Organic Farming and Food Systems, M.Sc.
In view of the "grand challenges" of the 21st century (climate change, loss of biodiversity, demographic change, scarcity of resources), complex social changes must take place in order to achieve a transformation towards more
to achieve sustainability.
Agriculture and food production play a central role in this transformation process. We need to rethink the way we produce, package, market, prepare, consume and dispose of food. Organic farming means doing business sustainably; Food systems designate the entirety of the sub-areas of a society relevant to the food supply. The Master's degree in Organic Farming and Food Systems (OLE) brings these two areas together and enables you to acquire skills and knowledge to analyze and evaluate complex value-added relationships in organic farming and food production. We train interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary specialists who are able to take on management tasks and leadership positions in companies in the agricultural and food industry and to shape their transformation.
Programme facts
| Degree | Master of Science (M.Sc.) |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 semesters, 120 ECTS |
| Language of instruction | German |
| Required German | C1 |
| Study mode | Full-Time, Double Degree |
| Start | Winter semester |
| Application | Via uni-assist, winter semester until 01.06 |
| Tuition fee | €0 per semester for international students |
| Semester contribution | €367 per semester |
| Practical semester | Yes, mandatory |
What the tuition fee consists of
Will I get in
How the selection works and how strong the competition is — we go through it against your certificate when we select programmes for you.
Programme selection →What you study
The course is divided into two theory semesters, a practical phase and a final phase. The first year of study (first and second semester) consists of three compulsory modules that build on one another and five compulsory elective modules. The students are introduced to the basics of the discipline and practice-related research processes, which are deepened in a practical learning project (project module) in a strategic, application- and exploitation-oriented manner.
The full curriculum and the programme's parameters are part of programme selection: we compare them with your profile.
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After the successful completion of the course, the degree "Master of Science“ (M. Sc.) is awarded.
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A novelty at the HNE Eberswalde is the double degree. Here, in addition to the "Master of Science in Organic Agriculture and Food Systems", the degree "Master of Sciences in Environment and Natural Resources" can be obtained.
Graduates of the master’s program in Organic Farming and Food Systems are...
- ...able to take on management tasks and leadership positions and agricultural companies, and to successfully lead these companies through transformation processes (e.g. conversion to organic farming, development of new cultivation methods, establishment of new value creation networks, etc.)
- ...enables you to design, apply for and successfully implement interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, development and transfer projects
- ...qualified along the value chain to contribute their expertise to companies, associations and organizations in organic farming and to take on management tasks/positions within these institutions.
- ...qualified to start a doctoral project
Cost of study
| Tuition fee of the federal state (Brandenburg), international students | €0 |
|---|---|
| Semester contribution | €367 |
Requirements and application
| Previous education | Completion of a first professionally qualifying course in agriculture or other landscape, business administration or food-related courses. |
|---|---|
| Language | German C1 — confirmed by a certificate when you apply |
| Application | Via uni-assist, winter semester until 01.06 |
The procedure and the set of documents depend on your certificate. We check the university's requirements against your documents and give you a list: what to submit, how to certify and translate it, where and when to apply.
Check the requirementsHow to get into this programme
- 1Check your certificate and its recognitionDirect admission, a year at a university at home, or Studienkolleg first — this decides the whole plan.
- 2German up to C1 and a certificateDSH or TestDaF has to be passed before you apply.
- 3Documents and translationsCertified translations of the certificate and transcript, an APS if required. 3–4 weeks.
- 4Application via uni-assist until 01.06uni-assist checks documents for 4–6 weeks — send them well before the deadline.
- 5Admission, visa, movingPlan 2–3 months for the visa and the blocked account in parallel.
How to apply
You can submit the application yourself or with our help — the university decides on admission in both cases.
Applications go through the university's portal or uni-assist. Typical mistakes:
- ×incorrectly made certified copies and translations
- ×a wrong set of documents
- ×the application submitted the wrong way
- ×errors or gaps in the application form
- ×the application submitted at the wrong time — too early or too late
An incomplete or incorrectly prepared application is excluded from the selection — it can no longer be corrected after the deadline.
StudyInFocus does not represent the university and does not influence the admission decision. We do not sell study places and do not guarantee admission — this is a service for preparing and submitting documents on the applicant's side.
If your level is not enough yet
The two most common stoppers are a language level below the requirement and a certificate without direct admission. Both can be solved, but they take months — plan them now, not after a rejection.
Video about the programme
Questions about this programme
How much does the programme cost?
What language level do I need?
When do I need to apply?
Don't postpone the application
The deadline is 01.06.2027 (230 days left). Language, translations and the document check take months, not weeks. In 30 minutes we will build a plan backwards from the deadline and tell you honestly whether you can make it.