Was dich in unserem Master erwartet

Der Masterstudiengang Lebensmittelchemie am KIT baut auf dem Bachelorstudiengang Lebensmittelchemie auf und vertieft die dort erworbenen Kenntnisse und Methoden. Er richtet sich damit an Studierende, die ihre naturwissenschaftliche Ausbildung im Bereich der Lebensmittelchemie fortsetzen und sich für verantwortungsvolle Tätigkeiten in Forschung, Analytik oder Überwachung qualifizieren möchten.

Im Mittelpunkt des Studiums steht die chemische Zusammensetzung, Funktionalität und Sicherheit von Lebensmitteln – von der molekularen Struktur einzelner Inhaltsstoffe bis zur Bewertung komplexer Produkte und Herstellungsverfahren. Ziel ist es, ein vertieftes Verständnis der chemischen, biochemischen und analytischen Zusammenhänge zu entwickeln, die Lebensmittelqualität, -sicherheit und -wirksamkeit bestimmen.

Das Masterstudium ist auf vier Semester angelegt und umfasst insgesamt 120 Leistungspunkte (LP) nach ECTS. Es setzt sich aus folgenden Fächern zusammen:

• Chemie und Technologie der Lebensmittel (23 LP)
• Lebensmittelanalytik (18 LP)
• Biochemie der Ernährung und Toxikologie (24 LP)
• Vertiefung spezieller Aspekte der Lebensmittelchemie (19 LP)
• Überfachliche Qualifikationen (6 LP)

Im ersten Studienjahr werden die im Bachelorstudium erworbenen Grundlagen gezielt erweitert und vertieft. Du beschäftigst dich intensiv mit den zentralen Themen der modernen Lebensmittelchemie. Laborpraktika und Seminare ergänzen die theoretischen Inhalte und bereiten dich auf eigenständiges wissenschaftliches Arbeiten vor. Dabei lernst du, komplexe Analysemethoden auszuwählen, ihre Leistungsfähigkeit einzuschätzen und Ergebnisse kritisch zu bewerten.

Im zweiten Studienjahr stehen Forschungs- und Projektarbeiten im Mittelpunkt. Du arbeitest selbstständig an aktuellen Fragestellungen der Lebensmittelchemie oder verwandter Fachgebiete – häufig in Kooperation mit Forschungsgruppen des KIT oder externen Partnerinstitutionen. Ergänzend belegst du Veranstaltungen zu überfachlichen Qualifikationen, etwa zu wissenschaftlichem Arbeiten, Ethik in den Naturwissenschaften oder interdisziplinärer Kommunikation. Den Abschluss des Studiums bildet die Masterarbeit (30 LP), in der du ein eigenes Forschungsvorhaben planst, durchführst und auswertest.

Wenn du darüber hinaus deinen fachlichen Horizont erweitern oder dich durch bestimmte fachfremde Module gezielt auf den Berufseinstieg vorbereiten möchtest, kannst du im Rahmen von Zusatzleistungen bis zu 30 LP erwerben.

Program structure

Internship

The study program does not include a compulsory internship. You can complete a voluntary internship during your studies. If it serves the objectives of your studies and covers at least half of the lecture period, you can apply for a semester off (leave of absence). Such an internship offers you valuable experience outside the university and can make it easier for you to start your career later on.

Make your studies international

You have various options for integrating a stay abroad into your master's degree course. For example, you can study at a foreign university of your choice for one or two semesters via Erasmus+ or as a freemover. You can also do an internship abroad. In addition, selective mobility is possible via Eucor - The European Campus: KIT students can flexibly attend individual courses in addition to courses at KIT or study full-time for an entire semester or year at an Eucor partner university.

Further information can be obtained from the contact persons responsible for stays abroad at the KIT Department or at the International Students Office.

Master's thesis

At the end of your studies, you will complete your master's thesis (30 CP), an academic paper that allows you to apply and deepen the knowledge and skills you have acquired. It deals with a specific topic from your field of study and requires independent research, analysis and the preparation of a written paper. The master's thesis takes 6 months to complete. You can start it as soon as you have completed all modules with the exception of Interdisciplinary Qualifications (84 LP). Upon request, the master's thesis can also be completed in a company or at another KIT Department. The master's thesis also includes a presentation of your results

There are numerous exciting job opportunities after studying food chemistry.

In the food industry, for example, you will be responsible for developing new food products or for quality assurance. Here you will work closely with other food technology specialists to develop and improve products.

In public authorities or private laboratories, you will be responsible for monitoring and inspecting food. Here you will check whether food meets the legal requirements and is safe for consumption. To work in official food monitoring in particular, you will need to complete a 1-year training course to become a "state-certified food chemist" following your master's degree.

Further job opportunities are available in research and development. Here you will work on new technologies and methods for the production of food or on research into food additives and ingredients.

Companies in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries are also possible places to work, for example in the development and production of medicines or cosmetics.

In addition to industry, there are also career opportunities in science, teaching and research. For example, you can work at universities, colleges or research institutes and conduct research into new findings and technologies in the field of food chemistry.

