Postgraduate programme in Malting and Brewing Sciences (Leuven)

The purpose of this postgraduate programme is to teach students the necessary scientific knowledge and competencies to become a successful professional in the malting and brewing industry.

The programme-specific learning outcomes are as follows:
• Students understand the science and technology of malting, brewing, fermentation and downstream processes, and can apply this knowledge to analyse problems in these processes and suggest solutions.
• Students can compare different raw materials and evaluate their applicability in the malting and brewing industry, including their impact on downstream processes and final beer flavor and stability.
• Students know, understand, and can identify different methods for quality analysis of raw materials used in beer brewing, analysis of beer flavor and stability and can critically evaluate and interpret the data obtained via these techniques.
• Students understand and can critically evaluate the scientific and technological basis underlying novel insights and developments in the malting and brewing industry.
• Students can critically select and interpret literature on malting and brewing related topics to formulate new solutions for malting and brewing related issues in a professional environment.
• Students can critically evaluate the quality and safety of fermented beverages, including the relation with raw materials, their processing into fermented beverages and packaging.
• Students can formulate and analyse problems in a professional malting and brewing environment and can design solutions with attention to broader conceptual implications.
• Students can place developments in the malting and brewing industry in a broader societal, economical and regulatory context.
• Students can convincingly and professionally communicate (both orally and in writing) goals, ideas and opinions on malting and brewing-related topics to peers and the general public.

The programme intends to recruit (inter)national students (engineers and scientists) with a Master degree in a relevant (scientific) field, that are interested in a career in the international malting and brewing industry; or that are already active in the malting and brewing industry and want to update or expand their knowledge. Students need to have a thorough knowledge of English.

Students want to acquire scientific and technical knowledge about all aspects of the malting and brewing process and/or expand their existing knowledge, and want to practically apply this knowledge. Students are interested in learning more about the latest innovations and challenges in the malting and brewing industry, and want to learn about this from industry experts.

The programme aims for a heterogeneous group of students, in order to stimulate interactions and discussions as much as possible. To ensure as much hands-on experience as possible, class size is limited to 25 students. Some of the most important evaluation criteria include personal motivation, personal learning goals and interests as well as knowledge of the postgraduate.

Students that have successfully completed the Postgraduate Programme in Malting and Brewing Sciences will receive the postgraduate certificate in Malting and Brewing Sciences. This certificate is handed out by KU Leuven and signed by the Rector of this university, for the full programme and as evidence of successful completion of the programme. The certificate will also mention the level of achievement (cum laude, magna cum laude, summa cum laude, ...) reached by the student in the programme.

The postgraduate programme prepares students for a career in malting and brewing. Possible career opportunities include a position in research, quality control, managing, brewing, and this in both small and large, international malting and brewing companies worldwide.