TU Dresden’s Chair of Tropical and International Forestry runs this four-semester, English-taught MSc at its forestry campus in Tharandt, near Dresden, Germany. It covers people–forest relations in the tropics: forest and agroforestry management, socio-economics, policy, ecology and silviculture.
Three semesters are classroom study; the fourth is field research in a tropical country. The course is part of DAAD’s EPOS programme, so Global South applicants can seek a DAAD scholarship; others study self-financed.
Benefits & funding
- No tuition; every student pays a semester contribution (€304.50 in winter 2023/24, FAQ) that includes public transport in Saxony.
- DAAD EPOS scholarship: €992 a month for graduates, plus insurance payments and a travel allowance unless otherwise covered.
- A rent subsidy and family allowance may be paid.
- Self-financed students: the FAQ puts Dresden living costs at €700–850 a month.
Eligibility
- Bachelor’s (or equivalent) in forestry or a related field; the self-financed route also accepts other graduates with relevant forestry work experience (FAQ).
- English: TOEFL iBT 80, IELTS 6.0, or a university letter confirming English-medium study.
- Applicants from China, Vietnam and India need an APS certificate.
- EPOS route only: citizen of a developing country on the DAAD list; at least two years of relevant work after the bachelor’s; results in the upper third; degree normally under six years old; not resident in Germany over 15 months at the deadline.
- DAAD EPOS countries (DAC list, 2024–2025 version; check the current one): Albania, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia; Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Saint Helena, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe; Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Montserrat, Nicaragua, Panama, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela; Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestinian territories, Syria, Yemen; Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Georgia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan; Cambodia, China, Indonesia, North Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam; Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna.
- Self-financed route: no nationality limit.
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Application process
- 1EPOS route: apply via the programme’s online portal from 1 September to 30 October 2026 for October 2027 entry; post and email are not accepted.
- 2Add a two-page research concept note, employment certificates covering two years, and a recommendation letter.
- 3Shortlisted applicants have an online interview; DAAD contacts successful applicants in March.
- 4Self-financed route: apply from 1 April to 31 May (international) or 15 July (German citizens) for that October.
Program timeline
EPOS application window
1 Sep–30 Oct 2026
DAAD contacts successful applicants
March 2027
Self-financed window (international)
1 Apr–31 May 2027
Classes start
October 2027