Ku Leuven Postgraduate Program in Malting and Brewing Science

The postgraduate in Malting and Brewing Sciences at KU Leuven offers you the unique opportunity to become a malting and brewing expert. The program combines scientific-technical knowledge and skills with ample contacts with industry. Courses are taught by internationally renowned researchers from KU Leuven, and complemented by experts from the industry.

The postgraduate program comprises 45 credits (ECTS) and is spread over two academic semesters, with courses running from September to June.

Program Strengths

The program allows students to learn about the latest challenges and innovations in the malting and brewing industry.

A key focal point is a strong connection to the vocational field: through the specific course set-up and multiple company visits, students get ample exposure to the industry.

Each course is taught by an internationally renowned KU Leuven-associated instructor, complemented by an expert from the malting and brewing industry. This allows students to stay updated with the latest innovations in the work field and optimally prepares them for a career in the malting and brewing industry.

“Not only was I able to learn from the most advanced brewing research and industry experts, but had hands-on experience in different pilot breweries.” – Alumna Thana Moyses Munhoz, currently working at Meura

Program Structure

The courses are divided into three categories:

1. Technical-scientific

• Raw materials
• Brewing, processing and equipment
• Industrial microbiology and fermentation technology
• Sensory science and product quality
• Food packaging and transportation
• Current Topics

2. Professional development

• Strategy, Leadership and HR
• New business development

3. Hands-on

• Company visits
• Integrated malting and brewing practicum

This education program is located in Belgium and uses all beer country’s assets. Plenty of company visits will further enhance your knowledge about the beer-making process (e.g., AB InBEV, Boortmalt, Boon, Brussels Beer Project, Bosteels, Meura, hop farm, etc.). Moreover, you will make and analyze your own malt and run test brews in two different 5 hL pilot breweries.

Student Profile

The program is designed for national and international students (primarily engineers and scientists) with a Master’s degree in a relevant scientific field who are interested in a career in the international malting and brewing industry; or who 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 will acquire scientific and technical knowledge about all aspects of the malting and brewing process and/or expand their existing knowledge and want to apply this knowledge practically. Students will learn about the latest innovations and challenges in the malting and brewing industry from industry experts.

The program aims for a heterogeneous group of students, stimulating interactions and discussions. To ensure as much hands-on experience as possible, the class size is limited to 25 students.

About KU Leuven

KU Leuven is Europe’s most innovative university (Reuters) and ranks 42nd in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings. As Belgium’s largest university, KU Leuven welcomes 60,000 students from over 140 countries. Its 7,000 researchers are active in a comprehensive range of disciplines. KU Leuven is a founding member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU) and has a strong European and international orientation. University Hospitals Leuven, its network of research hospitals, provides high-quality healthcare and develops new therapeutic and diagnostic insights emphasizing translational research.

VIDEOS