If you have a passion for forests, sustainability, and environmental management — and you want to study in Germany for free — this opportunity is made for you. TU Dresden (Dresden University of Technology), one of Germany’s most prestigious research universities, offers a fully English-taught Master of Science in Tropical Forestry that comes with a prestigious DAAD EPOS scholarship specifically for students from developing countries.
This is a rare combination: a highly specialised, internationally recognised programme with real funding support for students who need it most. Here is everything you need to know.
🎓 Scholarship Overview
The MSc Tropical Forestry is a postgraduate degree programme offered by the Department of Forest Sciences at TU Dresden, based in the scenic town of Tharandt, Saxony, Germany. The programme trains future leaders in sustainable forest management, conservation policy, agroforestry, and environmental development — with a strong focus on tropical and subtropical regions of the world.
What makes this programme especially attractive is its connection to the DAAD EPOS Scholarship (Development-Related Postgraduate Courses). The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) provides a limited number of fully funded scholarships specifically for highly qualified applicants from developing countries who are enrolled in this programme.
The programme is 100% taught in English, making it fully accessible to international students without requiring German language skills.
🎓 Benefits & Funding
The DAAD EPOS Scholarship covers:
- Full tuition fees — no tuition cost for scholarship recipients
- A monthly stipend to cover living expenses in Germany
- Health insurance contribution
- Travel allowance (return flight to Germany)
- Study and research allowances
Programme Details:
- Degree awarded: Master of Science (M.Sc.)
- Duration: 4 semesters (2 years) full-time | 8 semesters part-time
- Credit points: 120 ECTS
- Language of instruction: English
- Location: Tharandt, near Dresden, Germany
- Start: Winter Semester (October each year)
Even without the DAAD scholarship, Germany’s public universities charge only a small semester administrative fee (typically €250–350 per semester) — making this one of the most affordable Master’s programmes in Europe regardless of scholarship status.
🎓 Eligibility Criteria
Academic Requirements:
- A completed university degree in forest sciences or a related field such as agriculture, horticulture, landscape architecture, regional planning, geography, water management, or biology
- Students who have completed at least 80% of their degree credits may also apply conditionally, with a certificate from their examination office as proof
English Language Requirements:
- TOEFL: Minimum 550 (paper-based) or 213 (computer-based)
- IELTS: Minimum band score of 6.0
- Other equivalent English proficiency certificates may also be considered
For the DAAD EPOS Scholarship specifically:
- Applicants must be from a DAAD-eligible developing country (check the official DAAD list of eligible countries — includes most countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and parts of Eastern Europe)
- Strong academic record and professional motivation
- Clear relevance of the research topic to the development needs of your home country
🎓 Who Should Apply
This programme is perfect for:
- Graduates in forestry, agriculture, biology, geography, or environmental sciences from developing countries
- Professionals working in forestry, conservation, or land management who want to advance to leadership roles
- Students interested in climate change, biodiversity, agroforestry, and sustainable development
- Applicants from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and other developing regions eligible for DAAD EPOS funding
- Those interested in a double degree with universities in Denmark, France, Czech Republic, or Italy
Who should NOT apply:
- Students without a background in natural sciences, agriculture, or related environmental fields
- Those who cannot demonstrate relevance of their work to developing country contexts (for the DAAD scholarship)
- Applicants who cannot meet the English language requirements
🎓 Available Specialisations & Study Content
The MSc Tropical Forestry covers a comprehensive and interdisciplinary curriculum, including:
- Climate, ecology, and ecosystem functions in tropical regions
- Forest-related development policy and models for rural development
- Assessment, growth, and evaluation of forest resources
- Harvesting, processing, and marketing of forest products
- Economic aspects and management of forest resources
- Integrated management of vegetation, soil, and water in drainage basins
- Silviculture and biodiversity protection in natural forests and plantations
- Agroforestry systems and their management
- Urban and peri-urban tree management
- Project planning, conflict management, and academic research methods
- Landscape planning and land use management
Students also complete elective compulsory modules to develop their own individual academic profile, and the final semester is dedicated entirely to researching and defending the Master’s thesis.
