Food Sciences and Technology Schools and Programs in Spain

Food Sciences and Technology Studies in Spain

Food science and technology studies what food is made of, how it is processed, preserved and checked, and how to keep it safe from farm to table. In Spain it is a university subject with its own official bachelor's degree, the Grado en Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos, and a range of official master's degrees in food quality, safety and innovation.

How the degree is organised

Spanish bachelor's degrees (grados) normally have 240 ECTS credits, and master's degrees 60, 90 or 120 credits, under Royal Decree 822/2021. The food science degree follows this pattern: at the Universidad de León it has 240 credits over four years, and at the Universidad de Granada it also has 240 credits, 30 of them optional.

The degree is usually taught by faculties of veterinary medicine or pharmacy. In León it belongs to the Facultad de Veterinaria; in Granada to the Facultad de Farmacia. At the Universidad Complutense de Madrid the Facultad de Veterinaria runs the degree, with teaching also from the faculties of medicine, pharmacy and chemistry.

The first year builds a base in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics. Later years move to the food itself. The Granada curriculum, for example, includes:

• food microbiology and food toxicology
• food analysis and food chemistry
• food technology and processing plants
• nutrition and dietetics
• food law and professional ethics
• quality management, hygiene and food safety

Practice is part of the programme. Granada requires 12 credits of external placements and a 6-credit final project. León points to laboratories and a pilot plant, and to placement agreements with more than 50 companies and organisations in the food sector.

Admission and language

Students who completed secondary school outside Spain usually apply through UNEDasiss, the UNED service that assesses international students' academic records and runs the tests needed to enter a Spanish bachelor's degree. Documents must be legalised and translated, and the application for admission is then made to each university within its own deadlines.

León recommends a secondary-school background in biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics. Places can be limited: León offers 35 first-year places. The degree is taught on campus and in Spanish (castellano) in León, so a good level of Spanish is needed. At master's level there are exceptions: Mondragón Unibertsitatea registers its Master in Food Fermentation under an English title as well.

Where to study food science in Spain

The ministry's Register of Universities, Centres and Degrees (RUCT) lists 22 bachelor's degrees in food science and technology. Universities in our directory that offer one include, in Madrid, the Universidad Complutense de Madrid and the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid; in Barcelona, the Universitat de Barcelona; in Murcia, the Universidad de Murcia and the Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia (UCAM); and further afield the Universidad de Extremadura, the Universidad de Vigo, the Universidad de Zaragoza, the Universidad del País Vasco, the Universidad Miguel Hernández in Elche, the Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, the Universidad de León and the Universidad de Granada. RUCT also lists an online degree at the Universidad Internacional de La Rioja.

Official master's degrees (máster universitario) let graduates specialise. Examples in RUCT include a master's in food quality, safety and technology at the Universidad de Zaragoza, in food development and innovation at the Universitat de Barcelona, in quality and traceability of plant-based foods at the Universidad de Extremadura, in quality food innovation at the Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha and in food safety at the Universidad de Jaén.

Recognition of the qualification

In Spain, homologation (official recognition) of a foreign degree is only needed for regulated professions. The ministry's list of regulated professions includes dietitian-nutritionist and veterinarian, but not food scientist or food technologist. Holders of a foreign food science degree therefore cannot homologate it, but they can ask for a declaration of equivalence, which certifies the academic level of the degree (bachelor's or master's).

Careers

The Universidad de León describes graduates who design and supervise technological processes in the food industry, manage and control product quality along the whole food chain, and train and advise on food matters. Typical areas are:

• production and process control in food companies
• quality assurance and food safety
• research and development of new products
• management of catering services
• food law, regulation and consultancy

Frequently asked questions

How long does a food science degree take in Spain?

Four years. The Grado en Ciencia y Tecnología de los Alimentos has 240 ECTS credits, for example at the Universidad de León and the Universidad de Granada.

How many Spanish universities offer the degree?

The RUCT register lists 22 bachelor's degrees in food science and technology, at public and private universities, including one taught online.

Is the degree taught in English?

At the universities checked for this page the bachelor's degree is taught in Spanish. Some master's degrees are registered with an English title, such as the Master in Food Fermentation at Mondragón Unibertsitatea; check the language of each programme before applying.

Can I homologate a foreign food science degree in Spain?

No. Food science is not a regulated profession in Spain, so homologation does not apply. You can instead apply for a declaration of equivalence of your degree to the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.