Brewing and Beverage Technology (Bachelor of Science)
Brewing engineers have been trained in Weihenstephan for more than 150 years, and this long tradition is what makes our degree program in brewing and beverage technology so unique. Here at the TUM you will learn everything about brewing beer and beverage production. You will deal with the engineering, biological, technological and biochemical processes relevant to a brewery. In addition to quality assurance, raw materials management, plant engineering, filling and packaging technology, future topics such as digitalization and Industry 4.0 also play an important role. Still not enough? How about producing innovative beverages? Product development and the control of sensory properties are of course also part of our Bachelor's program in Brewing and Beverage Technology.
Studying Brewing and Beverage Technology successfully: What can you expect?
Key data
Type of study: full time
Standard period of study, credits : 6 semesters, 180 ECTS
Start of degree program: winter semester
Admission category: unrestricted admission
Language of instruction: German
Main location: Weihenstephan (Freising)
Tuition fees: none (information about the semester fee)
Why study this particular degree program?
The beer and beverage industry is constantly evolving, with modern production processes, large-scale plants, new products. An interdisciplinary education is essential to keep up with the increasing requirements. The Bachelor's program in Brewing and Beverage Technology equips you with the scientific foundation to understand relevant biotechnological processes, the biotransformation of raw materials and the physical and chemical properties of beverages. For the planning, design and automation of modern production plants, on the other hand, you need engineering knowledge. This is the second main pillar of this study program alongside the natural sciences.
In addition, you will learn to develop new products, requiring your specialized knowledge and creativity. We will give you the necessary theoretical and practical skills in the Brewing and Beverage Technology course and you will revolutionize the industry!
What are your career opportunities?
In Germany alone, there are over 1,400 breweries, 400 fruit juice producers, 320 soft drink manufacturers and countless distilleries and wineries. In addition, the field of plant engineering as well as the suppliers, pharmaceutical and bio-fermentation industries are other interesting areas of employment.
Most students continue their studies with the consecutive Master's program in Brewing and Beverage Technology at TUM after graduation. Nevertheless, there is also the possibility for graduates to directly enter a professional career. Besides the beverage industry, you will find jobs in the food, chemical or pharmaceutical industry.
Possible fields of activity are quality assurance, research and development of new products or manufacturing processes, planning of plants, organization of production processes or purchasing and assessment of raw materials. You will also find job offers as an operation controller, production manager or technical director.
What is this study program about?
The first two semesters allow you to acquire a comprehensive and fundamental knowledge of the natural sciences, especially in the fields of mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology. You will take the first specialization subject in the Beverage Technology module.
Building on this foundation, you will deepen your knowledge in engineering sciences and brewing and beverage technology from the third semester onwards. Important subjects include technical mechanics, apparatus engineering, biochemistry, microbiology, brewery plants, raw material and wort technology as well as yeast and beer technology. In order to bring your modules to life, we link the written theory to various laboratory practices.
During the Bachelor's program, we make sure that the focuses on engineering science and on brewing and beverage technology are intensified in parallel to ensure that knowledge is evenly acquired. The Bachelor's degree in Brewing and Beverage Technology does not forego the economic sciences that are essential today. In modules such as Business Administration of the Beverage Industry or Accounting, Cost Accounting and Investment Calculation, you will learn the necessary knowledge to always have your products’ profitability in mind.
In addition to your required modules, you can begin to mold your own profile during your Bachelor's degree by means of elective modules and follow your own interests and talents.
At the end of your studies, you will apply your knowledge to a scientific problem in an area of your choice and write your Bachelor's thesis on it. In addition to your engineering and scientific knowledge, statistical expertise acquired during your Bachelor's degree will help you to evaluate experiments that you have planned and conducted independently.
A further component of your studies is a professional internship. Within 6 weeks you will gain first impressions of the working world.
Interested? Take a look at our curriculum.
What competences and skills will you acquire?
Whether in production, analytics or quality assurance, you will know your way around and be well prepared for a leading position in the food and beverage industry.
