Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences

The Bachelor’s in Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences deals with the regional and global challenges of our time – climate change, food security, and environmental and resource protection. It is a systemically structured study program and combines natural sciences, ecology, technology, economics and social sciences. So if you are interested in a wide range of subjects as well as in networked thinking, you have come to the right place. You will learn and conduct research at our university on the sustainable production of high-quality food and animal feed as well as renewable raw materials for industry and energy recovery. The latest scientific findings, innovative technologies and state-of-the-art production engineering are naturally also incorporated.

In addition to the theoretical lectures in the lecture hall, you will also attend practical courses. Sometimes you will go out into the field, sometimes into the laboratory, and you will work on sensor-supported precision plant cultivation, observe computer-controlled processes in animal husbandry, learn how to decode the genome of plants and animals, investigate interactions between plants and fungi or learn about physiological processes in our farm animals. In any case, it will always be exciting!

There is probably hardly any other study program with such a wide range of career opportunities. This is due to its systematic structure, which makes it possible for each graduate to pursue their individual career wishes and ideas. Of course, the path to science and research is open to you. However, there are also fields in agricultural production that offer many different career options: From the agrochemical, agricultural, or feed engineering industries to industrial research and development, marketing or consulting. You will also be in demand in plant breeding and animal husbandry or as a consultant, for example for growers' associations. There are also good opportunities for you in the food industry, in the marketing of agricultural products, in the public sector, and in banks or insurance companies. If you prefer to work with new technologies, agricultural software companies are a good place to start. If you discover your passion for writing about agriculture, then journalism is open to you.

In addition, you qualify for the advanced Master's programs in Agricultural Biosciences, Agricultural Systems Science and AgriFood Economics, Policy and Regulation.

At the beginning of your studies, the focus is on scientific and economic fundamentals, supplemented by specialized modules from the fields of applied technology and plant, animal and environmental sciences. In order to focus on a discipline-specific orientation, you will choose between agricultural science and horticultural science in the first semester. Modules such as Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Mathematics, and Economics will be followed by a systematic agricultural or horticultural education. Modules such as Agroecosystems, Soil Science, and Plant Production Systems give you an insight into the complex interactions of agricultural production systems. The module Farming and Production Systems enables you to apply the knowledge you have acquired to specific projects. Your acquired knowledge from modules such as Plant Cultivation, Plant Nutrition, Phytopathology, Plant Breeding, Technological Principles of Horticultural Production, Animal Breeding, Animal Health and Hygiene, Accounting and Production Economics, and others will also help you in this.

Starting in the fourth semester, a wide range of elective modules will complement your individual profile development. To successfully complete your studies, you will work on a scientific topic in your Bachelor's Thesis and will then have your first university degree in your pocket.

In addition, you have the opportunity to gain insights into future professional fields during your internship in the lecture-free period or during a semester of leave.

Interested? Just take a look at an exemplary curriculum!

With a Bachelor’s in Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, you will be able to solve problems related to the production and marketing of high-quality plant- and animal-based food and non-food products in a focused manner. Your specialized knowledge as well as your interdisciplinary knowledge of methods acquired during your studies will help you in this process.

You will be able to use your experience from the project-oriented modules together with your theoretical knowledge to solve concrete technical problems and transfer them into practice. Your methodological understanding and in-depth knowledge of molecular genetics and biotechnology, the analysis of material and energy flows in agricultural and horticultural ecosystems as well as operational and market analysis will serve as a basis for this. Your specialized knowledge in the field of agricultural or horticultural sciences completes your profile.

You will be able to meet society’s demands of the industry in a responsible and competent manner, identifying and resolving conflicts of interest at an early stage. An understanding of biological, ecological, economic and business management contexts will help you in this.

Along the entire value-added chain from primary production to processing and product, you will be able to assess the related significance of climate and environment, as well as social and political influencing factors, and develop proposals for solutions.

Here at the university you will receive a well-rounded bundle of knowledge that will make you fit for your future.

Application requirements and eligibility

To apply for the Bachelor`s program Forest Science and Resource Management you must hold a higher education entrance qualification (HZB) or show proof of a professional qualification. You can find all information about the university entrance qualification here.

It is a degree program without admission restrictions. Further information about Admission-free Degree Programs you can find here.
 

Language Certificates

The language of instruction for the degree program is German, therefore applicants whose language of instruction is not German must provide proof of language proficiency. Please find out here whether you need to submit a language certificate and which German certificates are accepted.
 

