory elective modules (each with 5 EC):

• Consulting Methods and Farming Systems Research, Farming Systems Research and Agricultural Cooperatives, or Agricultural Cooperatives and Consulting Methods
• a German course

The fourth semester comprises the module in Project Planning and Project Evaluation (5 EC). One mandatory elective module (5 EC: Sustainable Energy Management or International Trade in the Agricultural Sector) is compulsory.

Additionally, the Master's thesis with 15 EC must be completed. The topic should refer to an applied problem in the student's home country. At the beginning of the Master's thesis, students have the opportunity to participate in lectures on formal and methodological aspects of writing scientific papers.

Moreover, the programme requires each student to participate in a work placement of at least four weeks during the fourth semester or during the breaks between the previous semesters. The company for the placement, usually a consultancy, trading or agricultural service company, can be proposed by the student.

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• First semester: Farming internship semester on one of the university's certified partner farms
• Business internship (minimum four weeks): Practical training takes place in a company or institution trading with agricultural inputs or produce, dealing with processing and marketing of produce or offering services for agriculture such as advisory services, agricultural financing, book-keeping or tax consulting.

No tuition fees

The degree programme is free of tuition, but all students are required to pay moderate semester fees. At the time of publication, these amounted to 72 EUR/semester, due upon re-enrolment prior to the start of each new semester.

When applying for a visa or residence permit, students usually need to prove they can afford to study and live in Germany. As of 2025, that is deemed proven if they have at least 992 EUR available per month.

Living expenses in Triesdorf are approx. 700 to 900 EUR per month. In and around Triesdorf, rent amounts to approx. 250 to 350 EUR per month.

Completed Bachelor's degree or diploma certificate IN THE FIELD OF AGRICULTURE with:

• final average overall grade of at least "good" (> 72%) and
• a language certificate in English (details below)
• Applicants who completed their undergraduate degree outside of Germany need to submit a preliminary review documentation ("Vorprüfungsdokumentation  – VPD") from uni-assist.
• An additional certificate from an Academic Verification Office (APS) in their home country is necessary for applicants with a degree from India, the People's Republic of China, or Vietnam.

English of at least B2 level (if Bachelor's programme was not taught in English)

We accept language certificates from the following: TOEFL, TOEIC, IELTS, TELC, ESOL, and UNIcert.

1 January for the following summer semester

A limited number of scholarships are allocated by the university. The beneficiaries are determined by the examinations commission on the basis of performance.

Yes, there is the possibility of finding part-time employment – Triesdorf campus is home to a large number of international students from all over the world, and the majority of them – once fully settled in and around Triesdorf – have been able to find employment in order to financially support themselves whilst studying.

We will support you in applying for visas and in planning your journey. We can also support you with the organisation of your studies once you are on site.