Study food and health sciences
In loose order we present the study programmes of the Faculty of Life Sciences: Food, Nutrition and Health of the University of Bayreuth in Kulmbach.
Not everywhere in the world there is such a variety of food. Climate change, wars and disease are impacting food production and feeding people around the world. We are educating people who can help address these issues to shape the future.
In the coming years, food production will need to increase significantly to adequately feed the ever-growing world population. At the same time, extreme weather events caused by climate change are increasing and endangering agricultural yields. Diseases of civilization such as type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases are spreading rapidly. Large parts of the world's population are affected by the undersupply of calories or the lack of micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals ("hidden hunger"). All these challenges are highly complex and closely interwoven. Sustainable production and distribution of healthy food plays a central role. Causal relationships between nutrition and health are well documented, but poorly understood. The future-oriented bachelor's degree program "Food and Health Sciences" focuses precisely on these socially relevant topics.
Complex challenges require an interdisciplinary understanding
In this degree program, the complex interrelationships between nutrition and health are taught through innovative teaching methods. Our students learn to understand current global challenges in the field of nutrition and health from a holistic and interdisciplinary perspective and to develop forward-looking solutions.
Profile of the Bachelor's programme
The interdisciplinary program combines content from the natural, social, behavioral, economic and legal sciences. Subjects include human biology, biology and biochemistry of food, chemical analysis, genetics, public health, food supply chain management, quality management, statistics and data analysis, and food and health law.
The lecturers are among the most renowned and internationally recognized experts in their field and provide a future-oriented and scientifically sound education based on the latest research.
An important element is also the training in science communication. In media and presentation training, our students practice how to prepare and communicate scientific information in a way that is comprehensible to the public.
Career prospects
A bachelor's degree in "Food and Health Sciences" opens up a career in diverse professional fields in the nutrition and health sectors. Possible employers include
- companies in the food industry
- political and policy advising institutions
- international governmental and non-governmental organizations
- health and social care institutions
- consumer associations
- media
- research institutions.
Furthermore, the acquired knowledge and competences form the ideal basis for various advanced study programs, including the faculty's own master's programs "Food Quality and Safety" (M.Sc.) and "Global Food, Nutrition and Health" (M.Sc.).
Studying in the Kulmbach food cluster
In the middle of Kulmbach (about 25 km away from the main campus of the University of Bayreuth) a new interdisciplinary and international campus is being built. And not without reason: not only are several internationally active food companies located here, but also the Max Rubner Institute, the Bavarian State Office for Food Safety and Veterinary Affairs, the State Technical College for Food Technology, the Competence Center for Nutrition (KErn) of the Bavarian Ministry of Agriculture and the Kulmbach Clinic. All these institutions are involved in various research projects and in the teaching activities of the faculty.