One Health (M.Sc.)
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Overview
- Englischer Studiengang
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This course of study is taught in English.
- Overview
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How are human, animal and environmental health interconnected? How do zoonoses, antibiotic resistance and climate change affect global health systems? And how can interdisciplinary research contribute to sustainable and resilient solutions?
The Master’s programme in One Health explores the interdependencies between health, environmental and agricultural systems from a global perspective. It addresses complex challenges such as infectious diseases, sustainable food systems and ecological resilience. By combining environmental and agricultural sciences with medical and veterinary perspectives, the programme establishes an integrative One Health profile that bridges traditionally separate fields of expertise.
Throughout the programme, you receive interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary training at the interface of public health, nutrition, epidemiology, ecology and the social sciences. The curriculum strengthens systemic thinking and equips you to understand how diseases emerge and spread, how risks can be assessed and how data from different sources can be meaningfully integrated. As you progress, you deepen your methodological expertise and learn to design research strategies, work confidently with epidemiological and biostatistical methods, and interpret complex health-related data.
The programme concludes with a Master’s thesis that brings together independent research and interdisciplinary analysis. You develop research questions, integrate data from different disciplines and communicate your findings in a way that is understandable to experts, stakeholders, and decision-makers. With its strong research orientation, the programme provides excellent preparation for doctoral studies and for academic or research-based career paths.
Composition of the Study Programme
- Composition of the Study Programme
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Degree
Master of Science (M.Sc.)
Duration of Studies
4 semesters – 120 credit points (cp)
Composition of the Degree Programme
The study programme is a full-time programme requiring approximately 40 hours of workload per week, including preparation and follow-up. The programme is organized in modules (courses). Each module comprises four semester hours per week and is completed with a final examination as given in the module description. The final grade of the study programme is calculated from the achieved module grades.
The course consists of 10 mandatory modules (core modules), 6 optional modules (profile modules) and the Master‘s thesis. Having completed the core modules, the students are well equipped with a solid scientific education and ready to deepen their knowledge in specific research areas. By individually choosing their profile modules from a diverse range of study areas, students shape their individual competence profile.
In the final semester, students work on their Master's thesis. With the thesis, students prove their capability to independently research a given topic scientifically within a limited period of time.
Structure of the Master's Degree Course
The Master’s degree course consists of 16 modules (120 credits):
Modules Core Competence
(mandatory modules)10 modules 60 credits Profile Competence
(optional modules)6 modules
36 credits Master’s thesis 24 credits Total 16 modules 120 credits Core Modules (Mandatory Courses, 6 CP each)
(subject to approval by the responsible committees)
- Introduction to One Health
- Sociology of Health
- Public Health Nutrition and Non-Communicable Diseases
- Empirical Research Methods
- Antibiotics: Past, Present and Future
- Sustainable Animal Nutrition and Husbandry
- Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology
- Statistics and Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases in Animals
- Planetary Thinking
Profile Modules (6 CP each)
Broad allround knowledge or specialisation - both are possible. Our students have it in their hands, they put together their studies according to their individual inclinations. They can select profile modules from subject areas such as:
- Infectious Diseases and Immunity
- Animal Health, Breeding and Production Systems
- Environmental Health and Climate Change
- Food Security and Nutrition
- One Health Governance and Policy
The exact names and descriptions of the profile modules can be found in the Special Regulations.
Work Placement (optional) (12 CP)
The programme offers a voluntary work placement that enables our students to gain an initial insight into the various areas of professional activity in which they hope to pursue in the future. The work placement also enables them to collect hands-on professional experience and establish contacts with potential employers. The variety of contacts that our faculty possesses allows us to provide expert support to students seeking a work placement.
The work placement module replaces two profile modules (12 CP).
Application
- Start WS-engl: Commencement of studies
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Commencement of Studies
Only possible in the winter semester.
