Your perfect choice!
Term dates & deadlines
Winter semester 2025/26
General admission period for Master’s degree programmes
07.07. – 31.10.2025
Summer semester 2026
General admission period for Master’s degree programmes
08.01. – 31.03.2026
How we are seen
- We are distinguished by our students!
The University of Klagenfurt is the only university in the world to win a Global Student Satisfaction Award twice in a row
(Studyportals – the Global Study Choice Platform)
- Our study programmes come highly recommended!
The University of Klagenfurt is recommended by 97 % of its students.
(studycheck.de)
These are the skills you will gain here
- Transcending disciplinary boundaries!
From the very beginning, the degree programme is interdisciplinary in nature. Depending on your interests, you can choose from areas such as the Digital Culture, Entrepreneurship, Peace and Conflict Studies, Law or Public Management. - View the world through other lenses!
During your studies, you will become acquainted with different perspectives on the development of cities and regions. You will benefit from internationally oriented research and a wide range of contacts in the region. - Harness creativity and independence!
The degree programme offers you a lot of freedom to develop and further your interests. You discover the areas you want to pursue later in your professional life. - Accept challenges!
The degree programme equips you with the skills needed to develop approaches to various challenges, such as structural or climate change.
Your skills are our mission. This is what we can teach you
Here, you will acquire broad scientific skills and expertise that you can apply in various professional fields. You will be familiar with different subject areas and regional cases, which you can transfer to other contexts.
- Teaching – internationally connected and regionally anchored
Our faculty members have extensive international and practical experience. This gives you the opportunity to learn about regional development from different perspectives. - Strong teamwork
We encourage creative and goal-oriented work. Working in small groups, you can plan and implement projects and facilitate exchanges. - More than one option
By selecting your area of specialisation during your studies, you can determine your own career goals. This opens up a wide range of opportunities for you on the labour market.
Programme structure
In Klagenfurt you can study at your own pace. To help you follow your path with confidence, we keep it clear of (bureaucratic) stumbling blocks and barriers. If you wish to reach your goal quickly and efficiently, we will always be there to support you. Our recommended course of study will guide you through the semesters. You work your way through the curriculum – making the most of opportunities to broaden your horizons and without wasting time. If you would like to know which courses await you before you start, take a look at the wide range of seminars and lectures.
Main areas
Programme structure: a tabular overview
| Subject | Designation | ECTS |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory subjects | Urban and rural transformations | 12 |
| Regional economic transformations | 12 | |
| Methods | 12 | |
| Project seminar | 10 | |
| Guided electives | Choice of three subjects for the purpose of specialisation:
| 36 |
| Open electives | 6 | |
| Master's thesis | including seminar accompanying the Master's thesis | 30 |
| Final board examination | 4 | |
| Total |
Recommended course of study
| Subject | 1. Semester | 2. Semester | 3. Semester | 4. Semester | ECTS-AP |
| Compulsory Subjects 1: Urban and rural transformations | |||||
| 1.1 Critical Urban and Rural Theory | 6 | 6 | |||
| 1.2 Urban and Regional Governance | 6 | 6 | |||
| Compulsory Subjects 2: Regional economic transformations |
|||||
| 2.1 Regionale Ökonomien und sozio-ökonomischer Wandel | 6 | 6 | |||
| 2.2 Regionale Ökonomien und Umweltsysteme | 6 | 6 | |||
| Compulsory Subjects 3: Methods | |||||
| 3.1 Qualitative Methoden | 4 | 4 | |||
| 3.2 Quantitative Methoden | 4 | 4 | |||
| 3.3 Methoden der Gestaltung | 4 | 4 | |||
| Compulsory Subjects 4: Project seminar |
|||||
| 4.1 Projektseminar | 10 | 10 | |||
| Three Guided electives a 12 ECTS-AP | 8 | 12 | 16 | 36 | |
| Open electives | 6 | 6 | |||
| Master’s thesis incl. seminar | 28+2 | 30 | |||
| Final board examination | 2 | 2 | |||
| ECTS-AP | 28 | 28 | 32 | 32 | Total: 120 |
Geography and much more. This is what we can offer.
Studying at the University of Klagenfurt can offer you many opportunities – even beyond seminars and lectures. Choose from a wide range of offers to enhance your personal development:
- The "Build! Entrepreneurship Zertifikat" equips you with the business skills you need to turn your business idea into reality and become your own boss.
- Slovene, Italian or Chinese – there are a variety of language courses to suit the university's international environment.
- Digitalisation is not just a key area of research at the University of Klagenfurt, but also the subject of numerous courses and further education programmes.
Browse through the list of all possible electives!
