Socioecological Forest Management
Forests are complex ecosystems, laboratories of evolution and bioreactors. They function as climate regulators that generate rainfall, cool landscapes, and supply water. They are socio-ecological systems that are indispensable for the human well-being in the face of the climate crisis. Managing their ecosystem services is therefore a central issue for sustainable development and environmental justice.
What makes the degree programme special?
The aim is to take a new look at forests. On the basis of forest ecology, ecosystem theory and socio-ecological systems, we want to work with forest owners and managers as well as actors who protect, look after, explain and research forests to find ways to "treat forests well". The starting point for all considerations will be the forest as a sustainable and dynamically changing ecological system and its best possible functioning under the conditions of the climate crisis. The goal is human well-being on the basis of equitable management.
The socio-ecological approach does not exclude the management of forests, but rather means that it is indispensable. What is certainly new, however, is that socio-ecological forest cultivation means that all ecosystem services are managed as a scarce resource that is likely to become even scarcer. It is an approach that stands for an alternative way of dealing with the forest and for a different way of "learning and teaching about forests". Socio-ecological forest cultivation is people-centred and ecosystem-based.
What makes this degree programme so special is that I’m not only learning a great deal about forests, but also experiencing the forest ecosystem in all its complexity through hands-on work. From the very first semester, we’ve been able to test the latest socio-ecological insights directly in the field. The collaborative atmosphere—both among students and with our many practical partners—has made me feel like I’m already part of an active transformation in forestry. It’s a degree that not only brings joy, but also inspires hope!
Marcus Jurk
Student Socioecological Forest Management
Wie entwickeln sich Kalamitätsflächen, auf denen tote Bäume belassen wurden, die Boden und den „Nachwuchs“ schützen?
Studierende vermessen den Durchmesser einer alten Buche im rumänischen UNESCO-Weltnaturerbegebiet Izvoarele Nerei.
Studierende nehmen die Daten für eine Stichprobeninventur im Stadtwald Lübeck auf.
Waldumbau und Renaturierung: Förster Eckhard Kropla zeigt in seinem Revier im Stadtwald Lübeck, wie eine zukunftsfähige Waldbewirtschaftung aussehen könnte
Untersuchung von Mycel an Totholz in den naturnah bewirtschafteten Buchwäldern des Forstbetriebs Reiersdorf im Norden Brandenburgs
Neben Flora und Fauna hat die Funga eine herausragende Bedeutung für resiliente Waldökosysteme
Dates and events
The degree programme is actively supported by many partners, including
Career prospects
By successfully completing this degree, you will be well prepared to respond to the complex ecological and societal challenges associated with forests. Your interdisciplinary knowledge will enable you to understand, analyse, and effectively communicate these challenges. You will develop the skills to identify current and future questions and issues in forest management, and to address them through a reflective and adaptive approach to risk management. You will be capable of designing and evaluating ecosystem-based solutions. This includes tackling important and complex questions, such as: How can the health and functionality of forests be maintained and enhanced? Which management models are fit for the future in the face of the climate crisis? And how can forest management contribute to a broader socio-ecological transformation?
I want to apply...
Application period
Summer semester:
for higher semesters: 1.12. to 15.1.
Winter semester:
for higher semesters: 1.6. to 15.7.
for the first semester: 1.6. to 15.7.
The programme starts in the winter semester.
First, please register on the Hochschulstart application portal to obtain your identification numbers (applicant ID and BAN), which are required for your application.
Next, submit your application via the HNEE portal at → https://bewerbung.hnee.de, where you will create an applicant account. You will receive a confirmation email from us containing your username and password. You may then log in to enter the required information and upload your documents.
After submitting your application online, you’ll be able to view a summary of your information by clicking the “Print” button. We recommend saving or printing this summary and reviewing it carefully to ensure all details are correct. If you notice any errors after submission, please get in touch with us by e-mail at studieren(at)hnee.de before the application deadline.
