Admission requirements and application

Important Note: The deadline to submit your documents through uni-assist was prolonged to March 20, 2024 (23.59 CEST)

The application period for the academic year 2024/25 will open on Feb 01, 2024. The deadline to submit your documents through uni-assist will be Mar 15, 2024 (23.59 CEST)

Applications must be submitted through  uni-assist e.V.

Note that while searching for the study program in uni-assist you have to skip summer semester and select winter semester. If needed, please reset the search criteria, select winter semester and search for Dairy Science.

Please have a look to the admission requirements before you start your application

Students with a Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Sciences (Fachrichtung Nutztierwissenschaften) from Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel: please do not apply via uni-assit. Use the following form and send it to the  program coordinator. See also  enrollment procedure for master programs.
Students completing their Bachelor's Degree at a German University: please do not apply via uni-assit. Documents can be submitted directely to the program coordinator until Apr 30, 2024 (23.59 CEST). Please contact the  program coordinator for the application procedure and required application documents.

 

M.Sc. Dairy Science (DS)   

 

Admission requirements and application

General requirements

A Bachelor’s degree (BSc) with a grade “good” (German grading at least 2.5) or higher in agricultural science or equivalent academic and examination achievements in related disciplines with particular relevance to dairy science. The Bachelor’s degree will be the basis for your application to this Master’s degree program.

 

Language requirements

As all classes are held in English, a good level of English (written and spoken) is mandatory. Students must provide evidence of proficiency in English.

Accepted as proof for language proficiency are the following:

  • IELTS: overall score of 6.5 (with at least 6.0 in each of the four components) or
  • TOEFL® ITP (Paper-based test): overall score of 580 with a Test of Written English score of 5.5 or
  • TOEFL® iBT (Internet-based test): overall score of 90 with component scores of at least 20 pointes or
  • Cambridge certificate of Advanced English (CAE): grade A or
  • Cambridge certificate for Proficiency in English (CPE): grade B
  • Für Bewerber*innen mit deutscher Hochschulzugangsberechtigung (HZB) eine Bewertung im Prüfungsfach Englisch im Abitur von mindestens 11 Punkten oder der Note 2,0
Please upload a proof of registration for one of the above mentioned language tests in case you do not have the test result at the time of application. You will have to provide the final test result before notification on the application success.

 

Subject-specific entrance criteria

Additionally to the academic and language requirements, subject-specific entrance criteria assessed by the examination board must be met. When applying, you are required to describe your professional aims and provide information on relevant knowledge and training skills. Please ensure you respond to these aspects as completely as possible, including details of why you have applied to study this program, and details of how your experience and skills are relevant.

You need to consider the following aspects:

  • What are your professional aims after finishing the master's program and how will the master's program help you to achieve your professional aims?
  • Do you have any work experience relevant to livestock science or dairy production? Please describe the employment as well as your responsibilities and indicate the respective period(s).
  • Are there any academic achievements relevant to livestock / dairy science that are not reflected in your degree certificate, for example: scholarships, awards, scientific publications or research funds which you have raised?
  • How will these academic and/or work experiences particularly qualify you for this master's program?

In the online application process you will have a maximum of 4.000 characters including spaces to answer these aspects.

Please note that relevant work experience and/or academic achievements relevant to livestock science are mandatory if your Bachelor's degree did not cover sufficient aspects of livestock science or dairy production.

 

Application

Applications must be submitted through uni-assist e.V.

The application period for the academic year 2024/25 (start of the program October 2024) will open on Feb 01, 2024 and closes on Mar 15, 2024 (deadline for submission of the application is Mar 15, 2024; 23.59 CEST).

Applications will be processed in March-April. Until May you will receive a notification on your application success. Please refrain from enquiries before mid May. Due to the high number of applications, we will not be able to reply to enquiries.

Attachments you are going to be asked for:

  • Scan of passport
  • CV (curriculum vitae) - max. 2 pages!
  • Secondary school certificate
  • University degree certificate
  • Official transcript of records listing all classes
  • Confirmation of the grading system applied by your university (i.e. best possible mark and lowest pass mark required for your degree to be awarded)
  • Proof of English language proficiency (i.e. language certificate; see also language requirements)
  • Proof of special achievements relevant to livestock science or dairy production (i.e. work experience, academic achievements, scholarships, etc.)
  • APS Certificate: applicants for China, Vietnam, Mongolia, Taiwan and India (applicants from India may submit their APS certificate at a later time point)

 

All provided documents must be of high-quality and in the correct order (e.g. transcript of records). All incomplete applications and unreadable copies of certificates will be rejected. Accepted applicants will later have to provide the originals for enrollment at the University of Kiel.

Important note: For documents in languages other than English or German you need to provide officially certified translations!

Please do not send any application documents by post or email as they will not be processed!

 

German applicants who have not yet received their final BSc certificate please visit these websites (only available in German):

Studieren in Kiel

Studiengangswechsel für Studierende der CAU

Verfahrensablauf Studiengangwechsel/Wiedereinschreibung

 

For further information please contact the program coordinator

 

back   Programm Design and Module Contents

Timetable study course Dairy Science

Please download the timetable für the complete study course Dairy Science here: Timetable winter/summer term

Timetables of all study courses of the Faculty of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences can be found here

Class rooms and start date of the courses might be subject to short-term changes. Please have a look the the notice board near the dean's office to find the latest update.

