Food Safety, Bachelor of Science

Study Content in Detail

In the Bachelor's degree programme in Food Safety at Hochschule Fresenius, you will engage with the scientific, technological, and legal fundamentals surrounding the safety of food. The curriculum links general and organic chemistry, mathematics, physics, and biology with specialised focuses such as food law, hygiene, quality management, and food microbiology. Central topics include, among others:

• Communication and information technology for the food environment
• Inorganic and organic chemistry, microbiology, biochemistry
• Mathematical, physical, and statistical methods (including biometrics)
• Food process engineering, process and quality management
• Food law, HACCP concept and international food safety standards
• Instrumental analytics and bioanalytics for testing food
• Typical risks such as animal pests and food toxicology
• Plant-based and animal-based food, convenience products, bakery and confectionery, beverages

You select specialisations from various elective modules, ranging from case study projects to specific food categories. The course is rounded off with practical laboratory internships, company excursions, and subject-specific English, preparing you for international activities.

Course Structure: How is the Food Safety Degree Organised?

The course is designed as a full-time on-site study programme with a standard period of study of six semesters and starts annually in the winter semester. The degree programme is conducted in cooperation with Hochschule Geisenheim University. The organisation of the study process envisages a close integration of theory and practice. Important elements are:

• Lectures, seminars, and laboratory internships on site at the university locations
• Practice-oriented teaching in modernly equipped laboratories, e.g. for analytics, hygiene, and food production
• Integration of excursions and case study projects in the elective area
• Acquisition of 180 ECTS credits in six semesters
• Module examinations, project work, and scientific final thesis (bachelor’s thesis)
• Offers for personal development, language courses, start-up and career support via the StudyPLUS programme

The study plan allows you to set your own focuses and to specifically prepare for entering the profession through practical projects and contacts with partner companies.

Career Opportunities & Professional Prospects after the Bachelor in Food Safety

With a degree in Food Safety, you work at key points in the food industry and adjacent sectors. Typical and in-demand professional fields are:

• Quality and hygiene management: Monitoring and further development of standards, quality assurance, and hygiene training in industrial companies
• Product development: Development and market launch of safe, innovative foods and packaging in compliance with legal and hygiene requirements
• Management consulting, inspection, and audit: Advising and optimising production processes, introduction of HACCP systems, conducting internal and external audits
• Food surveillance, authorities and testing centres: Work in public agencies such as food control offices, state laboratories or certification service providers
• Employment as a specialist in food production, import/export control, or in sales and quality assurance

Many graduates also use the study programme as a springboard for Master's degree courses in the fields of food technology, hygiene, or quality management.

Study Location: Learning and Research at the Idstein Campus

The programme takes place at the Idstein location of Hochschule Fresenius, which looks back on a long scientific tradition. The modern laboratories of the Department of Chemistry & Biology are housed in the historic Building A. On site you benefit from:

• State-of-the-art laboratory workstations for practical work in chemistry, analytics, and microbiology
• Direct access to practice partners and companies in the region
• Good connections to the urban areas of Wiesbaden, Frankfurt, and the Rhine-Main region
• A pleasant learning environment in a classic university town with a campus atmosphere

An important part of the training also takes place in cooperation with Hochschule Geisenheim University. Within the framework of excursions and internships, you gain additional insights into industrial or governmental professional practice.

Costs and Financing: What Does the Bachelor’s Degree in Food Safety Cost?

The Bachelor's degree in Food Safety at Hochschule Fresenius is tuition-free – no tuition fees are charged. Additional services such as language courses and career support programmes are also included.

For financing your living expenses during your studies, the following options are available:

• Application for BAföG support (Federal Education and Training Assistance Act)
• Application for various scholarships, e.g. Deutschlandstipendium, university-specific funding programmes
• Use of study loans, e.g. KfW study loan
• Financing through working as a student employee and part-time jobs that fit with your timetable

The student advisory service at Hochschule Fresenius supports you individually with all questions regarding financing. Semester fees, the costs for specialist literature, and living expenses must be considered separately.