🎓 Double Degree Opportunities
TU Dresden has established impressive international partnerships for double degrees. Students can graduate with qualifications from two universities simultaneously through cooperation with:
- University of Copenhagen — Denmark
- AgroParisTech — France
- Czech University of Life Sciences Prague — Czech Republic
- Università di Padova — Italy
Additionally, the programme participates in the GloFor (Global Forestry) Erasmus Mundus programme — a two-year, English-taught M.Sc. that prepares graduates for forestry challenges in low and middle-income countries, offering Erasmus Mundus scholarships as additional funding.
🎓 Career Opportunities After Graduation
Graduates of the MSc Tropical Forestry programme go on to work in:
- Leadership positions in forestry and timber industries
- Bilateral and multilateral forestry management projects with international organisations
- Government consulting on forest and land use policy
- International organisations, NGOs, and public authorities focused on environment and development
- Forestry consulting and environmental education
- Academic and research positions at universities and research institutes worldwide
- Expert roles in forestry engineering and environmental planning offices
🎓 Required Documents
For the degree programme application:
- Completed online application via TU Dresden’s application portal
- Academic transcripts and degree certificate (or 80% completion certificate)
- Proof of English language proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL)
- Aptitude assessment documents (see TU Dresden’s website for details)
Additional documents for the DAAD EPOS Scholarship:
- All documents listed on the DAAD scholarship database page
- Research plan for the potential Master’s thesis topic — including problem statement, research goals, methodology, timeline, and bibliography (maximum 2 pages)
- A current passport-sized photograph
- CV and motivation letter
🎓 Application Process
For the degree programme:
- Complete the aptitude assessment registration between 1st June and 31st July (German/EU applicants) or between 1st April and 31st May (non-EU international applicants)
- Submit your online application through TU Dresden’s application portal
- Upload all required documents within the specified deadline
For the DAAD EPOS Scholarship:
- Prepare all DAAD-required documents plus the research plan and photo
- Submit the complete application by 30th October — one year before the intended programme start
- Send all documents by email to: tropentutor@mailbox.tu-dresden.de
- Incomplete applications will NOT be considered
Note: The DAAD scholarship application deadline (October 30) is much earlier than the university application deadline. Apply for the scholarship first.
🎓 Important Dates
| Event | Deadline |
| DAAD EPOS Scholarship Deadline | 30th October (1 year before start) |
| Aptitude Assessment — Non-EU Applicants | 1st April – 31st May |
| Aptitude Assessment — EU Applicants | 1st April – 15th July |
| University Application — Non-EU | 1st April – 31st May |
| University Application — EU/German | 1st June – 15th September |
| Programme Start | Winter Semester (October) |
🎓 Why Apply / Why Study at TU Dresden
TU Dresden is one of Germany’s 11 Universities of Excellence — an elite designation given to only the very best research universities in the country. Here is why it stands out:
- One of the oldest and most respected technical universities in Germany, founded in 1828
- Located in Dresden, Saxony — a beautiful, historic city with a high quality of life and very affordable cost of living compared to other German cities
- The Tropical Forestry programme is based in Tharandt — a small university town surrounded by forests, making it the perfect environment for forestry studies
- Strong industry and NGO connections providing excellent placement opportunities after graduation
- Part of the EUTOPIA Alliance of leading European universities
- Affordable student life — semester fees of only ~€300, with the Studentenwerk offering affordable student housing in Tharandt itself
🎓 Official Source
For full programme details, DAAD scholarship information, and to begin your application:
👉 TU Dresden MSc Tropical Forestry – Official Programme Page
👉 Apply Online – TU Dresden Application Portal
👉 DAAD EPOS Scholarship – Apply Here
🎓 Scholarship Summary
| Detail | Information |
| Programme | MSc Tropical Forestry |
| University | TU Dresden |
| Country | Germany 🇩🇪 |
| Duration | 2 years (4 semesters) |
| Language | English |
| Tuition | Semester fee only (~€300) |
| Scholarship | DAAD EPOS (for developing countries) |
| DAAD Deadline | 30th October (1 year prior) |
| Fields | Forestry, Environment, Agriculture, Biology |
| English Required | IELTS 6.0 / TOEFL 550 |
| Start | Winter Semester (October) |
| Location | Tharandt, Germany |
Explore more fully funded Masters scholarships in Germany at https://gradualin.com/category/scholarships/
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