- Degree
- Bachelor of Engineering (B. Eng.)
- Admission restriction
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Yes (registration via hochschulstart.de)
- Contact
- Application period
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28 April 2026 – 15 July 2026
Arboriculture & urban forest management: what to expect on your degree programme
This degree programme is designed to enable you to take responsibility for tree care, administration, visitor management and nature conservation in green spaces and urban forests. You will be taught all the necessary scientific and practical content during the course of the programme.
Contents of the Bachelor's degree programme in Arboriculture
The Arboriculture and Urban Forest Management degree programme is based on the pillars of ecology, economics, social issues and technology. The content is drawn from the interdisciplinary courses offered by three departments (Forestry, Landscape Architecture, Horticulture and Food Technology) and their degree programmes. You will encounter these focal points in detail:
- Ecology
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- Tree species: characteristics, site requirements & suitability in climate change
- Recognising & monitoring biotic & abiotic damage, possible countermeasures
- Climate protection effect of trees & forests
- Consideration of nature & species conservation in maintenance & construction measures
- Social affairs
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- Perception & appreciation of trees in urban society
- Surveys & public relations work
- Acceptance & participation of residents
- Visitor guidance
- Economy
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- Valuation of ecosystem services
- Accounting & taxation
- Contract & labour law
- Innovation & Business Creation
- Technology
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- Health and safety
- Tree assessment
- Use of geographical information systems
- Automation & AI
This is how the Arboriculture & Forest Management degree programme is structured
The Arboriculture and Urban Forest Management degree programme comprises seven semesters. An internship semester takes place in the fifth semester, in which you can underpin the knowledge you have gained up to that point with practical experience outside the University of Applied Sciences and get to know future employers. You will receive your Bachelor of Engineering with the final Bachelor's thesis. The course always starts in the winter semester on 1 October each year.
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1st semester
Module ECTS Biological basics 5 Knowledge of biological forms 5 Introduction to computer science 5 Geoscientific basics 5 History of Park & Landscape 5 Compulsory elective modules (2 x 3 ECTS) 6 -
2nd semester
Module ECTS Basics of working with trees 5 Dendrology & wood science 5 Tree health 5 Labour & general contract law 5 Site theory 5 Compulsory elective modules (2 x 3 ECTS) 6 -
3rd semester
Module ECTS Tree inspection and diagnosis 5 Social Science Fundamentals 5 Geoinformatics 5 Ecosystem services & green infrastructure 5 Communication 5 Compulsory elective modules (2 x 3 ECTS) 6 -
4th semester
Module ECTS Accounting & Taxation 5 Tree statics and analysis 8 Ecological construction monitoring 5 Trees in climate change, tree nursery management 5 Forest communities & tree species suitability 5 Compulsory elective module 3 -
5th semester (practical semester)
Module ECTS Internship 25 Practical courses 5 -
6th semester
Module ECTS Public procurement law, construction contract law & supplementary management 5 Planning Law 5 Visitor guidance & participation 5 Work planning & project management 5 Environmental planning & nature conservation 5 Urban forest management 5 -
7th semester
Module ECTS Bachelor thesis 13 Innovation Lab 5 Corporate Management 5 Compulsory elective module 3
Your career opportunities after studying arboriculture
With a degree in Arboriculture and Urban Forest Management, you will actively shape the green living spaces of the future. You will work at the interface between ecology, urban development and people - and ensure that our cities become more liveable, more resilient and more climate-friendly.
Whether outdoors, in a planning office or at the interface between administration and the public: your skills are in demand.
After completing your studies, you will have a wide range of career prospects, including as a:
- Tree inspector:in
You assess the health and road safety of trees, plan maintenance strategies and help to ensure that urban tree populations are preserved in the long term. - Staff in municipal green and open space management
In cities and municipalities, you will develop maintenance concepts, support tenders and ensure that urban green spaces are managed functionally, aesthetically and sustainably. - Manager:in for Urban Forestry
You coordinate projects on biodiversity, climate adaptation and sustainable urban development - and network subject areas such as planning, environment and infrastructure. - Project manager in nature conservation and environmental protection
You implement measures to improve ecological qualities in urban areas, manage funding projects and work with many stakeholders. - Expert in tree statics
You carry out technical diagnoses, prepare evaluation reports and make well-founded decisions for the safety and vitality of urban trees. - Consultant for green space and ecosystem management
As an external expert, you develop strategies for green infrastructure and ecosystem management for municipalities, companies or NGOs. You will create concepts and expert reports, assess ecological impacts and ecosystem services and support decision-making processes to ensure that measures are implemented in a targeted and effective manner over the long term. - Management of tree care companies and in garden and green space offices
You will take on management and organisational tasks in tree care companies or various offices, coordinate teams and projects, be responsible for quality and health and safety and develop operational strategies for modern, sustainable tree care. - Activities in research, teaching and environmental communication
You work in projects on urban ecology and climate impact adaptation, train specialists or publicise the importance of urban trees and forests.
Arboriculture at Weihenstephan: Reasons in favour of the study location
Unique in southern Germany
Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences is the first university in southern Germany to offer an academic programme in arboriculture. There are only a few other study centres in Germany that teach this important subject for the future.
Developed with companies
Your potential employers designed this practice-orientated degree programme. You will also benefit from the exchange on sustainability at the „Wald-Forst-Holz Weihenstephan“ competence centre, which networks research and politics.
Green study conditions
Studying on the green campus: The Weihenstephan Gardens with the perennial garden and the courtyard garden, the educational forest with world forest (arboretum), the forest adventure trail and the „green slopes“ of the city of Freising are your „lecture theatre“.
Prerequisites for the Arboriculture & Urban Forest Management degree programme
The Arboriculture and Urban Forest Management degree programme at the University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan-Triesdorf has admission restrictions in the form of a local NC (numerus clausus).