You can track the status of your application both on the Hochschulstart portal and the HNEE application portal. Your status on Hochschulstart will remain “received” and will only change to “valid” shortly before the ranking lists are created.
One of the following qualifications is required for admission:
- general higher education entrance qualification (Abitur) or
- subject-specific higher education entrance qualification or subject-specific entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences, or
- a university degree that qualifies you for a profession, or
- a recognised professional qualification in accordance with §10 paragraph 2 points 6 to 11 of the Brandenburg Higher Education Act of 28 April 2014 as amended (e.g. (e.g. nature and landscape conservationist, environmental protection technical assistant or state-certified technician for environment/landscape)
- Certificate of general higher education entrance qualification (Abitur), entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences, or vocationally qualified university entrance qualification (in accordance with §10(2), points 6 to 11 of the Brandenburg Higher Education Act, as amended on 28 April 2014)
- Proof of English language proficiency at B2 level (CEFR)
- Curriculum vitae (CV) outlining your educational and professional history
- Optional (if already completed): Proof of a relevant, continuous internship or vocational training of at least six months, such as a Voluntary Ecological Year (FÖJ), or training as a nature and landscape conservation specialist or environmental technical assistant
Application period
Summer semester:
for higher semesters: 1.11. to 1.12.
Winter semester:
for higher semesters: 1.4. to 15.7. from a non-EU country and from an EU/EEA country
for the first semester: 1.4. to 15.7. from a non-EU country and from an EU/EEA country
Please apply early if you need to apply for a visa for your studies. The processing times are sometimes very long.
Please first register on the Hochschulstart application portal to obtain the identification numbers required for your application (applicant ID and BAN). If you obtained your school-leaving qualification outside Germany, you must not apply directly to our university, regardless of your citizenship. Instead, please apply via the uni-assist e.V. application portal. Uni-assist is a central service provider that conducts a preliminary review of international applications on behalf of many German universities. Detailed information about the application process can be found on the uni-assist website, including country-specific guidance.
If your application is complete and meets the formal admission requirements, uni-assist will forward it to our university. Once your application has been imported into the HNEE application system, you will receive an email with login details for the HNEE application portal, allowing you to track the status of your application.
- A higher education entrance qualification obtained abroad that is recognised as equivalent to a German university entrance qualification
- Optional (for EU citizens, if already completed): Proof of a relevant internship, Voluntary Ecological Year (FÖJ), or vocational training of at least six months, e.g. nature and landscape conservation specialist or environmental technical assistant
- Other relevant documents, such as:
- Certificate from the Academic Evaluation Centre (APS) for applicants from China, India, Mongolia, or Vietnam
- Proof of having passed a university entrance examination
- Applicants with an international educational background must also demonstrate German language proficiency at C1 level, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
- In addition, applicants must provide evidence of good English language skills, at least at B2 level (CEFR).
- You can check whether you meet the requirements and find further information on the uni-assist website, including details on the M-Course assessment test
The following application documents must be uploaded exclusively via the uni-assist application portal. Please note that this list is not exhaustive and additional documents may be requested.
- Copy of the higher education entrance qualification in the original language
- Depending on the type of qualification and country of origin, the higher education entrance qualification may include the following documents (see uni-assist country information):
- school-leaving certificates with a transcript of grades
- academic records from one to two years of study
- other certificates relevant to the higher education entrance qualification (e.g. certificate from the Academic Evaluation Centre for applicants from China, India, Mongolia, or Vietnam; proof of having passed a university entrance examination)
- German language certificate at level C1 (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages – CEFR)
Foreign certificates must be translated into German or English by a sworn translator.
Application period
Summer semester: 1.12. to 15.1.
Winter semester: 1.6. to 15.7.
As a secondary auditor (Nebenhörer*in), you may only apply for modules offered in the respective semester. An overview of the available modules can be found here. Please note that the modules offered, including their schedules and content, are subject to change.
