• You will work on important issues surrounding food: how we will feed ourselves and the world in the future.
• Your degree programme is both fun and tasty. You see and taste the results immediately!
• A diverse range of subjects: from chemistry, (micro)biology and physics to dietetics and marketing, all related to food production.
• You will expand your knowledge and skills through lectures and practical work in a laboratory or pilot plant. You will further develop your subject knowledge and network through work placements, guest speakers and real-life projects.
• Plenty of practical experience through guest lectures, company visits and work placements, ranging from smaller companies in the region to large multinationals.
• A friendly and close-knit community. Students also spend time together outside their studies, for example through student associations.
• Named a 'top degree programme' in the Keuzegids hbo 2026.

Keen to study this degree programme? Food falls under CROHO 34856 Voedingsmiddelentechnologie. When applying through Studielink, therefore select the application option 'Voedingsmiddelentechnologie'.

On the Food degree programme, you learn how food products are made and improved. You investigate ingredients, processes and products. You look at taste, texture, shelf life, safety, quality and how a product can be produced on a larger scale.

For example, you will work on questions such as:

• How do you develop a soft drink based on seawater?
• How do you make plant-based ice cream just as creamy as dairy ice cream?
• How do you reduce the amount of sugar or salt in a product without losing its flavour?
• How can you use fermentation to create new flavours or textures?
• How can you use residual streams to create a new product?
• How do you develop a sports product that meets the needs of the target group?
• How do you test whether a product is safe and has a sufficient shelf life?
• How do you scale up an idea from a prototype to full-scale production?

You learn how to work with product development, process technology, food safety, quality management, microbiology, sensory analysis (assessing the taste, smell and appearance of products) and innovation. You do not just develop ideas; you also investigate whether they are feasible. You test, measure, taste and improve.

After your graduation, the business world is eager to welcome you. During their studies, food technology students are already being offered jobs. The role of technologist is important and in demand.

After graduation, many students go straight into an interesting job. As a cheese maker or beer brewer, for example. Do you prefer inventing your own product as a developer, will you make it as a technologist, or do you have more appetite for a job as a quality engineer? The options are endless. Some of our students choose to continue studying.

Diploma requirements

To be admissible, you need to have a secondary school diploma comparable to the Dutch havo diploma, which is at least NLQF 4/EQF 4 level. You can check the website of Nuffic for an indication of the value of your diploma. Our admissions department will assess your diploma when you submit your application.

We recommend having chemistry and mathematics covered until the end of secondary school, but this is not a mandatory admission requirement. This means that you are still admissible without these subjects on your diploma. There are some chemistry and mathematic related courses in the first year of the study programme that all students need to complete.  

Language requirements

We also require proof of English proficiency. You are required to submit one of the following valid test results. Please note: language tests must be taken at an official examination centre (tests taken online are not accepted) and must not be older than two years.

• IELTS Academic: minimum overall score of 6.0 and no subscores below 5.0
• TOEFL iBT: minimum score of 80 or 4,5 (updated score scale)
• Cambridge English scale: B2 First, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a minimum score of 169–175
• Pearson PTE Academic: minimum score of 61
• TOEIC: minimum score of 865 for listening and reading, and 335 for speaking and writing
• LanguageCert Academic: minimum score of 65

Important: the following students are exempted from proving their English language skills: 

• Students with a sufficient Dutch diploma
• Students from a large range of selected European countries who have obtained one of the following diplomas, including a final examination in the subject of English
• Students with an International Baccalaureate with a final examination in English A Language and Literature
• Students who have completed at least three years of English-taught education, including a final examination in the subject of English in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, New Zealand, South Africa, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States of America or Zimbabwe

Questions?

If you have any questions about the admission requirements, please send an e-mail to info@vhluas.com.

When it comes to studying abroad, there's a lot to think about. From tuition fees to the application process and settling into life in the Netherlands, it's all part of the adventure. Keep in mind that rules may vary for European students (EEA students) and non-European students, so make sure to check which information applies to you.

Application process
We’ve outlined all the steps for you here.

Deadlines
Curious about the application deadline, payment deadline and the first day of lectures? You can find all important dates here.

Finances
Click here to learn about the costs and financing options like loans, scholarships and student jobs.

Study in the Netherlands
Click here to learn about the Dutch teaching style and education system and the type of degree you'll earn.

Housing
We’ve mapped out several routes to guide you in finding a place to stay. Click here for all the tips, tricks and useful links.

Study in Velp (Arnhem)
Discover campus Velp including its student associations and the student city of Arnhem which is just a short bike ride away.