M.Sc. Governance of Risk and Resources
The M.Sc. Governance of Risk and Resources is an international master's program offered by the University of Heidelberg in cooperation with the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (UC Chile). Since 2011, the program has been taught at the Heidelberg Center for Latin America (HCLA) in Santiago, Chile.
The program focuses on understanding the interactions between society and the environment from a governance perspective. It integrates theories of risk and resource management and applies them to empirical problems and case studies. It is designed for professionals working in the public sector, private companies, national and international institutions and organizations, as well as for those interested in pursuing an academic career. The program also provides an excellent opportunity to strengthen international networks.
Graduates of the program work in planning agencies, private companies, universities, and research centers. An additional focus is the promotion of international networks among young researchers, companies, and professionals working in related fields.
Classes are taught primarily in Spanish.
Important Dates
- First application deadline: November 1, 2026
Applicants who submit their application by this date and are admitted to the program receive a 10% tuition discount upon enrollment. - Final application deadline: January 2, 2027
- Start of classes: March 2027
- Class schedule: Weekday evenings from 6:30 PM to 9:00 PM; Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (Chile time)
- End of coursework phase: December 2027
Contact, Advising and Applications
M.Sc. Diego Rivera
Academic Coordinator
M.Sc. Governance of Risk and Resources
Email: d.rivera@heidelbergcenter.cl
Program Objective
The general objective of the program is to educate specialists capable of integrating and applying scientific advances in environmental sciences, natural resource management, and risk management to territorial planning and institutional governance at regional and local scales.
The master's program promotes interdisciplinary dialogue among the social, economic, and natural sciences and has a strong research orientation. Students strengthen their ability to formulate independent research questions, deepen their theoretical and conceptual knowledge, and acquire methodological skills that support scientific inquiry and dialogue. In addition, the program provides professional competencies that enhance individual career profiles and respond to the demands of a broad labor market.
Upon successful completion of the master's thesis and final examination, the University of Heidelberg awards the academic degree of Master of Science (M.Sc.).
Graduate Profile
Graduates will be able to address governance processes from both theoretical and empirical perspectives, based on an advanced understanding of the challenges involved in managing resources, common goods, and risks.
Upon completion of the program, graduates will be able to:
- Identify, assess, and monitor the management of resources, common goods, and risks while considering geographical spatial and temporal dimensions.
- Prepare and evaluate expert reports on environmental challenges and propose viable solutions for collective social management.
- Coordinate diverse stakeholders by applying analytical and mixed-method research skills to improve risk and resource governance.
Program Structure and Organization
The program has a duration of three semesters.
- The first two semesters consist of coursework and are offered in Santiago, Chile.
- The third semester is dedicated to the preparation of the master's thesis.
The coursework phase includes both compulsory and elective modules, all of which must be successfully completed before beginning the thesis.
The program is delivered primarily in a face-to-face format with hybrid components.
Compulsory modules take place at the Heidelberg Center for Latin America and are taught by faculty members from the University of Heidelberg and the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile. Elective modules are drawn from the academic offerings of both universities.
Courses are taught in Spanish.
Modules and Contents
Compulsory Modules
These modules form the core of the program, providing students with shared conceptual and methodological foundations while introducing the major themes of risk and resource governance. They serve as a meeting point where natural, social, and economic sciences engage with real-world challenges.
- (CM01) Governance of Human–Environment Relations in Theory and Practice
- (CM02) Natural Resource Governance
- (CM03) Natural Risk Governance
- (CM04) Research Methods
- (CM05) Research Seminar
- (CM06) Master's Thesis
Elective Modules
The elective curriculum is flexible and updated each semester according to current developments, student interests, and emerging scientific priorities. This ensures that the program remains aligned with contemporary debates and challenges while allowing students to build an individualized academic pathway.
To fulfill the program requirements, students must complete five elective courses distributed among three thematic areas:
- (OP01) Advanced Topics from Natural Science Perspectives
- (OP02) Advanced Topics from Social Science Perspectives
- (OP03) Governance Case Studies
Additional Academic Opportunities
Free German Language Courses
Students receive free German language instruction throughout the duration of the program.
Academic English Courses
Academic English courses are available to enrolled students. Applicants who take an English course at HCLA prior to enrollment may deduct the course fee retroactively from the total tuition once they enroll in the master's program.
Field Excursions
Field excursions are an integral component of the program. They provide students with opportunities to apply theoretical and methodological knowledge acquired in class while engaging with real research cases in different regions of Chile and South America.
Fieldwork is essential to geographical research, as direct observation and engagement with local realities allow students to understand dimensions that cannot be fully captured in the classroom.
Chile and South America constitute a unique natural laboratory, offering extraordinary climatic, geographical, and socio-environmental diversity—from the Atacama Desert to Patagonia, and from the Andes Mountains to the Amazon Basin. This diversity provides exceptional conditions for studying risk and resource governance in real-world contexts.
