Sustainable Engineering and Project Management M.B.A. and Eng.

The Master's program prepares engineers for leadership roles in project management of complex issues at the interface of technology and sustainability in companies, research institutions, public administration and NGOs.

Graduates have a practice-oriented qualification in the field of technical project management, which is oriented towards the trends of sustainable technical development. Knowledge of classical and agile project management are your tools for an international engineering career.

With this Master’s program, you gain

• in-depth knowledge of sustainable engineering and
• up-to-date tools in the field of project management combined with
• practical relevance and meaningfulness and
• German language skills of at least level B1 at graduation.

In addition, you benefit from

• an innovative mix of teaching methods - virtual learning, blended learning, simulations and case studies
• development of your intercultural competence
• valuable work experience gained during the internship semesters
• excellent career perspectives in various fields, e.g. environmental technology, sales, development or sustainability management

At Hof University Graduate School, all our programs are practice-oriented, interactive and multimedia-based. Teaching is based on application-oriented knowledge and is supported by projects with industry, site visits and interaction with experts. Case studies as well as real-life business examples contribute to profound insights into the theoretical knowledge.

Our professors (all with PhD) and lecturers are experts in their respective fields bringing together solid scientific understanding with valuable professional experience. Thus, the knowledge transfer from business life to the classroom is ensured.

In addition, we have a strong focus on career promoting activities for students (e.g. career talks, job fairs, seminars and trainings). A three-day team-building event is a highlight for our third and fourth semester students. It includes an industrial visit and is a great opportunity for students and professors to meet outside the campus. Through an intensive exchange of ideas and networking, a connection is established beyond the point of graduation.

• The standard period of study is 4 semesters.
• The first two semesters provide practice orientated theory (case studies, working in labs, excursions, expert meetings…).
• The third and fourth semesters are spent as an internship in industry (e.g. in technical sales, technical purchasing or technical project management) in order to gain further practical experience. The Master's thesis must also be completed during this period.
• The internship can also be completed at one of the university's own research institutes.
• After successful completion of the program, Hof University awards the academic degree Master of Business Administration and Engineering (M.B.A. and Eng.).

Semester 1 and 2:

The Master’s program contains 12 modules, 5 ECTS per module (4 basic modules + 8 core modules)

Basic modules (all mandatory):

• Applied Economics and Intercultural Management
• Project Management
• German Language 1*
• German Language 2*

* Mandatory with German levels of A1-B1 at the point of admission; different language course levels available depending on the student's German level at the beginning of their studies in Hof

Core modules (all mandatory):

• Sustainability: Theoretical Background, Framework and Management
• Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment
• Sustainable Engineering
• Project Planning, Controlling and Financing
• Green Technologies and Innovations
• Sustainability and Ecological Interrelationships
• Stakeholder Management, Project Marketing and Change Management
• Elective 1

Semester 3 and 4:

Internship

The 3rd and 4th semester are dedicated to an internship (30 ECTS) in a company and a practical Master's Thesis (30 ECTS). For entering the internship, all students have to prove at least the German language level B1. 

The internship can also be completed at the university's own research facilities, the Institute for Sustainable Water Systems (inwa), the Institute for Hydrogen and Energy Technology (iwe) or the Institute for Circular Economy of Bio:Polymers (ibp).

Master's Thesis

• Application of the methodological procedures, which were obtained and trained during the entire program.
• The thesis should be written during the internship and should address a current issue related to the company's sustainability management.
• Topic selection has to be done in accordance with the supervising professor.

Worldwide, the legal framework for achieving sustainability goals is only just being created. Graduates of this Master's degree course work at the interface between sustainability, technology and project management and have excellent career prospects.

You are ready to work as

• Engineer for environmental technology
• Sales engineer
• Development engineer
• Production manager
• Engineer in the water and energy sector
• Sustainability manager

For an admission in this Master program, you need to fulfill the following admission criteria:

Academic requirements

• A Bachelor’s degree or similar from an accredited university in engineering sciences, at least 180 ECTS or equivalent (depending on the home country)
• One year of work experience
• Letter of motivation

Language requirements

• Proficiency in English, proven by either
  • TOEFL minimum 90
  • IELTS 6.5 or above
• Basic language skills in German, proven by official test score documents (e.g. Goethe, telc, ÖSD) - minimum level A1 according to the CEFR (The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).

By the beginning of the internship, all students have to prove that they are at a B1 German language level. The German language levels A2 and B1 can be reached during the studies in Hof.

For further information please check our application guide.

All applications must be done via our online application portal.

• The application period for winter intake is between April 15 and May 31.
• The application period for summer intake is between November 05 and November 30.
• An admission committee intensively scrutinizes all applications and decides about final admission. Admission letters will be issued in June for winter intake and December for summer semester intake.

If you have any questions concerning the application process, please contact admission(at)hof-university.de.