MSc in Wildlife Management Engineering

MSc in Wildlife Management Engineering

Last modified: 13. March 2025

The aim of the MSc level course is to train wildlife engineers who have the professional, scientific, technical and economic knowledge necessary for the practical and theoretical management and control of their field of specialization, as well as the technical and economic knowledge required to practice their specialization. They have an ecological, environmentally aware, food chain approach to the renewable and sustainable use of natural resources and to the identification and evaluation of ecosystem services. They are prepared to pursue their studies at doctoral level.

Qualification of the degree:

  • level of degree: Master of Science (MSc);
  • qualification: Wildlife Management Engineer.

Length of program: 4 semesters
Work schedule: full-time (HU, EN) or correspondence (HU)
Financial options: state scholarship or self-funded
Program Leader: Prof. Dr. Miklós Gábor Heltai university professor
Operative program coordinator: Dr. Krisztián Katona associate professor

Language of conduction:

  • Szent István Campus: Hungarian or English
  • Csíkszereda training location: Hungarian

Skills and professional competences acquired on completion of the program:

Certified wildlife management engineers have a specialized high level of professional and linguistic skills based on basic sciences, which make them suitable for managerial and senior management positions:

  • Ability to develop and defend their own point of views in debates on general social, agricultural and specific issues related to game management.
  • Knowledge, understanding and application of the principles of environmental protection and nature conservation, and their requirements in relation to wildlife management.
  • It follows the authoritative national and international literature on wildlife management and wildlife biology in an intelligent and analytical way.
  • Ability to independently interpret and apply legislation related to their professional activities.
  •  Ability to define, plan and organize the system of activities of game management.
  • The ability to create the conditions for change and to implement change in order to streamline the work of the organization.
  • Ability to analyze in detail the various concepts that make up the knowledge system of wildlife management, and to explore the broad and specific interrelationships.
  • The ability to identify professional problems, to take a multi-faceted, interdisciplinary approach to them, and to explore and formulate the detailed theoretical and practical background needed to solve them.
  • You can formulate and evaluate your analysis of the agricultural economy in a cross-sectoral, contextual and complex way.
  • It analyzes the work, activities and practical problems of the managed organization with scientific rigor and appropriate methods.
  • Ability to communicate in Hungarian and in a foreign language, both orally and in writing, and to take part in discussions.
  • The wildlife manager knows, processes, interprets and applies knowledge transfer techniques and publication sources in Hungarian and foreign languages in the field.
  • Ability to use modern IT tools and to communicate professionally and effectively, both orally and in writing.
  • The ability to prioritize environmentally friendly solutions that support the health of individuals and society in engineering.
  • They have a high degree of autonomy in developing broad and specific professional issues and in representing professional views and take responsibility for all these.
  • Thinks through and advocates for ethical issues in hunting and game management. Has a sense of responsibility in the development of the role of game management in the countryside.
  • On the basis of their practical experience, they can decide independently on the implementation and timing of specific work processes.
  • Make decisions with a sense of professional responsibility and accept the consequences of their decisions.
  • It takes responsibility for taking the initiative to develop cooperation.
  • An equal partner in interprofessional and interdisciplinary cooperation and able to provide the necessary conditions for the implementation of the activities defined, to manage, monitor and organize their implementation.
  • The ability to carry out in practice the various functions of leadership, to motivate managers, to evaluate their performance and to manage conflicts in a legal and effective way.
  • Ability to develop and manage a team or project independently.

Conditions of obtaining pre-degree certificate (absolutorium)

  • completion of: all the compulsory subjects of the program, the required number of optional credits according to the curriculum and the number of credits for the preparation of the thesis, for a total of 120 credits.

Final exam

Condition to attend final exam:

  • obtained pre-degree certificate (absolutorium);
  • submission of thesis and its acceptance by reviewers;
  • the student shall not be in debt to the University.

Diploma thesis topics are announced by the department. Departments teaching foundation subjects may also publish a diploma project topic. By developing a thesis topic, the students demonstrate that they can apply the acquired knowledge independently. The diploma thesis includes its own investigation, assessment, analysis, conclusions and suggestions. The student may choose from the proposed topics or may initiate the development of a topic of their interest in the relevant department.

Parts of final exam:

  • comprehensive complex exam;
  • thesis defense.

Final exam topics: will be sent to students before the final exam period.

Evaluation of final exam and qualification of degree from 2020/21 academic year

Accordingly, to chapter 4.3.16 Final exam and chapter 4.3.17. Degree certificate.

Model curriculum of the program