Eligibility
Eligibility requirements
You are an eligible applicant for Master's level studies if
You have a nationally recognized first-cycle degree – typically a Bachelor’s degree – from an accredited institution of higher education (if applicable in the country of the degree) from a nationally accredited degree programme
Your degree corresponds to at least 180 ECTS (European credits) or three years of full-time study
Your degree gives you eligibility for master-level studies in the country where it was issued
Please see How and when to apply for more details.
If you have not graduated by the end of the application period, the possible admission will be conditional until you have presented the University with a finished degree certificate and transcript of records at the latest by 31 July (Finnish degrees) or 15 August 2027 (degrees completed outside Finland). (Information added 21 Oct 2026.) If you do not provide the required documentation by the deadline, you will lose your study place.
Language requirements
Verified proficiency in the English language is required. Please see recognized qualifications, required levels, and exemptions.
Relevant fields of previous studies
The applicant’s previous degree, based on which s/he is seeking admission to the Master’s Degree Programme in Food Development, must be in a relevant field of study. Relevant fields of previous studies for the MDP in Food Development, where sufficient knowledge in food sciences, polytechnic/engineering, and/or biosciences has been achieved, are:
Food Development
Food Sciences
Food Technology
Food Engineering
Biochemistry
Biotechnology
Agricultural and/or Biosciences
Sufficient previous experience in laboratory work, including pipetting and the use of laboratory equipment and instrumentation, is required.
Admission
Annually, 20 students are admitted to the Master's Degree Programme in Food Development.
The decision of admission will be based on
The relevance of the applicant’s awarded degree(s)
the amount, relevance, and grades of the courses in the degree(s)
the language test result (see Language requirements)
the motivation video
relevant laboratory working experience
possible interview
The Master’s Degree Programme in Food Development provides you with competence for meeting the increasing global challenges of lifestyle related diseases, malnutrition, food insecurity, and climate change. The Programme is designed to provide in-depth knowledge on the composition, nutritional quality, sensory properties, and health effects of food. Special attention is paid to the influence of environment, genetic factors, and processing at molecular level.