Which grade is required for admission?

On a four-grade scale the minimum grade is 3 to be accepted for our program. However, we also consider work experience etc. for our decisions.

Am I eligible with my Bachelors/Masters in …?

To be eligible, students should have completed a BSc (or comparable) program providing them at least with basic knowledge in biology/ecology, (environmental) chemistry, physics, and mathematics/statistics.

If you are unsure, you can send a digital copy of your curriculum of your BSc/MSc program to us at msc-ecotox (at) uni-landau.de

What are the semester fees for studying in Landau?

German universities are state-funded; therefore, no tuition fees are charged. You only have to bear a semester fee of currently ca. 175 EUR.

Do I need an English proficiency test (TOEFL, IELTS) to apply?

The whole program is taught in English, so it is required that students have a level of English proficiency that allows them to actively participate in classes. However, no formal proof of English proficiency is required.

Which documents do I need for an application?

All applications are handled by uni-assist, therefore, you should critically check on their website, if you have all required documents assembled (https://www.uni-assist.de/en/how-to-apply/assemble-your-documents/). Here is a list of documents that are at least required for your application. Please be aware that all copies need to be certified and have to be translated to German or English:

• Educational certificates (Diplomas, grade sheets, etc.)
• Curriculum vitae
• Copy of Passport / ID
• Language proficiency certificates (optional)
• Motivational letter (optional)
• Internship, extra-curricular, and other certificates (optional)

When can I apply?

The application period normally ranges from December to June 15^th (international applicants) or July 15^th (EU applicants). Prospective students with a German Bachelors degree can apply until October 15^th.

When should I apply?

We recommend applying as early as possible in order to ensure that international students have enough time to deal with all administrative steps, especially the visa application process (sometimes it can take very long!).

All students take the 9 required modules, as well as a 10-week Research Project Course and an Applied Module at External Organisations of 8 weeks to obtain a deep knowledge in the field of Environmental Pollution Management (Ecotoxicology). Afterwards, students personalize the Program by choosing 2 Modules of the 5 Specialty Areas. Students finish the 4-semester Program with their master thesis.

Detailed description of the study program and the modules:

• Course handbook
• Examination regulation (please note: the English translation is just for information purpose, only the German version is legally binding

Specialty Areas:

• Applied Environmental Chemistry & Environmental Physics,
• Chemistry,
• Data Analysis & Advanced Modelling,
• Applied Ecology,
• Geoecology and
• Socioeconomics & Environmental Management

Course breakdown

ETX1: Methods in Ecotoxicology

You are introduced to methods according to Good Laboratory Practice (OECD) and get to know different ecotoxicological test systems that are used in a regulatory context. Students acquire the understanding of how to work under quality assurance systems, following OECD and GLP guidelines, which are then applied practically in an experiment and summarized in a report.

ETX2: Principles of Ecotoxicology

Students acquire the knowledge of terrestrial and aquatic ecotoxicology, i.e. the effects of chemicals on individual organisms. The curriculum further expands on ecotoxicological effects from to population up to the ecosystem level, how to identify and evaluate proper testing procedures. The module is concluded by learning strategies of how to address such environmental challenges in order to manage ecotoxicological risks and associated adverse outcomes.

ETX3: Tools for Complex Data Analysis

Students learn to design a study and select the corresponding tools for subsequent data analysis. They become able in linking scientific questions to the required methods of data analysis and data processing. With a deepening knowledge, ranging from univariate to multivariate or novel machine-learning approaches, students become more familiar with advantages and disadvantages of respective analysis tools.

ETX4: Effects of Chemical Stressors I

Students are taught the principles of toxicology by leading toxicological experts from the chemical industry. With this course, students acquire the knowledge of routes and reactions in the metabolism, mechanisms of cancerogenity, toxicokinetics, toxicodynamics and become able of deriving toxicological and pharmacological profiles. Knowledge is applied in the laboratory, conducting mutagenicity, developmental, and biotransformation experiments.

ETX5: Effects of Chemical Stressors II

Ecotoxicological knowledge is deepened, learning the interactions of chemical stressors with various organismic and higher-level structures that result in ecosystem alterations impairing their structure, function or ability to provide ecosystem services. Students are then introduced to Landau’s research coordinators and integrated into ongoing research, based on student’s preference, ability and interest. Thus, students gain a first glimpse into project planning and execution, as well as an early opportunity to become a member of Landau’s Institute for Environmental Sciences (iES) research teams.

ETX6: Environmental Analysis

The students gain advanced knowledge about the production, use and effects of various classes of environmental pollutants and their pathways in different ecosystems, including transfer, transformation and transport of pollutants. The course is complemented with practical lab exercises where students will learn sampling and extraction methods for pollutants followed by chemical analysis using GC- and LC-MS.