Characteristic features of Food Chemistry M.Sc. at KIT

• specialization in food chemistry and analytics or biochemistry and toxicology
  
• involvement in applied research
  
• integration into the EUCOR university network enables participation in courses at the universities of Freiburg, Basel, Strasbourg, Colmar and Mulhouse
  
• wide range of university groups
  
• possibility of part-time jobs at scientific institutes/laboratories
  
• wide range of doctoral opportunities
  

What KIT has to offer

• central campus close to the city forest and right next to the city center
  
• 24-hour library offering single and group working places
  
• wide range of inexpensive catering options (dining hall, cafeteria, Koeri and Pizzawerk)
  
• numerous interdisciplinary offers for personal and professional development, e.g. Lernlabor, Schreiblabor and Perspektivenlabor
  
• study abroad, e.g. via Erasmus
  
• excellent university sports facilities with a large selection of sports
  
• comprehensive cultural offerings with university orchestras, choirs and theater groups
  
• extensive support for career entry and self-employment
  
• internationally oriented degree programs and diverse exchange programs
  
• modern laboratories and practical teaching methods
  
• Lernraum app
  
• diverse student initiatives, clubs and opportunities to actively participate in campus life
  
• stay in touch after graduation via the alumni network
  

Admission requirements

The requirements for admission to the master's degree program in Food Chemistry are based on the current admission regulations:

• bachelor's degree
  a bachelor's degree (or at least an equivalent degree) in Food Chemistry (or a degree course with essentially the same content) from a university, university of applied sciences, university of cooperative education or a foreign university. The course must have been completed within a standard period of study of at least three years and with a minimum number of 180 ECTS credits.
  
• minimum knowledge and minimum achievements in the following areas
  • laboratory courses in the subjects of general and inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, physical chemistry and botany 35 ECTS credits (CP)
    
  • laboratory courses in the subject of food analysis 25 CP
    

Important: The application form must be submitted with the application to demonstrate the minimum achievements required for admission. If the lab achievements in the field of botany amounting to a maximum of 5 CP are missing, admission can be granted on the condition that these achievements are made up within the first two semesters of the master's degree program.

Language requirements and certificates

For the master's degree program in Food Chemistry, you need sufficient knowledge of the German language. Your German language skills must correspond to at least level C1 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

Important: you must provide proof of the required language skills regardless of your citizenship and by the end of the enrollment period at the latest, but preferably at the time of application.

In what form do I have to provide the language certificates? Please read the following chapters on this website carefully. If you have any further questions, please contact

• Students Office if you are applying as a German, German national or a person with German equivalent status
• the International Students Office if you are a non-EU national

Proof of sufficient German language skills

As proof of your German language skills, your higher education or master's entrance qualification (e.g. Abitur, university degree or a professional qualification that entitles you to study) is sufficient if you have acquired it at a German-speaking institution with German as the language of instruction.

In concrete terms, this means that you do not have to submit additional proof of German if you

• have obtained your Abitur at a German-speaking school in Germany or abroad,
• are a graduate of a bilingual secondary school in Germany or abroad and have passed a bilingual German examination, such as the AbiBac or the Gemischtsprachiges International Baccalaureat (GIB) or
• you graduated from a foreign school, but there is another official agreement with the respective country regarding the recognition of your school-leaving certificate or language certificate as proof of language proficiency for university studies in Germany.

A complete list of foreign school-leaving qualifications and language certificates that are recognized as proof of sufficient German language skills can be found on the website of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Laender (KMK) in the Federal Republic of Germany.

If you have already completed a German-language degree at a German university, this can also count as proof of German language proficiency - but only if the diploma supplement, transcript of records or degree certificate clearly states that German was the sole language of instruction and examination.

If, on the other hand, you did not obtain your higher education or master's entrance qualification at a German-speaking institution with German as the language of instruction, you must provide proof of German language proficiency at least at DSH-2 level. This corresponds to CEFR level C1.

Only the following certificates are accepted in accordance with the KIT admission and enrollment regulations:

• passed German section of the Feststellungspruefung (assessment test)
• passed German language test for university admission (DSH) with overall result DSH-2
• passed Test of German as a Foreign Language (TestDaF) with level 4 in all four parts of the exam
• German Language Diploma of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs - second level (DSD II)
• Goethe certificate C1 or higher
• passed telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule exam
• Austrian Language Diploma C1 or higher

Note: The above-mentioned tests are accepted as proof of language proficiency for an unlimited period of time, even if the provider specifies an expiration date.

What if I cannot provide suitable C1 proof of German at the time of application?

If you are unable to provide any of the C1 certificates listed above demonstrating your German language skills by the application deadline, you may still be admitted if you can provisionally demonstrate at least B1 language proficiency. Proof of B1 level is provided by a recognized language certificate or other certification from a language or other educational institution that clearly shows that B1 level has been achieved.

But please don't forget: you still have to submit the C1 certificate by the end of your enrollment period at the latest, which is stated in your admission letter.

Therefore, check early on whether you can provide the necessary language certificates by the deadline and, if necessary, plan to take a recognized language test.

In justified cases, you can apply for an extension of the enrollment deadline to provide proof of your language skills, but this extensvion can only be granted up to the day before the start of the lecture period. Please contact the Student Office or the International Students Office - depending on who is named as your point of contact in your letter of admission.

Weitere Ansprechpersonen:

• KIT-Fakultät für Chemie und Biowissenschaften
• Studiengangswebseiten Lebensmittelchemie
• Fachstudienberatung
• Vorsitzender des Prüfungsausschusses
• Fachschaft ChemBio

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