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Bachelor studies Food Technology

Are you interested in food, beverages and nutrition? Do you enjoy conducting experiments and would you like to develop entirely new products and processes? Then the Bachelor’s degree programme in Food Technology is perfect for you!

«Moutain biking and studying food technology certainly have something in common - they both demand high levels of performance. That's what makes the course fun!» Michael, Food Technology student

What is Food Technology?

Food Technology encompasses all aspects of the conversion of raw materials derived from animals and plants into consumer-ready food and beverages, which may also involve the production of 'semi-finished' intermediates. Currently, almost ninety percent of all foodstuffs undergo some form of industrial processing. These foodstuffs must be processed cost effectively at industrial scale while satisfying individual consumer expectations and the nutritional requirements of specific demographic groups. This creates exciting career opportunities for graduates of the Food Technology degree programme.

Educational objectives

On completion of the degree programme, you are equipped to assume positions of responsibility in the food and beverage industry or in the nutrition sector, either in technical or managerial roles. You understand the entire food value chain from raw materials through processing to consumer-ready products, and are familiar with the economic environment, applicable legal regulations and pertinent health, nutrition and environmental issues. You are also sufficiently familiar with modern manufacturing practices and analytical methods to assume responsibility for the safety of foodstuffs.

Study programme

Are you interested in food, beverages and nutrition? Do you enjoy conducting experiments and would you like to develop entirely new products and processes? Then the Bachelor’s degree programme in Food Technology is perfect for you!

The study programme combines food-related science and technology with nutritional, environmental and business management expertise. In addition to subject-specific and broad educational content, emphasis is placed on independent

study, creativity, teamwork, communication, and holistic thinking. The development of these skills is actively encouraged through participation in projects and research programmes with industrial partners. During the programme you can choose to specialise in Food Technology, Beverage Technology or Nutrition, the three areas of specialisation offered, enabling you to tailor the programme to meet your specific needs and prepare yourself for your future career.

Structure

The six semester course is designed to be studied full-time and includes both compulsory and elective modules. This allows you to adapt parts of the programme to suit your previous experience, interests and career goals. The programme can also be completed on a part-time basis, in consultation with the programme directors. Furthermore, the modular structure allows you to spend a semester studying abroad and take part in student exchanges with other universities.

The programme is divided into basic studies (first and second semesters), subject-specific studies (third and fourth semesters) and specialised topics (fifth and sixth semesters), and concludes with a Bachelor’s thesis. In the final two semesters you choose one of the three areas of specialisation. Your analytical and social skills are developed through numerous practical exercises and group activities in our modern technical facilities and laboratories. The complexity and duration of independent assignments (literature review, semester thesis, Bachelor’s thesis) increase over the course of your studies. The programme finishes with a Bachelor’s thesis, which requires you to complete a specific practical project independently.

Career prospects

As a graduate food technologist, your role typically encompasses the development and improvement of food and beverage products, taking account of the relevant sensory and nutritional criteria and the appropriate food regulations, in line with the maxim 'From raw materials to the consumer: healthy, safe, enjoyable and sustainable food'. You also support the development of processes and equipment used in the production and packaging of foodstuffs, and the quality assurance and quality control of food products as well as their subsequent marketing.

Due to the interdisciplinary nature and practical orientation of the Bachelor’s degree programme in Food Technology at ZHAW, you are able to collaborate readily with experts from other fields in solving complex industrial problems, either with multinational companies or with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). You take their ethical and societal responsibilities seriously, using valuable resources sparingly in pursuing their objectives. Typical roles in the food, beverage and cosmetics industries include:

Conditions for acceptance

The study programme is multidisciplinary and students come from a broad variety of educational backgrounds.

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