Study Stay in Heidelberg
The program offers a limited number of scholarships that support a one-semester study stay at the University of Heidelberg, Germany.
During their stay, scholarship recipients may:
- Attend courses and colloquia offered by the Faculty of Geosciences.
- Access the University of Heidelberg’s libraries and archives for thesis research.
- Work closely with their academic supervisors through direct, in-person interaction.
APPLICATIONS OPEN – COHORT 2027/2028
The M.Sc. Governance of Risk and Resources is now accepting applications for the 2027 cohort.
If you are interested in understanding and transforming how societies manage natural resources and address risks, this international program offered by the University of Heidelberg and the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile provides interdisciplinary training, a strong research focus, and access to an academic network connecting Europe and Latin America.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must:
- Hold a Bachelor's degree (Licenciatura) in Geography, Economics, Agronomy, Engineering, Law, Sociology, or a related discipline relevant to the field of Governance of Risk and Resources, or an equivalent degree awarded by a national or international university.
- Have at least one year of professional work experience.
Application Documents
Applicants must submit:
- Certified copy of the Bachelor's degree diploma or equivalent degree.*
- Official academic transcript of undergraduate studies or equivalent.*
- Application form (including curriculum vitae and motivation letter).**
- Two letters of recommendation.
* Documents must be submitted in the original language together with an official translation into German or English.
** The application form must be completed in English.
Scholarships
The program offers two prestigious scholarship schemes:
DAAD Scholarships
Available in two categories:
Scholarship for the Academic Year in Santiago, Chile
- Living allowance
- Transportation support
- Partial tuition reduction
Scholarship for a Three-Month Stay at the University of Heidelberg
- Living allowance
- Transportation support
HCLA Scholarships
Partial tuition reductions for qualified applicants.
Scholarship applications are submitted together with the program application and do not require additional procedures.
Diversity Statement
The University of Heidelberg actively promotes diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunities.
As part of this commitment, applicants seeking a DAAD or HCLA scholarship are required to complete a brief questionnaire providing supplementary information on various personal background factors.
This information is mandatory for scholarship applicants and will be treated with strict confidentiality. It will be used exclusively for admission and scholarship selection purposes.
Video
Learn more about the prestigious Heidelberg University, the oldest university in Germany, and about the Heidelberg Center, its cooperations in Chile and Latin America and the M.Sc. program in "Governance of Risk and Resources". Students and professors comment on their experiences and the singularities of this high-level international program.
STUDENT TESTIMONIALS
Estefanía González Del Fierro currently works as Deputy Director of Greenpeace Campaigns in Argentina, Chile and Colombia. She is in charge of a wide variety of environmental issues, from climate change and international environmental negotiations, to socio-environmental conflicts such as water scarcity, the expansion of oil activity, and the impacts of harmful industries such as salmon farming.
"Completing the master’s degree in "Risk and Resource Governance" at the University of Heidelberg has helped me not only to update my knowledge regarding the management of a wide range of natural resources, but also to approach them from the perspective of the current challenges and the different parties involved. It has allowed me to incorporate current theoretical perspectives and debates into my practical and daily work, establishing links between the academic world and the work of civil society, which seeks to influence society and public policy. Establishing these bridges and connections is fundamental in these times of climate and ecological crisis that we are going through, in the search for integral solutions.”
Pamela Franeth Martínez Aguilar is an engineer in Forestry Sciences, currently working in watersheds at the Institute of Forest Conservation, Protected Areas and Wildlife (ICF) in the Man and the Biosphere Reserve of the Río Plátano.
“Having been a student of the Risk and Resource Governance program has brought about a positive change in me. I can certainly say that I have been able to improve my critical thinking and at the same time broaden my perspective. Combining the technical aspect with academics has enhanced my professional capabilities to understand local issues. Broadening my perspective means for me that today I visualize micro-watersheds as potential planning opportunities for water resources management and conservation, and a long-term strategy to save the biosphere. Having completed this academic degree from the University of Heidelberg has allowed me, in addition to making progress in the academic world and in field practice, to be able to progress professionally and access salary improvements”.
The Master of Science in Governance of Risk and Resources provided me with knowledge and competencies from a multidisciplinary perspective, contributing to a comprehensive professional development and to take on work challenges that escape from what was previously my comfort zone. In particular, the experience in the city of Heidelberg allowed me to deepen my research work with an innovative perspective in terms of the structure of thought and theoretical approach to be addressed throughout this process; finally, it gave me the opportunity to share and interact in a multicultural environment, with students and researchers of very high level, as well as to improve my German language skills.
Uri Colodro Gotthelf, graduate of the M.Sc. program