You will gain knowledge, skills and methodological competence in brewing and beverage technology as well as in engineering and process technology. You will be able to produce and test beverages, plan brewery plants, analyze profitability, understand and monitor production processes, ensure product protection, select raw materials, apply fermentation techniques and much more.
Completing your Bachelor's thesis demonstrates your ability to plan and carry out research projects as well as structure, present and discuss results. You will learn to work scientifically and gain initial laboratory experience.
How do you apply for a place of study?
During the application period you can easily apply for a place in the winter semester via the application portal TUMonline. You can upload your documents for admission to the Brewing and Beverage Technology program directly from the portal.
Prerequisite for the study is the general qualification for university entrance or a comparable qualification. There are no other admission restrictions, the program is admission-free.
If you are subsequently admitted, you must submit a few certified hard copies for enrollment.
A pre-study internship before the start of the program is not required for admission. However, for the successful completion of your studies you have to do a 6-week internship.
Studying beer? Brewing & Beverage Technology at the TUM
Suitable Master's programs at the TUM School of Life Sciences
- Brewing and Beverage Technology M.Sc.
- Food Technology M.Sc.
- Pharmaceutical Bioprocess Engineering M.Sc.
Other degree programs that might also interest you:
Already in the middle of your bachelor's degree in Brewing and Beverage Technology? Everything you need!
Degree program documentation, module catalog
Curriculum
- 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
Examination matters
- General Academic and Examination Regulations at TUM (APSO)
- Academic and Examination Regulations (FPSO)
- Examination dates & registration via TUMonline
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.
Please note! In the basic and orientation exams (GOP) in the 1st and 2nd bachelor semester you will automatically be registered for all examinations during the respective semester, i.e. independent registration is not necessary in the 1st academic year.
- 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.-Ing. Thomas Becker. 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 recognition.wzw[at]tum.de.
Internships & excursions
Internship
For the successful completion of your studies you have to complete 6 weeks of work experience.
Please send us your internship/training certificate to praktikum.sfbl[at]tum.de - even if you had already submitted it with your application. Please note that the certificate of employment cannot be handed in personally. As soon as we have received the certificate, you will receive an automatic confirmation from us about the receipt of the documents. Attention: This is not the same as a recognition of the internship. The processing of your internship certificate may take some time. Please be patient and refrain from asking about the status of your application. We will confirm the recognition separately as soon as the documents have been processed. You can also check the status in your TUMonline account (marked with a green P).
An elementary part of this study program is the independent search for an internship. In addition to postings at the university you can also find other internships in our Career section.
A prerequisite for the recognition of a professional internship is a thematic proximity to brewing or beverage technology as well as a sufficient technical reference. Internships in the areas of production, laboratory, quality assurance, research and development and related areas in companies in the food, beverage, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries are generally eligible for recognition. This applies analogously to the relevant supplier companies (mechanical engineering, chemical industry, automation technology, etc.). Relevant professional training that has already been completed prior to the start of studies is recognized as a professional internship. Internships in your own or your parents'/relatives' companies are only recognized in exceptional cases and must be clarified in advance.
Internships in companies whose fields of activity are not relevant to the respective course of study are not eligible for recognition. Internships at universities in Germany and abroad are also not recognized. We ask you to take this into special consideration. No recognition possible for: Internships in canteens, restaurants, shipping, online trade, warehouses, logistics, vehicle fleet, sales, distribution, administration, marketing. Internships connected with online or literature research or the management of brewing courses cannot be recognized either.
Example of non-recognition:
"I would like to do an internship in a bakery in sales. Will I be recognized?"
No, an internship in the area of sales or distribution does not meet the content requirements of a professional internship and can therefore not be recognized, even if it is a food producing company.
Example of a recognition:
"I would like to do an internship in a bakery in the area of pasta production. Will this internship be recognized?"
This internship can be recognized because it takes place in the food production area.
The formal requirement for the recognition of internship achievements is the proof of an internship certificate, which, similar to a work certificate, is issued by the company. This certificate must contain at least the following information: Duration of the employment with date of the beginning and end of the internship, exact description of the activities and evaluation of the work performance.
