Life Sciences Nutrition
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
Fast food, paleo, organic or vegan? In the Life Sciences Nutrition study program, you will learn what influence different foods have on our body and how they control it. With this course, you will be at the threshold between bio- and human medicine, food science and public health, and will research diseases such as obesity, diabetes and cancer. Do you want to answer the health policy questions of the future with findings from nutrition research? Then immerse yourself in the world of nutrition science here at the TUM in Weihenstephan.
Key Data
Type of Study | Full Time |
Standard Duration of Studies | 6 Semesters |
Credits | 180 ECTS |
Start of Degree Program | Winter Semester |
Application Period | May 15 - July 15 |
Admission Category | Aptitude Assessment for Bachelor (EfV) |
Language of Instruction | German |
Main Location | Weihenstephan (Freising) |
Costs | Student Fees, Tuition fees for international students |
With a Bachelor's degree in Life Sciences Nutrition, you are taking on a challenge for society as a whole. In industrialized countries, nutrition is characterized by abundance, which often leads to health problems due to poor diet, allergies and intolerances. In contrast, other countries struggle with under- and malnutrition, which also leads to massive health problems. In order to be able to confront these problems, we provide you with a deep understanding of human nutritional needs.
Based on scientific knowledge, supplemented by practical experience in the methodology of nutritional research, you will acquire extensive expertise in the physiological effects of nutrients and the underlying molecular and biochemical processes in the body. Research in nutritional science is increasingly focusing on so-called "personalized nutrition", which aims to take into account the individual needs of the metabolism in nutritional interventions. One size fits all does not normally work. There is still an enormous need for research before such individual nutritional recommendations can be made. You will use this knowledge to test and evaluate new foods in terms of their nutritional value, needs assessment, physiological effects and safety. You will be involved in research into nutrition-related diseases such as obesity, diabetes and cancer, and use the findings of nutrition research to tackle the problems of the 21st century.
With the combination of theory and practice from nutrition research, human medicine, food science, bioscience and public health in the Life Sciences Nutrition study program, which is unique in Germany, you will be well prepared for your professional future in the field of nutrition science.
The effect of nutrition on the human metabolism is a central topic for health improvement. Your knowledge of modern nutrition, human medicine and food science qualifies you for a job in research, nutritional medicine and industrial food production. Your field of activity extends from clinical research to product development and public health education. There is also a variety of career opportunities in the field of food safety and in consulting for public and private healthcare providers with a special focus on personalized nutrition.
However, if you do not want to jump straight into the working world after your successful bachelor's degree, but are still thirsty for knowledge, we recommend a more advanced master's program, for example "Nutrition and Biomedicine".
Right from the beginning of your studies, you will be involved in areas such as human nutrition and physiology, in addition to deepening your knowledge in the fundamentals of biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics. From the third semester onwards, modules such as Nutrition Physiology, Microbiology, Nutrition Medicine and Experimental Nutrition Research will be the main focus.
Besides, you will use various methods and practical exercises in the laboratory to investigate how nutrition affects the development of diseases and the extent to which nutritional interventions influence treatment. Besides, you can strengthen your interests individually through elective modules. At the end of your studies, you will answer a research question on a topic of your choice in your Bachelor's thesis.
Sounds right up your street? Then take a look at the curriculum!
After your successful completion of the Bachelor’s in Life Sciences Nutrition, you will not only have a sound basic knowledge of the natural sciences but also interdisciplinary skills in the fields of human medicine, nutritional science, food sciences, life sciences and healthcare. This will enable you to assess the causes and consequences of malnutrition and to use your laboratory experience to research which treatment options are appropriate.
Through your methodical and technical approach and the various experimental research methods, you can design experiments and carry them out in practice. Besides, you will have gained some practical experience in conducting clinical trials. You will work independently in a solution-oriented manner on complex issues. You will present your results confidently and be able to debate with colleagues at a scientific level.
