Sustainable Tourism Management
Making tourism sustainable - worldwide
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, 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 organisations and ministries
- Tour operators and travel agencies
- Research and teaching
- Tourist destinations, often at regional or national level
- Founding their own company
- Nature conservation and protected area management
- Development and non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
- Consulting companies
- Digital economy
When I look back on my time at HNEE, my personal development was most characterised by many discussions, sparring and reflection. In my current job, I am also realising more and more how important it is to develop data skills. This already started here during my studies.
Franziska Albers
Consultancy and further training for public welfare orientation at Teejit GmbH, Alumna Sustainable Tourism Management 2019
I was particularly impressed by the versatility of the programme. The practical experience I gained on topics such as the digitalisation of the tourism industry is still with me today in my day-to-day work at a CRM software company for hotels.
David Riedel
Senior Customer Success Manager at Smart Host GmbH, Alumnus Sustainable Tourism Management 2014
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
Admission Requirements
- 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
- 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.)
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.
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.
Admission Requirements
- 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.
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.
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.
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 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 degree 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 letter of motivation. 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. As part of this process, we will also assess whether your previous studies included a relevant focus on sustainability. This ensures that newly enrolled students are at a comparable academic level to those currently in their second semester.
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.
Contacts
Content-related questions
General information about studying
General Student Counselling
Stadtcampus | House 5 ground floor, right
Schicklerstraße 5 | 16225 Eberswalde
+ 49 3334 657-149
studieren(at)hnee.de
Counselling appointment
Please make an appointment by phone or e-mail.
Student counselling
Studiengangskoordination & Studienfachberatung NTM
Organisational issues
Study programme coordination
Studiengangskoordination & Studienfachberatung NTM
Head of study programme
Professorship in Tourism Economics and Tourism Marketing