Program Overview
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:
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.
Key Program Features
- • 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
Career Opportunities
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.
Program Curriculum
• Chemistry of Food, Animal Feed and Consumer Products Including Cosmetics I
lecture "Advanced Food Chemistry: Carbohydrates" (2 CP)
lecture "Advanced Food Chemistry: Lipids" (2 CP)
lecture "Animal Feed" (1 CP)
lab course “Microscopic Examination of Food, Consumer Goods and Animal Feed” (3 CP)
• Chemistry of Food, Animal Feed and Consumer Products Including Cosmetics II
lecture "Cosmetics and Consumer Goods" (1 CP)
• Analysis of Food, Animal Feed and Consumer Products Including Cosmetics
lecture "Methods in Food Analysis: Biochemical and Biological Methods" (2 CP)
lab course "Analysis of Animal Feed and Consumer Products Including Cosmetics" (3 CP)
• Nutritional Biochemistry
lecture "Nutritional Biochemistry I" (4 CP)
lab course Biochemistry (4 CP)
• General and Food Toxicology
lab course Toxicology (6 CP)
• Interdisciplinary Qualifications (2 CP)
• lecture "Advanced Food Chemistry: Carbohydrates" (2 CP)
• lecture "Advanced Food Chemistry: Lipids" (2 CP)
• lecture "Animal Feed" (1 CP)
• lab course “Microscopic Examination of Food, Consumer Goods and Animal Feed” (3 CP)
• lecture "Cosmetics and Consumer Goods" (1 CP)
• lecture "Methods in Food Analysis: Biochemical and Biological Methods" (2 CP)
• lab course "Analysis of Animal Feed and Consumer Products Including Cosmetics" (3 CP)
• lecture "Nutritional Biochemistry I" (4 CP)
• lab course Biochemistry (4 CP)
• lab course Toxicology (6 CP)
• Chemistry of Food, Animal Feed and Consumer Products Including Cosmetics II
lecture "Advanced Food Chemistry: Proteins" (2 CP)
lecture "Advanced Food Chemistry: Vitamins and Minerals" (2 CP)
lecture "Genetic Engineering and Food" (2 CP)
• Technology
lecture "Advanced Food Processing Using Food as an Example" (3 CP)
field trips (1 CP)
• Food Law
lecture "Food Law I" (2 CP)
• Analysis of Food, Animal Feed and Consumer Products Including Cosmetics
lecture "Food Analysis: Spectroscopic Methods" (2 CP)
lecture "Environmental Analytics" (2 CP)
• lab course Advanced Methods in Food Analysis
lab course "Advanced Food Analysis" (8 CP)
• Nutritional Biochemistry
lecture "Nutritional Biochemistry II" (4 CP)
• General and Food Toxicology
lecture "Food Toxicology" (4 CP)
exercises "Risk Assessment of Toxicologically Relevant Ssubstances" (2 CP)
• lecture "Advanced Food Chemistry: Proteins" (2 CP)
• lecture "Advanced Food Chemistry: Vitamins and Minerals" (2 CP)
• lecture "Genetic Engineering and Food" (2 CP)
• lecture "Advanced Food Processing Using Food as an Example" (3 CP)
• field trips (1 CP)
• lecture "Food Law I" (2 CP)
• lecture "Food Analysis: Spectroscopic Methods" (2 CP)
• lecture "Environmental Analytics" (2 CP)
• lab course "Advanced Food Analysis" (8 CP)
• lecture "Nutritional Biochemistry II" (4 CP)
• lecture "Food Toxicology" (4 CP)
• exercises "Risk Assessment of Toxicologically Relevant Ssubstances" (2 CP)
• Technology
lecture "Specialization in Quality Management" (1 CP)
• Lebensmittelrecht
lecture "Food Law II" (2 CP)
seminar "Exercises in
Admission Requirements
The requirements for admission to the master's degree program in Food Chemistry are based on the current admission regulations:
• bachelor's degreea 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 areaslaboratory 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
• 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.
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
No tuition fees (German public university — see fee_details)
Semester contribution ~€235 covers public transport (KVV) and student union services.
Financial Aid & Scholarships
No tuition fees at KIT (German public university). Semester contribution of approx. €235 covers public transport and student services. Funding available via DAAD, Deutschlandstipendium, Baden-Württemberg Stipendium, and KIT internal scholarships.
About Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
Karlsruhe, Germany
The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is one of Germany's leading public research universities and among Europe's most prestigious institutions for science, engineering, and technology....
University Profile- Application Deadline EU/German nationals: September 30 | Non-EU nationals: July 15
- Language German
- Duration 4 semesters
- Credits 120 ECTS