An internship report is generally not required. Only in the event that the internship certificate does not clearly indicate the nature and scope of the activity, an internship report must be prepared as a substitute, the correctness of the contents of which must be confirmed in writing by the company.
As a rule, the internships are to be completed in consecutive periods. Internships shorter than three weeks cannot be recognized. Longer periods of absence (e.g. illness) during an internship must be made up for. In addition, the company's vacation agreements should be included in the employment contract.
Please note that in international companies the certificate must be issued or translated into German or English for recognition.
If you have found an offer for an internship position that suits you, but you are not sure whether recognition is possible, you are welcome to have the possibility of recognition checked in advance at the study office (brew-food-bpt.co[at]ls.tum.de).
The conclusion of internship or employment contracts is the responsibility of the students, i.e. no sample contracts are offered by the office and there is no examination of the contracts. The contracts should be issued directly by the internship company.
The completion of professional internships during the lecture period is generally not recommended, but sometimes it cannot be avoided. An internship completed during the lecture period can also be recognized without any problems.
More information on practical experience during studies
Excursions
Guideline for the recognition of field trips in the study areas of brewing and beverage technology, food technology and bioprocess technology. (FPSO versions 2011, 2014, 2019, 2020)
Field trips organized by chairs of the TUM School of Life Sciences do not require any proof and are directly accredited in TUMonline. In addition to excursions organized by chairs of the TUM, there are numerous possibilities to collect the four excursion days required for your studies. Excursions organized by alumni associations, fraternities, student working groups, but also private excursions organized by students are conceivable. The following is a brief overview of the rules that must be observed in order for a student-organized excursion to be considered as such.
A field trip must meet the following criteria to be considered a field trip day:
- Duration of at least 4 hours for full field trip days, at least 2 hours for half field trip days.
- Allow in-depth, course-specific, technical insight into one or more plant(s), process(es), and/or process techniques that go beyond a mere process overview. In addition to plant tours, supervised by technically responsible personnel, this includes, but is not limited to, trade shows relevant to the course of study.
- An individual proof of participation in the excursion is to be provided by each student, which clearly proves that the student participated in the excursion and processed contents of the excursion day mentally independently. The evidence must indicate a contact who can be reached and who can confirm that the excursion was carried out if asked. This can be, among other things, business cards of stand personnel of visited stands or simply a proof printed on company stationery with a meaningful signature.
No field trip days will be recognized for:
- Conferences, extra-curricular and university seminars, workshops (which are not coupled with a company visit).
- consumer fairs
- Professional internships/vocational training/work-study internships/research internships
Classic evidence can be:
- Report (3500-4000 characters excluding spaces, plus visuals and attachments) on the course and content of the field trip. (If several students participate in the same private excursion, separate reports for each participating student should explain different excursion focuses in more detail (e.g. outline different projects/production features of a company and/or company profiles, which goes beyond the mere compilation of promotional materials).
- Personalized admission ticket at trade shows, with brief report and proof pictures to prove that you were there.
- Confirmation of the staff leading the excursion/stand personnel with contents of the excursion and personal signature of the company visited.
All proofs, for all missing excursion days are to be submitted in one PDF after completion of the last required excursion by e-mail to recognition.co[at]ls.tum.de.
The naming of the PDF should follow the scheme:
Name_FirstName_Matriculation-number_Numberofdays_Exkursionstage.pdf.
e.g.: Doe_John_037*****_#_Exkursionstage.pdf
Corona-related exceptions:
In semesters in which automatic deadline extensions have been granted in accordance with Art. 99 Para. 2 of the Bavarian Higher Education Act (BayHSchG) (information on this can be found at: https://www.tum.de/die-tum/aktuelles/coronavirus/studium), the following exceptions also apply in deviation from the above regulations:
- Conferences, extracurricular seminars, workshops (also digital) are eligible for recognition, provided that a subject-related reference is given and the other criteria for excursions are met.
Graduation
Detailed, degree program - specific information about graduation can be found in the
Wiki Life Sciences – Study and Teaching - Graduation (TUM ID required for login)