Regulations of the University of Freiburg for the University's Selection Process in the Master of Science in Environmental Sciences Degree Program

Transcription

1 Regulations of the University of Freiburg for the University's Selection Process in the Master of Science in Environmental Sciences Degree Program Based on 6 Paragraph (4) of the Baden-Württemberg Higher Education Admissions Act (Hochschulzulassungsgesetz, HZG) in the version of September 15 th 2005 (Baden-Württemberg Law Gazette [Gesetzblatt, GBl] p. 629), most recently amended by Article 9 of the Act of July 10 th 2012 (GBl. p. 457), 29 Paragraph (2) Clauses 5 and 6 and 63 Paragraph (2) in association with 19 Paragraph (1) Clause 2 No. 10 of the Baden-Württemberg State Higher Education Act (Landeshochschulgesetz, LHG) of January 1 st 2005 (GBl. p. 1), most recently amended by Article 2 of the Act of July 10 th 2012 (Official Bulletin p. 457), and 20 of the Ministry of Science and Technology Decree concerning the allocation of university places for courses with restricted admission (Hochschulvergabeverordnung, HVVO) dated January 13 th 2003 (GBl. p. 63, corrected p. 115), most recently amended by the Decree of December 3 rd 2012 (GBl. p. 670), the Senate of the University of Freiburg passed the following regulations during its session on April 24 th Scope The University of Freiburg allocates the available places in the Master of Science in Environmental Sciences degree program to applicants based on the outcome of the University's selection process. The selection decision is based on the applicant's degree of suitability and motivation for his or her chosen program. 2 Application deadline Applicants may only enter the Master of Science program in Environmental Sciences at the start of the winter semester. Applications for admission must be received by the University of Freiburg no later than the preceding May 15 for non-eu citizens, and no later than the preceding July 15 for EU citizens; these are the final deadlines. 3 Admission requirements (1) In order to be eligible for admission to the Master of Science in Environmental Sciences degree program in one of the three German-language specialization options Land Use and Conservation, Environmental Modeling and Geographical Information Systems, or Ecology of Climate Change or in one of the two English-language specialization options Biomaterials and Bioenergy or Wildlife, Vegetation and Biodiversity the applicant must meet the following criteria: 1. He or she must have earned a primary undergraduate degree with an grade point average of at least 2.9 at a German university in a bachelor's degree program in the environmental sciences, forest sciences, or forestry, or in an equivalent program of at least three years' duration at a German or foreign university, that fulfills the requirements specified in Paragraph (2). 2. He or she must have German language skills that meet or exceed Level C1 of the Common European Reference Framework for Languages for admission to one of the German-language specialization options, or English language skills that meet or exceed Level C1 for admission to one of the English-language specialization options. 3. He or she must have earned a general higher education entrance qualification, a relevant subjectrestricted higher education entrance qualification, or an equivalent qualification for access to higher education from another country. 4. He or she cannot have definitively failed an examination in a master's degree or Diplom program in environmental sciences, forest sciences, or forestry or have lost his or her right to examination. (2) The applicant must demonstrate that he or she has a strong background in the foundations of natural sciences, foundations of social sciences and economics, and quantitative methods. In addition: a strong background in the foundations of landscape ecology and landscape planning is required for the specialization in Land Use and Conservation; a strong background in the foundations of numerical and imaging data processing applications is required for the specialization in Environmental Modeling and Kommentiert [LM1]: Do you want to indicate an equivalent grade point average for non-german universities, and mention that applicants with an undergraduate degree from a non- German university are also admitted? This text makes it sound like only students who earned their bachelor s at a German university can be admitted 1

