Welcome to study Food Sciences

Dear new students,

On behalf of all the staff at Food Sciences, welcome to our programme! We look forward to engaging with you over the coming years.

Our team is very happy to be approached and we encourage you to speak with us in the hope we can maximise your experience in Helsinki.

If you have any questions regarding studies, courses or you need support with planning for your studies, do not hesitate to ask. We are happy to help you. Personally, I look forward to meeting you all during the orientation week 25–28 August 2026!

Kirsi Jouppila
Food Sciences
Programme Director

The Master's Programme in Food Sciences consists of common advanced studies that provide a firm grounding in Food Sciences. In addition, you will select a specialization area, in which you will deepen your knowledge and prepare your Master's thesis.

The degree consists of:

• Advanced studies in food sciences (80 ECTS)  including a Master’s thesis (30 ECTS)
• Studies of your choice in special areas of food sciences (20 ECTS)
• Complementary studies of your choice and studies of your free choice (20 ECTS)

Specialisation areas are Dairy Science and Technology, Food Chemistry, Food Packaging, Food Safety, Food Technology, Grain Science and Technology, Meat Science and Technology and Sensory Food Science. The programme is very hands on and allows students to gain necessary practical experience across the specialisation areas.

Find out more about the on Studies Service as well as of the programme on our web pages.

The Master’s Programme in Food Sciences provides high-quality teaching and helps students gain skills in scientific research and product development.

Check out the following articles where our students talk about their experiences in the programme:

As a student, you benefit from the expertise of numerous inspiring scholars with solid teaching experience and broad researcher credentials. .

You can also to ask about student life in Helsinki.

There are several active student organisations at the Faculty of Food Sciences. The subject-specific student organisations protect student's interests and organise events. Skills and networks acquired in a student organisation can prove useful in the professional world, and can provide students with credits.

• An organisation for food science students founded in 1947. Initially, the organisation was aimed at dairy technology students, but today Viri can be joined by anyone interested in food. We operate on the Viikki campus in Helsinki and organize various events throughout the year. Our most important events are Wine and Cheese Evening in the autumn and an excursion abroad in the spring.

is a trade union consisting of members with an academic education, who form part of the food supply chain. Members are experts in their respective fields: food, animal husbandry, consumer issues, agriculture, human nutrition, biology and environmental sciences. The Association advocates the interests of its members, promotes their career advancement, fosters a sense of togetherness and provides a range of membership services. Master's students are warmly welcome to join. Some services are provided also in English.or follow them on or .

As a student in the Master's Programme in Food Sciences, the in the at the multidisciplinary will be your home base.

There are altogether four university faculties operating at the campus in the field of agriculture, forestry, bio- and veterinary sciences and pharmacy, as well as several independent research institutes. The campus has more than 6,000 students and employs nearly 1,900 people.

Studying Food Sciences include quite a lot of labwork, and you will get to know our laboratories when you arrive to study in Viikki. to get an idea of a few machines that are available for our students.

, an innovation hub of research, education and business, is being established at the Viikki Campus area in close cooperation between the University of Helsinki and the City of Helsinki. It brings together food and innovation experts and facilitates the creation of new sustainable solutions related to primary production, processing, distribution and consumption of food.

brings together students, researchers and people interested in entrepreneurship. One of their workspaces is at the Viikki campus offering free co-working spaces, boot camps, idea accelerator programmes, hackathons, mentoring and a community of like-minded individuals.

The teaching officially starts on 31 August 2026, but you should participate in the orientation activities for the new students already before classes begin (Orientation week 24–28 August 2026).

You will be assigned to a tutor group led by a senior student, or student tutor. Your tutor will help with questions related to studying in our programme, give support with administrative matters and introduce you to the university campuses and facilities. This will make it easier for you to start your studies and life in Helsinki.

The detailed information concerning the orientation and tutoring will be published in the Instructions for students in the summer. Make sure your programme is selected on the dropdown menu to access the correct information.

The international students in the Master's Programme in Food Sciences can apply to UNITalent Programme. It is designed to support international students in building professional networks in Finland and to gain insight into field specific working life. Students take part by attending monthly group meetings with hosting organisation for a period of three months. During the programme, the University Career Services also provides training in career management skills. The continuation of the programme will be decided in spring 2026.