Nutritional Sciences (M.Sc.)
Taught in German
Overview
-
Image:Vadim Ginzburg/123rf.com
- Overview
-
Food ingredients, the effects of food and diets on the human body, the links between diet and health/illness, and much more relating to human nutrition – the Master’s degree programme in Nutritional Sciences allows you to build on the knowledge you gained during your Bachelor’s degree. The academic focus of the degree programme perfectly prepares graduates for the world of work: for the highly qualified professionals of tomorrow.
Overview
What are individual foods made of, and what biochemical effects do they have on our bodies? What impact does diet have on illness? How can changes in eating habits help prevent illness? How can the quality of food be assessed? How do food constituents affect cells and molecules? Building on the Bachelor’s degree programme, the Master’s in Nutritional Sciences takes an in-depth look at various issues relating to human nutrition.
During their studies, students acquire expertise in nutritional science, with the option to specialise in either preventive and therapeutic nutrition or food science. They study in depth the physiological and biochemical processes involved in human nutrition, disorders affecting these processes, the composition and analysis of food, and the functional effects of food constituents.
Students develop their skills in academic work within the field of research and development and are trained to engage critically with relevant academic literature.
The degree programme covers the following topics, amongst others:
- Human nutrition
- Biochemistry and molecular biology
- Food sciences
- Nutrition in prevention and therapy
- Nutrition and the immune system
- Molecular nutrition research
- Psychology of nutrition
- Duration of studies 4 Semester 120 Credit Points (CP)
-
Duration of Studies
4 Semesters - 120 Credit Points (CP)
-
Accreditation
since 28 September 2007
Composition of the Study Programme
- Duration of studies 4 Semester 120 Credit Points (CP)
-
Duration of Studies
4 Semesters - 120 Credit Points (CP)
- Composition of the Study Programme
-
Composition of the Study Programme
The degree programme consists of 8 core modules (compulsory modules) and 8 specialisation modules (optional modules). Each module is worth 6 CP (4 hours per week) and concludes with an exam taken during the course. The marks achieved in the individual module examinations determine the final degree mark. In addition, the degree programme includes a Master’s thesis, which is equivalent to 4 modules. This demonstrates that you are capable of producing an academic paper independently.
- Composition of the Study Programme 2
-
The core modules (compulsory modules) are:
- Specialised Biochemistry
- Specialised Human Nutrition
- Practical Course in Nutritional Physiology
- Nutrition and Metabolism
- Food Science
- Pathophysiology and Nutritional Medicine
- Food Technology and Molecular Cuisine
- Applied Nutritional Medicine
Individual Profile
Developing an individual profile plays a major role in the course. Our students decide for themselves whether they wish to acquire a broad, all-round knowledge or would prefer to specialise, and whether they would like their course to be more practice-oriented or more academic and theoretical. The specialisation modules can be chosen from the full range of courses offered by Department 09 or even from other departments at JLU.
By selecting specific specialisation modules, students may acquire the following areas of specialisation, as stated on the degree certificate:
- Nutritional Medicine
- Food Sciences
The specific specialisation modules required for each area of specialisation are listed in Annex 4 of the Special Regulations.
Practical relevance
In addition to choosing practice-oriented modules, students have the opportunity to undertake a work placement to gain in-depth insights into professional life. The MP-196 ‘Work Placement’ module is worth 12 CP and can be chosen as a specialism module. Students gain their first taste of the workplace and are given ideas for their own career prospects. The department’s work placement office maintains a database of suitable companies and organisations and helps students find a suitable work placement.
Profile modules
Broad, all-round knowledge or specialisation – both are possible. It’s up to our students; they put together their own course of study based on their individual interests, drawing on the full range of what we have to offer. From a selection of over 120 modules, students can choose specialisation modules from topics such as the following:
- Human nutrition
- Dietetics
- Biochemistry and molecular biology
- Nutritional medicine and therapy
- Nutrition and the immune system
- Food sciences
- Molecular nutrition research
- Communication and counselling
- Nutritional and environmental psychology
- Consumer behaviour
- Market theory
- Agricultural, food and environmental policy
- Business administration
Modules from other research areas within the department may also be chosen, e.g. agricultural production and its impact on the environment, applied microbiology, soil science, insect biotechnology, crop production and breeding, and animal husbandry.
