Study Environmental Informatics (Bachelor) ✔ TU Dresden

Admission requirements

To be admitted to the degree program, applicants must have completed a general university entrance qualification (Abitur) or a comparable university entrance qualification.

Knowledge of English at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages is required. Proof is provided, for example, by a certificate of general university entrance qualification, which includes the foreign language English, a certificate of university entrance qualification passed entirely in English, or based on the result of an internationally offered test, for example TOEFL (72), IELTS (5.5), UNIcert II.

German language requirements

International applicants and German applicants with a foreign university entrance qualification are kindly advised to read the requirements for German-language courses.

Information regarding Studienkolleg

Applicants with a foreign university entrance qualification that does not grant them direct access to university education in Germany pursuant to the qualification comparability regulations of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs must attend a Preparatory College (Studienkolleg) prior to studying. You can acquire the subject-specific university entrance qualification here. Further information can be found on the website of the Preparatory College (Studienkolleg).
This degree program relates to the following specialized course at the Studienkolleg:
T-course

General information about the degree program

Addressing global environmental challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and resource scarcity - and their impacts on the economy and society - requires innovative solutions. Computer science plays a key role in this, from environmental monitoring and early warning systems to artificial intelligence and sustainable technologies. The Bachelor's program in Environmental Informatics at TU Dresden bridges environmental sciences and computer science, integrating climate and ecological issues with big data, data analysis, and artificial intelligence. Offered by the Faculty of Environmental Sciences in cooperation with the Faculty of Computer Science, the program includes courses in geosciences, hydrosciences, forestry, and applied computer science. Graduates acquire in-depth knowledge of environmental processes, programming, data analysis, statistics, and machine learning, qualifying them for careers in environmental monitoring, planning, and data analysis in both public and private sectors.

Study contents

The Bachelor's program in Environmental Informatics consists of six semesters with a total of 180 credit points. A part-time study option is available. The first three semesters provide a broad foundation in environmental informatics, environmental sciences, computer science, and mathematical principles through mandatory modules. Specialization begins in the fourth semester with two chosen focus areas, culminating in an in-depth exploration of a specific topic in the Bachelor's thesis (sixth semester). The program equips all students with comprehensive methodological expertise.

The core curriculum covers theoretical and methodological fundamentals in key areas of environmental informatics, including:
• Basics and research methods in environmental informatics, particularly geoinformatics, cartography, geospatial software development, geostatistics, photogrammetry, and remote sensing
• Scientific work, environmental data management, and data analytics in environmental sciences
• Mathematical foundations, including linear algebra, calculus, and differential and integral equations
• Environmental science fundamentals, such as hydrology, meteorology, biogeography, geology, soil science, and geophysics
• Advanced topics in geographic information systems (GIS), geodatabases, machine learning for environmental monitoring and modeling, and geosensor technology
• Computer science fundamentals, including programming, algorithms and data structures, and human-computer interaction
• Practical applications of environmental informatics in professional settings
• General skills such as presentation techniques, languages, organization, and management

Starting in the fourth semester, students can tailor their studies by selecting two out of seven specialization tracks: Geo- and Environmental Informatics, Hydrology, Meteorology, Urban Development and Land Management, Geodynamics, Forest Ecology and Forestry, Computer Science. Each specialization consists of elective modules, allowing for a flexible and personalized study plan.
The fifth semester focuses on individual specialization and offers the opportunity for study at another university or abroad (e.g., through ERASMUS). The only mandatory module in this semester is "General Key Qualifications," which can be fulfilled, for example, by taking a language course at a foreign university. All other courses are electives selected from the two chosen specializations.
At the beginning of the sixth semester, a seven-week professional internship is required, further enhancing individual academic and professional profiles. Additionally, students take another elective module, which may be from one of their specializations or the broader course offerings. The final semester concludes with the Bachelor's thesis and an accompanying colloquium, typically aligning with the selected specializations.

View the module descriptions

Particularities

The degree programme is the only one of its kind in Germany to combine environmental sciences from the fields of geosciences, forestry and hydrosciences with computer science.

Stay abroad

Lust auf ein Semester im Ausland? Auslandssemester, -praktika oder Sprachkurse – als Student:in profitieren Sie auf jeden Fall von einem Auslandsaufenthalt. Sie können Ihre Fach- und Sprachkenntnisse verbessern, Kontakte knüpfen, Freunde gewinnen, andere Kulturen kennenlernen und vieles mehr. Dafür ist im Studiengang das fünfte Semester vorgesehen, in dem Sie einen Auslandsaufenthalt einplanen können. Mehr Informationen gibt es auf den Seiten des International Office.

Occupational fields

environmental monitoring, planning, data analysis and information technologies in both public and private sectors

Study documents

The official announcements of TU Dresden include all published regulations . Please use the search bar to find the document you need: Official proclamation

The regulations are also available on each institution’s website.