 

Program Design and Module Contents

The study program comprises 120 ECTS points, thereof ten compulsory modules (60 ECTS), 30 ECTS to be earned by compulsory elective modules, and a Master's Thesis (30 ECTS). The standard period of study is four semesters.

All Dairy Science compulsory and elective module descriptions can be found here

Curriculum (compulsory modules: dsAEF001 to dsAEF010)

1st year: Semester 1-2

10 compulsory modules – 60 credit points

Term

Module code

Module name

Exam

CP

WS

dsAEF001

Dairy Economics: Production and Processing

M, Sb

6

WS

dsAEF002

Eco-Efficiency of Dairy Systems

M, R

6

WS

dsAEF003

Health Management in Dairy Herds

M, R

6

WS

AEF-ds004

Dairy Processing and Quality

K

6

WS

dsAEF005

Dairy Cattle Breeding

M, R

6

SoSe

dsAEF006

Forage Quality and Conservation

M, Sb

6

SoSe

AEF-ds007

Machine Milking

M, R

6

SoSe

AEF-ds008

Animal Behaviour and Welfare

M, R

6

SoSe

dsAEF009

Ruminant Nutrition

M

6

SoSe

dsAEF010

Biometrical Planning and Inference

M

6

Module descriptions of the  compulsory courses

Information on exam registration can be found here

 

2nd year: Semester 3-4

Compulsory elective modules, section 1 (catalogue 1) – 18 credit points

Compulsory elective modules, section 2 (free choice) – 12 credit points

Term Module code Module name Exam CP

WS or SoSe

Compulsory elective, section 1 (catalogue 1)

Modules to the extent of 18 CP

X

18

WS or SoSe

Compulsory elective, section 2 (free choice)

Modules to the extent of 12 CP

X

12

Compulsory elective modules section 1 (catalogue 1) of the ongoing and incoming semester are listed in UnivIS

Compulsory elective modules section 2 (free choice) might be chosen from the course catalogue of the Faculty of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences or from other faculties. See also the course catalogue of CAU Kiel for exchange students, which can be found here

 

Master's Thesis – 30 credit points

Term

Module code

Module name

Exam

CP

WS or SoSe

Master's Thesis

SA90% + V10%

30

 Information Guide: Master Thesis Dairy Sciences

 

Abbreviations:

CP: Credt points

K: Written examination

M: Oral examination

R: Presentation

Sb: Seminar contribution (presentation and handout)

SA: Written report

V: oral defence

WS: Winter semester

SoSe: Summer semester

 

M.Sc. Dairy Science (DS)     Admission requirements and application

 

 

Examination regulations

The following links will give you more information about rules and regulations (study and examination regulations) of the Faculty of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences of the Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel.

Examination rules Dairy Science:

German version 2021

Examination Procedure Regulations English version 2019

English version 2021

Central information pages of the Examination Offices for Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes

Please note that examination regulations are subjected to change: Updates of regulations will be uploaded soon.

Examination office

Examination committee

 

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Duration

The Master's Degree Program Dairy Science will require four semesters of courses including a Master's Thesis.

Succesful students will receive a full time post-graduate master's degree (Master of Science, MSc).

Using the Europeam Credt Transfer System (ECTS), students' achievements will be conferrable to other universities. Students who complete the program will obtain 120 credit points.

 

M.Sc. Dairy Science (DS)   

Tuition

This master study course is free of tuition.

An enrolment fee ("Einschreibgebühr") currently amounting to 55 EUR is charged for the first enrolment at Kiel University.

A semester contribution ("Semesterbeitrag") currently amounting to 277 EUR must be paid each semester (see also information on Re-registration for International Students). The semester fee covers free public transport ("Semesterticket Schleswig-Holstein"), reduced lunch prices, and other benefits for students ("Semesterticket CAU").

Re-registration is required each semester, see

No other fees are charged.

 

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Accomodation

When your application has been accepted, you may apply for accomodation at the Studentenwerk.

Visa Information

To get a visa can be a long and tedious process. German authorities want to be sure that you are able to manage yourself financially during your studies, and that you are willing to return home after your studies are completed. In case you continue your education in order to do a PhD or a Post-Doc project, an extension of your visa should not be a problem.

In any case, be sure to start the visa application process with sufficient time in advance. Three months for obtaining a visa are not unusual, especially for applicants from Africa, India and Pakistan. Therefore, start the process as early as possible, and take care of the validity of your documents.

Modalities of visa application and protocols are subject to changes, and guidelines are frequently modified. Please contact the German Embassy nearest to your residence. A list of addresses and internet sites is available via the "Auswärtiges Amt" (German Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

Detailed Information on Visa and City Hall Registration can be found on the website of our International Center.

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Further Information

The Program Coordinator

The e-learning platform OLAT

Kiel University

For more Information, please visit the Homepage of the Christian-Albrechts-University.
Further information for foreign students can be obtained here: International Center

 

The city of Kiel

Visit the city portrait of Kiel online. The offer of information is available in different languages.

 

The state of Schleswig-Holstein

Visit the portal of Schleswig-Holstein. The government provides also a lot of information about the land, the history and the people.
 

Student's life

Information for students

Helpful links

Erasmus+