Business Management and Renewable Energy Entrepreneurship (Master's)

This degree programme is for a Master's degree with a comprehensive understanding of the technical, economic, legal and political backgrounds for developing renewable energies and in which managerial skills are at the forefront. This means that, in addition to broadening subject-specific skills, the course is largely concerned with teaching entrepreneurship, management and leadership qualifications, as well as intercultural skills and English-language skills.

The largest upheaval in energy supply thus far has begun with the introduction of the energy transition in Germany: nuclear phase-out will make history in 2022 and the fossil-fuel phase-out is currently in preparation. The complete conversion of the electricity, heating and mobility consumption sectors to renewable energies is a topic that will keep us occupied for decades to come. Germany aims to become the leading market for renewable energy. This will create business opportunities for innovative companies in a national, European and international setting. Several of these young and dynamic companies are also involved in the course of this Master's degree programme.

Because of this, there is a large need for highly qualified workers who not only have specialist knowledge in renewable energy and the energy market in general, but who work well in a business environment and can take on leadership and management tasks in a national and international setting.

Upon completion of this Master's degree programme, you will have...

• in-depth subject-specific expertise in the field of renewable energy
• business knowledge
• a qualification for taking on leadership and management tasks
• business and subject-specific knowledge of the English language
• intercultural skills

During the programme, our students develop into independent, critical and responsible graduates who want to have an active role in the energy transition in the area of renewable energies – nationally or internationally.

The course is completed in three full-time semesters. The first two semesters are made up of six modules each. The third semester is reserved exclusively for the Master’s thesis.

To bring a practical element to the course of study, companies from across the energy industry are involved in the master’s degree programme. Part-time lecturers and speakers working in the field share their skills and expertise with students during the modules. In a number of modules, case studies, guest presentations and group work put students in direct contact with industry and research representatives.The most important insights into the practical, real-world aspects of the discipline are generally gained during work on the master’s thesis, which, wherever possible, requires students to work closely with companies from within the industry both in Germany and abroad.

Among others, the following companies are involved in the Master's programme:

In specialist publisher energate, a leading media company for the energy market, we also have a media partner that can provide our students with comprehensive access to all the latest information from the energy field, e.g. for research as part of their project work, or their bachelor’s or master’s theses.

There is a multitude of companies that could be potential employers. In particular, this includes:

• Producers of renewable energy systems

• Energy companies & public utilities

• Cities & communities (energy concepts, climate protection officers...)

• Project developers of RE systems

• Consulting companies: Energy consulting, management consulting

• Operating companies of systems for the use of renewable energy

• Sustainable industrial companies (e.g. carbon-neutral production)

• Investors, banks and investment companies (financing environmental projects)
  
  
• Ministries, licensing authorities

In order to be accepted onto the master's degree course, students must meet the following admission requirements:

• Undergraduate technical or economics university degree (bachelor's degree) with a focus on energy, ideally in the fields of renewable energies in general, renewable raw materials, energy industry or energy management. If the bachelor’s degree is in another area, e.g. environmental or resource management, evidence of basic knowledge in the energy sector must be provided (usually by means of successfully completed mandatory or elective modules from the bachelor’s degree programme). In individual cases, knowledge gained from professional experience in the energy sector may also be accepted. The admission office will assess whether this knowledge is adequate following receipt of your application documents.
  
  
• Should applicants submit a bachelor’s degree certificate with less than 210 EC (but at least 180 EC), the missing EC must generally be made up by taking modules from the Management of Renewable Energies bachelor’s degree programme.
  
  
• The classes are predominantly held in German. International students, whose native language is not German, must therefore provide proof of proficiency in German to a B2 level or higher as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
  
  
• With regard to the English-language modules, in order to be accepted onto the course, students should be proficient in English at least to level B2 (CEFR). The Language Centre offers a voluntary aptitude test for assessing language skills. If required, relevant language courses are available at the Language Centre that will help students achieve level B2.

Applications must be made onlin. The application period for the summer semester runs from the beginning of December until 15 January and for the winter semester from the beginning of May until 15 July.

Application deadlines, further information and the link for online applications can be found on the university’s main application page.

Applying with a degree from outside of Germany

To support their application for the Business Management and Renewable Energy Entrepreneurship degree programme, applicants who completed their undergraduate degree outside of Germany will need to obtain a preliminary review documentation from uni-assist (Vorprüfungsdokumentation – VPD). Detailed information is available on our Website for International Applicants. An uni-assist evaluation report cannot be accepted instead of the VPD!

… please contact us

Prof. Dr. Stefan Brunnert, study advisor, stefan.brunnert [at]hswt.de | T +49 8161 71-5916