Develop in-depth knowledge about food systems through studying consecutively at three distinct European academic institutions and use your knowledge to drive the future transformation of the food system.
Aim of the course
The programme is based on a combination of essential entrepreneurial skills, which will help you to become an effective innovator, and key technical skills that are tailored to your career ambition in the sector.
The Master in Food Systems programme is developing top talent for the food sector, by training the leaders of the future. Organised by leading academic institutions and industrial partners from across our Partner network, this programme aims to prepare you to drive a future transformation of the food system and increase the competitiveness of the companies you chose to work for.
By working with colleagues who have a wide variety of different academic backgrounds, you will become creative leaders and team builders capable of bringing distinctive points of view along with novel solutions for tomorrow’s consumers and citizens.
You will accomplish this by taking a ‘learning and experimental’ journey through our network of industrial, academic and entrepreneurial partners.
By the end of the programme, you will be able to:
- Identify short and long-term future consequences of decisions involving different components of the food system from an integrated scientific, ethical and inter-generational perspective, and merge this into a solution-focused approach.
- Translate innovations into feasible business solutions for the food sector.
- Think beyond boundaries, and systematically explore and generate new ideas, responding to current and future challenges within the food system.
- Use knowledge, ideas and technology to create new or significantly improved products, services, processes, new business models or jobs in the food sector.
- Use cutting-edge research methods, processes and techniques towards new venture creation and growth, and apply these in cross-disciplinary teams and contexts.
- Transform practical experiences in different areas of the food sector into research problems and challenges.
- Develop decision-making and leadership competencies.
Graduates will become part of an international alumni network, and we will connect you with our entire professional network so that you have access to the right support when you want to innovate or create a new venture at any point in your career.
How is the course structured?
The duration of this programme is 2 years.
All students will follow the online module “Introduction to the Food System” as the first module of the first semester. You then will go through a semester-long study block at your home university (the institution in which you enrol).
The second semester is spent at a second university of the consortium (your first host institution). You will also take part in a Summer School on entrepreneurship with all other students enrolled on the programme.
For the third semester, you move to a third university (your second host institution), where you take part in a semester-long Market Feasibility Study along with further food systems modules.
For the final semester, you return to your home institution to complete your Master’s thesis. The thesis will be mentored by a mixed team of EIT Food Partners (industrial, academic and research organisations).
Each university offers a specific block of study based on their expertise, and by combining three of these blocks or tracks you will gain an integrated knowledge on the food system (e.g. primary production + food processing + consumer sciences, or food production + logistics + digitisation).
In addition, pan-European activities at industrial partner sites will ensure you bond with the rest of the students enrolled on the programme.
Scholarships
EIT Food offers participation fee waivers for excellent students. A participation fee waiver means you don’t have to pay the participation fee or tuition fee to follow the programme. You will still have to pay for your own accommodation and travel to the universities in your path, and have to cover all other costs linked to your personal life, like insurances, health care, etc.
How to apply?
This course is for elite students from across the EU who want to become a new type of food entrepreneur.
To find out more and to apply: https://www.eitfood.eu/projects/food-system-master-of-science-program
Project Leadership: Desi Vanrintel, EIT Food
Contact details: desi.vanrintel@eitfood.eu
University of Reading Activity Lead: Professor Richard Frazier
Contact details: r.a.frazier@reading.ac.uk
Participating organisations:
