Contact: master-georisk@ehs.unu.edu
Overview
The main purpose of the two-year Master of Science programme is to provide postgraduate students with detailed knowledge, critical understanding, strategies and the tools required to take an interdisciplinary approach towards environmental risks and human security. The Master’s programme addresses theoretical and methodological debates in geography to better understand the complex emergence of environmental risks and natural hazards, their implications for human-nature relations (vulnerability, resilience, adaptation) and how to deal with them in practice.
As a joint programme offered by the Department of Geography at the University of Bonn and the Institute for Environment and Human Security at the United Nations University, the course provides a unique combination of advanced conceptual and applied engagements within the field of environmental risks and human security in an international context.
Fields of expertise include Vulnerability Assessment, Ecosystem Services, Sustainable Development, Disaster Management, Climate Change Adaptation, Human-Nature Relationships, Science & Technology Studies, Development Geography, Geomorphology, Socio-Hydrology, Future Studies, GIS and Remote Sensing.
The Programme consists of 12 modules, of which ten are taught in the first three semesters followed by a compulsory internship and the independent work on the Master’s thesis. An internship of at least eight weeks is a compulsory part of the programme.
Since its launch in October 2013, a total of 256 students from 46 different countries have been studying within the programme.
The programme’s primary goals are:
- Theoretical and methodological expertise in the field of environmental risks and human security combined with practical experiences
- Strong focus on developing countries/ the “Global South”
- Intercultural and interdisciplinary learning environment
- Possibility to engage in ongoing research projects at both institutions
- Close cooperation with the UN system & international organizations
The Master’s programme offers great visibility and exposure to international organizations, federal agencies, academic and non-academic research organizations, as well as private companies and corporations involved in disaster risk reduction and preparedness, humanitarian aid, international relations, research on climate change, food security, spatial planning, and policy. Career opportunities may be pursued in all of these areas depending on individual interest and professional goals.
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Programme Requirements
Applicants must possess a first higher education qualification (Bachelor’s degree or equivalent) in Geography or a related/relevant academic field. Out of all achieved academic performances (Bachelor’s, Master’s, additional coursework, etc.) the majority of attended courses (as reflected in your transcripts) must be related to the three following areas:
- Human Geography and Social Sciences with a focus on spatial patterns, society, development;
- Science methodology and empirical research methods;
- Physical Geography, Geosciences and Environmental Sciences with a focus on Earth System Science.
Note: The programme is not targeted at graduates in Engineering-related subjects. Likewise, graduates in International Relations or similar subjects cannot be considered unless their profile relates strongly to the field of environmental risks. PhD students or PhD holders cannot be considered.
A strong motivation to contribute to the area of human security and management of risks related to environmental change is a prerequisite to study in this Master’s Programme. Applicants should be highly motivated to learn in a multicultural and interdisciplinary environment.
All applicants need to provide proof of their English language proficiency, except for native speakers from countries specified hereafter: Australia, Canada, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and the United States.
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Applications
How to Apply
The Joint Master’s Programme has one intake every year. The next intake will start in October 2025. Applications are accepted during the application period from 15 September to 15 December 2024.
To apply, please:
- read the information below as well as the FAQs thoroughly;
- submit the online application form;
- gather the required documents (including the academic writing sample) precisely as explained below;
- rename the merged application documents’ file as [your last name.your first name].pdf; and
- send your application documents via e-mail to master-georisk@ehs.unu.edu.
The following documents need to be submitted via email as one PDF package, not exceeding 8MB in size, and in this exact order. The sample of your academic work must be attached as a separate file, if necessary in a separate email. Incomplete documents, late, as well as paper applications sent via post will not be considered.
For additional questions not covered below or in the FAQs, please contact: master-georisk@ehs.unu.edu.
Note: All documents need to be submitted as scans in PDF format. Smartphone pictures in PDF format will not be accepted. To combine, arrange and compress your PDF application package, kindly use freely available software.
