- Degree
- Bachelor of Engineering (B. Eng.)
- Admission restriction
-
No
- Contact
- Application deadline
-
29 April – 15 July 2024
Study Brewing and Beverage Technology: Your Bachelor's programme at HSWT
Start your practice-orientated and comprehensive university education for the entire beverage industry with us at the University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan-Triesdorf.
The production steps and methods used in the manufacture of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages have changed dramatically as a result of scientific and technical developments in recent decades. The degree programme in Brewing and Beverage Technology therefore focuses on these new technical possibilities, which the beverage industry uses to constantly improve quality, ensure economic efficiency and develop and market new products. When looking for a degree programme in the food and beverage sector, many students opt for this practical and varied technical course.
You can find more videos about the degree programme on our YouTube channel
What you will learn on the Brewing and Beverage Technology degree programme in Weihenstephan
In the subjects of mathematics, physics, chemistry, nutritional physiology and microbiology, you will acquire the scientific foundations necessary for understanding the other core subjects. Our students impress with their interdisciplinary expertise:
- in technological areas (raw materials, product development or manufacturing processes)
- in production engineering (through to plant design)
- in quality assurance & sensor technology
- on the business side of beverage production (production controlling, corporate management, marketing).
- The degree programme thus forms the ideal basis for the professional profile of qualified specialists and managers in the beverage and brewing industry.
After studying Brewing and Beverage Technology, you will have these skills:
- You can design & evaluate product development & manufacturing processes.
- Through your individual specialisation, you will have in-depth knowledge and skills in the respective methodological and industry-specific areas.
- You can also work on tasks in the field of beverage production using formal methods and design solutions.
- You will be able to assess the quality and possible uses of raw and base materials.
- Depending on your position, you will work on tasks in the areas of chemical-technical analysis, microbiology, sensory analysis and quality assurance.
- You will be able to work on management and leadership tasks with sound business management tools & assess changing market situations.
Programme structure for the Bachelor's degree in Brewing and Beverage Technology
The standard period of study is seven semesters. The fifth semester is a work placement semester. Students can earn 30 credits per semester (credit points according to the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System, ECTS), totalling 210 credits.
In the three-month Bachelor's thesis in the seventh semester, students work on a topic from company practice or applied research under academic supervision and thus complete the programme as a Bachelor of Engineering (B. Eng.).
-
1st semester
Module
ECTS
Applied Mathematics 6 Fundamentals of Physics
5 Fundamentals of Chemistry 8 Technical communication 5
Introduction to beverage production 5 -
2nd semester
Module
ECTS
Malting & wort technology with brewing analytics 6 Thermodynamics & Transport Phenomena 5 Materials & Plant Engineering 5 Business fundamentals of the beverage industry 5 Fundamentals of statistics 5 Cleaning & Disinfection 5 -
3rd semester
Module
ECTS
Nutritional Physiology & Biochemistry 5 Fundamentals of Microbiology 5 Process Engineering I 5 Marketing
5 Beverage packaging & bottling technology
5 Basic practical course in chemical-technical analysis (CTA 1) 5 -
4th semester
Module
ECTS
Chemical Technical Analysis (CTA 2)
5 Measurement, control & regulation technology 5 Beverage microbiology & microbiological quality assurance 5 Beverage production technology 5 Process engineering II 4 General science compulsory elective module I
3 General science elective module II
3 -
5th semester
Module
ECTS
Practical semester 30 -
6th semester
Module
ECTS
Quality management 5 Sensor Technology & Quality Assurance
6 Process Automation
5 Corporate management
5 Three specialised elective modules (3 EC each)
9 -
7th semester
Module
ECTS
Cost & Investment Accounting
5 Plant engineering & design
5 Two specialised elective modules (3 EC each)
6 Bachelor's thesis 14
Careers in brewing & the beverage industry
With the Bachelor's degree, our students receive an application-oriented, scientifically sound and professionally qualifying qualification. It enables them to take on particularly qualified specialist and management tasks in the beverage industry and related areas, for example in beverage manufacturing companies (breweries, mineral springs, distilleries...), in the supply industry and related professions, but also in trade and services with brewing and beverage technology products.
