Sustainable Tourism Management
Tourism promotes regional development, generates income, and provides travellers with enriching experiences. However, it also consumes resources, impacts the environment, and can contribute to social inequality. In the Master's study programme in Sustainable Tourism Management, you will learn to plan and shape tourism in a way that balances economic, ecological, and social considerations.
Shaping sustainable tourism
Successfully implementing sustainability in tourism — that is what you will learn in the Master’s study programme Sustainable Tourism Management. This interdisciplinary degree combines economic, environmental, and social science content with a strong focus on putting sustainability into practice. The degree programme aims to provide a sound, scientific foundation in tourism management, with an emphasis on sustainable development concepts for businesses, associations, and destinations within the tourism sector.
Sustainable Tourism Management
Sustainable Tourism Management
Sustainable Tourism Management
Sustainable Tourism Management
Sustainable Tourism Management
The practical relevance of the degree programme was extremely important to me. Besides gaining impressions and experience, I was also able to build valuable contacts that I still rely on today. If we want to advance the twin transition of sustainability and digitalisation across the tourism industry, these networks are indispensable.
Simon Reuter
Senior Research Partnership Manager at Outdooractive AG, Alumni Sustainable Tourism Management 2018
Dates and events
Career prospects
With a successful Master's degree in Sustainable Tourism Management, you will have career prospects in various areas of the tourism industry or related industries such as the digital economy or development cooperation.
Specialisation options
There are no fixed specialisations. You can orientate yourself in a subject area by choosing the compulsory elective modules. The Fleximodule and Current Topics modules offer you the opportunity to choose freely between degree programmes or even university subjects and modules.
Prospects / job profiles
Most of our graduates work in the professional fields listed below:
- Tourism associations and ministries
- Tour operators and travel agencies
- Research and teaching
- Tourist destinations, often at regional or state level
- Founding their own business
- Nature conservation and protected area management
- Development and non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
- Consulting companies
- Digital economy
In my degree programme, I wanted to focus on my personal IT focus and the importance of digital processes in the context of tourism applications. I was able to apply this in various modules during the semesters and in my internship at a global software company for travel distribution software in the industry. I then wrote my Master's thesis directly at the company.
Robert Raback
Consultant for International Accreditation at ACQUIN e.V., Alumni Sustainable Tourism Management 2014
The programme helped me to understand the complexity of tourism and sustainability and gave me the opportunity to play an active role in shaping the industry.
Isabell Prior
Head of Communications at Alpenwelt Karwendel, Alumni Sustainable Tourism Management 2016
I want to apply...
Application period
Summer semester:
for higher semesters: 1 December to 15 January
Winter semester:
for the first semester: 1 March to 31 August
for higher semesters: 1 March to 15 July
- First professional qualification from a university, equivalent to a 3-year German bachelor's degree with at least 180 ECTS credits (tourism management degree or related bachelor's degree, e.g. with a focus on geography, sociology or business administration, comprising at least 30 ECTS credits in tourism or leisure studies. If you are unable to provide proof of 30 ECTS credits in tourism-related subjects, we still recommend that you apply).
- Proof of English language skills at level B2 CEFR (Graduates whose native language or official language in their country of origin is English, as well as graduates of English-language degree programmes, do not need to provide proof of English language skills).
- If available: certificates, references, employment references or proof of employment
Please create an applicant account via the HNEE application portal. 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 the online application, you can access a summary of your details by clicking the “Print” button. We recommend printing and reviewing this summary for accuracy.
If you discover any errors after submission, please contact us by studieren(at)hnee.de before the application deadline.
- Degree certificate and diploma from your university studies (alternatively, a transcript showing at least 150 ECTS credits and a provisional overall grade)
- Educational and professional background (CV in tabular format)
- If available: Certificates, references, letters of employment, or proof of relevant work experience
- Proof of English language proficiency at level B2 CEFR (Graduates whose native language or official language in their country of origin is English, as well as graduates of English-language degree programmes, are not required to provide proof of English language proficiency.)
Application period
Summer semester:
for higher semesters: 1 November to 1 December from a non-EU country or 1 December to 15 January from an EU/EEA country
Winter semester:
for the first semester: 1 March to 1 June from a non-EU country or 1 March to 15 July from an EU/EEA country
for higher semesters: 1 March to 1 June from a non-EU country or 1 March to 15 July 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.
- First professional qualification from a university, equivalent to a 3-year German bachelor's degree with at least 180 ECTS credits (tourism management degree or related bachelor's degree, e.g. with a focus on geography, sociology or business administration, comprising at least 30 ECTS credits in tourism or leisure studies. If you are unable to provide proof of 30 ECTS credits in tourism-related subjects, we still recommend that you apply).
- Proof of English language skills at level B2 CEFR (Graduates whose native language or official language in their country of origin is English, as well as graduates of English-language degree programmes, do not need to provide proof of English language skills).