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A COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKAGE MUST INCLUDE:
Required Documents | Formal Requirements |
| 1) Online Application | – Confirmation will be sent via email after completing the online application – sign and date as explained, attach to application as scan |
| 2) Motivation Letter | – see the additional information below – min. 1 – max. 2 pages, must be dated – for EPOS applicants: must explain preferences if applying for more than one EPOS-funded programme |
| 3) Recent CV in EUROPASS format | – in reverse chronological order, dates must correspond to attached references precisely – max. 3 pages, must be dated |
| 4a) Academic Degree Certificate(s)* [Bachelor’s or equivalent & Master’s if available] | – in German or English, otherwise add certified translation – for EPOS applicants: must be stamped and/or signed by the issuing university on original document. |
| 4b) Transcript(s) of Records* [Bachelor’s or equivalent & Master’s if available] * if not graduated yet, please see the FAQs | – in German or English, otherwise add certified translation – must include a current, identifiable total average grade – must include an overview of the applicable grading system (except for applicants from the German education system) – include other academic credit such as exchange semesters, summer schools, etc. – for EPOS applicants: must be stamped by the issuing university on original document or sent directly from Registrar’s Office to master-georisk@ehs.unu.edu. |
| 5) English Language Proficiency | – see additional information below |
| 6) Academic Reference(s) (Recommended) | – Optional: at maximum two references by former university lecturers – in German or English, otherwise add certified translation – recent, dated, stamped, signed & must contain a letterhead |
| 7) Copy of Passport | – page displaying your name and personal information |
| 8) Other Relevant References (Optional) | – e.g. internships, previous employments, trainings, volunteering; at maximum three references (for EPOS applicants, see below) – as stated in online application, do not include school certificates |
| 9) Only for applicants from China, India or Viet Nam | – scan of your APS Certificate (more information here: APS China | APS India | APS Ha Noi) |
Additionally, if applying for a DAAD EPOS scholarship: | |
| 10) DAAD EPOS Checklist | – must be signed and dated on page 2 as indicated: location & date of signature, name, signature. Signatures must be made by hand; digitally inserted signatures cannot be accepted by the DAAD. |
| 11) DAAD Application Form | – must state all EPOS programmes applied for (page 2) – must be filled in typed, not by hand, must be dated |
| 12) Scholarship Motivation Letter | – min. 1 – max. 2 pages, must be dated – may build on the above 2) Motivation Letter, however – must additionally include all aspects indicated in the additional information below. |
| 13) Professional Reference from Current Employer | – recent, dated, stamped, signed & must contain a letterhead – issued by employer / supervisor / HR department – in German or English, otherwise add certified translation – may substitute work certificate if fulfilling criteria (see below) |
| 14) Work Certificate(s) | – only relevant, postgraduate work experience accepted – must state duration to the day, i.e. dd.mm.yyyy-dd.mm.yyyy – must be issued by a person authorized to do so – must in total amount to at least two years of documented experience by time of application. Work experience gathered after the application deadline cannot be counted. – also: dated, stamped, signed & must contain a letterhead |
Additionally, to be submitted as a separate PDF: | |
| + Sample of Academic Work | – in English, see the additional information below – must include a declaration of authenticity |
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Additional Information
2) Motivation Letter
A written statement illustrating the individual suitability for the Joint Master’s programme in a specific and convincing manner. Should refer to own academic and professional qualification, display knowledge of the curriculum, indicate specific scientific interest & future career aspiration, and outline how the applicant expects to benefit from the programme in this regard. Applicants currently registered in another postgraduate degree should explain why they wish to change programmes.
5) English Language Proficiency
- All applicants need to provide proof of their English language proficiency, except for native speakers from countries specified hereafter: Australia, Canada, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and the United States. Having studied in an English-taught programme is not enough per se.
- Candidates from multilingual countries, where English is one of the official languages spoken and who can prove that the majority of their prior education was conducted in English may submit a certificate from their university attesting their language of instruction and the student’s English language proficiency.
- The following certificates will be accepted with a minimum score indicated: TOEFL (550), TOEFL IBT (79), TOEFL CBT (213), IELTS (6.5), Cambridge Exam (CAE (≥ B2); CPE), telc (B2-C1)
- German candidates who have acquired their English language skills through attending the “Leistungskurs Abitur” (5 SWS) may provide documentation proving their course completion as a substitute to the certificates mentioned above.
12) Scholarship Motivation Letter
In addition to the above, EPOS applicant's scholarship motivation letter must
- illustrate why youj apply for a scholarship by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in particular and why you wish to study in Germany (see also here);
- describe how your motivation for this programme is development-related;
- outline how your scholarship award would help you achieve your ambitions and benefit your future career as a practitioner;
- explain your preferences if applying for more than one EPOS-funded programme.
Sample of Academic Work
- A sample of academic writing written as part of the fulfilment of the first degree, e.g. an essay written as part of the fulfilment of your university studies, published research paper, Bachelor’s thesis or an extract thereof.
- The submitted academic writing sample must be your work solely. Co-authored samples of academic writing cannot be accepted.