Our students work along the entire value chain from raw materials to finished products and their marketing. They are sought-after specialists in the food and beverage industry, but also in apparatus and plant engineering, the chemical-pharmaceutical sector, environmental technology, the software industry and the public sector. Our alumni encounter a wide range of tasks.
The activities of brewing & beverage technologists include
- Beer & beverage production
- Quality assurance & quality control
- Production of auxiliary & operating materials, e.g. hops and malt
- Operation & optimisation of production facilities
- Plant planning & construction
- Research & development
- Marketing & sales
- Consultancy for companies
- Association work in international organisations
- Plant management
Brewing course with intensive practical work
At the University of Applied Sciences, the course with intensive practical work corresponds to the Brewing and Beverage Technology degree programme in terms of content and timing. In addition to the degree programme, you will enter into a cooperation with a brewery or beverage production company, where you can deepen your practical skills.
-
How does the course with intensive practical work work?
With this study model, you will complete practical work in a cooperating company of the University of Applied Sciences during the lecture-free periods and in the practical semester. This strengthens your bond with the company through the intensive practical phases. However, you will not acquire a second professional qualification as you would on the degree programme that accompanies your training. However, you can spend your practical periods not only in breweries or malt houses, but also in other companies in the beverage industry (mineral water, fruit juice, wine and spirits industry, soft drink manufacturers, plant manufacturers, supply industry).
-
Organisation and timetable for the course with intensive practical work
The course with intensive practical work corresponds to the regular degree programme in terms of content and timing. If you would like to start the Brewing and Beverage Technology course with intensive practical work with us in the winter semester, you apply in the early summer of the year in which you would like to start your studies.
This means you will start your studies at the University of Applied Sciences. You should have entered into cooperation with a company by the middle of the second semester at the latest, as the first practical placement should take place in the semester break after the second semester at the latest. If the contract begins before the end of the first semester, the practical placement can begin in the first semester break.
A total of at least 30 weeks of practical work (excluding holidays and Bachelor's thesis) must be completed during the semester break and the practical semester. The Bachelor's thesis is also completed at the partner company. You will work on your own company-specific projects in collaboration with partner companies. For the duration of the course with intensive practical work, you will usually receive a monthly grant from the cooperation company. The amount of the payment and possible payment of tuition fees will be agreed between the company and you. It is possible to be taken on as an employee after completing the programme.
-
Admission requirements
In addition to the admission requirements for the Bachelor's degree programme in Brewing and Beverage Technology, an educational contract with a cooperation company is required for the change to the course with intensive practical work.
-
Certificate
At the end of the successfully completed degree programme, you can apply for a certificate for the course with intensive practical work. It certifies that you have completed the course with intensive practical work.
Contact for the degree programme with in-depth practical experience
Study programme combining university studies and vocational qualification
A degree programme with a combined vocational qualification in beverage production or brewing is also possible at Weihenstephan: In a total of around 4.5 years, you can also obtain a vocational qualification in addition to the Bachelor of Engineering degree.
-
How does the study programme accompanying training work?
The degree programme that accompanies your vocational training is preceded by a training period of at least 13 months. You begin your vocational qualification on 1 September at the latest and start studying Brewing and Beverage Technology at the University of Applied Sciences the following year in the winter semester. Further training periods in the training company take place in blocks during the semester breaks and as part of the practical semester. Towards the end of the 2nd year of training, the first part of the journeyman's or final examination to become a brewer and maltster takes place. After a total of 22.5 months of practical training, you will take the second part. You will then carry out six weeks of project work as part of an engineering internship. Additional practical phases in the company are planned after the 6th semester and in the 7th semester as part of the Bachelor's thesis.
Vocational school lessons are omitted. For this training-integrated degree programme, the "Brewer and Maltster" training qualification is therefore obtained in the form of two external examinations (extended final examination).
