Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (SAFS) University of Hohenheim

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The BSc in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (SAFS) is an innovative English-taught programme that prepares you to become part of the solution to one of the world's greatest challenges: feeding a growing global population sustainably. This interdisciplinary programme equips young professionals from across the globe with the knowledge and skills to transform global food systems. Students gain comprehensive knowledge across natural and social sciences while developing critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership skills essential for careers in the rapidly growing sustainable agriculture and food sectors.

The curriculum combines theoretical instruction, tutorials, practical fieldwork, and internships to ensure graduates are prepared for the complex challenges facing contemporary food systems.

Objectives

The BSc in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems develops graduates who master interdisciplinary and systems-based thinking, integrating knowledge from natural and social sciences to understand complex agricultural ecosystems from farm to fork and beyond. Students acquire critical thinking skills, scientific competence in research methods and data analysis, and practical expertise in sustainable food production, resource management, and nature conservation within planetary boundaries. Through challenge-based learning, hands-on experience, and mandatory internships, the programme builds communication, leadership, and entrepreneurial capabilities essential for careers as change-makers, innovators, and entrepreneurs.

Occupational fields

Graduates are qualified for diverse and rewarding career paths across the food system in the food industry and business, agricultural production, farm management, consultancies, governmental and non-governmental agencies, research and policy, among others. The programme prepares you for positions requiring interdisciplinary knowledge, systems thinking, practical competencies, and commitment to sustainability. Whether you're passionate about production, policy, business innovation, or social change, this programme opens doors to meaningful work that makes a difference in Germany and internationally. The programme also prepares you for graduate studies in fields such as:

• MSc Agricultural Sciences (“Transformation Management for Sustainable Agri-Food Systems” and “Advisory and Innovation Services in Agri-Food Systems”)
• MSc Organic Agriculture and Food Systems
• MSc Environmental Protection and Agricultural Food Production
• MSc Crop Sciences
• MSc Agricultural Economics
• MSc Food Systems
• MSc Food Science and Technology
• MSc Bioeconomy

In the first year of study, you complete ten compulsory modules on: 

• Sustainability in Agri-Food Systems
• Soil as a Resource for Agricultural Systems under Global Change 
• Livestock Farming Systems and Animal Health 
• Ecology and Planetary Health 
• Crop Production and Sustainable Agriculture 
• Economics of Sustainable Agri-Food Systems 
• Ethics and Justice in Agri-Food Systems 
• Food Technology and Sustainability 
• Food Marketing and Consumer Behaviour 
• German Language Course A1
  • The module will be designed for students without any experience in the German language. Students with a certificate at level A2 or higher cannot attend this module and choose an elective module.

Second year of studies 

In the second year of studies, you complete five more compulsory modules on: 

• International Agri-Food Markets and Value Chains 
• Policies and Governance of Sustainable Agri-Food Systems 
• Digital Innovations for Sustainable Agri-Food Systems 
• Introduction to Human Nutrition 
• Statistical Methods for Analysing Agri-Food Systems 

In addition to these compulsory modules, in the summer semester of the second year, you can have the opportunity to do i) an internship within or outside Germany or ii) a supervised research project within the university. 

Third year of studies 

You can choose eight more elective modules from a large catalogue of subjects. This ensures you will have a solid education in the sub-disciplines of sustainable agriculture and food systems, while at the same time providing sufficient freedom to put together a programme that suits your individual career planning. The academic programme advisers advise you on your choice of modules and in planning your studies to ensure that you progress smoothly and directly. 

This allows you to design your studies flexibly in the fifth and sixth semesters by choosing modules from a range of over 260 modules offered by the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences in English or German. 

You will also complete your Bachelor's thesis in your third year of studies. 

In the fourth semester, to apply knowledge and methods from their studies, students complete either a scientific work within ongoing research projects or an internship with a relevant organisation for at least 20 weeks in Germany or abroad. We support students in identifying research teams and institutions.

Formal requirements

The programme offers multiple admission routes to accommodate various international qualifications:

• German Abitur or equivalent international secondary school qualification
• International Baccalaureate (IB)
• Other qualifications recognised as equivalent to the German Abitur
• For students whose qualifications are not recognised for direct entry: Studienkolleg completion required (one year in Heidelberg)

For more information, go to https://dein-studium.uni-hohenheim.de/en/applying-and-enrollment/applying.

Additional requirements

• Good communication skills
• Enthusiasm for shaping change processes
• Interested in digital technologies
• Ability and willingness to work in intercultural teams

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 of monthly expenses could look like this:

• Rent: 350 EUR to 500 EUR
• Health insurance: approx. 110 EUR
• Public transport: approx. 60 EUR
• Study materials: 100 EUR
• Food and drink: 150 EUR to 250 EUR
• Leisure and hobbies: approx. 100 EUR

The University of Hohenheim provides students with the opportunity to take on assistant jobs within the campus premises. Students are entrusted with the responsibility of scheduling their working hours in a manner that does not interfere with their academic commitments. Additionally, students have the option to seek employment off campus as permitted by the Aliens Act. It is important to note that finding jobs off campus may be challenging without a strong command of the German language.

More information can be found here.

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

BRICKS. The Qualification Programme for Entering the German Job Market

The BRICKS project at the University of Hohenheim helps international students prepare for their careers in Germany. The programme provides personalised career training, language development, practical experience, and networking opportunities with top companies, empowering students to shape their professional future in Germany.

CareerCenter Hohenheim

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.

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 a larger number of 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.

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