You can find the exact names and descriptions of the profile modules on the Modules page.
-
Further Information
A description of the core- and specialisation modules can be found in the special regulations with module descriptions and module plans (in German)
More on this... ("Spezielle Ordnung")
Courses offered in the course catalogue
- Electronical course catalogue (in German)
Application
- Commencement of Studies in the Winter and Summer Semester
-
Commencement of studies
Summer semester and winter semester
- We recommend to start in the winter semester
- Application: Entrance requirements
-
Entrance Requirements
The Master's programme in Nutritional Sciences is a consecutive programme. This means that you need a relevant Bachelor's degree to be admitted. For better classification, so-called relevant Bachelor's degrees have been defined. Applications with other degrees are also welcome – in these cases, the examination board will assess on an individual basis during the application process whether the subject-specific requirements for admission have been met. The following bachelor's degree is currently considered relevant:
- Nutritional Science
Applicants who have completed a bachelor's degree in ecotrophology must demonstrate knowledge in the following areas for admission:
- Nutritional Science / Nutritional Physiology
- Nutritional Medicine / Pathobiochemistry
- Food Science
English language skills are required
English language skills at level B2 are required, as the technical literature is mainly available in English. Formal proof is not required.
- Application limited internally
-
Application for admission and registration
The intake capacity of this degree programme is limited by the university.
- Applications must be received by the JLU Student Secretariat by July 31 for the winter semester and by January 15 for the summer semester. Read more...
- Special regulations apply to foreign applicants or those who gained their university-entrance qualifications abroad. Read more...
Career Options
International
- International: incomings
-
-
Information about studying at Justus Liebig University Giessen (incomings)
International Office
General counseling of international students
Dr. Saltanat Rakhimzhanova, Patrycja Zakrzewska
Goethestr. 58, Room 38
35390 Giessen
Contact and office hours
-
Further Information
- Further Information: Documents
-
Examination- and study regulations
- Special regulations (in German)
(Please note that only the German version of the modules is offical and legally binding. The english Version is for informative purposes only.) - General study regulations for modular and multi-stage study programmes
Courses offered in the course catalogue
- Electronical course catalogue (in German)
- Special regulations (in German)
- Master's Degree Programmes of Faculty 09
-
taught in English
- Agrobioinformatics
- Agrobiotechnology
- Insect Biotechnology and Bioresources
- One Health (start in winter semester 2026/27)
- Sustainable Transition (digital degree programm)
- Transition Management
taught in German
- Agricultural and Resource Economics
- Beverage Technology (offered in cooperation with the Geisenheim University)
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology
- Crop Science
- Environmental Sciences
- Food Economics
- Information Technology in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (discontinued)
- Livestock Sciences
- Nutritional Sciences
- Nutritional Sciences and Home Economics / Ecotrophology
- Wine Economics (offered in cooperation with the Geisenheim University)
- Any Questions
-
Any Questions?
Information- and advisory services of JLU can be found under the category “contact” on this page!
Contact
-
Subject Advisor
- Subject Advisor
-
-
Prof. Dr. Uwe Wenzel
Institut für Ernährungswissenschaft
IFZ - Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, room B113
35392 Giessen
Phone: +49 (0)641 - 99 39220
Uwe.Wenzel
Office hours: by appointment
Team for Studies and Doctorates of Faculty 09
studies
-
-
Links
-
Central Study Advisor
- Central Student Services
-
- Students office →
(for formal matters like matriculation) - Central student advisory office
(advice for students & prospective students) - Hotline Call Justus
(first contact for all matters pertaining to studies) - International office →
(for international students)
- Students office →