Preliminary review documentation (VPD) 

Applicants who have not obtained their university entrance qualification in the German school system in Germany or at a school with German Abitur examination regulations require a preliminary examination documentation (VPD). You must first apply for the VPD at uni-assist and then upload it to TUM with your application. You can find detailed information on the VPD here.
 

Semester fees and tuition fees at TUM

All students have to pay a semester fee for the student union (Studierendenwerk).

++ NEW ++ International students from third countries, i.e. countries that do not belong to the European Economic Area, will be charged tuition fees as of winter semester 2024/25. All information on fee levels, waivers and scholarship programs can be found on the website on tuition fees for international students.
 

Application period and start of studies

The application period is from 15 May to 15 September each year for the following winter semester. Start of the degree program is only possible in the winter semester. See here for semester dates. For international students, we strongly recommend to apply as early as possible.
 

Online application

Application is only possible via our online application portal, where you need to set up an applicant account. You find instructions for your online application here. You do not have to submit any hardcopies before your application is reviewed and you receive an offer of admission. Please upload all documents to TUMonline before the end of the application deadline. Documents submitted via email cannot be processed.
 

Enrollment

 Once you are admitted to this program, you have to accept your study place in your applicant account. Subsequently you have to submit your certified paper copies for enrollment and pay the semester fees and, if applicable, the tuition fees. All relevant information will appear in your TUMonline applicant account. See here for details on the enrolment process and here for the glossary of documents.

Please note that from the time where you receive admission, we will only contact you via your tum.de/mytum.de email address that you find in your applicant account. Make sure that these emails can be received by you. See here for instructions how to set up your email address at TUM. 

• Curriculum
  The degree chart gives you an overview and recommendation, which modules you should take in which semester according to academic and examination regulations (FPSO).
   
• Timetable (TUM ID required for login):
  This timetable is intended to give you an overview of the planned compulsory and elective modules of a semester. It is for orientation purposes only and will not be updated during the semester! 
  
  Via TUMonline you can have a timetable created for each semester according to FSPO.
  
  You can also create your own individual timetable, which can contain not only the dates of the selected courses, but also your personal appointments.
  
  First steps with TUMonline

• General Academic and Examination Regulations at TUM (APSO)
• Academic and Examination Regulations (FPSO)
  • Academic and Examination Regulations 20241 (from start of degree program WS 24/25) (only in German)

• Examination dates & registration via TUMonline
  In TUMonline you can register for the module examinations that accompany your studies. 

  Important: You can only take most of the exams if you have actively registered yourself via TUMonline within the registration period. The registration and deregistration period will be displayed at the exam date.

• Further examination matters
  • Academic progress check
  • Examinations
  • Recognitions
  • Theses
• Board of Examination
  The board of examination is a committee consisting of university professors and lecturers of the degree program. The chairperson of the board of examination of your degree program is Prof. Dr. agr. habil. Kurt-Jürgen Hülsbergen. Applications to the board of examination are received by the secretary and submitted to the board of examination for decision. You can reach the secretary by sending an email to examination.co(at)ls.tum.de.

A pre-study internship before the start of the course is not required for admission.

During your Bachelor's degree you must complete an internship of at least eight weeks. The internship usually takes place during the lecture-free period and is composed as follows:

Agricultural Economics Internship

In the module "Agricultural Economics Internship" for the Agricultural Sciences profile, the following practical courses are organized at external educational institutions:

• 1-week internship course: Agricultural Engineering 1
• 1-week internship course: Agricultural Engineering 2
• 2-week internship course: Animal Husbandry with different focuses

Horticulture Internship

In the module "Horticulture Internship" for the horticultural science profile, the following practical courses are organized in our research institutes and in some cases at external educational institutions:

• 1-week internship course: Plant Propagation in Horticulture
• 1-week internship course: Horticultural Technology
• 1-week internship course: Greenhouse Technology
• 1-week internship course: Plant Protection, Biological Plant Protection, Measurement Technology

Vocational Field Orientation

For the practical module “Vocational Field Orientation”, 4 weeks of practical training have to be completed in the upstream or downstream area of the agricultural and horticultural sector.
The internships of the Vocational Field Orientation module can be completed in Germany or abroad. There are numerous support possibilities for the stay abroad. 
Contact our International Center to find out more.

The Weihenstephan Internship Office can offer further information and support in your search for internship companies.

Excursion trips

The excursion trips of several days within Germany or abroad are particularly interesting. Most recently, excursions were offered to Switzerland, Russia, South Tyrol, Ecuador, and Paraguay.
Interested? Tips and information about excursions can be found by contacting the chairs directly or we can send you them by email. 
 

More information about

• Internships
• Excursions