Do you want to face the challenges of the future in the production of food and renewable energies, the extraction of raw materials, as well as in the environmental and climate sector? To understand social and global challenges to sustainable agriculture? In the exceptional Master's program in Agrosystem Sciences you will deal with agricultural production systems, i.e. the interactions between soil, crops, livestock, environment and society. Gain a deep understanding of the biological, technological and economic components of agricultural production. Learn to evaluate existing and new technologies in the context of agricultural production systems and agroecosystems and to develop solutions to problems – in the TUM's Master's program in Agrosystem Sciences!
Studying Agrosystem Sciences successfully: What can you expect?
Key data
Type of study: full time
Standard period of study, credits : 4 semesters, 120 ECTS
In contrast to a major in agricultural science, in Agrosystem Sciences you learn the interrelations at farm level (e.g. nutrient cycles) and interactions at agricultural landscape level (e.g. landscape water balance, erosion processes, biodiversity and regulation), as well as the individual subsystems and components, such as plant production and animal husbandry systems. In this degree program you will acquire a deeper understanding of the processes taking place in agricultural systems, their influencing factors and the interactions between the system elements of soil, plants, animals and humans.
Discover the interdisciplinary nature of agricultural sciences in the Master's program Agrosystem Sciences. Your studies can be both solution-oriented and research-related. This Master's program will thus meet your needs as well as societal objectives and high scientific standards.
What are your career opportunities?
The career opportunities for graduates of Agrosystem Sciences are diverse. The degree program qualifies you for a career in all areas of the agricultural and food industry: from the upstream sector (such as breeding, agricultural engineering, agrochemistry) to agricultural enterprises (plant and animal production) and the downstream sector (food processing, trade and much more). Potential employers can be found in science, industry, government institutions and international organizations.
You can choose from a variety of fields of work, such as:
Research activities (at universities, in departmental research as well as in companies)
Management positions in agribusiness enterprises, government departments, agricultural administration
Consulting activities, e.g. in associations, national and international organizations
Environmental and sustainability management (e.g. development and implementation of environmental and sustainability strategies in agribusiness enterprises).
What is this study program about?
The degree program combines scientific depth with an interdisciplinary approach and teaches you the systemic nature of agricultural sciences. It offers you great freedom of choice. The study program consists of required and elective modules (45 credits each) and a Master's thesis (30 credits).
In the degree program you will take seven required modules, including five based on lectures and tutorials:
Innovations for agricultural systems
Applied statistics: Biometrics and econometrics
Geoinformation systems and modelling
Production and resource economics
Nutrient cycles in agroecosystems
You will also take the interdisciplinary required module "Agricultural Systems Project" (10 credits) and the research-oriented required module "Research Project" (10 credits). In this way, your studies bring together different disciplines, research approaches and agricultural system components for the analysis, evaluation and optimization of agricultural systems.
You can develop your individual interests and strengths in the elective modules. You choose from the categories plant production systems, animal production systems, agroecosystems, agricultural economics and a variety of cross-system elective modules. In this way, you can achieve both an area-specific depth and a cross-system profile development individual to you. In the elective modules, you can also earn up to 30 credits from the entire range of courses offered by our university or credits you have earned during a semester abroad at one of TUM's 170 partner universities. A Master's thesis completes the study.
Interest aroused? Just take a look at an exemplary curriculum!
What competences and skills will you acquire?
As a graduate of the Master's program in Agrosystem Sciences, you will have sound knowledge of the biological, scientific-technical and socio-economic foundations of agricultural production and the sustainable use of natural production factors in the production of food and biogenic raw materials. You will have sound knowledge of the components of agricultural production systems and their interaction with the environment and society. The high freedom of choice enables you to acquire individual and interdisciplinary expertise and to work in a solution-focused manner.
You will be able to:
identify conflicts of use and develop solutions and strategies to overcome these conflicts.
recognize the changing social demands on primary plant and animal production, evaluate them and take them into account when designing agricultural systems.
analyze and manage agroecosystems in terms of material cycles, resource efficiency and environmental protection.
design and work on research projects independently.
apply appropriate methods for statistical analysis and critical evaluation of complex data sets.
analyze concrete situations in the primary production of biogenic raw materials in an overall biological, scientific-technical and socio-economic context and evaluate them ecologically and economically
recognize and evaluate the potential of agricultural science innovations for sustainable primary production of plant- and animal-based food
use the potential of agricultural innovations to further develop or redesign agricultural production systems
This enables you to evaluate and control agricultural systems and to develop them further in the context of societal demands.
How do you apply for a place of study?
During theapplication period you can easily apply for a place in the winter semester via the application portal TUMonline. Simply upload your documents for admission to the Agrosystem Sciences program directly in the portal.
The prerequisite for application is a qualified bachelor's degree of at least six semesters or an at least equivalent degree in the fields of agricultural sciences, horticultural sciences, natural sciences, environmental sciences and economics or a comparable degree program at a German or foreign university.
In a subsequent aptitude assessment we will check whether you have the necessary prerequisites and motivation for the program.
If you are subsequently admitted, you must submit a few certified paper copies for enrolment.
Timetable: Via TUMonline you can have a timetable created for each semester according to FSPO. You can also create your own individual timetable, which can contain not only the dates of the selected courses but also your personal appointments. First steps with TUMonline
In TUMonline you can register for the module examinations that accompany your studies.
Important: You can only take most of the exams if you have actively registered yourself via TUMonline within the registration period. The registration and deregistration period will be displayed at the exam date.
