Animal Science University of Hohenheim

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.

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.

Formal requirements

• An above-average 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, they can demonstrate their 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.

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 Master's thesis projects abroad, which are 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.