Master of Sustainable and Safe Food Production

• Study online from anywhere — most sessions can be viewed live or recorded
• Mix of video lectures, case work, digital quizzes, and peer feedback
• Continuous interaction with teachers and peers
• Annual on-campus conferences for interdisciplinary exchange and networking

For the best study flow, we recommend following the listed course order (Please see scheme under Programme structure), but you can adjust your schedule to fit your work life.

The Master corresponds to 60 ECTS (45 ECTS courses + 15 ECTS Master’s project).
Courses are primarily online, supported by live streaming, recorded sessions, tutor-led group work, and interactive assignments. Annual two-day face-to-face conference sessions offer opportunities for discussion, collaboration, and networking.

You can complete the Master in two years or take up to six years to finish at your own pace.

Courses

Mandatory courses (35 ECTS):

• Microbiological Food Safety in a Global Perspective – 7.5 ECTS
• Chemical Food Safety – 7.5 ECTS
• Risk Assessment of Foodborne Contaminants – 10 ECTS
• Sustainable Food Production and Processing – 10 ECTS

Elective courses (choose 10 ECTS):

• Food Safety in Context and Global Food Systems – 5 ECTS
• Monitoring and Source Tracing of Foodborne Diseases – 5 ECTS
• One Health International Summer Course – 5 ECTS
• Quantitative sustainability assessment of food – NEW from spring 2027 (5 ECTS)
• Annual face-to-face conference sessions

See Programme specification

The Master project covers 15 ECTS point. Once you have completed the mandatory courses, you will plan the project with your supervisor.

During the Master project, you work independently on a topic of your choice, which covers elements of the study programme and the latest research in the field.

The project is an opportunity for in-depth study in a topic that you find particularly interesting and of particular relevance to, for example, your work situation, affiliation with the industry, or a possible future career.

We will help you ensure that the project has sufficient academic weight.

To qualify for admission, you must have:

• A relevant professional bachelor’s degree (or equivalent higher education)
• At least two years of relevant work experience in food science, technology, or related fields
• A solid background in natural/life sciences (biology, chemistry, mathematics) and understanding of food production processes

Relevant work experience includes:

• Product or process development
• Food safety control or sustainability assessment
• Regulation, inspection, or teaching within food science or technology

Language

The programme is taught entirely in English.
We recommend proficiency equivalent to English B-level (Danish upper-secondary school) or internationally recognised tests such as IELTS (Academic), TOEFL, Cambridge Advanced English, or Pearson Academic.

When you are ready to apply for admission to the Master of Sustainable and Safe Food Production programme or to individual courses, you must submit the documents listed below.

Please note that all documents are required for your application to be considered.

• Educational diploma(s). Diplomas must be officially certified and translated into English.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV). Your CV should clearly outline your employment history, including dates and relevant tasks or responsibilities.
• Passport copy.
• Grade transcript. An official English transcript detailing the grades you obtained during your previous studies.

Please attach your documents and fill out the registration form to send your application here:

When we have received your application, a screening process will take place to ensure you are eligible to join the programme.

You will not be charged for any master courses until your application has been approved.

Application deadlines:

• 1 July – Autumn semester
• 9 January – Spring semester

If seats remain, applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
You will only be invoiced after your eligibility has been confirmed.

Contact

Tine Hald
Professor, DTU National Food Institute
📧 tiha@food.dtu.dk 📞 +45 3588 7094

For general enquiries about continuing education at DTU, contact
📧 learnforlife@dtu.dk

Sustainable and Safe Food Production Master

The Master of Sustainable and Safe Food Production (60 ECTS) has a vocational dimension that the Master of Science programmes lack. In order to be enrolled in the programme at all, you must have at least two years of relevant work experience in addition to having a Bachelor degree.

Master of Science

A Master of Science is an education on a higher academic level. Students do not need any relevant work experience to be enrolled, but they embark to two years of full-time studies, follow advanced courses, and obtain a total of 120 ECTS-points and the academic title of ‘Master of Science’ (MSc).

All students are required to pay tuition fees. The prices for the different types of courses are listed below for the Spring 2026 semester.

Prices for EU citizens:

Course of 5 ECTS points: 10000 DKK

Course of 7,5 ECTS points: 15000 DKK

Course of 10 ECTS points: 20000 DKK

Master project of 15 ECTS points 35000 DKK

Full Master’s programme: 125000 DKK

Prices for non-EU citizens:

Course of 5 ECTS points: 13800 DKK

Course of 7,5 ECTS points: 20700 DKK

Course of 10 ECTS points: 27600 DKK

Master project of 15 ECTS points 46400 DKK

Full Master’s programme: 170600 DKK

The state subsidy for part-time education is determined in the Finance Act for one year at a time. DTU reserves the right to make any adjustments to the participant payment.

Payment terms

When you sign up for one of our courses your payment should preferably be made by credit card at our website.

You can also choose invoice payment with a payment term of 30 days. Be aware that invoices will be issued in DKK. Payment transfer in EUR is possible if more convenient to you. However, remember to include the invoice number in the transfer information.

You can only participate in the class once the payment of tuition fee has been registered. We reserve the right to deregister the participant in the event of non-payment. Courses may be cancelled due to insufficient enrolments, for example. In case of cancellation of a purchased course or module, the tuition fee is refunded.

What tool is used for online sessions?
Zoom is used for online sessions e.g. webinars and oral exams.

When are the application deadlines?
You can find the application dates under the Application section in the menu.

Can I change my choice of courses?
If you find it necessary to change the courses selected for a semester, you can do so within one month after semester start. Be aware, that we do not offer refunds, but we can allocate the payment to cover another course.

Can I get credit?
We will consider credit for previously passed courses on an individual basis. If you are looking to get credit for a previous course, please make that very clear in your application and include a course description and a certificate.

Where do I find my literature, downloads, and student mail?
All course material will be available through our Learning Management System, called DTU Learn. As a student, you will furthermore get access to DTU resources via our intranet, called Inside.   

How many exam attempts do I have?
You are entitled to three exam attempts per course. Once you pass an exam, you cannot re-do it. Planning of the exams and any re-examinations will be communicated within each course.

When can I write my final project?
When you have passed all courses in the Master’s programme, you can sign up for the final project and get in touch with a supervisor. You can choose to write your final project either during the spring semester or the autumn semester. You are required to defend you final project in an oral exam that takes place either physically in Denmark or online. You do not have to stay in Denmark while writing the project, if you choose to attend the exam physically.

Where do I find the course content?
We use a Learning Management System, called DTU Learn. Once you have received your student email and password, you will gain access to the system.

What are the prices?
The prices vary according to ECTS points of the courses and if you are EU citizen or non-EU citizen. You can see an overview of the prices in the accordion tap above. You only commit to one semester at a time and you will only be charged for the courses you have chosen for the specific semester.

Do you have any scholarships?
We do not offer any scholarships that cover continuing education. However, we encourage you to research the options in your home country, with your union or other organizations, which may have an interest in supporting your further education.

Some participants get the education sponsored by their employer. Therefore, we encourage you to seek out that possibility as well.

When do the semesters start?
The spring semester starts around 1 February and the autumn semester starts around 1 September. The specific dates will be announced when you are admitted to the programme.

How long is the study period?
The study period is minimum 2 years and maximum 6 years.