• BSc or BA (or equivalent primary degree) well above average in Agricultural or Forest Sciences, Geography, Political Sciences, Sociology, Law, Economics, Ethnology, International Cooperation, Development Studies, Nature Conservation, Environmental Management, Land Use Planning, Natural Resource Management .
• Very good English language skills (We only accept TOEFL, IELTS and Cambridge Certificates and they must not be more than 2 years old (minimum scores are TOEFL ibs 100 or pbs 600; IELTS band 7; Cambridge level C1)

The programme has been developed with the clear ambition to be ranked among the top 10 international study programmes in the field of sustainability, society and environment worldwide.  It is accredited by ACQUIN in accordance with international standards for higher education. In 2006, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) acknowledged the programme as a Development-Related Postgraduate Course and thus offers a limited number of scholarships. In 2007, the programme was awarded the prestigious ‘Higher Education Award of the State of Baden-Württemberg.’

About 35 students are selected each year based on criteria of excellence and geographical representation (industrialized countries, countries in transition, developing countries as well as geographic regions).