BioeconomyBachelor of Science

Source: https://www.cs.tum.de/en/study/bachelor/bioeconomy Parent: https://www.cs.tum.de/en/

Bioeconomy aims at the conversion of the raw material base from fossil to biogenic raw materials and builds a bridge between technology, ecology, society and economy as well as their interactions. This structural change involves the production and use of biological resources to provide products, processes and services in all economic sectors within the framework of a sustainable economic system. The courses of study in Bioeconomics train experts who can understand, accompany and shape this change. Overall, there are several areas of work for the bioeconomy:

In order to be able to accompany economic and social transformation processes, it is first necessary to understand the processes involved and the actors involved. This understanding of the bio-based economic system does not end at national borders, but includes regional considerations as well as the global effects of local action.

Secondly, the use of biogenic resources is not per se sustainable. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of sustainability and sustainable development as well as other concepts and strategies existing alongside the bioeconomy are required to achieve this. This includes in particular the approaches of closed-loop management and industrial ecology.

Thirdly, bioeconomics requires the participation of various scientific disciplines and their successful cooperation. These disciplines come from the social and economic sciences, the engineering sciences and the natural sciences.

Biobased and bioinspired innovations form the basis for advancing structural change. The potential of innovative products and markets as well as technologies for their implementation on the basis of biological resources are to be harnessed for industry and society.

The aim of the course is to train innovative graduates who have an understanding of the complexity of a necessary structural change. By combining topics from micro- and macroeconomics, chemistry, engineering and life sciences with comprehensive knowledge in the field of the efficient and sustainable use of biogenic resources, graduates will have an interdisciplinary understanding and will be able to develop solutions. They are able to adopt regional, national and global perspectives.

Interdisciplinary emphasis

Business Management (3/5)

Economics (5/5)

Engineering (2/5)

Material Science (2/5)

Biotechnology (2/5)

Chemistry (2/5)

Consultation

Viola Probst, M.Sc.

Phone: : +49 9421 187-145

Email: : bec@cs.tum.de

Consultation in Presence

Next session on 2026-03-11

Hours: : Wednesdays,\ 13:00–15:00 h

Thursdays,\
10:00–11:00 h

Location: : PG5, 3503.EG.005

Online Consultation

Room currently offline

Hours: : Tuesdays, 14:00–15:00 h

Zoom ID: : 830 223 219 3

Password: : tumcsstuko

Key Data

Standard period of study : 6 semesters / 180 ECTS credits, full-time studies

Graduation : Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)

Start of Degree Program : Winter semester

Required Language Proficiency : No language certificate required

Admission Requirement : General higher education entrance qualification and Aptitude recommendation (SOV)

Admission Category : Aptitude Recommendation (SOV) for Bachelor’s Degree Applicants

Semester fees/financing

Semester fees (non-EU students) : 2,000.00 Euro

Student union fees per semester (mandatory for all students) : 82.00 Euro

Many international students can have their fees waived or receive scholarships to finance them.\ You can find all information on waivers and scholarships here.

Study Structure

In the first two semesters, important mathematical, natural science, environmental economics, and macroeconomic fundamentals are taught. From the third semester onwards, knowledge from the main areas of chemistry, physics, biology, and business administration / economics is deepened. In the fifth semester, a focus is set based on elective modules. The tandem module combines two subject areas, enabling a structured and interdisciplinary approach to solving a specific problem. The program concludes with a Bachelor’s thesis.

1st semester: Mathematics, Statistics, Microeconomics, Management Science, Physics, Environmental Resources in a Changing World

2nd semester: Organic Chemistry, Fundamentals of Thermodynamics, Empirical Research Methods, Macroeconomics, Material Flow Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment, Elective Foundations of Management (total 6 ECTS)

3rd semester: Foundations of Biology, Wood-based Resources, Production of Biogenic Resources, Foundation of Programming, Intermediate Microeconomics, Environmental Management

4th semester: Introduction to Process Engineering, Policy and Innovation, Circular Economy, Introduction to Environmental and Resource Economics, Green Chemistry, Elective Foundations of Management (total 6 ECTS)

5th semester: Governance of Bioeconomy, Technical Electives (total 23 ECTS)

6th semester: Evidence-Based Management and Policy, Project on Public Discourses and Scientific Solutions, General Elective Module (total 3 ECTS), Bachelor's Thesis

Elective Foundations of Management

6 credits must be obtained from the following list: Entrepreneurship, Supply Chain, Organizational Behavior, Strategic and International Management, Innovation Management

Technical Elective Modules

23 credits must be obtained from the following list: seminar in Behavioral Economics, Biochemistry, Fundamentals of Material Biomass Utilization, Biopolymers, Introduction to Development Economics, Behavioral Economics, Modeling and Optimization, Seminar in Innovation and Technology Management, Project Study

General Elective Modules

3 credits must be obtained from the following list: can be chosen from the total range of courses offered by TUM

Competences & Skills

In concrete terms, graduates of the Bachelor’s programme in Bioeconomy acquire the following skills:

they understand business and economic processes and know models and methods for evaluating the effects of biobased innovations on companies, the economy and society.
They understand environmental and resource economic issues and know methods and procedures for evaluating them in companies, national economies and society and integrating them in decision-making.
they master mathematical and scientific methods to abstract and analyse problems in their basic structure they have basic knowledge of the natural and engineering sciences and know methods for analysis, modelling, simulation and design and are able to apply them
they are able to recognize and understand operational change processes
they can work successfully in a group and communicate their results
they are able to identify and structure inter- and transdisciplinary problems taking into account the business, economic and scientific framework conditions
they are able to independently acquire new knowledge in the relevant subject areas
they have become acquainted with selected fields of technology and are thus able to bridge the gap between basic natural and engineering sciences and economic applications
they have acquired non-technical qualifications by way of example and are thus sensitised to the non-technical requirements of a professional activity, particularly in the field of political processes
they are able to plan projects independently due to their interdisciplinary knowledge in the field of bioeconomics and are able to take up a correspondingly oriented professional activity in industry, research and consultancy

Job Description

For the rapidly growing tasks in bioeconomics, university graduates with interdisciplinary understanding are needed. Bioeconomics graduates can support and shape a sustainable bio-based economy. In addition, the complex conversion of the raw material base from fossil resources to renewable raw materials in energy production and the chemical industry is a major challenge. Bio-economists are in demand in areas that deal with the production, use and economy of biogenic resources as well as with the establishment of sustainable processes.

The Master's program in Bioeconomy, launched in the winter semester 2020/21, builds directly on the Bachelor's in Bioeconomy. It offers students the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and engage with cutting-edge topics in this dynamic and future-oriented field.