Te program is divided into two parts: the first part is held in semester 1-4 and the second part is held in semester 5-9. You can find more information on course content on the Food Chemistry website. After graduating in food chemistry, you are qualified for the profession of food chemist.

Semester 1-4: First part of degree program

During the first four semesters, you will acquire fundamental theoretical scientific knowledge in biochemistry, biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics. You will deepen this knowledge in laboratory courses in biochemistry, biology, chemistry and physics but the main focus will be on chemistry subjects.

Semester 5-8 : Second part of the degree program

In the second part of the degree program you will focus on research in food chemistry such as investigating substances in food products, chemical reactions in food products and manufacturing processes. You will have ample opportunity to learn fundamental methods and use advanced bioanalytic and instrumental procedures independently in the laboratory courses in food chemistry. You will also attend lectures and other laboratory courses in nutritional physiology, food technology, food microbiology, food law, biotechnology, toxicology, forensic analytics and quality management.

Field trips and visits to industrial companies, food and consumer monitoring agencies and forensic laboratories are offered each semester. During a field trip, you can experience first hand how food products are manufactured and monitored in practice and you will have the opportunity to make important first contacts for your career. Read reports about visits made by students of food chemistry on the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy website.

Semester 9: final thesis

In the ninth semester, you will write a thesis on a current research topic in food chemistry. Initially, you will research and summarize relevant literature and conduct scientific experiments on the topic of your thesis. You will then document and discuss your findings in a final written thesis. If you wish, you may apply to complete your thesis at another institution in Germany or abroad. Reports on student stays abroad are published on the Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy website.

Food chemists are highly sought after on the labor market and a broad range of career options are open to them.

Oftentimes, food chemists are employed at monitoring agencies such as the Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, where they check the quality and safety of food products on the consumer market or sold to restaurants. They play a key role in uncovering food fraud and solving food industry crises such as past scandals involving dioxin in eggs and melamine in milk.

Food chemists are also employed in the food industry in safeguarding product quality and in product development.

Outside the consumer food sector, graduates also have prospects in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries where food chemists are employed in quality assurance and product development. Thanks to the broad content of the degree program in Food Chemistry and graduates’ outstanding expertise in chemical analysis, food chemists are also sought after in medical and drug screening laboratories for employers such as the Federal Criminal Office or the National Anti-doping Agency of Germany. As talented analysts, food chemistry graduates are also prized in other leadership positions, as observed in this interview with a graduate from the FAU Alumni Network.

Is research more of a priority for you? Graduates of food chemistry also have good prospects for positions at universities and other research institutions such as the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft or the Max Ruber Institute both in the field of food chemistry and other disciplines.
You can find more information and a current salary survey on the website After graduating (ag-jlc.de).

After the second stage of the examination, you can complete a practical year at a supervisory authority, e.g. the Bavarian State Office for Health and Food Safety. Initially, you will work in food inspection and accompany food inspectors on their hygiene inspections in restaurants. In addition, you will deepen your knowledge of the basics of food law.

The practical year is followed by the third examination section. After passing, you will be awarded the title of „State-certified Food Chemist“.

As a rule, graduation from the third examination section is a prerequisite for being employed by supervisory authorities, e.g. the State Office for Health and Food Safety.