Your in-depth knowledge of the physiological processes involved in the regulation of hunger and satiety, the digestion and absorption of food, the transport processes and storage of nutrients, endocrine and neuronal communication, the interaction between nutrition and the immune system, and the importance of essential and dispensable nutrients will make you an expert in the field. Furthermore, you can build your profile through your elective modules.
Application requirements and eligibility
The prerequisite for applying for a place on the Bachelor's degree program in Life Sciences Nutritional Science is a university entrance qualification. This can either be a school-based university entrance qualification or a sufficient professional qualification. You can find all information on university entrance qualifications here.
A further requirement is passing the two-stage aptitude assessment procedure (EfV), in which it is determined whether you are suitable for the special qualitative requirements of the Bachelor's degree program in Life Sciences Nutritional Science in addition to obtaining a higher education entrance qualification.
Proof of language skills: If you do not have a German university entrance qualification or German citizenship in the case of an international university entrance qualification (and have attended a German-language school for at least 2 years), you must provide proof of sufficient German language skills for the German-language Bachelor's degree program in Life Sciences Nutritional Science by the end of the application period.
Semester fees and tuition fees at TUM
All students have to pay a semester fee for the student union (Studierendenwerk).
++ NEW ++ For international students from third countries, i.e. countries that do not belong to the European Economic Area, tuition fees will be charged from the winter semester 2024/25. All information on fee levels, waivers and scholarship programs can be found on the website on tuition fees for international students.
Application period and start of studies
The application period is from 15 May to 15 July each year for the following winter semester. Start of the degree program is only possible in the winter semester. See here for semester dates.
In the Bachelor's degree program in Life Sciences Nutritional Science, it is only possible to apply for a higher semester in the summer semester.
Online application
Application is only possible via our online application portal, where you need to set up an applicant account. You find instructions for your online application here. You do not have to submit any hardcopies before your application is reviewed and you receive an offer of admission. Please upload all documents to TUMonline before the end of the application deadline. Documents submitted via email cannot be processed.
Please note: We can only consider your application if you upload all required documents and submit the complete application within the application period.
Aptitude assessment procedure
Admission to the Bachelor's degree course in Life Sciences Nutritional Science requires special qualifications. Our first-year students are therefore selected via a two-stage aptitude assessment procedure.
First stage of the procedure:
Based on the application documents received, the first stage involves an assessment according to established selection criteria using a points system. In addition to the average grade of the university entrance qualification (HZB), the grades listed in the HZB in the subjects of mathematics and the best continued natural science (chemistry, biology or physics) are included in the assessment.
Proven additional extracurricular qualifications relevant to the course of study, such as a relevant, completed vocational training or apprenticeship, an internship of at least four weeks or successful participation in the "Jugend forscht" competitions lead to participation in the second stage of the procedure (unless direct admission has already been granted). The aptitude committee decides on the recognition of the additional qualification.
Applicants who achieve the specified minimum score of 88 points will receive direct admission in the first stage. If the assessment in the first stage results in 65 or fewer points, the applicants are deemed unsuitable and are rejected.
The exact calculations and regulations can be found in the statutes on the aptitude assessment for the Bachelor's degree program in Life Sciences Nutritional Science here.
Second stage of the procedure (online test):
The remaining applicants who are neither admitted nor rejected based on their score in the first stage will take a short (30-minute) written online aptitude test.
You can find the date for the online test here
You will receive an invitation and all the important information about taking the online test by e-mail at least one week before the date. It is very important that you have a stable internet connection for the test and that your IP address remains the same during the test.
The test takes place in written form and in German as an online test. It lasts 30 minutes and comprises approx. 10-15 questions.
Materials to prepare for the test will not be provided. The questions relate to scientific and mathematical school knowledge as well as general knowledge of current, socially relevant and publicly discussed topics relating to nutritional science, medicine and economics.