-
Application process for the work-study programme in the form of combined studies
- You look for a recognised training company in the brewing industry that is willing to cooperate and apply there towards the end of the calendar year before the start of training (start of training no later than 1 September).
- Apply to HSWT online between 1 May and 1 July with the following documents:
- Copy of the training contract (deadline 27 July)
- Copy of the training contract (for IHK companies), (deadline 27 July)
- Certified copy of the higher education entrance qualification (deadline 27 July)
- If there is no cooperation with the company yet: cooperation agreement in duplicate (deadline 27 July)
- The letters of admission will be sent out in August. As you will first complete 13 months of your vocational qualification, you do not need to enrol initially. It is important that you keep your admission letter in a good place so that you can present it again the following year!
- Between 1 May and 1 July of the following year, you must submit another short application and present last year's letter of admission. Your study place is then guaranteed.
- Enrolment then takes place in September of the following year. You will need proof from your training company that the vocational qualification will be continued. Otherwise your place will be forfeited.
-
Contractual matters relating to brewing "Verbund"
- Training contract
Participation in the "Training-accompanying degree programme" is only possible with a training contract! It is important that you apply to us online and by post by 1 July (cut-off deadline) and send us a copy of the registered and thus approved training contract by 27 July at the latest, possibly with other application documents.
- Education contract
Students who opt for this route in IHK (Chamber of Commerce and Industry) companies conclude a training contract with the training company for the entire duration of the training programme in addition to the training contract. Students who complete their training in a Chamber of Crafts and Trades company will, if possible, conclude an internship contract with the training company in addition to the training contract for the period after the journeyman's examination, which includes at least one engineering internship. This does not have to be submitted with the application to HSWT.
- Co-operation agreement
The enormous density of the combined training programme requires a high degree of coordination and mutual consideration between the training company and the University of Applied Sciences. For this purpose, it is necessary to conclude a cooperation agreement between the company and the University of Applied Sciences (one-off). If a cooperation agreement between the company and HSWT does not yet exist, it must be submitted to us in duplicate with the application by 1 July, but no later than 27 July of the application year.
-
Find training companies...
In general, all recognised training companies in Germany can be selected for this educational pathway, i.e. recognition as a training company is decisive for cooperation with the University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan-Triesdorf.
You can find training companies via the respective IHK/HWK and the various brewery associations.
You can apply to any recognised training company and ask if they would like to support you in your work-study programme in the form of combined studies!
Our current cooperation partners for the work-study programme in the form of combined studies are:
Bitburger Braugruppe GmbH
Römermauer 3
54634 Bitburg -
Certificate
At the end of your successfully completed studies, you can apply for a certificate in the form of combined studies. It certifies that you have completed the Bachelor's degree programme and the corresponding vocational qualification at the same time or at an interlinked time.
Contact person for joint degree programmes
Brewing and Beverage Technology: Requirements, admission & application to HSWT
There are no admission restrictions for the Bachelor's degree programme in Brewing and Beverage Technology. You only need to have a valid higher education entrance qualification or professional experience in beverage production. We have compiled more detailed information on enrolment at HSWT on our general application page.
An internship in the beverage industry before starting the degree programme makes it easier to get started, but it is not necessary to start the degree programme.
Information on the general admission requirements for studying at HSWT can be found here:
Why studying brewing at HSWT is the right decision
- Practical relevance and complexity characterise the Bachelor of Brewing and Beverage Technology at the University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan-Triesdorf.
- Various internships (e.g. in our laboratories, in the technical centre or in the Weihenstephan State Brewery) and the opportunity to work independently as part of projects allow an optimal combination of knowledge and personal experience.
- Admission to the Brewing & Beverage Technology degree programme is also possible for applicants with subject-related professional qualifications without a university entrance qualification.
Degree programme ambassador
I'm Jakob Kastenholz and I'm an ambassador for the Brewing and Beverage Technology degree programme. As I study at the University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan-Triesdorf, I can answer your questions directly. So if you want to know what the degree programme is all about or what it's like to live in Freising, just send me an email to: jakob.kastenholz@student.hswt.de