ETX7: Molecular Ecology I

The students become familiar with major topics in molecular ecology and basic theories of population genetics and phylogenetics. They get an overview of possible methods in molecular ecology and learn examples of their application. The students gain practical experience in phylogenetic analysis software and will be able to interpret the results. Finally, students become capable in applying and interpreting genetic data in the context of ecotoxicology, i.e. the potential effects of chemicals on genetics

ETX8: Models in Ecotoxicology

The students learn the basic principles of models to be used in the exposure or effect assessment in ecotoxicology. They gain insight into the restrictions, sources of errors and are enabled to quantify the uncertainty associated with them. They learn how to use models and to identify situations in which a modelling approach can be of help. They gain the ability to independently analyze a problem situation, to apply a suitable modelling approach and to interpret the results obtained.

ETX9: Risk Assessment and Management

The students acquire the principles of risk assessment and environmental pollution management of chemicals in Germany, the EU and internationally. They will become aware of the legislative and non-legislative background to risk assessment and risk management, the procedure and the role different stakeholders play. They learn to evaluate existing data in order to conduct deterministic and probabilistic risk assessments and to derive appropriate risk mitigation strategies. Students are introduced to software and other IT-solutions that are commonly used in the field of regulatory risk assessment and ecological evaluations for the registration of chemicals.

Applied Module at External Organizations (AMEO)

The module AMEO is an 8-week internship, which can be performed at an external university or a governmental or industrial research institute in Germany or abroad. Students become familiar with working practice, requirements of the job market and career opportunities and can establish business contacts. They apply, confirm and expand knowledge and competences achieved during their study.

Following an introductory discussion with the supervisors, the students perform the (research) work on their own and discuss the obtained results regularly with their supervisors. The content depends on the actual research questions in the selected research organizations. Topics or possible positions will be suggested by the staff of the Institute for Environmental Sciences or maybe suggested by the students. The topics should be directly related to applied problems relevant in these external organizations and should ideally offer the students opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills in areas, which are not the particular research areas at the Institute for Environmental Sciences in Landau. They include, but are not restricted to the following areas:

• Engineering aspects (e.g. hydrology, mitigation techniques)
• Multimedia modelling
• Food web modelling
• Fish, bird or mammal ecotoxicology and risk assessment
• Agricultural sciences
• Socioeconomics
• Specific aspects in regulatory ecotoxicology
• Risk communication, economic or societal aspects

Research Project Course (RPC)

The students work independently on a research topic of the university for a total time of about 10 weeks. The topics depend on the actual research conducted in the various research groups. However, all topics do have an interdisciplinary character covering at least two different disciplines (e.g. chemistry and ecology, or physics and risk assessment). The students submit proposals for topics selected from a list provided by the teaching staff including a time and resource planning as well as an independently conducted literature search. Following an introductory discussion with the supervisor, the students perform the research work on their own and discuss the obtained results regularly with their supervisor. Following the practical work, the students write a report including the theoretical background, the methods used, the results obtained and a discussion of the results based on the relevant scientific literature. The students present and defend the outcome of their work at an oral presentation. Following successful completion, the students are able to plan a scientific work package, conduct the work, evaluate the results based on the relevant literature and present the outcomes.

The content depends on the actual research questions in the research groups associated with the Institute for Environmental Sciences. They include, but are not restricted to the following areas:

• Chemical experiments in the lab
• Environmental colloid chemistry
• Environmental organic chemistry
• Physical transport or transfer processes of environmental chemicals
• Ecotoxicological lab tests
• Ecotoxicological field studies
• In situ or monitoring work in the field
• Molecular genetics
• GIS data analysis
• Data analytics, modelling, and machine learning
• Literature reviews
• Exposure, effect or landscape modelling
• Assessment or management of risks

Our Welcome Center offers prospective students all the required guidance to ensure that all administrative matters are taken care of. Please visit our Welcome Center for information about

• Application
• Visa Application and Entry Requirements
• Fees and Funding
• Accommodation
• Health Insurance
• First Steps after Arrival

Before you proceed, please watch our video-guide on how to apply via uni-assist: Youtube

In short, you will have to register in the Uni-Assist-Portal, pay an application fee and supply all necessary documents or certificates. Please be aware that some of the mandatory copies need to be certified and have to be translated to German or English

However, if there are still uncertainties then you can always contact our WelcomeCenter via welcomecenter-ld(at)rptu.de or contact Dr. Jakob Wolfram (j.wolfram@rptu.de).

Please be aware that you no longer have to send your documents to uni-assist via post. Your application can now be handled fully digitally. Furthermore, you can also submit preliminary grade sheets /transcripts of records, if you haven’t fully completed your studies yet.