- If not available otherwise, samples of academic writing in German may be submitted along with an appropriate summary in English (2-5 pages, including references).
- All submitted academic writing samples will be checked for plagiarism.
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Scholarships
This Joint Master’s is part of a selected group of international postgraduate degrees that benefits from the EPOS funding scheme offered by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). A number of fully-funded scholarships can be offered to students from developing countries for through this scheme.
The current call for applications and necessary application documents for the scholarship for an EPOS study program can be found on the DAAD’s website.
Eligible candidates should fulfil the following requirements in addition to the general eligibility criteria for the Master’s programme:
- Being a candidate from an eligible developing country (check the list on DAAD website);
- Having accumulated at least two years of relevant work experience since graduation from the Bachelor’s by the time of application (e.g. with an NGO, GO, or the private sector);
- Having graduated from the last academic degree no longer than 6 years ago by the time of application;
- Having completed no other Master’s degree in a similar field of studies;
- Aiming to pursue a career as a practitioner in the field of development following graduation from the Master’s programme (not in an academic area/not aiming to pursue a PhD);
- Being ready to commit fully to the Joint Master’s degree in case accepted for the programme and a DAAD EPOS scholarship.
Students wishing to be considered for these scholarships need to attach the additionally required documents (DAAD application form, professional references, work certificates) (see Applications section) to their application package. Programme admission does not guarantee being awarded a DAAD EPOS scholarship.
The selection process for the EPOS funding among shortlisted candidates will happen between February and April each year.
Candidates that do not fulfil the EPOS requirements but wish to benefit from financial support during their studies are invited to apply individually and early to other available funding programmes in Germany. A list of available programmes can be found here.
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Courses
The international MSc Programme is taught equally by members of staff from the Department of Geography at the University of Bonn and researchers from the Institute for Environment and Human Security at the United Nations University. Fields of expertise include Vulnerability Assessment, Ecosystem Services, Sustainable Development, Disaster Management, Climate Change Adaptation, Human-Nature Relationships, Science & Technology Studies, Development Geography, Geomorphology, Socio-Hydrology, Future Studies, GIS and Remote Sensing.
The Programme consists of 12 modules, of which ten are taught in the first three semesters, followed by a compulsory internship and the independent work on the Master’s thesis. An internship of at least eight weeks is a compulsory part of the programme.
Fields of study include:
- Geographical approaches to risk, vulnerability and resilience
- New approaches to development geography
- Earth system science.
- Qualitative & Quantitative Methods, as well as GIS & Remote Sensing
- Social-ecological systems, Risk & Technology.
- Risk management and governance, forecast & prediction.
- Disaster management, disaster risk reduction (DRR) and humanitarian response.
For an overview of the Modules please click here.
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Contact: master-georisk@ehs.unu.edu
How to Apply
The Joint Master’s Programme has one intake every year. The next intake will start in October 2025. Applications are accepted during the application period from 15 September to 15 December 2024.
To apply, please:
- read the information below as well as the FAQs thoroughly;
- submit the online application form;
- gather the required documents (including the academic writing sample) precisely as explained below;
- rename the merged application documents’ file as [your last name.your first name].pdf; and
- send your application documents via e-mail to master-georisk@ehs.unu.edu.
The following documents need to be submitted via email as one PDF package, not exceeding 8MB in size, and in this exact order. The sample of your academic work must be attached as a separate file, if necessary in a separate email. Incomplete documents, late, as well as paper applications sent via post will not be considered.
For additional questions not covered below or in the FAQs, please contact: master-georisk@ehs.unu.edu.
Note: All documents need to be submitted as scans in PDF format. Smartphone pictures in PDF format will not be accepted. To combine, arrange and compress your PDF application package, kindly use freely available software.
