Englisch 
Deutsch Who this part-time M.Eng. in Food Technology is for – and what you need to apply
This programme suits international professionals who want to advance in food process engineering while keeping their job. Typical profiles include: quality or production engineers in the food and beverage industry seeking deeper process know-how for leadership roles; process, mechanical or packaging engineers from adjacent sectors moving into food manufacturing; and early-career graduates from chemical, bio- or process engineering who have already completed at least one year of relevant professional experience.
Admission requirements
Key facts at a glance: the programme is taught in German, starts in the winter semester, is part-time and based in Köthen. You apply with a first degree and proof of German proficiency; international applications are processed via uni-assist within the stated deadlines.
- First degree: a qualified university degree in Process Engineering, Food Technology or a closely related field with a standard period of study of at least 6 semesters (typically 180 ECTS).
- Professional experience: qualified, post-degree work experience of normally not less than one year in a relevant field.
- Grade threshold: final grade ≤ 2.5 (German scale) → direct eligibility; grades > 2.5 → suitability assessment (may include an aptitude interview).
- Teaching language: German. Accepted language certificates for international applicants include DSH-2 and TestDaF with 4×TDN4; equivalent proof may be accepted in line with university regulations.
- Admission without Abitur: not applicable. Entry is based on your recognised first university degree; a school-leaving certificate alone does not grant access to this Master’s.
- Foreign qualifications: international degrees are accepted if they are equivalent to a German bachelor’s (minimum 6 semesters). Formal verification and document checks are carried out via uni-assist within the application window for the winter intake.
Personal requirements
Success in a part-time, largely self-directed Master’s hinges on disciplined time management and persistence. You should be able to structure weekly study blocks alongside work, keep pace with fixed semester schedules, and meet submission and exam dates reliably. Solid fundamentals in thermodynamics, unit operations and microbiology help you engage quickly with advanced content. Because all materials and assessments are in German, you need confident academic reading and writing at around C1 level to work with scientific texts, standards and technical documentation. If you plan to study from abroad, ensure a stable study routine across time zones and reliable access to required software and lab/industry data for assignments. Expect periods of higher workload near exams and project deadlines; build in buffers, communicate early with your employer, and keep a realistic plan that balances job demands with consistent weekly progress.
What will you study in the Food Technology (M.Eng.) at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences?
This part-time Fernstudium (distance learning) is taught in German. International applicants typically need recognised German certificates such as DSH-2 or TestDaF with 4x TDN 4. You study at a Fachhochschule (university of applied sciences) with a strong industry focus, combining online self-study with compulsory on-site blocks and a Master’s thesis.
You build advanced expertise across core food engineering. A first block addresses food processing and preservation technologies, for example unit operations in food handling, and process design for different product classes. A second block covers process modelling and optimisation, including simulation, evaluation and efficiency improvement of food-engineering plants.
Quality and safety are a distinct pillar: you delve into food microbiology and plant hygiene, then extend these to quality management and risk assessment along the value chain. A final pillar brings in the market perspective with marketing in the food industry and the interface to product management.
Specialisation: during the programme, teaching runs in parallel with the related degree in Process Engineering. After the first semester you focus on either Food Technology or Process Engineering, keeping shared scientific methods while deepening your chosen track.
Practical elements and thesis: laboratory-related components and examinations take place on campus at set dates. You conclude with a Master’s thesis that typically addresses an applied engineering problem, often linked to your employer. For context: the ZFU is Germany’s state authority for approving distance-learning courses; university master’s degrees like this follow the higher education accreditation route.
How does the Food Technology distance programme work?
You study part-time alongside your job with a fixed semester rhythm, predominantly online self-study plus compulsory on-site sessions in Germany. The standard duration is 4 semesters, with intakes in the winter semester. Exams and practicals are scheduled on campus; this is not a 100% online programme.
Teaching language and certificates
The programme is delivered in German. International applicants are expected to present recognised German-language proof such as DSH-2 or TestDaF (4x TDN 4). Course materials, seminars and examinations are conducted in German.
Learning format and study materials
The format combines guided self-study via the university’s online platform with face-to-face teaching during on-site blocks. You receive structured materials and assignments per module, with a clear semester schedule for learning and assessment phases.
Exams and where you take them
Examinations and practical components take place on campus in Köthen (Saxony-Anhalt) on fixed dates. There is no general promise of remote online proctoring or overseas test centres; plan for travel to Germany for assessments.
Mandatory on-site sessions in Germany
On-site attendance in Köthen is mandatory for selected teaching units, labs and exams. If you live outside Germany, you must be able to travel for these dates. A purely remote study path is not possible here.
Workload, time model and time zones
This is a part-time degree intended for working professionals, with a steady workload distributed across the semester. Live activities, where scheduled, follow German time (CET/CEST). The university publishes a fixed semester structure with defined teaching and examination phases.
Note on visas: No student visa is required for purely remote study. Because this programme includes compulsory on-site phases in Germany, ensure you can obtain short-stay travel permission where applicable.
What does the Food Technology (M.Eng.) cost?
Tuition is listed at €1,056 per semester. Over the standard four semesters this totals €4,224 in tuition. In addition, the university states a learning materials fee of €1,050 per semester. If charged each semester, this would add €4,200 over four semesters, bringing a notional overall programme cost to around €8,424. Payments are made per semester; international students typically pay by bank transfer from abroad.
Budget separately for travel and accommodation during on-site blocks and exams in Germany. If you extend beyond the standard duration, ask early about any continuation or re-registration fees for additional semesters.
What careers and recognition does the Food Technology (M.Eng.) offer?
You graduate with a Master of Engineering from a German public university of applied sciences. The programme is formally accredited until 31 March 2030 within Germany’s higher education quality assurance system. The degree is aligned to the Bologna framework with ECTS credits, which supports international recognition for further study or skilled employment in many countries.
Academic recognition in practice: German accreditation is supervised nationally by the German Accreditation Council; agencies and councils in the European Higher Education Area are listed on EQAR, signalling compatibility of quality standards across borders. With a master’s and ECTS transcript, admission committees and employers can benchmark your learning outcomes more easily.
Typical roles include:
- Process engineer or production manager in the food and beverage industry
- Quality assurance, food safety and risk management specialist
- R&D engineer in product and process development
- Engineer in packaging technology or machinery for food production
- Consultant in engineering firms, or roles in public laboratories/authorities
Salaries vary widely by country, company size and responsibility. In manufacturing or QA leadership, master’s graduates typically command higher bands than bachelor’s peers due to deeper process, modelling and compliance skills.
Who is the Food Technology (M.Eng.) right for – and who not?
This programme fits professionals who want to advance in food processing, quality and plant engineering without pausing their careers. The mix of distance learning and targeted on-site phases suits engineers who value applied methods and close links to industrial practice.
- You prefer a part-time, career-friendly master’s with clear semester structure.
- You work in the food industry or adjacent sectors (machinery, packaging) and want advanced process and QA skills.
- You value applied engineering at a Fachhochschule with practical modules and an industry-oriented thesis.
- You can travel to Köthen (Germany) for mandatory on-site teaching, labs and exams.
There are also clear situations where this programme is not a good match. Read the points below carefully before you apply from abroad.
- You need a programme taught in English. This master’s is delivered entirely in German and requires advanced German certificates.
- You require a fully online degree with remote exams. Here, on-site attendance in Germany is compulsory for selected classes and all key assessments.
- You cannot arrange short-stay travel to Germany for exam periods and block seminars.
- You are looking for a lab-intensive full-time research master’s with daily campus presence; this is a part-time, employment-compatible format.
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