Study Waste Management in Germany (2026/27)

Waste Management in Germany

Waste Management programs in Germany equip international students to lead the transition from a linear to a circular economy in the country that pioneered modern recycling and consistently achieves world-leading recovery rates of around 67%. In Germany, “Abfallwirtschaft” has evolved far beyond disposal into a sophisticated resource management system, turning waste into valuable raw materials and energy. English-taught degrees in this field train students to design and optimize mechanical-biological treatment plants, develop advanced chemical recycling methods that break plastics into their molecular components, implement deposit systems achieving return rates of over 98%, and plan low-emission collection logistics.

Related subjects

Application Deadlines

Numerus Clausus

NC-Free

Best-ranked German Universities in Waste Management

QS Ranking

QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026

Ranking Criteria

Natural SciencesEnvironmental Sciences

151-200

Technische Universität Dresden

1 program

351-400

University of Stuttgart

1 program

Fees & Costs

German Students

Degree

Tuition Fee

Master

0 - 4,740 euros (per semester)

Disclaimer: You should use this text as a general guide, but it cannot serve as a guarantee. Keep in mind that there is no universal tuition fee that applies to all study programs and all student groups. Hence, we urge you to always individually double-check the specific fees of the specific study programs on their official websites.

Deadlines

Below are the most frequent application deadlines for Waste Management study programs in Germany.

Non-EU Students

Winter Semester

Summer Semester

	Admission-restricted courses	Admission-free courses
Master	01 January	31 May

Master

Admission-restricted courses

01 January

Admission-free courses

31 May

See all deadlines

Specific courses may have different application deadlines. Please always double-check the information individually.

Numerus Clausus (Admission Restriction)

For degree courses with a numerus clausus, part of the study places are allocated according to the grade point average (GPA) of the previous degree. Selection is generally based on how many applicants apply for a place. The higher the grade, the more difficult it is to get onto the course. The German grading system ranges from 1.0 (very good) to 6.0 (unsatisfactory).