Food Technology / Food Economics

Everyday, we consume food and trust in its quality. Yet there is more behind a ready-for-sale product than just its filling into attractive packaging. When eating the product, the consumer is scarcely aware of what a long journey this has had from original agricultural production via processing in industrial and craft enterprises to sale via the widest variety of distribution channels. At each step in the value chain, the products must stand up to manifold controls and checks before we consumers can buy them in the shops. Pronounced knowledge of technological procedures and sound business administration and management know-how are very closely dovetailed in enterprises in the food sector. In order to ensure a holistic qualification in the broad field of food, the Bachelor degree in Food Technology/ Food Economics consciously focuses on a combination of a natural science education with the study of business administration. Through this linkage, students learn about both the food evolution and processing process as well as how to react to changes in market and consumer habits. The result is a broad spectrum of professional opportunities in the food sector for graduates.

• Objectives and Special Feature 
• Employment opportunities for graduates 
• Structure of the course 
• Areas of specialisation 
• Admission conditions 
• Application 

 LTW__Bachelor_2008_neu.pdf
 

 Bachelorstudiengang_LTW.pdf
 

Objectives and Special Feature

The Bachelor course in Food Technology/ Food Economics is unique in Germany's university landscape, thanks to the mix of technology and economics. For years, Food Technologists and Food Economists have been continuously in demand in the employment market. Apart from the specialist course with its technological / natural science components, key competencies in personnel management, project management and social skills are learned and trained in the form of students' projects and group work. By the end of their course and through solid scientific work and specialist knowledge and abilities, graduates should be as best prepared as possible for practising their profession. Throughout the course, value is placed on close contact between the students and the professors and lecturers as well as to the food sector itself. In this way, students are given the optimum ratio of theory and practice to qualify them for their profession.

• Three-year full-time course with high level of practical content
• Qualification as Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.)
• Intake of 90 students per year
• Integrated six-week practical phase in the 6th term
• Areas of specialisation "Food Technology" and "Food Economics"

Employment opportunities for graduates

Through the wide spectrum of practice-oriented subjects and specialisation in a chosen course option, students can qualify for the start of their professional career according to their own interests, previous education and inclinations, whereby the areas of employment are as diversified as the food sector itself: In agriculture or the animal feed industry, in food-processing industry or the food trade, in test institutions, equipment manufacturers or sales organisations, associations, and national as well as international political institutions, or in related sectors such as biotechnology or the pharmaceuticals and cosmetics industry: Demanding professions with numerous possibilities for career advancement can be found here both for the Food Economists as well as for the Food Technologist. Close co-operation for many years with food enterprises in the region and beyond as well as possibilities for further education, e.g. in the area of quality management via a partnership with TÜV Süd Akademie GmbH, and practical projects on topics revolving around seafood or convenience products make it possible for students in the Food Technology/Food Economics course to prepare themselves in a targeted manner for national and international opportunities and challenges. With this special course offer from Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences, an important foundation is laid for students’ individual careers in a fascinating sector.

Structure of the course

In the first two terms, basic engineering and natural science know-how is taught which is already applied to the area of food in parallel exercises and practical work. Work in the subjects of microbiology, food chemistry and technology of foodstuffs and quality management, as well as economics subjects, leads into the subsequent specialisation phase. Students can choose between two options: Food Technology or Food Economics. In the sixth term, project work is foreseen for all students in their area of specialisation. This is followed by the six-week practical placement in an enterprise, which can also be completed from the fourth term onwards. The course is concluded with the Bachelorthesis, which students can equally compile in co-operation with an enterprise. Students are given intensive coaching both in the project work as well as during the practical placement and the Bachelorthesis. All three elements are prepared and followed up in seminars or a colloquium.

Areas of specialisation

After the second term, students choose an area of specialisation:
Food Technology: Process engineering, food chemistry and analysis, microbiology as well as the product technology of foodstuffs of animal/plant origin are linked during the course, both in theory and in practice, with special areas of food such as meat and meat products, bread and baked goods, confectionery, fruit and vegetable products, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, seafood or special convenience products. Students learn about the relevant equipment which is to be used, amongst others, in concrete examples in the project work.
Food Economics: Apart from further education in special food technology disciplines, training in business administration and management are to the forefront: Food marketing, investment and financing, controlling, personnel management, logistics and project management are taught in the context of the food economics and put into practice in seminars, using case studies and project work

Admission conditions

Students wishing to be admitted to the course must generally hold an entrance qualification which permits admission to a university degree course. European and US American school-leaving certificates are generally recognised. School-leaving certificates from other countries must be submitted to the ASSIST office for checking (www.uni-assist.de). Information about the possibility of special admission conditions can be obtained from the Admissions Office of Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences. Very good knowledge of German and basic knowledge of English are a condition for admission to the course. If German is not your native language, you are required to provide proof of German language skills by submitting official language certificates. During the course, additional modules are available to develop students' understanding of specialist terminology and to consolidate their language skills. A practical internship prior to the course is recommended for those applicants with no previous relevant education so that the later course topic and field of employment can be experienced in practice from an early stage – a good means of orientation for the Food Technology/Food Economics course.

 111011_Ba-PO-FspT_LTW.pdf
 

Application

To apply for the course in foood technology/food economics, applicants must complete in full the relevant application form and either submit it in person or send it by post together with all the necessary documents before the closing date to the Admissions Office of the University. The form can be obtained either from the Student Counselling Centre or the homepage of Bremerhaven University of Applied Sciences. Closing dates for applications and other deadlines are published on the University’s homepage or can be obtained from the Student Counselling Centre. 90 course places are available per year. In addition to their application to the University, interested applicants from abroad should pay attention in good time to immigration regulations. Further information can be obtained from the German Embassy in the respective countries (www.auswaertiges-amt.de).