A COMPLETE APPLICATION PACKAGE MUST INCLUDE:
Required Documents | Formal Requirements |
| 1) Online Application | – Confirmation will be sent via email after completing the online application – sign and date as explained, attach to application as scan |
| 2) Motivation Letter | – see the additional information below – min. 1 – max. 2 pages, must be dated – for EPOS applicants: must explain preferences if applying for more than one EPOS-funded programme |
| 3) Recent CV in EUROPASS format | – in reverse chronological order, dates must correspond to attached references precisely – max. 3 pages, must be dated |
| 4a) Academic Degree Certificate(s)* [Bachelor’s or equivalent & Master’s if available] | – in German or English, otherwise add certified translation – for EPOS applicants: must be stamped and/or signed by the issuing university on original document. |
| 4b) Transcript(s) of Records* [Bachelor’s or equivalent & Master’s if available] * if not graduated yet, please see the FAQs | – in German or English, otherwise add certified translation – must include a current, identifiable total average grade – must include an overview of the applicable grading system (except for applicants from the German education system) – include other academic credit such as exchange semesters, summer schools, etc. – for EPOS applicants: must be stamped by the issuing university on original document or sent directly from Registrar’s Office to master-georisk@ehs.unu.edu. |
| 5) English Language Proficiency | – see additional information below |
| 6) Academic Reference(s) (Recommended) | – Optional: at maximum two references by former university lecturers – in German or English, otherwise add certified translation – recent, dated, stamped, signed & must contain a letterhead |
| 7) Copy of Passport | – page displaying your name and personal information |
| 8) Other Relevant References (Optional) | – e.g. internships, previous employments, trainings, volunteering; at maximum three references (for EPOS applicants, see below) – as stated in online application, do not include school certificates |
| 9) Only for applicants from China, India or Viet Nam | – scan of your APS Certificate (more information here: APS China | APS India | APS Ha Noi) |
Additionally, if applying for a DAAD EPOS scholarship: | |
| 10) DAAD EPOS Checklist | – must be signed and dated on page 2 as indicated: location & date of signature, name, signature. Signatures must be made by hand; digitally inserted signatures cannot be accepted by the DAAD. |
| 11) DAAD Application Form | – must state all EPOS programmes applied for (page 2) – must be filled in typed, not by hand, must be dated |
| 12) Scholarship Motivation Letter | – min. 1 – max. 2 pages, must be dated – may build on the above 2) Motivation Letter, however – must additionally include all aspects indicated in the additional information below. |
| 13) Professional Reference from Current Employer | – recent, dated, stamped, signed & must contain a letterhead – issued by employer / supervisor / HR department – in German or English, otherwise add certified translation – may substitute work certificate if fulfilling criteria (see below) |
| 14) Work Certificate(s) | – only relevant, postgraduate work experience accepted – must state duration to the day, i.e. dd.mm.yyyy-dd.mm.yyyy – must be issued by a person authorized to do so – must in total amount to at least two years of documented experience by time of application. Work experience gathered after the application deadline cannot be counted. – also: dated, stamped, signed & must contain a letterhead |
Additionally, to be submitted as a separate PDF: | |
| + Sample of Academic Work | – in English, see the additional information below – must include a declaration of authenticity |
Additional Information
2) Motivation Letter
A written statement illustrating the individual suitability for the Joint Master’s programme in a specific and convincing manner. Should refer to own academic and professional qualification, display knowledge of the curriculum, indicate specific scientific interest & future career aspiration, and outline how the applicant expects to benefit from the programme in this regard. Applicants currently registered in another postgraduate degree should explain why they wish to change programmes.
5) English Language Proficiency
- All applicants need to provide proof of their English language proficiency, except for native speakers from countries specified hereafter: Australia, Canada, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and the United States. Having studied in an English-taught programme is not enough per se.
- Candidates from multilingual countries, where English is one of the official languages spoken and who can prove that the majority of their prior education was conducted in English may submit a certificate from their university attesting their language of instruction and the student’s English language proficiency.
- The following certificates will be accepted with a minimum score indicated: TOEFL (550), TOEFL IBT (79), TOEFL CBT (213), IELTS (6.5), Cambridge Exam (CAE (≥ B2); CPE), telc (B2-C1)
- German candidates who have acquired their English language skills through attending the “Leistungskurs Abitur” (5 SWS) may provide documentation proving their course completion as a substitute to the certificates mentioned above.
12) Scholarship Motivation Letter
In addition to the above, EPOS applicant's scholarship motivation letter must
- illustrate why youj apply for a scholarship by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in particular and why you wish to study in Germany (see also here);
- describe how your motivation for this programme is development-related;
- outline how your scholarship award would help you achieve your ambitions and benefit your future career as a practitioner;
- explain your preferences if applying for more than one EPOS-funded programme.
Sample of Academic Work
- A sample of academic writing written as part of the fulfilment of the first degree, e.g. an essay written as part of the fulfilment of your university studies, published research paper, Bachelor’s thesis or an extract thereof.
- The submitted academic writing sample must be your work solely. Co-authored samples of academic writing cannot be accepted.
- If not available otherwise, samples of academic writing in German may be submitted along with an appropriate summary in English (2-5 pages, including references).
- All submitted academic writing samples will be checked for plagiarism.