2 Geographic Information Systems; a strong background in ecosystem relationships is required for the specialization in Ecology of Climate Change; a strong background in biology and utilization techniques for use of renewable materials is required for the specialization in Biomaterials and Bioenergy; and a strong background in the foundations of population biology is required for the specialization in Wildlife, Vegetation and Biodiversity. The Selection Committee will rule on whether to accept work that is similar to the work required according to Sentences 1 and 2 and on whether to grant any exceptions concerning fulfillment of individual criteria specified in Sentences 1 and 2. (3) Notwithstanding Paragraph (1) No. 4, the Selection Committee may admit applicants who have lost their right to examination in a master's degree or Diplom program in environmental sciences, forest sciences, or forestry due to having definitively failed a subject or module-component exam that is unrelated to the examinable subjects in this degree program. 4 Application for admission (1) The application for admission must be submitted on the dedicated form provided by the University of Freiburg. The application form must be filled out in its entirety and signed. The following documents must be attached to the application: 1. A certified copy of the primary university degree certificate in accordance with 3 Paragraph (1) No A certified copy of a detailed transcript of all coursework and examinations undertaken during the primary university degree studies in accordance with 3 Paragraph (1) No. 1 (i.e. a transcript of records). 3. A certified copy of appropriate proof of sufficient language skills according to 3 Paragraph (1) No A certified copy of the certificate for the general higher education entrance qualification, a relevant subject-restricted higher education entrance qualification, or the qualification for access to higher education from another country, according to 3 Paragraph (1) No If applicable, evidence of any professional training, practical experience, or stay abroad that has been completed in accordance with 7 Paragraph (2) No. s 3 through A curriculum vitae in German or English, in table format. 7. A letter of motivation (statement of intent) in German or English, not to exceed two A4 pages in length, describing the applicant's personal motivations for applying for the Master of Science in Environmental Sciences degree program. 8. A declaration in German or English, signed by the applicant, that he or she has prepared the statement of intent required under No. 7 independently and without any outside assistance and that he or she has identified any content taken from other sources. 9. A declaration in German or English, signed by the applicant, that her or she has not definitively failed an exam and has not lost his or her right to examination in a master's degree or Diplom program in environmental sciences, forest sciences, or forestry ( 3 Paragraph (1) No. 4). The applicant is not required to submit separate proof of sufficient language skills in German if he or she holds a German certificate of higher education entrance qualification or a relevant subject-restricted higher education entrance qualification. If the documents required, in accordance with Sentence 3 No. 1 through 5, are not in German, English, or French, an officially certified translation in German or English is required. (2) If, on the application closing date according to 2 Sentence 2, the applicant has completed his or her university studies in a degree program according to 3 Paragraph (1) No. 1 but is not yet able to submit a copy of the certificate for the completed program of studies, it will suffice, for purposes of the application, if he or she provides written confirmation from the university attesting to completion of the and the final overall grade earned, together with a transcript showing the individual grades and ECTS credits that he or she earned. A certified copy of the primary university degree certificate must be submitted to the Selection Committee without delay and no later than the date of enrollment. (3) If the applicant has not yet completed the university program by the application deadline as provided in 2 Sentence 2, the applicant must demonstrate that he or she is expected to fulfill the admission requirement as provided in 3 Paragraph (1) No. 1 by submitting a certificate from the university concerning all results to date (including grades and ECTS credits earned) including, in particular, completion of at least 150 ECTS credits as well as written confirmation of the grade for the thesis, 2

3 confirmation that it has been submitted, or at least confirmation of registration for preparation of the thesis. The applicant's successful completion of the university degree program according to 3 Paragraph (1) No. 1 must be verified by submission of a written confirmation from the university that the program has been completed which states the final overall grade earned, together with a transcript showing the individual grades and ECTS credits earned, not later than the deadline set by the Selection Committee. The deadline is noted on the dedicated program admission application form. A certified copy of the primary university degree certificate must be submitted to the Selection Committee without delay and no later than the date of enrollment. (4) The required application documents as specified in Paragraph (1) must be submitted by the deadline ( 2 Sentence 2) to the Selection Committee for the Master of Science in Environmental Sciences degree program (postal address: Studienbüro, Fakultät für Umwelt und Natürliche Ressourcen, Albert-Ludwigs- Universität, Tennenbacher Strasse 4, Freiburg, Germany). (5) If the Selection Committee so requests, the applicant must submit the originals of the certificates and documentation specified in Paragraph (1) Sentence 3 No. s 1 through 5, and Sentence 5. 5 Selection committee (1) The Faculty of Environmental Studies and Natural Resources at the University of Freiburg shall appoint a Selection Committee to prepare the selection decision. The Selection Committee will consist of two university lecturers from the faculty and one research associate employed there on a full-time basis who regularly conducts classes in the Master of Science in Environmental Sciences degree program and is authorized to administer exams. One external lecturer who is employed full-time at the faculty may serve in lieu of one university instructor. The term of office of the Selection Committee shall be two years and reappointments are permissible. The Chair of the Selection Committee is appointed by the Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources. Decisions of the Selection Committee are passed by a simple majority, with the Chair deciding in the event of a tie vote. (2) After the selection process is complete, the Selection Committee reports on its experiences to the Faculty Council of the Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources and submits proposals for improvements to the selection process. (3) Members of the Faculty Council of the Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources have the right to be present at Selection Committee deliberations, but they do not have the right to vote. 6 Selection process (1) In order to be included in the selection process, the applicant must: 1. Submit an application for a place in the program in the proper form and before the deadline, and 2. Satisfy the requirements for admission set out in 3. (2) The Selection Committee shall make a selection from among the applications received on the basis of the selection criteria specified in 7 and shall prepare a ranked list of applicants in accordance with 8. (3) Based on the Selection Committee's decision, the Registration Office or the International Admissions and Services Office shall issue acceptance letters. In the event that an applicant is denied admission, the Selection Committee shall issue the rejection letter. (4) Admission must be denied if the documents specified in 4 are not submitted before the deadline in the proper form or are not complete. (5) In other respects, the general provisions of the Admissions and Matriculation Regulations of the University of Freiburg that apply to the admissions process are unaffected. 7 Selection criteria (1) The selection shall be made according to the rankings list of applicants that is to be drawn up in accordance with 8, on the basis of the selection criteria specified in Paragraph (2). (2) The following selection criteria are to be considered when ranking the applicants as part of the selection process: 1. The overall grade for the university degree according to 3 Paragraph (1) No. 1 or, in the case of 4 Paragraph (3), the arithmetical mean of the grades for all examinations taken to date. 3

