This English-taught master’s pathway trains students in sustainable, resource-efficient livestock production with a strong emphasis on animal welfare and the supply of high-quality animal products. Courses are research-led and geared to meet current job-market needs, and teaching is delivered by the Institute of Animal Science in Stuttgart. You will study practical and theoretical aspects of breeding, husbandry, nutrition and health, and join a dynamic research environment that uses a variety of teaching methods.
You choose a specialist track such as nutrition and feed, genomics and breeding, or health and behaviour, while program research places special emphasis on digestive-tract microbiota and its interactions with animals and the environment. Ethical questions and the social, economic and environmental impacts of agricultural science are integrated throughout the curriculum, preparing you to consider sustainability at every stage of animal production.
By the end of the programme you will be able to explain core animal-science disciplines (nutrition, hygiene, behaviour, breeding, husbandry), articulate relevant anatomy, physiology, endocrinology, genetics, microbiology and feed-science principles, and apply contemporary research methods to farm-animal questions. You will gain skills in hypothesis formulation and testing, and in critical appraisal of published findings. Graduates are well suited for leadership roles in research, development, management and marketing both in Germany and internationally—and an above-average grade enables progression to doctoral studies.
Requirements — what the programme expects (check the official programme page for formal admission rules)
Potential employers and career paths
(For exact application documents, entry requirements and deadlines, consult the university’s official programme webpage.)
The programme is organised into three coordinated phases, each worth 30 ECTS, for a total of 90 ECTS. In the first phase you build core technical and methodological knowledge through compulsory modules and compulsory-elective options. The second phase is devoted to shaping your individual profile by selecting elective modules, carrying out research projects, or completing organisational internships. The final phase focuses on deepening specialist and academic skills by writing a research-based Master's thesis.
Core learning outcomes include an advanced understanding of animal health and microbiota interactions, behavioural physiology and animal welfare, the use of genomics in animal breeding, and the physiology of animal nutrition. You will also develop practical and methodological competence in experimental design, data interpretation and applied problem solving in animal science. The flexible elective component lets you specialise — for example by pursuing more research-oriented topics, applied practice through internships, or interdisciplinary courses across the Faculty. The third semester can be used for a semester abroad, and credits earned overseas are easily recognised.
Key requirements and structure
This master’s programme requires a completed bachelor’s-level degree in agricultural sciences or a closely related subject. The undergraduate course should have lasted at least three years (equivalent to 180 ECTS). If your final grade or GPA does not meet the above-average threshold, you may still be considered if you can show special suitability for the programme when requested.
You must also provide evidence of English-language ability and demonstrate practical skills and attitudes important for the course: comfort with common computer tools and readiness to collaborate in intercultural teams. Check the programme’s application portal for which English certificates are accepted and for details on how to document special suitability if needed.
Admission requirements (bullet points)
Winter Semester (International)
15 March 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
15 September 2026
Summer Semester (EU/EEA)
15 March 2026
Graduates are prepared for leadership roles in research, development, management, and marketing within the agricultural and animal science sectors. Typical employers include biotechnology companies, agricultural operations, the food and feed industry, ministries and environmental/agricultural agencies, university and non-university research institutions, business consulting and sales firms, breeding companies and stable construction firms.
With an above-average grade, the Master’s in Animal Science also qualifies graduates to pursue a doctoral programme. The skill set provided—covering nutrition, breeding, behaviour, health, and modern research methods—supports both applied industry roles and academic/research careers, nationally and internationally.
University of Hohenheim — Stuttgart
University of Hohenheim — Stuttgart
University of Göttingen — Göttingen
Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences — Freising