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Application Deadline: May 26, 2024
Are you interested in food engineering, analyses and trends in the food industry? Do you want to spend your studies in laboratories as well as in lectures, integrating knowledge as you acquire it? Do you want to expand on your scientific background with an exciting study programme in food technology and nutrition? Then you can look forward to an interdisciplinary programme that prepares students excellently for a career in the industry.
The degree is designed for graduates of Bachelor’s programs in natural science, ecotrophology, nutrition science, technology, or engineering, seeking to obtain an advanced education in the food and nutrition technology sector.
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Welcome to MCI - The Entrepreneurial School®
The Food Technology & Nutrition Master programme focuses on technology, analysis and quality assurance and authorisation, food production and packaging of food constituents, as well as nutritional trends in the economy. Insights into the areas of food supplements speciality foods and cosmetic production are also provided.
The contents of this programme are geared towards current conditions and requirements of the economy; and the most recent research findings. In-depth knowledge of food and nutrition, production techniques and processes, the identification and characterisation of nutrition-relevant properties and the effects of food are taught. The aim is to provide future food engineers with the necessary toolkit in the labour market for them to make a valuable contribution to the economic success of a company.
It is specifically aimed at students who are interested in industrial applications as well as research and development. The programme in Food Technology & Nutrition focuses on the integration and combination of a variety of specialised skills.
The programme is offered not only full-time, but also part-time; allowing students to gather work experience alongside their studies.
If you have any questions about the study program, please contact us.
Applications for admission are accepted on a rolling basis. The required documents are to be submitted online. Applicants are welcome to apply for multiple programs of study, as long as a plausible rationale is given. The final decision may be taken by the end of the application procedures.
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Admission to the Master program in Bioresource & Food Engineering is open to graduates of relevant Bachelor and Diploma programs and graduates from other relevant post-secondary educational facilities.This Master program is an ideal follow-on from such Bachelor programs as Food & Bioresource Technologies, particularly with the specialization in Food Technologies. Admission will also be considered for graduates of study programs whose curricula offer an adequate degree of relevance. Relevant fields include biology, pharmaceuticals and biochemistry. The Program Director decides on the relevance of such previous qualifications.Recognition of previous qualifications in the master program:Applications for recognition of examinations or credits obtained through other study programs or previous scientific experience must be submitted to the Program Director. A decision will only be taken in cases where the application for admission has met with a positive decision. Recognition of credits or previous experience is only granted for individual classes in the program.
In just two steps to your desired study program at MCI:
Step 1 – Online application: CV & motivation
A complete online application consists of a CV, a letter of motivation, information on educational background, qualifications, professional career, social achievements and academic as well as professional goals. We would like to know why you are applying to study at MCI.
You may apply for more than one degree program at the same time, provided you can conclusively explain your respective motivations in your letter of motivation.
Step 2 – Online admission interview
In the second step, all applicants will be invited to an online admission interview.
In this interview, we want to get to know you. We are particularly interested in your motivation to study at MCI as well as your professional and personal goals you want to achieve with the help of your studies.
Within three weeks after the admission interview, we will inform you about the admission decision.
MCI study programs stand out due to the quality of their content, relevance to the business world, and their international orientation. The close cooperation with partners from industry and integrative internships enable students to gain practical experience as early as in their Bachelor’s studies. In addition to providing expert knowledge, MCI places great importance on encouraging personal development and the development of social and intercultural competencies.
Within this programme, high-quality competences in the fields of food technology and nutrition are holistically combined, driving towards interdisciplinary options. Special focus is laid on methods of analysis and quality assurance, food supplements, cosmetics, legal framework conditions in the authorisation of food, food production, packaging and nutritional trends.
Within the first three semesters, students choose one of two electives. This gives them the opportunity to set their own specialisation during their studies. These are supplemented with business management fundamentals in order to meet the growing demands of the industry. They include quality, project and process management, as well as key personal skills such as working techniques, social skills and teamwork. The programme also teaches scientific methods and their professional application in current industrial projects. Students have the opportunity to complete the 3rd or 4th semester at one of MCI’s numerous universities worldwide; or write their master thesis abroad.
