Program Overview
The Master's (Master's Degree) in Life Sciences - Food at Bern University of Applied Sciences is a rigorous postgraduate programme delivered on-campus at Bern University of Applied Sciences. Designed for graduates and professionals seeking advanced expertise in interdisciplinary studies, the programme develops both theoretical foundations and applied skills essential for today's competitive environment.
Spanning 18 months, students engage with cutting-edge research, industry-relevant case studies, and practical projects. Instruction is delivered in English by research-active faculty with professional expertise.
The programme culminates in a dissertation or capstone project. Graduates are well-prepared for leadership roles, research careers, and doctoral study in interdisciplinary studies.
Key Program Features
- Immersive On-Campus Experience: In-person seminars, laboratory sessions, and professional networking at Bern University of Applied Sciences.
- Expert Faculty: Taught by research-active academics and practitioners with deep expertise in Interdisciplinary Studies.
- Diverse International Cohort: Study alongside students from around the world, broadening your global professional network.
- Research-Informed Curriculum: Content grounded in the latest academic research and real-world industry practice.
- Dissertation / Capstone Project: Culminating independent project applying your expertise to an original research question or industry challenge.
- Dedicated Career Support: Access to career coaching, employer networking events, and job placement assistance.
- 18 months Duration: Part-time and accelerated options may be available — enquire with the admissions office.
Career Opportunities
Career prospects
The MSc in Life Sciences – Food, Nutrition, and Health equips you with the skills that employers in the industry require for management positions: You are a specialist with practical experience who takes a scientific approach and manages complex projects with ease.
This interdisciplinary master’s programme will prepare you for research and management positions in the Swiss food and nutrition industry. You will also be qualified for challenging positions in multinational food companies or international organisations dealing with nutrition. Management positions can be found, for example: in product development and research in the food industry in public and private research institutions at speciality food producers for nutritional advisory services of supermarket chains or food manufacturers at NGOs, charities and projects concerned with nutritional issues as a nutritional consultant in international organisations in food and nutrition areas of public administration for independent consultancy practices “Currently, I’m working as an intern here in the 3D printing lab at the HAFL. We essentially 3D print food! We maintain many of the 3D printers and are also involved in product development, particularly in finding materials that can be printed,” says Akshay Shah.
Program Curriculum
Programme content
Our Food Science programme is entirely modular. This allows you to select the modules that appeal to your interests and accommodate your work or family obligations. Independent study accounts for much of the programme.
Study programme Specialisation modules form the core of your degree programme. There you will learn the most important aspects of developing nutritionally valuable foods and how public health can be influenced by nutritional measures. You may select from a range of modules, which allows you to customise your studies based on your strengths, interests and area of focus. You will conclude your studies with a master’s thesis. This is generally embedded within a project at one of the three participating schools or is conducted together with one of their research partners. You may do it with an outside research or industry partner, such as your employer. Structure Master’s thesis – the core of your studies 30 credits Specialisation modules min. 30 credits Cluster-specific modules (Food and Environment) min. 9 credits Core-competence modules (Data and Business Management) min. 12 credits Yearly schedule (PDF, 119 KB) Study plan (PDF, 137 KB)
Admission Requirements
Entry requirements
To enrol in the MSc in Life Sciences – Food, Nutrition, and Health, you must have a Bachelor of Science degree in a related field and a good command of English.
Specific requirement You will be accepted into the programme if you have completed a Bachelor of Science in one of the following fields of study, at a Swiss university of applied sciences, with a grade of at least 5 or if you have an ECTS grade of A or B: Food Science Food Technology Nutrition and Dietetics Oenology Candidates who have an equivalent previous education and professional experience will also be considered for admission on a case-by-case basis. The Head of Degree Programme reviews and determines the equivalence of your previous education and professional experience. Do you have a bachelor’s degree from an academic university? If so, you must provide evidence of at least half a year of full-time professional experience in a relevant field.
Tuition & Financial Information
Tuition Fee
EUR 663
Registration, tuition and examination fees
The cost of study includes tuition and examination fees, as well as costs for teaching materials and excursions. Costs At BFH, different fees apply for programmes and examinations. Application fee (per application)* CHF 100 Tuition fees (per semester) CHF 850 Tuition fees for international students (per semester) CHF 2,550 (or CHF 1,050 or CHF 850)** Examination fee (per semester) CHF 80 Fee for social, cultural and sport offerings (per semester) CHF 24 Membership fee for the Bern University of Applied Sciences Student Association (VSBFH) (per semester) CHF 15 Subject to change without notice. * plus CHF 10 processing fee if paying by paying-in slip/paper invoice. A new application fee of CHF 150 will be implemented for registrations for the spring semester 2027. **Exemptions in brackets: see factsheet . Payment in instalments possible for tuition fees of CHF 2,550. Fees factsheet valid until SS 2026 (PDF, 63 KB) Fees factsheet valid per AS 2026/27 (PDF, 122 KB) Grants, loans and other funding options Financial aid is available through grants and loans. Grants are one-off or ongoing payments that don’t usually have to be paid back provided you complete your course. Loans are one-off or ongoing payments that must be paid back after you finish your course. Cantonal grants Grants and loans for Swiss students and overseas students are generally paid out by the canton where the students’ parents are tax residents. Students who have been tax residents in the Canton of Bern for at least two years are able to apply for cantonal grants and loans. Applications should be submitted to the Financial Aid Office at the Department of Education. Further information (incl. financial aid calculator): Department of Education of the Canton of Bern Department of Education of the Canton of Basel-Stadt (German link) Department of Education, Culture and Sport, Canton of Basel-Landschaft (German link) Addresses for cantonal grant-awarding bodies The websites educaswiss.ch , stipendium.ch and European Funding Guide cover all the key information about grants in Switzerland and overseas. Foundations and funds There are also numerous private foundations and funds that offer financial support to students. The electronic foundation directory administered by the Federal Department of Home Affairs offers a comprehensive summary of these organisations and can be searched by keywords (e.g. student, research, financial aid, etc.). Other sources of funding include the foundation directories for individual cantons and private foundations . The following foundations offer funding specifically to BFH students and students from other universities: Hirschmann grant Bern University of Applied Sciences Burgdorf Foundation Foundation for Training Wood Technology Executives Swiss Study Fondation Stiftung Fritz Bösch Further information Studienfinanzierung - Informationen rund um Ausbildungsbeiträge stipendium.ch European Funding Guide Studying in Switzerland Cost of living
Financial Aid & Scholarships
Grants, loans and other funding options
Financial aid is available through grants and loans. Grants are one-off or ongoing payments that don’t usually have to be paid back provided you complete your course. Loans are one-off or ongoing payments that must be paid back after you finish your course.
Cantonal grants
Grants and loans for Swiss students and overseas students are generally paid out by the canton where the students’ parents are tax residents.
Students who have been tax residents in the Canton of Bern for at least two years are able to apply for cantonal grants and loans. Applications should be submitted to the Financial Aid Office at the Department of Education.
Further information (incl. financial aid calculator):
About Bern University of Applied Sciences
Bern University of Applied Sciences
Bern, Switzerland
The Bern University of Applied Sciences (often called BFH) is a well-known public university in Switzerland that focuses on practical, career-oriented education.
University Profile- Start Date April 2026
- Language English
- Duration 18 months
- Credits 90