A participant is hugging a tree during an excursion

Course program

The postgraduate training program initiated by UNEP, UNESCO and BMU is implemented by CIPSEM at TU Dresden since 1977. The target group of the program are young environmental specialists and leaders from developing and emerging countries. Each year, a six-month long-course with a comprehensive range of topics, as well as three four-week short-courses on selective environmental topics take place. Are you interested? Find out more about the characteristics of our program and see the list of upcoming courses. Learn how the application process works and what is included in the fellowship. You might also want to have a look at our blog to get an impression of our course programs. For an overview of past courses and former participants, please have a look at our Alumni-section.

learn more

At a glance

Image showing a group of course participants posing next to a large heart with "Our heart beats for education - TU Dresden" written on it.

Course Characteristics

Are you interested in applying for the next UNEP/UNESCO/BMU course year? Find out more about the characteristics of our program and see the list of upcoming courses. Learn what criteria you need to fulfil, what is included in the fellowship and how the application process works.

Participants during a lecture in the seminar room

Questions and Answers

Are you eligible to apply for the UNEP/UNESCO/BMU course program? How does the application process work? What is covered by the scholarship and when are the application periods? These and numerous other questions are answered in our FAQ section.

Group of participants during computer group work

Application

Applying for the UNEP/UNESCO/BMU course programme is now already for some years resource-efficiently possible online via our application portal. Read more on application periods, course topics and the application process.

UNEP/UNESCO/BMU Courses

The program of a new course term at CIPSEM is published in the beginning of every year. CIPSEM's course term starts in September of the current year and ends in July of the following year. The courses have different target groups according to their topics. The exact requirements can be found in the respective course descriptions. The application is possible via our online application portal. Application periods vary between courses. By the specific training of future decision-makers the CIPSEM course program contributes to capacity building in sustainable development in developing and emerging countries. The integrative and interdisciplinary teaching approach conveys not only knowledge on global environmental processes and methods for the sustainable management of resources, but also promotes abilities in a holistic way of thinking with respect to environmental thematic problems and in finding corresponding solutions. The teaching and working language is English.

Before applying for a course, please read the current CIPSEM Course Programme and make sure that you belong to the target group of the respective course. Please also check the FAQs.

All applications submitted before the deadline and fullfilling the formal criteria will be presented to the International Steering Committee for selection of the participants.

Upcoming courses

participants at a waste management facility

International Short Course on Environmental Management for Developing Countries - Resource Efficiency: Circular Economy and Waste Management (SC79)

18 November - 11 December: After completion of the course, the participants will be better able to consider “waste” as a raw material and contribute actively to the development or advancement of sustainable resource management in their home countries. The entire production process and life cycle of products are taken into account to reduce consumption of raw material, reuse and recycle (3Rs).

International Postgraduate Course on Environmental Management for Developing Countries (EM43)

09 January - 10 July 2020: This course is particularly designed for decision-makers of public administration both at national and local level requiring an overall-competence in environmental matters. Participants acquire the ability to develop interdisciplinary strategies for sustainable development and to take appropriate measures for an environmental protection that takes ecological, socio-economic and cultural aspects into account.