Animal Science University of Hohenheim

The entire programme is taught in English.

Focus on resource efficiency and animal welfare

The Animal Science major in the Agricultural Sciences Master's degree programme is just right for you if you are interested in the sustainable breeding, husbandry, nutrition, and health of farm animals and the production of high-quality animal foodstuffs. Our courses are specially tailored to the requirements of the job market and are based on current research topics. Our Institute of Animal Science focuses on resource-efficient, sustainable, and species-compliant livestock husbandry and uses a wide range of teaching methods. You will receive a sound education and be part of a dynamic research environment.

• Self-selected specialisation, e.g. in nutrition and feed, genomics and breeding, health and behaviour
• A particular focus of research is the microbiota of the digestive tract and its reciprocal influence on the animal and its environment.
• Aspects of sustainability and ethical issues are intensively addressed.
• The social, economic, and environmental consequences of agricultural science are taken into account.

Objectives

Upon completion of the programme, graduates will be able to:

• Describe the basic pillars of animal science (animal nutrition, animal hygiene, animal behaviour, animal breeding, animal husbandry) and demonstrate their relevance to animal science work
• Reflect specific expertise in anatomy and physiology, endocrinology, genetics, microbiology, feed science, and animal husbandry techniques
• Survey and evaluate modern research methods in relation to current and future scientific issues in farm animals
• Formulate suitable hypotheses for relevant questions from the field of animal science and test these hypotheses
• Critically question published facts from the field of animal science

Occupational fields

Graduates are predestined to take on leadership roles in research, development, management, and marketing at home and abroad.

Potential employers include:

• Biotechnology companies
• Agricultural operations
• Food and feed industry
• Ministries, environmental and agricultural agencies, expert journalism, and public relations work
• University and non-university research institutions
• Business consulting and sales
• Breeding and stable construction companies

With an above average grade, the Animal Science major in the Master’s programme in Agricultural Sciences qualifies students to start a doctoral programme.

For the winter semester:
15 March each year for non-EU citizens
15 September each year for EU citizens

For the summer semester (only EU citizens):
15 March each year

Currently, higher education is (almost) free at all public universities in Baden-Württemberg. Since the winter semester of 2017/18, universities in Baden-Württemberg charge moderate tuition fees for non-EU international students. These fees amount to 1,500 EUR per semester. Students from the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA) as well as exchange students are excluded from these fees. Refugees are also not affected.

For further information on this degree programme, we invite you to attend our Master’s info event (online via Zoom): www.uni-hohenheim.de/en/masters-informational-events.

The degree programme is divided into three phases:

1. the acquisition of basic technical and methodological qualifications through compulsory and compulsory elective modules,
2. the development of a personal profile through a targeted combination of elective modules, research, and/or organisational internships, and
3. the development of academic and in-depth specialist skills through the completion of the Master's thesis.

The five compulsory modules on the topics of animal health, microbiota, behavioural physiology and animal welfare, genomics in animal breeding, and physiology of animal nutrition comprise 30 ECTS credits in total. You will also choose four compulsory elective modules with a total of 30 ECTS credits from a wide range of animal science-oriented modules. You can then choose elective modules totalling 30 ECTS credits from the entire diverse range of Master's modules offered by the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences.

If desired, the third semester can be utilised for a semester abroad. It is simple to have the modules you take recognised.

Curriculum

Internships are not compulsory, but they are recommended. The internship must be organised by the student and has to fit the schedule of the programme. The CareerCenter Hohenheim runs a database for internship offers and assists in finding suitable placements.

1,500 EUR

Currently, higher education is (almost) free at all public universities in Baden-Württemberg. Since the winter semester of 2017/18, universities in Baden-Württemberg charge moderate tuition fees for non-EU international students. These fees amount to 1,500 EUR per semester. Students from the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA) as well as exchange students are excluded from these fees. Refugees are also not affected.

Universities in Baden-Württemberg require their students to pay a semester contribution towards the administration costs, for student services and for the Student Parliament. Student services provide many benefits, such as discounted tickets for public transportation. The semester contribution amounts to approx. 175 EUR per semester.

Baden-Württemberg has the highest standard of living in Germany. The downside is that living costs are slightly above the German average. However, the cost of living can vary enormously depending on your personal lifestyle and where you live. It is generally more expensive to live in a bigger city like Stuttgart, where the University of Hohenheim is located. As a rule of thumb, 950 EUR to 1,000 EUR per month should be enough. The largest monthly expense is usually for rent – accounting for a third of the total cost of living for most students. These costs can be cut substantially by sharing a flat or living in a dorm. A typical example for monthly expenses could look like this:

• Rent: 350 EUR to 400 EUR
• Health insurance: approx. 85 EUR
• Public transport: approx. 30 EUR to 50 EUR
• Study materials: 100 EUR
• Food and drink: 100 EUR to 150 EUR
• Leisure and hobbies: 50 EUR to 100 EUR

Formal requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences or related fields (including biology or agricultural biology) with a standard period of study of at least three years (in total 180 ECTS credits)
• If an applicant's final grade or grade point average of the degree is not above average, he/she can demonstrate his/her special suitability for the programme if necessary.
• Proof of English language skills

Additional requirements

We expect our students to be computer-literate. We also require the ability and willingness to work in intercultural teams.

We expect our students to have good knowledge of English:

• IELTS (academic exam) with an overall band score of at least 6.5
• TOEFL 90 points in the Internet-based test
• Duolingo Test (at least 125 points)

For more information and other language tests that can be recognised, please refer to the application information website: www.uni-hohenheim.de/en/application-animalscience-info.

For the winter semester:
15 March each year for non-EU citizens
15 September each year for EU citizens

For the summer semester (only EU citizens):
15 March each year

Numerous funding opportunities exist for Master's thesis projects abroad, which are offered by various foundations. Detailed information is available here.

Hohenheim offers enrolled students assistant jobs on campus. Students are responsible for managing working hours and these hours should not conflict with their studies. Working off campus is also possible according to the Aliens Act. However, please be aware that without good knowledge of German, jobs are quite difficult to find.

Student residences on campus

At the University of Hohenheim, several student residence halls are located on campus. They are managed by Student Services Tübingen-Hohenheim. There is a high demand for these rooms, which is why usually only a small number of applications will be successful.

International (non-EU) students have a much more difficult time than Germans in finding private accommodation at the start of their studies when they are searching from their home countries. Therefore, the university provides a quota of rooms for international students. This enables almost all new international students to have a room in a residence hall. To be able to offer this special assistance at the start of studies, the rental duration for these rooms is limited to two years for Master's students.

After this period, the house-hunting assistance offers support in finding a room on the private market.

The CareerCenter Hohenheim offers guidance and support to students and graduates in areas such as professional orientation, building a professional profile, and the application process. The centre actively fosters connections with business and industrial partners, ensuring early engagement with the professional world through information events, seminars on essential skills, internships, and more. They assist individuals in entering their desired careers through activities like company contact fairs, company presentations, access to the "JobTeaser" job board, and personalised advising. It is important to note that these services are provided free of charge.

The Faculty of Agricultural Sciences at the University of Hohenheim has established coordination offices for all its international Master's programmes. These offices serve as dedicated support systems for prospective, current, and alumni students, offering a wide range of assistance. The coordination offices aim to provide comprehensive support to individuals at different stages of their academic journey, addressing their needs and concerns effectively.