About this programme
The programme builds on fundamentals in forest management, equipping graduates with expertise in managing socio-ecological systems, especially in tropical and subtropical regions. Graduates can analyse human-ecosystem relationships, develop and implement sustainable strategies, resolve land-use conflicts, and communicate effectively across cultures. They possess strong research, leadership, and teamwork skills, enabling them to address global challenges in contemporary tropical forestry and to adapt to future developments. Aiming to train future leaders and change agents, the programme provides multidisciplinary knowledge from social, natural, and technical sciences. As evidenced from our alumni network, graduates are prepared for senior roles in forestry, government, NGOs, international organisations, consulting, and research, particularly in international and intercultural settings. In the first two semesters, the module contents equally emphasise social and ecological systems, with the first semester focusing on theory and methodological knowledge of specialised forest subjects. Social system thematic modules are, for instance, forest policy, economics of forest resources, and organisation and management systems. Ecological system thematic modules comprise topics such as silviculture in the tropics, forest ecology for silviculture and nature conservation, and urban forestry. The third semester integrates and builds upon the modules from the first year. Core modules, including research design and planning as well as project planning and management, bring together the programme’s thematic areas in a synergistic and holistic manner. Students further shape their professional profiles by selecting compulsory elective modules focused on either forest governance or forest management. Additional methodological training is offered in areas such as project planning, conflict management and communication, and agent-based modelling. Throughout the third semester, students develop a comprehensive research plan from scratch, enabling them to effectively design primary data collection and analysis for their own Master's theses. The last semester is reserved for the Master's thesis, during which fieldwork is conducted in a tropical or subtropical country. Furthermore, it comprises the preparation, elaboration, and defence of the Master’s thesis. Please see further information on the study contents here: https://tu-dresden.de/bu/umwelt/forst/studium/studiengaenge-der-fachrichtung-forstwissenschaften/master-studiengang-tropical-forestry-and-management/inhalte-des-studiums. A good balance between knowledge transfer and its practical application characterises the MSc programme in Tropical Forestry. The MSc programme is conducted with lectures, seminars, exercises, e-learning, online seminars, discussions, excursions, and independent studies. Altogether, the two-year programme comprises 120 credits (ECTS), structured in three semesters of attendance studies and one semester of fieldwork and the elaboration and defence of the Master’s thesis. The MSc programme is organised entirely in English in order to enable access for international undergraduates. Please see the module descriptions here: https://tu-dresden.de/bu/umwelt/forst/studium/studiengaenge-der-fachrichtung-forstwissenschaften/master-studiengang-tropical-forestry-and-management/inhalte-des-studiums. PDF Download
Course details verified 10 Sep 2026 — intakes, entry requirements and course facts · official source