Students also have the opportunity to complete a Double Degree with the University of Seville in the areas Food Technology, Industry and Nutriton. In this programme, students spend the first year at MCI and the second in Seville. Students then write their Master's thesis at MCI.
Semester Credit Units| ECTS-Credits
The Master program Food Technology & Nutrition is a full-time or part-time degree program.
Full-time
In full-time studies, lectures and seminars are held on weekdays, with blocked units allowing for an intensive immersion into individual topics.The classes usually take place from Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 12:15 and / or from 13:30 to 16:45. In exceptional cases, the times may vary and the lessons and / or examinations may take place outside the specified times or possibly on Saturdays.
Part-time
A part-time study program is organized in such a way that students can pursue full-time employment. The content and scope of the part-time study program correspond to those of a full-time study program. The courses and seminars usually take place on Friday afternoons (around 1pm to 10pm) and on Saturdays (8am to 5pm).
Graduates of the program are conferred the academic title of Master of Science in Engineering, in short MSc or M.Sc. This is attested by a leaving certificate, the Master diploma, the international diploma supplement, and further documents where relevant. MCI Alumni are entitled to combine their academic degree with the brand “MCI” to provide trust and orientation in an increasingly intransparent international education market. Example: BSc (MCI).Source: GZ BMWF-52.330/0195-I/6/2013
Dr. Schär Merit Scholarship
Dr. Schär is a South Tyrolean family business founded in 1982. The Dr. Schär group specializes in the development, production and sales of innovative foods for special dietary needs. To promote talented students in the fields of food technology, Dr. Schär provides two MCI students per year with a EUR 500.— scholarship.
COURSE-SPECIFIC SCHOLARSHIPS AND GRANTS
Handl Tyrol Merit Scholarship
HANDL TYROL is an Austrian family business based in Pians/Tyrol, which has specialized in the production of original Tyrolean bacon, raw sausage, and roast specialties since 1902.
For MCI students who are interested in sustainable, innovative, but also forward-looking ideas, HANDL TYROL GmbH annually awards three performance scholarships worth EUR 1,000 each. The selected scholarship holders also have the exclusive opportunity to spend a day behind the scenes at Handl Tyrol.
The programme comprises 5 semesters, with MCI students completing the first year in Innsbruck; semesters three and four are spent at USE. For students of the USE, the course of studies is designed in the opposite way: For them, the Master's programme first starts in Seville and is continued in the second year at the MCI. In the fifth semester, the Master's thesis is again written by all students in Innsbruck and the Master's examination is taken by representatives of both institutions.
The Master's program Food Technology & Nutrition is also a member of the "Central European Exchange Program for University Studies" (CEEPUS) and thus creates a valuable network for students with universities and colleges from 16 countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
One of the most essential components of MCI study programs is their international orientation. This is reflected not only in the curriculum and assigned projects, but also in the backgrounds of our faculty and students. Each program also includes the opportunity for students to spend a year abroad at one of MCI’s many partner institutions.
The part-time format of the Master Degree program in Food Technology & Nutrition enables practical knowledge from professional life to be combined and consolidated with academic content. During the weekends, lecturers from the business world, external universities and MCI internal experts convey a diverse picture of the world of food in a concentrated manner. The personal contact between the lecturers and staff of the study program and the students is particularly appreciated, which despite the demanding months, ensures that the fun of learning is not lost.
Christian Rinderer, MSc; Applied Material & Method Research, Global Operations, Red Bull GmbH
In the MCI we have found a university partner with a similar philosophy and understanding: Exciting and enriching for both sides is the practical exchange, whether through cooperation with students from the Food Technology & Nutrition program or through joint research projects or supervision of master's theses.
Michael Durach; Head of Mustard & Delicatessen; Develey Senf & Feinkost GmbH
Handl Tyrol GmbH has once again been able to successfully implement projects in the field of innovation and development on several occasions with the "Food Technology & Nutrition course" at the MCI together with professors and students. Always an enriching and inspiring experience.
Karl Christian Handl MBA; CEO Handl Tyrol GmbH
At the Entrepreneurial School®, providing a consistent link between science and practice has top priority. Therefore, we provide our students plenty of opportunity to put their newly acquired knowledge to practice, even during their studies. The collaboration with companies and organizations of different sizes and sectors forms one of the cornerstones of the MCI concept. Such cooperative work does not only benefit our students, but also, to a large extent our partners.