Admission
Admission to the Master’s Dregree Programme Geography & Regional Studies: Regional Transformations must occur within the admission periods.
Important enrollment information
Prerequisites
You do not have to go through a special admission procedure to start the Master's degree programme in Geography & Regional Studies: Regional Transformations in Klagenfurt.
You only have to meet the following conditions, which also apply to all other programmes:
- Bachelor's degree in geography or equivalent degree programme completed at another post-secondary educational institution
Information on Bachelor’s degree programmes that are relevant for admission - German language skills at level B2 (CEFR)
Prospective students who apply for admission to a Master's degree programme and whose first language is not the language in which the degree programme is conducted must provide evidence of language proficiency at the required level at the time of application.
The first steps are always … accompanied!
We won’t abandon you, especially at the start of your studies!
- Here in Klagenfurt, you will get to know your fellow students during the Welcome Days – and you will make new friends in the very first week; friends you will share memorable experiences with in the years to come.
- Our student guidance service is here for you if you need some support as you start your studies. You can reach us via WhatsApp, e-mail, phone or our social media channels.
- At the ÖH student union Info Days at the start of each semester experienced students provide advice about your chosen degree programme and share useful insiders’ tips.
Best prospects. Your professional opportunities
Graduates with a degree in Geography & Regional Studies: Regional Transformations have an extensive range of specialisations and career opportunities to choose from. Throughout your studies, you can freely choose your areas of specialisation and we will support you in designing your optimal study plan.
Possible occupational fields after graduation include:
- Spatial and environmental planning
- Economic development and regional marketing
- Management consultancy
- Public administration
- Associations and non-governmental organisations
Stories & news about the degree programme
You’ll soon discover this: There are many interesting facts, stories and news updates regarding this degree programme.
The world is your own!
There is no place on earth that remains unaffected by the current changes. We offer you the opportunity to get to know the most exciting regions and spaces up close and personal. The university has collaborations with hundreds of universities around the world – from Mexico to Zagreb, from Tokyo to Ireland. We invite you to spend one semester of your Master's degree programme abroad, comprising 30 ECTS credits. Make the most of the chance to discover new spaces for geographical experimentation in other locations and without losing valuable time.
FAQ. Frequently asked questions
Is the Master’s degree in Geography & Regional Studies the right programme for me?
Are you the kind of person who doesn’t shy away from tackling complex problems arising from climate change, digitalisation or globalisation? Someone who can view phenomena from different perspectives and link them to theory and practice? Do you want to make a difference and not just stand by and watch the transformation processes, but actively help to shape them? The Master‘s degree programme in Geography & Regional Studies: Regional Transformations is designed for just this purpose and offers you a scientifically sound and simultaneously practical education with its finger firmly on the pulse of current developments.
Which Bachelor’s degrees allow me to continue straight onto this Master’s programme?
The Master’s degree programme is open to many and allows for variety. The majority of students can be admitted to the degree programme without any conditions, others may have to make up individual courses or bundles of courses.
- The standard route: You have a BSc. degree in Geography and can continue on directly to the Master’s degree programme.
- From a BEd. Geography and Economics to an MSc. in Geography & Regional Studies: Regional Transformations:
The University of Klagenfurt paves the way for you – with these required courses:- a. B4.1 Datenanalyse (4 ECTS credits)
- b. B4.5 Grundlagen der Methoden der Humangeographie (4 ECTS credits)
- c. B4.6 Methodenpraxis der Humangeographie (4 ECTS credits)
- d. B6.2 Projektseminar (7 ECTS credits).
- You have a degree in Social Sciences, Economics or Cultural Studies. The following conditions apply to you:
- a. 6 ECTS credits in Cartography and/or Geographical Information Systems
- b. 14 ECTS credits in relevant social science and statistical methods
- c. 6 ECTS credits in in foundations of Human Geography or the Social Sciences
If you still have questions about admission, please contact geo [at] aau [dot] at
What is the language of instruction in this Master’s degree programme?
German. Students whose first language is not German must prove knowledge of the German language at level B2.
What are my career prospects after graduating?
- Spatial and environmental planning
- Economic development and regional marketing
- Management consultancy
- Public administration
- Associations and non-governmental organisations
Where can I find out if I am eligible for admission?
Please contact the Programme Director by e-mail geo [at] aau [dot] at
Continuing your studies
Once you have completed the Master’s degree programme in Geography & Regional Studies: Regional Transformations you can continue straight on to the following degree programmes:
1
2
3
1
Universität Klagenfurt
2
Lakeside Park
3
Wörthersee
This is why the University of Klagenfurt is one of the best young universities in the world …
