European Master in Food Studies - Programme Details
At a glance
Study at four European universities and gain real R&D experience through a guaranteed internship with global food companies.
Key Programme Details:
• Duration: 2 years
• Locations: 4 European universities
• Internship: 9 months (guaranteed)
• Degree: Msc in Food Technology
• Intake: ~20 students per year
Admission details:
• Cohort Start: August 2026
• Deadline NL/EU/EFTA: 15 June 2026
• Deadline Non-NL/EU/EFTA: 15 April 2026
Programme Design
The European Master in Food Studies (EMFS) is a two-year specialisation within the Master's Food Technology (Wageningen University & Research) that offers an international study journey across four European countries. You’ll gain scientific knowledge, research experience, communication skills, project management capabilities, and teamwork expertise - preparing you for a global food industry career.
The EMFS programme is managed by a Board of Governors which ensures that the training meets our established goals while continuously improving. Wageningen University, the leading university of the EMFS programme, manages the entire admission procedure and is where EMFS students will be registered and supervised.
Designed for Theory, Practice, Global Exposure
The EMFS programme is built around four main components: academic modules, company interactions, a combined thesis-internship, and a longitudinal team project - all designed to prepare you for a career in the international food sector.
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Academic Modules: Lectures, labpracticals, study periods, seminars, language training, communication and social activities.
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Meeting Companies: Partner company visits, company presentations, meeting industral representatives.
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Combined Thesis & Internship: A guaranteed 9-month placement at the R&D laboratory of one the partner companies.
- Team Project: A large integrated assignment over the entire course of the programme.
Academic Journey
Year 1: Study Across Four European Universities
During your first year, you will study at four partner universities located in the Netherlands, Ireland, France and Sweden. A period of apprioxmately 8 weeks per university where you will complete the academic modules of the programme.
Special Topic: regarding Sustainable Food & Bioprocessing (online).
Year 2: Thesis & Internship with Industry
In the second year of the programme students work on the combined thesis project/internship in the R&D laboratory of one of the partner companies. The internship in a partner company is guaranteed for each student. The main restriction is: ‘’not in student’s home country’’ to improve the adaptability and cross-cultural communication capabilities of students. Legal restrictions can also apply.
A team of two supervisors will guide and evaluate the student during the thesis project: one from the company and one academic supervisor from Wageningen University. The academic quality of the thesis is examined by a full professor from Wageningen University, who will act as examiner.
All courses can be found in the Study Handbook of Wageningen University. Course content may change – this information is intended to provide a sense of the material covered.
Year 1&2: Team Project
The Team Project is one of the programme’s most substantial courses, consisting of 1-week Team Building, several workshops on Entrepreneurship plus initiation and execution of a project by the students themselves in three teams (each team consisting of ~6 students) over the entire 2-year programme. The topic is briefed every year by one of the industrial partners.
The Team Project includes brainstorming for ideas, selection of proposals, sourcing expertise and assistance, executing field work and the oral and written presentation of results; this all merely as an extracurricular assignment. To ensure that all targets of the project are met, students will be able to access expertise in the partner universities and companies. Progress meetings with the team project coaches provide guidance to students.
Aim:
- develop team work and project management skills
- foster an entrepreneurial mind-set
Developing cross-cultural communication skills and the ability to work successfully in teams is a primary objective of the European Master in Food Studies programme. Careers in food industry often involve significant interaction with multidisciplinary groups, and this assignment is an excellent preparation for the type of project management responsibilities that graduates will encounter in their workplace later on.
View the full breakdown for each study year
Join this year's cohort of ambitious students! Applications close on 15 June*
*15 April for non-EU students