Students who are already enrolled at another university as main (degree-seeking) students may be admitted to Hochschule für nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde (HNEE) as secondary auditors (Nebenhörer*innen), subject to available capacity. Admission requires that simultaneous enrolment at both institutions (parallel studies) is feasible and that the selected module constitutes a meaningful supplement to the student’s primary programme of study.
Secondary auditors are not members of HNEE. They may participate in examinations with the approval of the respective examiners and in accordance with the applicable examination regulations. The scope of examinations taken may not lead to the award of a degree. There is no legal entitlement to participate in examinations. Further provisions are set out in the current matriculation regulations of HNEE.
Formal applications must be submitted during the application period by post or e-mail to the Student Service Centre.
There is a fee for secondary auditoring. The amount of the fee is determined by the current fee schedules of HNEE, the AStA, and the Studierendenwerk Ost:Brandenburg.
Application period
Summer semester: 1 .12. to 15.1.
Winter semester: 1.6. to 15.7.
As a guest student, you can only apply for modules in the corresponding semester. You can find an overview of the respective offers here. Please note that the modules offered, their dates and contents may be subject to change.
As a rule, applications for guest auditor status must be submitted to the Student Service Centre prior to the start of the courses (Guest auditor application).
Persons who are not enrolled as guest auditors may be admitted to courses of up to 8 semester weeks within the scope of available training capacity, even without proof of a university entrance qualification.
Guest auditor status is generally subject to a fee. No fees are charged to enrolled students. Guest auditor status is free of charge for interested persons with a refugee background.
Participation in courses within the relevant teaching areas will be confirmed in writing. Participation in examinations is excluded.
Formal applications are to be submitted by post or e-mail to the Student Service Centre during the application period.
We are happy to welcome you to an → exchange programme at HNEE.
FAQ on application and admission
No, there are no separate application deadlines for applicants who obtained their Abitur or Fachhochschulreife before the current year. The current application deadlines can be found under the Application section for each degree programme.
If the number of applications is expected to exceed the number of available study places, the degree programme will be subject to admission restrictions (Numerus Clausus). Study places are allocated to applicants through a selection process, which involves creating several ranking lists. The average grade or waiting time of the last admitted applicant determines the admission threshold for that year.
You can find the admission thresholds for restricted degree programmes from the previous year here:
Admission thresholds for restricted degree programmes from previous years
No, you may only apply for one degree programme at our university. We encourage you to consult with us early on to determine which programme is the best fit for you. Please contact us via E-mail to arrange an appointment. Consultations are available by phone, online, or in person.
If your Fachhochschulreife (university of applied sciences entrance qualification) consists of a school-based and a practical part, you can only apply once both parts have been completed. For example, if the practical part ends after the application deadline, you will have to apply in the following year.
For applications to a master’s degree programme, we require a transcript from your university showing at least 150 ECTS credits, your current grade point average, and the expected date of graduation.
You have the option to apply for a study place at our university even without an Abitur. For this, you need a secondary school leaving certificate (Sekundarstufe I, e.g., Realschule), a relevant vocational qualification, and two years of professional experience, or a master craftsman’s certificate (Meister) or certified business administrator (Fachwirt) in any field.
Admission, rejection, or exclusion notices are made available in the online application portal. At the same time, a notification is sent to the email address registered in your applicant account.
For restricted-admission degree programmes, the notices are usually sent out two to four weeks after the application deadline for the respective programme.
Please note for degree programmes participating in the Dialogue-Oriented Service Procedure (DoSV):
If you are applying for a degree programme that takes part in the DoSV via Hochschulstart, you must first accept your offer of admission on the → Hochschulstart portal. Only after you have actively accepted the offer can HNE Eberswalde issue your official letter of admission.
If you do not meet the formal admission requirements, uni-assist will contact you during the application period to request any missing documents. You will receive an update on the status of your application within four weeks.
Contacts
Content-related questions
General Student Counselling
Please make an appointment by phone or e-mail.
Student Counselling
Studiengangskoordination Global Change Management (GCM), IFEM, Forstwirtschaft
Organisational issues
Head of Degree Programme
Professorship of Social Ecology of Forest Ecosystems