- If available: certificates, references, employment references or proof of employment
You can check whether you meet the formal requirements on the uni-assist website.
If you obtained your degree 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.
The following application documents must be uploaded exclusively via the uni-assist application portal. Please note that this list may not be exhaustive, and additional documents may be requested.
- Copy of the university degree certificate including the grade average and Transcript of Records (see country-specific guidance on the uni-assist website)
- Copy of the university entrance qualification
- Other certificates relevant for the Master’s admission (e.g., certificate from the Academic Evaluation Centre for applications from China, India, Mongolia, or Vietnam; proof of passing the university entrance examination)
- Proof of English language proficiency at level B2 CEFR (Graduates whose native language or official language in their country of origin is English, as well as graduates of English-language degree programmes, are not required to provide proof of English language proficiency.)
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 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.
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 during the application period 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
For the Master’s program, only applicants who can provide a first professional university degree with at least 180 ECTS credits will be admitted. The program is aimed at graduates of tourism management, geographically or business-oriented bachelor’s programs with a focus on tourism, tourism marketing, or leisure sciences (minimum 30 ECTS).
Furthermore, applicants from environmental-related degree programs such as Landscape Use, Landscape Planning, Landscape Conservation, Forestry, Agricultural Sciences, or General Environmental Sciences, as well as Social Sciences, Cultural Studies, Linguistics and Communication sciences, or Ethnology may also be admitted, provided they can demonstrate at least 30 ECTS credits in leisure sciences or tourism-related courses.
For more information about the admission requirements, please contact the Student Services.
We explicitly encourage applicants with limited tourism-related experience to apply if the program content appeals to them. Admission is possible with sufficient relevant practical experience and a motivating letter. Our students usually come with diverse backgrounds and expertise, which fosters interdisciplinary learning among them. In cases of doubt, the head of the degree programm will decide which degree programs or other professional experiences can be recognised.
Applicants with higher-level degrees or degrees from at least four-year programs, such as Diplom (FH), Magister, Diplom, or the First State Examination (1. Staatsexamen), can also be admitted. Please contact us if you are unsure whether you are eligible for admission to the program.
Bachelor graduates with 210 or 240 ECTS credits, as well as applicants with suitable Diplom or Magister degrees, can, upon request, be admitted to a higher semester due to the additionally earned 30 or 60 ECTS credits.
A tailored study plan will then be developed by the head of the degree programme, which is compiled according to the applicant’s prior education and is binding.
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.
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.
Before your studies
FAQ before starting your studies
We do not currently offer any preparatory courses for this degree programme.
If you would like to continue your education before starting the programme, we recommend that you complete Prof. Claudia Brözel's online course on Tourism Management in the Context of Sustainability at the Virtual Academy for Sustainability (currently no examinations possible).
If you lack tourism knowledge, we recommend the UNWTO Academy's Massive Open Online Course Introduction to Tourism-Industry Management. This free online course offers the opportunity to expand your basic knowledge of management concepts in the tourism industry.
When and how do I start my studies?
You will find the semester dates and the programme for the introductory events for first-year students on this page in good time.
There, you will learn how to access your study plan in the campus management system → Mein EMMA, register for modules and exams, and use the Moodle platform, where all learning materials are provided. You will also meet your academic contacts, student representatives and initiatives, and fellow students, while gaining your first insights into the degree programmes. It's well worth attending!
You can access your study plan online through our campus management system → Mein EMMA. You will receive your login details by email after enrolment.
You can find your study plan online via the account access in our campus management system → Mein EMMA, which you will receive by e-mail with your enrolment.
No, attendance is not compulsory—neither for courses nor for the introductory week (with the exception of the identity check at the beginning of your studies, most exams, and any registered excursions).
However, regular attendance is strongly recommended. It not only supports your learning progress but also helps foster the positive dynamic within our small learning groups.
The Master's programme is designed as a full-time course. Nevertheless, some of our students pursue a part-time job. We also occasionally offer work on research projects or directly in the organisation of studies as a student or research assistant.
Where can I get support at the beginning of my studies if I don't know my way around or have specific questions?
Most of your questions will likely be answered during the introductory events at the start of the semester. If you still have questions or specific needs, feel free to make use of → our advisory services.
Contacts
Content-related questions
General study guidance
Stadtcampus Haus 5 ground floor, right
Schicklerstraße 5
16225 Eberswalde
+ 49 3334 657-149
studieren (at) hnee.de
Please make an appointment by phone or e-mail.
Student counselling
Studiengangskoordination & Studienfachberatung NTM
Organisational issues
Study programme coordination
Studiengangskoordination & Studienfachberatung NTM
Studiengangsleitung
Professorship in Tourism Economics and Tourism Marketing