MSc in Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety Engineering

MSc in Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety Engineering

Last modified: 13. March 2025

The aim of the training is to train dedicated feed and feed safety engineers with an up-to-date, complex knowledge of the feed and feed management sectors, with the same basic principles as the European Union's regulatory framework. They are prepared for the rational supply of nutrients to the feed industry, farm animals and companion and hobby animals, and for R&D, design and management tasks at engineering level in the fields of product development, product production, economics, environment and health protection and quality assurance in the whole range of feed management. The training provides an appropriate basis for continuing their studies at doctoral level.


Qualification of the degree:

  • level of degree: Master of Science (MSc);
  • qualification: Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety Engineer.

Length of program: 4 semesters
Work schedule: full-time (HU, EN) or correspondence (HU)
Financial options: state scholarship or self-funded
Program leader: Dr. Veronika Halas habil. associate professor (Kaposvár Campus)

Cooperative Program Coordinators:

  • Dr. Márta Balla-Erdélyi (Szent István Campus)
  • Dr. László Pál (Georgikon Campus)

Training sites:

  • Kaposvár (Kaposvár Campus) – full-time (dual training), correspondence
  • Gödöllő (Szent István Campus) – full-time (dual training)
  • Keszthely (Georgikon Campus) – correspondence

Language of conduction:

  • Kaposvár Campus: Hungarian or English
  • Szent István Campus: Hungarian
  • Georgikon Campus: Hungarian

Specific features of dual training
In addition to theoretical training, students who choose the dual training form will complete a total of 38 weeks of practical training with the dual partner, under the guidance of the local coordinator.  The detailed rules for dual training are set out in the MATE's Terms of Reference; Requirements for Students, Study and Exam Regulations; Dual Training Regulations, which are available on the link to the Regulations issued by the Board of Trustees.


Professional practice

The detailed requirements for the admission and completion of the professional practice and the relevant deadlines are set out in Annex 1 of the MATE Student Requirements System Academic and Exam Regulations, the "Professional Practice Regulations", which can be found on the University's website under the link Regulations issued by the Board of Trustees.
Below we highlight only the more precise or specific rules that are specific to the profession.
The duration of the professional practice is 4 weeks (160 hours) for each work schedule. The professional practice may be completed in a feed industry establishment, a livestock farm, a research institute or an institution carrying out feed research as a core activity, in Hungary or abroad.
The host institute shall also help students to choose a placement location, and students can also find a location by themselves. The choice of placement site is made by submitting an acceptance form at least 30 days before the placement starts. In the case of individual placement site selection, the program leader/cooperative program coordinator shall decide on the acceptance within a maximum of 5 days after submission. Applications for placements abroad, e. g. Erasmus, are subject to the relevant regulations.
The student may work at the approved work placement on the basis of a student employment contract, with the exception of professional practices at a budgetary body (Nftv 44§ (3a, b)). 
During the professional practice, the student shall work under the supervision and guidance of the host company professionals. Starting and finishing times are governed by the company's working hours, but the student's working time shall not exceed 40 hours. During the professional practice, the student shall keep a record of the time spent on the practice, which shall be certified by the signature of the host company supervisor at the end of the entire practice. 
The student is required to submit a report of their experiences during the professional practice, including an attendance sheet and an evaluation of the student's work and attitude by the host company supervisor. The practice report is evaluated by the responsible of professional practice and its rating is recorded in NEPTUN SYS. The student will be informed in detail about the content and format requirements of the practice report by the responsible of professional practice before the practice starts.
Work experience may be recognized as professional practice. The credit for previous work experience shall be initiated at the Institute of Animal Physiology and Nutrition and Study and Credit Transfer Committee. Work experience may be accepted only if it is in a field, relevant to the program and if it is equal to or exceeds the 160 hours of practice.
Students shall comply with the company accident and health and safety rules in force.
 

Skills and professional competences acquired on completion of the program

With a master's degree, Animal Nutrition and Feed Safety Engineers are able:

  • to continuously educate themselves and find the necessary sources of information; 
  • to design and carry out management tasks at engineering level; 
  • to develop an independent professional position in various areas of the feed industry, feed management and feed control, and to support it in accordance with the current state of scientific knowledge, and to defend his/her position in any debate on the matter;
  • to develop an independent professional position in various areas of the feed industry, feed management and feed control, and to support it in accordance with the current state of scientific knowledge, and to defend their position in any debate on the matter;
  • to participate in the various decision-making processes of the agricultural economy and agricultural policy, by providing expertise in the specialized administration and other public institutions;
  • for specialized sectoral consultancy and suitable for the operation and management of sole proprietorships and partnerships, as well as for participation in or management of R&D&I projects in the field of animal nutrition; 
  • formulate and defend their opinions in a professional and scientific manner
  • professional communication in foreign languages and knowledge and use of Hungarian professional vocabulary; 
  • summarize and critically evaluate their knowledge of the feed and forage sector.
  • communicate its professional findings orally or in writing to a professional audience or to the managing authorities;
  • actively participate in projects or working groups on specific tasks.

Conditions of obtaining pre-degree certificate (absolutorium)

  • completion of: all the compulsory subjects of the program according to the curriculum
  • including 30 credits for the thesis and
  • a minimum of 6 credits in the optional subjects, for a total of 120 credits.

Final exam

The final exam is held in front of a board at the Campus of training location. The final exam board is composed of university lecturers and well-known external experts and chaired by a professor or associate professor of the institute.
Condition to attend final exam:

  • obtained pre-degree certificate (absolutorium);
  • submission of thesis and its acceptance by reviewers (minimum grade: passed);
  • the student shall not be in debt to the University.

Parts of final exam:

  • comprehensive complex exam;
  • thesis defense.

Field of knowledge and subjects of final exam 
From 2021/22 academic year:
The questions of final exam include all the knowledge acquired by the candidate in the various subjects during the training: the knowledge of the feeding of the main farm animal species, the nutrient requirements, feeding technologies, feed materials, feed additives, methods of preserving feed, the work processes and legal regulations for the production of compound feed and premixes, according to the utilization of the species. Complex topics include the relationship between animal nutrition and the quality of animal products, knowledge of safe animal product production and feed safety, environmental, quality and economical aspects of animal nutrition.
 

Evaluation of final exam and qualification of degree from 2020/21 academic year

Accordingly, to chapter 4.3.16 Final exam and chapter 4.3.17. Degree certificate.

Model curriculum of the program