Innovations from the fields of food technology, biotechnology, functional & convenience foods and bioengineering will have a decisive impact on future viability. The growing demand in this area offers the opportunity to expand research activities in a targeted manner. The central topic here is the solution of current questions that arise along the value chain, from the production of plant raw materials and algae to technological utilization and product characterization. Novel approaches from engineering and natural sciences are used.
Graduates from the Master Programme Food Technology & Nutrition are equipped to enter a plethora of different industries. These include, but are not limited to:
MCI Alumni & Friends provides a dynamic service platform promoting contacts, image, professional careers, and personal development of MCI and its graduates. We are delighted with all the graduates who choose to stay in touch even long after completion of their studies, and allowing us to be a part of their various careers:
The full-time and part-time Master’s programmes cover precisely the same topics. The difference lies in the organisation of on-campus sessions. While full-time programme courses generally take place Monday through Friday, courses in the part-time programme are scheduled on Fridays, Saturdays and occasionally on Thursday evenings. This should facilitate the combination of work and study for students interested or required to work alongside their studies. To enable full-time and part-time students to exchange experiences, we also arrange for individual classes in both time models to be held on a Fridays or Saturdays. Both formats include the same number of ECTS.
No. You can be enrolled into the part-time course format even if you work in an unrelated field.
Students of this study program have the choice: they can choose between modules, specialisations, supplementary courses, optional subjects, courses, etc. both within and outside of the curriculum. In addition, students can go abroad for a semester to one of our numerous partner universities. Through projects and their final Master thesis they are also enabled to make their study program a truly unique experience.
The electives can be determined independently of each other in the previous semester. Students will receive more-detailed information about the content and the exact procedure at the beginning of their studies.
In principle, students must choose one elective subject in the second and third semesters. If students wish to attend both electives of a semester for their own sake, this must be approved on a case-by-case basis by the degree program.
Yes. The second and third semester can be spent at one of our partner institutions. You may also choose to complete the fourth semester as a research semester to write your Master’s thesis at a foreign institution.
Students interested in enrolling in the double-degree programme with the University of Seville apply during their second semester of their studies.
No. Parts of the curriculum are taught in German, parts in English. In addition, MCI regularly invites international experts as guest lecturers, whose courses and lectures may be held in English.
Full-time: Monday - Thursday during the day, occasionally Friday and Saturday, with some online modules
Part-time: Friday - Saturday during the day, with some Thursday evenings. Students can work alongside this programme.
Students attend this course from the first to the third semester. The course applies a problem-based learning approach to teaching students about problems encountered in the industry, or in industrial projects carried out at MCI. A field-relevant question will be raised at the beginning of each class. Examples include: “How is a plant-based meat substitute produced?” or “How can we detect contamination in starter cultures?” Students then work in teams to prepare and present solutions to the problem in question. This is to prepare you for similar tasks in your later career.
Attendance is mandatory in all classes. If you miss 25% of a course or more, this will have an effect on your positive completion of the course.
Exemption from mandatory attendance may be granted if a valid reason is given (e.g. sickness, visit to authorities or other personal reasons). Please submit your written request including relevant proof to the department for approval.
The entire admission process can be completed online. This means that you can also participate in the admission process from abroad. However, please make sure you have a sufficiently good internet connection.
Yes, it is possible and recommended that you apply before obtaining your Bachelor’s Degree certificate in order to secure one of the limited places in your desired course of study. Please include the most recent transcript of records in your application. Should your application be successful, the Bachelor’s certificate is to be submitted by the start of your studies.
Multiple applications are welcome as long as a plausible reason is provided in your cover letter. If you are admitted to two or more study programs, you are required to inform us of your final decision by the conclusion of the application procedures.
For citizens of the following countries, the tuition fee is 363 euros per semester plus a fee for compulsory membership to the Austrian National Union of Students:
non-EU citizens who, according to § 2 of the University of Applied Sciences Studies Act, are subject to § 1 of the Regulation on Eligible Groups of Persons (see Federal Law Gazette II No. 340/2013, in its current version).