- Application: Admission requirements
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Admission Requirements
In general, students can apply for this Master's programme if they hold a Bachelor's degree with a duration of at least three years (180 Credits) or a comparable degree. The Bachelor's degree must be completed in a closely related scientific field. For example:
- Agrarbiologie (Agricultural Biology)
- Agrarwirtschaft (Agricultural Economy)
- Agrarwissenschaften (Agricultural Sciences)
- Ernährungswissenschaften (Nutritional Sciences)
- Nachwachsende Rohstoffe und Bioressourcen (Crop Biomass and Bioresources)
- Landwirtschaft (Agriculture)
- Ökologische Landwirtschaft (Ecological Agriculture)
- Ökotrophologie (Ecotrophology/ Nutritional Sciences and Home Economics)
- Umwelt und globaler Wandel (Environment and Global Change)
- Umweltmanagement (Environmental Management)
- Umweltwissenschaften (Environmental Sciences)
- Bachelor of Medicine
- Bachelor of Veterinary
Applications with a Bachelor’s degree in another scientific field or with a Bachelor’s degree from abroad will be examined individually as to whether the study requirements are fulfilled. A specialist commission at JLU will then finally decide on the admission. Any information on the status of acceptance without having completed the application process is not possible.
- Application: Language requirements
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Language Requirements
As the entire degree course is taught in English, applicants must provide proof of very good knowledge of written and spoken English at level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The required level of proficiency must be certified by one of the following:
- TOEFL IBT test, IELTS test, Cambridge English Language Assessment, Pearson PTE Academic, TOEIC, telc, UNIcert, IGSCE
- proof of university entrance qualification in one of the following countries: Australia, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, USA, United Kingdom, South Africa
- proof of completion of an English-language Bachelor's degree programme in one of the following countries: Australia, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, USA, United Kingdom, South Africa.
Other language certificates may be recognised as equivalent by the examination board upon request.
- Bewerbergruppen-engl
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Application Procedure
Depending on where you obtained either your university entrance certificate or your Bachelor degree, we differentiate two application procedures:
Case A
You need to use JLU’s application portal if
- you hold a completed Bachelor’s degree obtained at a German university (the country of origin of your university entrance certificate is of no importance).
- your JLU Bachelor programme is not yet complete. Please provide a preliminary report. The country of origin of your university entrance certificate is of no importance.
- you obtained your university entrance certificate in Germany and attended a Bachelor programme at a German university other than JLU. Please provide a preliminary report if your programme is not yet completed.
- you want to change to another degree programme at JLU. The country of origin of your university entrance certificate is of no importance.
Case B
You need to submit your application to uni-assist if
- you hold a completed Bachelor’s degree obtained at a foreign university (the country of origin of your university entrance certificate is of no importance).
- you obtained your university entrance certificate abroad and attended but not completed yet a Bachelor programme at a German university other than JLU or at any other university within EU. Please provide a preliminary report.
- Application: deadline, intake capacity, fees
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Intake capacity ("Numerus Clausus")
The intake capacity of this degree programme is not limited internally by the university.
Deadlines
Application for enrolment period winter semester 2026/27
Application for enrolment starts
- for applicants with a German Bachelor's: 1 June 2026
- for applicants with an international Bachelor's degree: 1 May 2026
Application deadline
15 June 2026
Fees
No study fees are charged for this study program. However, students have to pay a semester contribution of approx. 400 EUR for administration and the Germany semester ticket (details).
- Further information-admission international
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For further information please contact:
Registrar’s Office / Studierendensekretariat
Goethestrasse 58
Postal address: Postfach 11 14 40, 35359 Giessen
Tel.: 0641/99-16400
international.admission@admin.uni-giessen.de / stud-sekretariat@admin.uni-giessen.de
Career Options
Contact
Further Information
- Further Information: Dokumente
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Examination regulations
- Examination- and study regulations (in German)
(mit Modulbeschreibungen und Studienverlaufsplänen) - Examination Committee and Regulations (Informationen in English)
- General study regulations for modular and multi-stage study programmes
Courses offered in the course catalogue
- Examination- and study regulations (in German)
- Links Faculty 09
- Master's Degree Programmes of Faculty 09
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taught in English
- Agrobioinformatics
- Agrobiotechnology
- Insect Biotechnology and Bioresources
- One Health
- Sustainable Transition (digital degree programm)
- Transition Management
taught in German
- Agricultural and Resource Economics
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology
- Food Economics
- Nutritional Sciences
- Beverage Technology (offered in cooperation with the Geisenheim University)
- Crop Science
- Livestock Sciences
- Nutritional Sciences and Home Economics / Ecotrophology
- Environmental Sciences
- Wine Economics (offered in cooperation with the Geisenheim University)
- Any more questions?
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Any more questions?
Information and consulting services of the JLU can be found in the category "Contact" on this page!
