"The Master Brewer diploma is a traditional and popular degree programme. With the Master Brewer diploma 2020, a modern and flexible study programme concept has been created that gives students a lot of leeway to develop their own interests and still guarantees graduates at an academically sound level. In the course of the future concept, the areas of business administration, microbiology, hygiene and cleaning have now also been expanded in the degree programme," says a pleased Prof. Thomas Becker, Head of the Department of Brewing and Beverage Technology and Dean of the TUM School of Life Sciences in Freising.
The Master Brewer diploma is the interface between production and the engineering level in a food-producing company. "This distinguishes it from a Bachelor's/Master's degree programme, in which you take up a classic engineering degree," explains Roman Werner, research assistant at the Chair of Brewing and Beverage Technology.
At the beginning of the degree programme, an apprenticeship as a brewer or maltster must be completed, but this can also be replaced by a two-semester work placement. It is not until the third semester that the classic university routine begins with lectures and seminars. There, the necessary scientific and technical foundations are laid, which are elementary for a deeper understanding of brewing technology or the technical areas in a brewery. In the course of the future concept, the areas of microbiology, hygiene and cleaning have now also been expanded in the degree programme.
The biggest realignment is in the elective module area. Here, the previous elective catalogue has been expanded by many more modules and divided into four large thematic blocks. All students are required to choose at least two modules from the "Brewing Technology Specialisation" area. "From the other three available areas - "International Brewing", "Business Administration and Operational Planning" and "Quality Management" - students can choose freely and specialise accordingly," adds Werner.
The Master Brewer diploma degree programme is a university degree programme and corresponds to the educational level of an FH Bachelor's or FH Diploma degree programme. Admission to the degree programme is possible with a subject-linked university entrance qualification. Those who hold the Master Brewer diploma degree in their hands can directly acquire the Bachelor's degree in Brewing and Beverage Technology within two semesters and then the Master's programme. "In this way, the academic path up to a doctorate is even possible without a general university entrance qualification (Abitur)," Werner explains.
Graduates often work in quality assurance, in operational technology or in the purchase of raw materials, for example as production managers, operational controllers or technical directors. Besides the beer and beverage industry, they are also in demand in the food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries.
For the near future, it is planned that an English-language branch will be added to the degree programme as part of the internationalisation of TUM. This should also give international students access to Weihenstephan. This would create a globally unique opportunity to obtain an international, academic brewmaster's degree.
All information about the degree programme Diploma Master Brewer and the image film of the TUM Department of Brewing and Beverage Technology
High-resolution image material
Study brewing: Online-lecture view from 10 September 2020
For the Master Brewer diploma as well as for the three admission-free Bachelor's degree programmes in the field of brewing and food technology, the application portal is open until 15 September 2020:
- Brewing and Beverage Technology, B.Sc.
- Food Technology, B.Sc.
- Pharmaceutical Bioprocess Engineering, B.Sc.
The previously required pre-study internship will no longer be required for the winter semester 2020/21, so that short-term applications are also possible. Further information on our Application page.
Editing:
Susanne Neumann
TUM School of Life Sciences
Press and Public Relations
Scientific contact:
Roman Werner
Chair of Brewing and Beverage Technology
Research assistant
Tel. +49 8161 71 2691
roman.werner(at)tum.de