Environmental Sciences
Enjoy learning about a diverse range of issues at the interfaces between nature, technology and society: from soil science to biodiversity, geoinformation systems, environmental law, energy management, communication ... Train as an expert to teach, conduct scientific analyses of transformation processes and support such processes to achieve more sustainable environmental management.
The courses of the degree program will take place in Höxter in the winter semester. In the medium term, teaching will take place in Detmold.
Your heart beats for...
A Degree Program with a Future
You will bring one of the following educational backgrounds:
- General university entrance qualification (Abitur)
- Specialized university entrance qualification
- Advanced technical college certificate (Fachhochschulreife)
- Vocational qualification
German language level: C1
1. Semester
- Natural sciences (chemistry and biology)
- Ecology
- Soil science
- Renewable energies I & climate protection
- Current environmental topics
2. Semester
- Atmospheric physics
- Biodiversity and species knowledge
- Limnology
- Introduction to water management
- Academic working methods
3. Semester
- Applied geostatics
- Geoinformation systems
- Agriculture and environment
- English
- Environmental education and ethics
4. Semester
- Compulsory elective subject 1
- Geotechnology and surveying
- Environmental law and policy
- Environmental monitoring and accounting
- Waterway conservation and management
5. Semester
- Scientific media competence
- Internship semester or semester abroad with seminar
6. Semester
- Transfer and practice
- Compulsory elective subject 2
- Ecosystem services
- Environmental communication and PR work
- Energy management
7. Semester
- Environment and sustainability management
- Field visits and external qualification
- Bachelor thesis with colloquium
Your training in the natural sciences and social sciences is highly practice-oriented. Partially because of this, as a graduate you can
- deal with issues relevant to nature and the environment, while keeping social aspects in mind
- collaborate to moderate human-environmental conflicts in a cooperative manner among multiple actors
- develop innovative strategies and tools to harmonize environmental processes and social needs
- clarify complex environmental matters and convey them to experts from other fields and laypersons
- analyze and evaluate questions in the natural sciences and independently develop potential solutions
- support and advise on transformational processes in corporate and societal contexts
As a graduate of this degree program, the following career fields will be open to you:
- Specialist planner in ecological institutions
- Consultant in environmental and natural agencies and institutions
- Environmental educator in environmental and natural agencies and institutions
- Scientist at research institutions, agencies, associations and NGOs
- Environmental auditor for environmental analyses and corporate certifications
The Westphalia Environmental Center focuses on corporate environmental issues in the Westphalia region.
The goal of the “Mobile SmartFarmOWL” is to make the region a pioneer in digital agriculture with stakeholders from agriculture and digitization.
Research is conducted alongside regional players on transformation processes in agricultural areas at the Holzminden-Höxter Future Center.
- Protection of water resources
- Waterway conservation, development, and quality evaluation
- Water quantity management
- Waterway and wetland ecology
- Heavy precipitation prevention and modern of associated measures
- Transformation processes in agricultural areas
... the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations
- directly to quality education
- directly to clean water and sanitation
- directly to affordable and clean energy
- directly to responsible consumption and production
- directly to climate action
- directly to life on land
- directly to partnerships for the goals
Studying at Sustainable Campus Höxter

Sustainable studying in Höxter
At the Höxter campus, much of the focus is on the environment, sustainability, and digitalization—for example, in the environmental engineering and landscape architecture degree programs and in the field of precision farming. Projects such as the 2023 State Garden Show demonstrate that sustainability can be exciting, practical, and innovative. This is ensured by modern laboratories, our own botanical garden, and close cooperation with local authorities and companies.
Important note: Future relocation of degree programs from the Höxter campus
The Sustainable Campus Höxter will remain one of the three locations of the TH OWL. Enrollment in the degree programs offered there will still be possible for the 2025/2026 winter semester. In the future, these will be relocated to the Creative Campus Detmold or the Innovation Campus Lemgo. Planning for this is underway; a concrete timetable will be announced in the course of 2025. TH OWL will ensure that all students are informed several months in advance and can continue to study and complete their programs without disruption. You can find all the information here.
Information
- Application and enrollment
- Dates and deadlines
- Semester dues
- FAQ about application and enrollment
- Study plan
- Manual of course modules
Only the details of the currently valid examination regulations of the degree program as published in the promulgation gazette are authoritative and legally binding. You can find the announcement sheets here.
Contact and Counseling
- Our Central Student Advisory Service answers questions about studying at the university
- Offers for study orientation
- Get to know your faculty!
- Click here to go to the subject-specific student advisory service of the department
- Apply via our KIS portal!
- Information on the enrollment procedure is available from the Enrollment Office
- Studying abroad? Our International Office is there for you!
Still unanswered questions?
Our Student Service Center will answer all your questions about studying at TH OWL as well as about application and enrollment:
Phone: +49 5261 702 2534
E-mail: studierendenservice(at)th-owl.de
Service hours: Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.