1. Bern University of Applied Sciences
  2. School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL
  3. Studies
  4. Bachelor's degree programmes
  5. Environmental and Resource Management
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Environmental and Resource Management

Are you interested in topics related to the environment and sustainability? Do you want a career path focusing on the sustainable use of natural resources?

Sustainable land use and the careful use of natural resources, such as raw materials, water, energy and soil, require change – and people to initiate, plan and accompany these change processes.

With a BSc in Environmental and Resource Management, you take responsibility and help shape the future in a sustainable way.

This bachelor's degree is taught in German and French.The fourth semester is taught in English and is open to exchange students.

Part-time or full-time study.

Registration has closed for studies starting in autumn 2024. If you have any questions, please contact bsc.hafl@bfh.ch

Factsheet

  • Title/Degree Bachelor of Science (BSc)
  • Specialisations Sustainable Land and Water Use
    Sustainable Value Creation Systems
    Sustainable Energy Management
  • Mode of study Full-time (6 semesters), part-time (7-10 semesters)
  • Start date Academic year 25/26: 8 September 2025
  • Application deadline Academic year 25/26: 30 April 2025
  • ECTS credits 180 ECTS credits
  • Teaching language German and French in mixed-language classes, English in the fourth semester
  • Location Zollikofen
  • School School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences HAFL

Next information events

Contact

Language skills

Study focus

The bachelor’s degree programme in Environmental and Resource Management, with a focus on agriculture, forestry and the food industry, enables you to initiate and implement sustainable transformations in the workplace and daily life.

Advantages of this degree programme

During your studies, you will:

  • focus on one of the specialisations: Sustainable Land and Water Use, Sustainable Value Creation Systems or Sustainable Energy Management;
  • acquire skills that enable you to initiate, plan and support change processes in various industries and companies and thus help shape the future;
  • benefit from our lecturers’ practical knowledge and professional networks;
  • engage in challenge-based learning which will develop your networked-thinking and problem-solving skills;
  • benefit from the close links between teaching, practice and research, gaining experience in various research areas while you learn.

Specialisations

In addition to the core modules and optional modules, the bachelor’s degree programme offers three specialisations. Exchange students (semester 4) can select modules from all three specialisations.

Contents

  • Soil protection and soil degradation
  • Hydrology and water use

  • Landscape management

  • Water-body management, protection and restoration

  • Promotion of biodiversity and ecosystem services

  • Biodiversity monitoring

  • Species management

  • Geographical information systems

  • Sustainable urban spaces

Contents      

  • Resilient value-creation systems
  • Raw-material production and processing
  • Logistics, distribution and trade
  • The circular economy
  • Raw-material cycles and energy management
  • Sustainability analyses and assessments of operations and production systems
  • Sustainability reporting and controlling

Contents      

  • In-depth energy basics    
  • Data management, analysis and visualisation    
  • Life-cycle assessments    
  • Energy law, politics and economics    
  • Renewable energies, energy storage, transport, and efficiency    
  • Energy in operation    
  • Global raw-materials chain and the circular economy    
  • Strategy development

Career prospects

Do you want to pursue a meaningful career and contribute to a more sustainable society? A bachelor’s degree in Environmental and Resource Management will provide you with the necessary skills and open up a wide range of prospects on the labour market.

Ready for demanding specialist tasks and leadership roles?

A BSc in Environmental and Resource Management opens up career opportunities in a wide range of industries and companies.  

Our graduates work as specialists for  

  • sustainable development,   
  • environmental management,
  • natural resource management,  

in:

  • private companies, professional organisations and NGOs,
  • federal, cantonal and municipal authorities,
  • consulting or engineering firms, etc.

Further studies

In the Master of Science in Circular Innovation and Sustainability programme, you gain an in-depth understanding of biological and technical cycles and learn about their potential for developing sustainable product and process innovations. You also gain the ability to rethink conventional business models and design them in a circular way.

The MSc in Life Sciences, specialising in Agricultural Science, Forest Science or Regional Management in Mountain Areas, prepares you to become a methodically competent and solution-oriented specialist or manager.

Contact us

To register for the programme and for further information: see the German or French webpages.

Student mobility

Incoming mobility

Would you like to spend an exchange semester or year at BFH-HAFL in Switzerland? If your home university is on our list of partner universities, please contact your International Office. If not, ask your International Office to contact us.

  • Application deadline
    For the autumn semester: 15 April
    For the spring semester: 15 October
  • Language
    Semester 4 modules in the Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Resource Management are taught in English.
  • Modules for exchange students (available soon)

Accommodation

There is a hall of residence on the BFH-HAFL campus. Demand for rooms is much greater than availability, so apply early.

Information

Would you like to find out more? We will be happy to answer your questions at our information events.

Student advisory service

Choosing a degree programme is an important decision. During an individual consultancy session, we answer your questions and clarify any personal requirements you might have.

Michaela Krummen

  • Co-Leiterin Studiengang URM
  • +41 31 910 21 34
  • Show e-mail


We can also help you with any questions you have about the exchange semester.

BFH-HAFL International Office

  • Valentine Allemann, administrative officer teaching | Stefanie Graf, administrative officer international agriculture
  • Valentine Allemann: +41 31 910 21 96 | Stefanie Graf: +41 31 910 29 58
  • Show e-mail

Location + facilities

The BFH-HAFL campus is located in Zollikofen, near Bern. Nestled between fields and forests, it not only offers a modern infrastructure for studying, but also numerous leisure facilities.

The Zollikofen campus

Most teaching takes place on campus – in lecture theatres, modern laboratories or in our own food process technology pilot plant.

But the campus is not just a place to study, it also offers a wide range of leisure facilities, such as a swimming pool, barbecue areas, a sauna and much more. And there is also an award-winning cafeteria.

The student hall of residence has around 100 furnished rooms.

Show address and location of the site.