Applicants should demonstrate that they have
- be able to combine knowledge acquired at school and beyond from different disciplines,
- be able to describe and quantify life science processes using the scientific disciplines of biology, chemistry and physics as well as mathematical and statistical methods,
- have knowledge of current, socially relevant and publicly discussed challenges in science, in particular in nutritional science, nutritional medicine and nutritional economics, and be able to describe current approaches to solutions and research topics.
No prior knowledge is required to solve the tasks, which is only taught during the course of study.
The overall assessment of the second stage is the sum of the HZB points multiplied by 0.5 (points = 120 - 20*grade) and the score of the online test multiplied by 0.5.
Applicants who have achieved at least 80 points in the second stage have passed the aptitude assessment procedure and will be admitted.
Applicants with an overall score of 79 points or less in the second stage are not suitable for the degree program and will be rejected.
You will receive notification of rejection or admission to the degree program via your TUMonline account.
More detailed information on the procedure can be found here in the statutes on the aptitude assessment for the Bachelor's degree program in Life Sciences Nutritional Science.
Enrollment
Once you are admitted to this program, you have to accept your study place in your applicant account. Subsequently you have to submit your certified paper copies for enrollment and pay the semester fees. All relevant information will appear in your TUMonline applicant account. See here for details on the enrolment process and here for the glossary of documents.
Please note that from the time where you receive admission, we will only contact you via your tum.de/mytum.de email address, that you find in your applicant account. Make sure that these emails can be received by you. See here for instructions how to set up your email address at TUM.
Suitable Master's programs at the TUM School of Life Sciences
Other degree programs that might also interest you:
- Degree program documentation
The degree program documentation presents the concept of the study program.
- Module catalog
We update the module catalog every semester. Depending on your start of studies (i.e. depending on your version of the Fachprüfungs- und Studienordnung (FPSO)) you can find the module manual here, in which all currently offered modules are described.
- Module catalog 20211 (from start of degree program WS 21/22)
- Module catalog 20191 (from start of degree program WS 19/20)
- Module catalog 20151 - B.Sc. Nutritional Science (expiring) (until start of degree program WS 18/19)
- Curriculum
The degree chart gives you an overview and recommendation, which modules you should take in which semester according to academic and examination regulations (FPSO).
- Timetable (TUM ID required for login):
This timetable is intended to give you an overview of the planned compulsory and elective modules of a semester. It is for orientation purposes only and will not be updated during the semester!
Via TUMonline you can have a timetable created for each semester according to FSPO.
You can also create your own individual timetable, which can contain not only the dates of the selected courses, but also your personal appointments.
First steps with TUMonline
- General Academic and Examination Regulations at TUM (APSO)
- Academic and Examination Regulations (FPSO)
- Examination dates & registration via TUMonline
In TUMonline you can register for the module examinations that accompany your studies.
Important: You can only take most of the exams if you have actively registered yourself via TUMonline within the registration period. The registration and deregistration period will be displayed at the exam date.
Further examination matters
- Board of Examination
The board of examination is a committee consisting of university professors and lecturers of the degree program. The chairperson of the board of examination of your degree program is Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Martin Klingenspor. Applications to the board of examination are received by the secretary and submitted to the board of examination for decision. You can reach the secretary by sending an email to examination.co(at)ls.tum.de.
A pre-study internship before the start of the course is not required for admission.
More information about
Bus connection Weihenstephan – Garching
Detailed, degree program - specific information about graduation can be found in the
Wiki Life Sciences – Study and Teaching - Graduation (TUM ID required for login)
Personal student advising
Dr. Sabine Köhler
Campus Office
ground floor, room 06
Tel. +49 8161 71 3336
bsc-nutrition.co(at)ls.tum.de
Consultation hours: Thursday 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. and by arrangement
Everything you need to know!
Many general questions can already be answered by the FAQs.
FAQs about studying
Current and course-specific information for students of the TUM School of Life Sciences