All applications are handled by uni-assist, therefore, you should critically check on their website, if you have all required documents assembled (Uni-Assist-Portal). Here is a list of documents that are at least required for your application.:

Mandatory:

High School diploma (certifying your qualification for a Bachelors program, certified copy)

Bachelors diploma (certifying your qualification for a Masters program, certified copy)

Transcripts of records (grade sheets of the above-mentioned diplomas, certified copy)

Curriculum vitae

Copy of Passport / ID

Optional documents:

Language proficiency certificates

Motivational letter

Internship, extra-curricular, and other certificates

Once your complete documents are processed and validated by uni-asst (ca. 4 weeks) then we will give you a definite answer regarding your acceptance / rejection within one week (average).

Application via Student Registration Office (Studierendensekretariat)

Students with a German bachelor degree must apply via the Student Registration Office ("Studierendensekretariat") at the Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University of Kaiserslautern-Landau by using the university application portal.

The university application portal opens on June 1st for German applicants. Students must use the university application portal. You will receive a binding list of required documents after the online application.

Please address questions regarding your application to the Student Registration Office or contact the program supervisor Dr. Jakob Wolfram.

General application deadline is September 15^th for the winter semester

Enrollment

If admitted, you must still enroll at the Rhineland-Palatinate Technical University of Kaiserslautern-Landau. Enrollment can be done in person or by mail, for the latter you have to send the requested documents. Personal enrollment takes place at the Student Registration Office, Westring 2, Landau.

A step-by-step list of the application and enrollment process can be found here (German).

We are looking for highly motivated students interested in working on ecotoxicologically relevant problems using an interdisciplinary approach.

In order to qualify for the Master of Environmental Pollution Management (Ecotoxicology) Program several requirements must be fulfilled.

Higher Education Entrance Qualification

Anyone wanting to study at a German university needs a higher education entrance qualification ("Hochschulzugangsberechtigung“), respectively a master entrance qualification ("Masterzugangsberechtigung“).

Entrance qualification is not checked by the university, but by Uni-assist (see application process). Uni-assist provides all further information on higher education entrance qualification.

Academic Background

A Bachelor degree in Environmental Science, Natural Science or Earth Science is required.

Basic academic knowledge may be acquired in the fields of Ecology, Environmental Chemistry, Geographic Informations Systems and Mathematics/Statistics. If necessary, previous knowledge may be complemented in preparatory courses.

Language Proficiency

English

The Program is conducted in English. Therefore, good active and passive English language skills are essential. However, no formal proof of English proficiency (e.g., IELTS, TOEFL) is required.

German

Proficiency of German is not a requirement for application. However, we recommend to learn some basic German for daily life. While Germans also speak English, you will generally find life in Germany easier if you speak German.

In an opinion paper in the journal Integrated Environmental Assessment & Management, Harris et al. (the open access paper can be found here) identified the following requirements for the training of future Ecotoxicologists:

• interdisciplinary training at the own university or at another institute or laboratory (see e.g. general learning target and AMEO module in the list of modules)
• participation of business and government experts in academic research and guest lectures (see e.g. modules ETX4 Effects of chemical stressors I and ETX9 Risk Assessment and Management in the list of modules)
• training in the basic principles of test guidelines and QA and GLP regulations that are used in industry (see module ETX1 Methods in Ecotoxicology in the list of modules)
• training that allows considering the potential regulatory impact of academic research throughout the research process (see e.g. modules ETX2 Principles of Ecotoxicology and ETX9 Risk Assessment and Management in the list of modules)

Landau's Master in Environmental Pollution Management (Ecotoxicology) program provides all of these skills and opportunities allowing students to become well-educated Ecotoxicologists suited to the current and future job market.

The Program enables the graduates to conduct independent scientific work and prepares in particular for independent and leading positions in the numerous emerging fields of Environmental Pollution Management (Ecotoxicology). The graduates are able to take responsibility in a professional manner in: Scientific facilities and research institutes, authorities, public offices and ministries with a regulatory role, Non-governmental organizations, industry and consulting enterprises. The international orientation of the program qualifies graduates for a global job market. In addition, the Master program prepares for a PhD study.

The Institute for Environmental Sciences is globally connected through international research projects and student exchange programs. The international nature of the Program is achieved through numerous international research and teaching staff, regular seminars from guest lecturers from abroad, and possible internships all over the world.

Living in Landau

Nestled between the Rhine river plains and the Palatinate Forest, the small city of Landau, with its more than 7,500 students, offers a true university city atmosphere. In the heart of German wine country (the so-called German Tuscany because of its mild climate and many castles), wine festivals are in season throughout the year. The Palatinate Forest, the largest contiguous forest in Central Europe, part of a trans-border biosphere reserve with France, provides excellent outdoor recreational possibilities like hiking, rock climbing, or mountain biking, and is a paradise for all nature lovers. You can also easily reach major German and European cities like Frankfurt (2 h), Munich (4 h), Cologne (2.5 h), Paris (4 h), Basel (2 h) and Strasbourg (2 h).

For more information, please check the local tourism website for Landau and the Palatinate region:

 Landau Tourismus (only available in German)

 Pfalz (only available in German)