Specialization in Dairy Technology

Milk is an important raw material in Denmark – and the rest of the world. It can be processed into a wide variety of products, from ordinary milk for drinking to ice cream and special cheeses.

Danish dairies and secondary industries (ingredient companies, equipment manufacturers, instrument manufacturers etc.) play a strong role internationally, and the programme is closely linked with the real-life issues faced by the industry.

Denmark has a long tradition of dairy education at a high academic level, and all subjects are now taught in English in an international environment.

 

Content:

Profile
Career opportunities
Structure
Possibility of studying abroad
Business sector collaboration
Student life
Application
Contact

 

Profile

As a graduate from the MSc programme in Food Science and Technology with a specialisation in Dairy Technology, you know how cows produce milk and what affects the quality of the raw milk. You understand the chemical and microbiological basis for the production of dairy products and have an insight into how the various processes at the dairy plant affect the quality of the products.

The programme is taught in English in an international study environment.

Through both practical and theoretical courses on the programme, you will gain an in-depth insight into the production of various types of dairy products and how to analyse and ensure their quality.

Excursions, visits and lectures by people working in the industry will give you contacts and commercial insight and will ensure that you have cutting edge knowledge in the field. You will be taught by leading scientists, not just from LIFE but also from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), the University of Lund and industrial companies.

Most courses under the specialisation are compulsory, but there is a possibility of a few elective courses. Lectures and laboratory exercises are supplemented by small-scale practical experiments. In addition, there are theoretical exercises and excursions.

If you have completed an internship at a dairy, you gain the title ‘Dairy Technologist’ once you have graduated.

 

Career opportunities

• Most dairy technologists find employment with private companies within production, research, development and quality management.
• Dairies are not the only ones to employ graduates with a dairy specialisation. Many graduates find employment with other food producers, in ingredient companies, with equipment or instrument manufacturers or in pharmaceutical companies.
• There are also opportunities for employment in the public sector, within research, education or food inspection.
• There are excellent opportunities for employment abroad – both short and long-term.
• For many years, unemployment among Danish dairy technologists has been so low that, in practice, there is full employment. There is a need for graduates in the industry.
  

Structure

 

Year 1	Block 1	Introduction to Dairy Technology
	Block 2
	Block 3	Milk Processing	Thematic Course: Dairy Process and Equipment
	Block 4	Dairy Product Technology

 

Year 2	Block 1	International Legislation and Quality Management	Fermented Food and Beverages
	Block 2	Cheese Technology	Starter and Non-starter Cultures
	Block 3	Thesis (30 or 45 credits)
	Block 4

 

A block is 9 weeks long and equals 15 ECTS.

	Compulsory courses and thesis
	Elective courses

The work on your thesis almost always takes place in close collaboration with a company and addresses current problems.

 

Examples of theses:

• New methodology for determining the fat content in whole milk powder.
• Graininess in low-fat yoghurt.
• Stability of acidified milk drinks.
• Taste in low-fat cheese.
• Cheese with vegetable fat.

Possibility of studying abroad

There are good possibilities for studying abroad during the Dairy Technology programme. There is close contact between LIFE and foreign universities, e.g. Wageningen in the Netherlands. It is also possible to write the thesis abroad, fully or partially.

Options of business collaboration

Danish dairies are highly committed to the study programme and have, among other things, appointed a contact committee with industry representatives to ensure that the programme is solidly anchored in a practical, industrial reality and maintains a high academic level.

You will meet many lecturers from the industry in the course of your studies and go on many excursions and company visits.

Moreover, almost all theses are prepared in close collaboration with a company. This ensures that the issues you are working on as a student are also extremely relevant to the dairy industry. 

 

Study environment on the programme

There is an extremely active student environment on the Dairy Technology programme. Students have formed their own special interest group, which, among other things, organises study tours, travel nights and parties.

Moreover, contact is maintained with the Danish Dairy Board and with a special travel grant, which provides funding for study trips.

When and how can I apply?

Applicants with a BSc degree from Denmark must apply before 1 April to start the programme the following September.

Applicants from Scandinavia, the EU and Lichtenstein must apply before 1 April to start the programme the following September.

 
Applicants from countries outside Scandinavia and the EU must apply by 1 January to start the programme the following September.

Contact

You are always welcome to contact the faculty’s student counselling service, LIFE Student Services, if you have any questions about the programme, student life etc.

You can contact Student Services on tel. +45 3533 3533 or by email to .

 

Each spring, the faculty’s MSc programmes host open house events. At these events, you have the chance to meet directors of studies and students, who can tell you more about the programme.