Program overview The Master’s programme provides an interdisciplinary grounding in on-farm milk production and the quality of dairy products, bringing together the scientific fundamentals and current advances across the dairy chain. Teaching emphasizes a systematic, research-oriented approach so students learn to work scientifically and develop analytical insight into how individual elements combine to determine overall dairy system performance.
What you will study Course content covers the full production and processing chain, including breeding, feed production, animal nutrition, welfare and health, milking technology, eco-efficiency, dairy economics, product processing, and milk quality. Methodological training is integrated throughout to strengthen students’ ability to analyse complex problems in dairy science and to apply scientific methods across related disciplines.
Who the programme is for This is an international consecutive Master’s degree designed for students who already hold a relevant Bachelor’s and want a multidisciplinary specialisation in milk production. The curriculum draws on expertise from the Faculty of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences—especially animal science, food production and economics—and all classes are taught in English, welcoming applicants from around the world.
Entry requirements (concise)
This two-year (four-semester) Master’s programme combines classroom study with hands-on training and a research project. It comprises nine compulsory modules, six electives and a Master’s thesis. Teaching formats include lectures, seminars, practical exercises and field work, ensuring that theoretical knowledge is reinforced by applied experience—valuable for careers in dairy production, processing, research or advisory roles.
Core modules (ideally taken during the first year) focus on the science and management of modern dairy systems and equip you with technical, analytical and animal‑welfare skills. Key compulsory modules are:
Electives let you tailor the degree toward economics, precision farming or pasture-based systems and support international exposure. Elective modules can be chosen during the first and second years; recommended first‑semester options include agrarAEF902 Dairy Economics: Production and Processing (formerly dsAEF001), agrarAEF810 Precision Livestock Farming, and AEF‑agr836 Grazing Systems for Dairy Cattle in Europe. You may select up to five electives from the faculty’s course catalogue, choose up to two electives from other university faculties (maximum 12 ECTS), or take electives at partner institutions via Erasmus+. The programme concludes with an independent Master’s thesis that demonstrates your ability to carry out scientific work in dairy science.
Program requirements (concise)
Applicants should hold a Bachelor’s degree (BSc) that provides a solid foundation for advanced study in dairy science. The programme expects a degree in agriculture with a focus on animal science, or an equivalent qualification showing academic and examination performance directly relevant to dairy science. A minimum German grade of “good” (at least 2.5) is required — equivalent international grades will be assessed as part of your application. Your completed Bachelor’s degree and its transcripts form the primary basis for admission.
If your Bachelor’s is in a related subject (for example: agricultural engineering, plant and environmental sciences, agricultural economics/agribusiness, food science, or dairy technology), you must demonstrate sufficient livestock-science competence. This can be through formal coursework (30 ECTS/credit points in livestock science) or by providing evidence of equivalent practical or academic experience in the field completed within the last five years — such as internships, relevant work experience, or research projects.
Admission requirements (summary)
Winter Semester (International)
31 March 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
31 March 2026