MSc in Global Food, Nutrition and Health

From a global perspective, we are far from being able to supply all people with food in such a way that they can lead an active and healthy life. Nutrient deficiency, malnutrition in its tremendous variety as well as planetary, social, and cultural determinants of health are serious issues and central challenges of the 21st century. These global health problems are primarily not a request to medicine, but rather to the nutrition and health sciences and to the industry and politics implementing them. At the same time, social science, cultural, sociological, and ecological aspects play an important role in the production, trade, and consumption of food. It, therefore, seems imperative to demonstrate the link between the production and supply of sufficient and safe food worldwide ("Food"), between the social and cultural aspects of nutrition (“Nutrition”), and its impact on health (“Health”) in a global context from a scientific and educational point of view.

Why study Global Food, Nutrition, and Health at the University of Bayreuth?

The program's teaching and research are closely linked to the expertise provided by the excellence cluster Africa Multiple and the focus research area of Food and Health Sciences at the University of Bayreuth. Kulmbach is home to many globally operating companies in the food industry, as well as the Max Rubner Institute, the Bavarian Control Authority for Food Safety and Veterinary Science, the State Technical College for Food Technology, and Klinikum Kulmbach. All of them are involved in research projects and teaching at the Faculty. In addition, students benefit from the research network in Bayreuth and established global-oriented research cooperations. Here, global and local aspects meet in a special place full of creativity and pioneering spirit.

While the food supply is directly related to healthy, individual development, health care globally faces extensive challenges that go beyond this context. This includes – in addition to the increase in infectious diseases worldwide – changes in the spectrum of so-called civilizational diseases, which in many ways have causal connections to social development. Nowadays these can be perceived in global development and can only be adequately assessed with regard to prevention, diagnostics, and therapy. A specific perspective on global health not only enables better handling of the epidemiology of diseases but also serves as a starting point for the interdisciplinary discussion about the development of individual and common living spaces and life opportunities.

The master’s program “Global Food, Nutrition and Health” directly aims to teach interdisciplinary skills to address these and similar issues and questions as well as to find answers and solutions to these global challenges.

Profile

The core competencies taught in the program enable our graduate Master's students to understand and solve problems in the field of global food, nutrition, and health from an integrative, interdisciplinary perspective. The focus is on teaching health science skills. In addition to relevant theoretical knowledge in the fields of natural sciences, economics, ethics, law, cultural studies, and sociology, the students are trained interdisciplinary competencies.

You can apply your acquired knowledge and skills in positions in the national and international nutrition and health sciences. Potential employers include

• National and international companies
• Globally active institutions (e.g. organs and aid programs of the United Nations)
• Research institutions
• Political and policy advice institutions
• Non-governmental organizations

In these areas, there is a discernible and constantly growing need, which is developing due to the importance of food and health security worldwide in the face of regional and global crises, climate change, and the increase in diet-related, non-communicable diseases. Become an expert for the global food security of the future and for the complex requirements of modern food systems in an international context.

Doing a doctorate at the University of Bayreuth

The University of Bayreuth Graduate School supervises doctoral students of all subjects who are pursuing a doctorate in a structured program or at one of the University's seven faculties. We facilitate scientific exchange already in the earliest phase of independent research and complement the interdisciplinary education of doctoral students with additional teaching and training opportunities. Our aim is to create the perfect research and learning conditions for them.