4 2. The Selection Committee's evaluation of the statement of intent required under 4 Paragraph (1) Sentence 3 No Completed professional training in a field relevant to the Master of Science in Environmental Sciences degree program. 4. Practical experience, over an uninterrupted period of at least three months, that is related to the master s degree program and is not a component of the first university degree program ( 3 Paragraph (1) No. 1). 5. A stay abroad for educational or professional purposes, for an uninterrupted period of at least six months, in a country where a foreign language is spoken; the end of this stay cannot be more than five years prior to the date of entry into the desired master's degree program at the University of Freiburg. 8 Ranking of applicants for the selection decision (1) The applicant's score in the selection process will be calculated on the basis of the overall grade for the university degree as provided in 3 Paragraph (1) No. 1, shown as a decimal figure, or the arithmetical mean of the grades on all examinations taken to date. The grades on foreign certificates of education must be converted to the German grading system. The Selection Committee will assign the statement of intent a score between 1 and 5 based on the following criteria: A convincing presentation of the applicant's academic interests in relation to the program content particularly the desired specialization of the Master of Science in Environmental Sciences degree program at the University of Freiburg. Thoughts and ideas expressed in a clear, structured manner. Clear presentation and correct spelling. If the score for the statement of intent is between 1 and 1.5, this will improve the selection process score by 0.3. If the score is less than 1.5 but at least 2.0, this will improve the selection process score by 0.2. If the score is less than 2.0 but at least 2.5, this will improve the selection process score by 0.1. Proof of completed professional training in accordance with 7 Paragraph (2) No. 3 will improve the selection process score by 0.3. Proof of practical training in accordance with 7 Paragraph (2) No. 4 will improve the selection process score as follows: 0.1 for at least three months training; 0.2 for at least six months' training; and 0.3 for at least nine months' training. Proof of a stay abroad in accordance with 7 Paragraph (2) No. 5 will improve the selection process score by 0.1 for a stay of at least six months and 0.2 for a stay of at least twelve months. Each of the selection criteria in 7 Paragraph (2) No. s 3 to 5 may be credited only once. If an applicant fulfills multiple selection criteria as provided above at the same time, a maximum of 0.5 will be added to his or her selection process score. (2) The participants in the selection process will be ranked in a list according to the selection process score calculated in accordance with Paragraph (1). (3) In the event of a tie in the ranking, 20 Paragraph (3) of the University Allocation Decree (HVVO) will apply. 9 International student quota The quota of international students for the Master of Science program in Environmental Sciences is set at thirty percent. 10 Effective date These regulations will take effect on May 1 st They will apply to admission procedures starting from the 2013/2014 winter semester. At this point, the admissions regulations for the Master of Science in Environmental Sciences degree program, dated May 9 th 2012 (Official Bulletin Volume 43, No. 45, pp ), will then expire. Freiburg, April 30 th

5 Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Hans-Jochen Schiewer Rector 5