Research Focus
The spatiotemporal distribution of biodiversity in freshwater ecosystems, assessment of waterbody habitat quality, genetic and racial structure of fish and freshwater mussel populations, analysis of aquatic food web structure, and pollution stress monitoring and development of response biomarkers in fish and shellfish.
Programme Structure and Funding
This is a full-time PhD programme with a duration of 3–5 years (6–10 semesters).
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Study location: Freising
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Application period: Admission possible throughout the year
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Tuition: Tuition-free; from 2026, a semester fee of €97 per semester is payable
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Teaching language: English
Entry Requirements
Academic background: 1) A master’s degree in ecology, molecular biology, marine biology, environmental science, fisheries biology, bioinformatics or a related field. Grade requirement: Master’s GPA of 3.0 or above (Merit under the UK standard); Language requirements:
- IELTS >= 7.0
- Or TOEFL total score of no less than 100
- Applicants who obtained a master’s degree from an English-taught country may apply for a language exemption; References: Not required; references are an advantage
Application Period
Applications accepted throughout the year
Tuition and Living Costs
Study and Living
- Housing: TUM students under the age of 30 may apply for university accommodation (places are limited); for off-campus renting, the university will provide you with specific information on how best to find housing
- Daily expenses: Expected expenses in Freising are around €800 to €1,100 per month
Career Prospects
PhD students in this field at TUM are highly competitive in the job market thanks to their solid fieldwork abilities, advanced data analysis skills and systematic thinking for solving practical environmental problems.
Academia and Research Institutions
Postdoctoral research: Graduates pursue further research at environmental research centres under the German Helmholtz Association (HZ), relevant institutes of the Max Planck Society (MPG) (such as the Institutes for Microbiology and Behavioural Biology), or at world-leading institutions such as the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in the United States and the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (EAWAG). University professor/independent PI: The ultimate goal is to become a university professor or junior research group leader, lead one’s own team, apply for major research projects such as those of the German Research Foundation (DFG), and train the next generation of scientists. Institute scientist: Hold permanent scientist positions at national or international applied research institutions (such as Forschungszentrum Jülich and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology), conducting long-term strategic research.
Government Agencies and Public Utility Departments
Environmental monitoring and protection agencies: Serve as experts at environmental protection agencies, water authorities and national park administrations at various levels (EU, federal, state), responsible for water environment quality monitoring, ecological assessment, and formulating protection policies and restoration plans. Public utility departments: Join water resource management companies, wastewater treatment plants, etc., responsible for technical consulting, ecological impact assessment and sustainable management. EU institutions: Participate in environmental policy-making and assessment at the European level at institutions such as the European Environment Agency (EEA) or the Joint Research Centre (JRC).
Consulting and Engineering Industry
Environmental consulting firms: Serve as consultants at top international environmental consulting firms such as ERM, Ramboll and Golder Associates, providing ecological impact assessment (EIA), biodiversity offset planning and environmental compliance review for large infrastructure projects (such as wind farms, dams and waterways). Engineering companies and design institutes: Participate in the design and planning of ecological restoration projects and sustainable urban water systems (such as sponge cities).
Non-Governmental Organisations and International Institutions
International organisations: Engage in scientific research, policy advocacy and project management at institutions such as the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Greenpeace and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Local conservation organisations: Responsible for the scientific management of protected areas, species conservation and public education at various nature conservation foundations or trusts.
