Testimonials

The Master's programme "Global Food, Nutrition and Health" was created in 2020 and has developed dynamically ever since. Through its first cohorts, the programme has welcomed students from over 20 different countries in Kulmbach. To give prospective students a better understanding of the diverse student community they can expect here in Kulmbach, some of the programme’s graduates are sharing their stories on this page.

"Before coming to Kulmbach, I studied Biology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. I then worked in environmental research and community outreach with the School for Field Studies, followed by clinical research in Boston. What originally drew me to Kulmbach was the interdisciplinary and international focus of the Global Food, Nutrition and Health programme at the University of Bayreuth. These aspects also turned out to be what I valued most about my experience. Learning from professors and classmates with different academic and cultural backgrounds broadened my perspectives on food systems, environmental change, and human health. Since graduating, I have worked in clinical research, food systems, and international cooperation. I am now pursuing a PhD at the University of Bonn, exploring the connections between agricultural diversification,                                           biodiversity change, and planetary and human health. I am grateful for my time in                                                   Kulmbach and for the perspectives, connections, and experiences that continue to                                                 influence me both personally and professionally."

                                               ^{Anna, USA & Germany​, GFNH graduate 2024}

"Before coming to Bayreuth, I studied Health Sciences in Munich. What I particularly valued about Global Food, Nutrition and Health was its combination of breadth and flexibility, providing a broad foundation while allowing students to explore their individual interests. I also appreciated the diversity of backgrounds within the cohort. This interdisciplinarity was reflected not only in the curriculum but also in our everyday discussions. I enjoyed learning from inspiring professors and lecturers and made friendships that I continue to value today. My internship during the programme helped me identify my Master’s thesis topic and gain a clearer idea of my professional goals. I am currently undertaking a Blue Book Traineeship at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE), where I have the opportunity to put the                                      theoretical concepts I learned during the programme into practice in a real-world policy                                          context."

                                                ^{Anne, Germany, GFNH graduate 2026}

"Before joining Global Food, Nutrition and Health, I studied Public Health at the University of Bremen. A mandatory internship took me to Growing Health, an NGO in Huye, Rwanda, that grows its own food to help feed hospital patients. There, I saw first-hand how closely health, nutrition and agriculture are interconnected. GFNH allowed me to explore these connections in greater depth. I particularly enjoyed courses on food policy and the psychology and sociology of food, which broadened my understanding of food as a system shaped by politics, culture and markets, and its links to sustainability. During the programme, I completed an internship at Global Health Hub Germany, a network hosted by GIZ, and later began working as a student employee at the NGO ProVeg. After graduating, I transitioned into a full-time role as a Project Manager. Today, I work with                                            food service and retail companies to support the shift towards a more sustainable, plant-                                        based food system, putting the interdisciplinary knowledge I gained at GFNH into                                                    practice."

                                                ^{Annika, Germany, GFNH graduate 2025}

"After a B.Sc. in Ökotrophologie (Home and Nutritional Sciences) in Fulda, Germany, I was looking for a master’s with a stronger social science and sustainability focus. I was excited to find the programme Global Food, Nutrition and Health, which promised (and delivered) an interdisciplinary approach. Studying political backgrounds, researching planetary boundaries, and exploring cultural and societal influences on various issues was beyond interesting, and I absorbed everything the program had to offer. The programme’s flexibility allowed me to spend two semesters abroad and choose my courses there freely. In San José, Costa Rica, and Padua, Italy, I could deepen my knowledge in local electives like demography statistics or microbiology. The holistic perspective we get in this programme is fascinating and opens many career paths, from NGOs and policy advice                                          institutions to food industry and its adjacent sectors - everything is possible. I, for                                                    example, started out making cookbooks at a big German publishing house before moving                                      into PR for food & beverage clients."

                                                ^{Jule, Germany​, GFNH graduate 2024}

"After completing my bachelor’s degree in International Health Sciences, I decided to pursue my master’s in Global Food, Nutrition and Health to deepen my knowledge of nutrition while maintaining an international focus in my studies. Looking back, I especially appreciate the interdisciplinary nature of the GFNH programme. Learning from academic experts with diverse backgrounds, as well as learning from fellow students from all over the world, truly inspired me. However, the GFNH programme has not only broadened my academic horizons but also fostered my personal growth, particularly through the opportunity to spend a semester abroad in Lille, France. During my studies, I dreamed of working for an international organization after graduation, ideally in the field of development cooperation. Today, I am a development cooperation trainee                                                              for food security in Malawi. The trainee programme is initiated by the German Federal                                            Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and implemented by the German                                          Agency for International Cooperation to foster young talent. In my day-to-day work, I                                              regularly draw on the knowledge I gained through the GFNH programme, as many of the                                      global challenges we discussed at university are reflected in the objectives of my project                                        work."

                                                ^{Malin, Germany, GFNH graduate 2025}

"Holding a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition & Dietetics, I chose the M.Sc. Global Food, Nutrition and Health at the University of Bayreuth to explore nutrition and health challenges from a global perspective through an interdisciplinary lens and to broaden my understanding of their connections. To pursue my interest in research, I completed a research internship and my master’s thesis at the Chair of Public Health Nutrition, where I later began working as a research assistant. Since then, my professional journey has continued to evolve, and I now work at the Chair of Planetary & Public Health at the University of Bayreuth, combining my doctoral research with teaching, which allows me to connect my interests in nutrition, planetary health, and education. Being an alumna from the first cohort, teaching courses to the GFNH students is particularly rewarding, allowing                                     me to contribute to the programme that shaped my own academic journey and to witness                                       its development and the expansion of its diverse curriculum and cohorts. Returning to                                             Kulmbach in September 2026 to offer a Teaching Kitchen course has been a meaningful                                       way to give back to the community that shaped my journey and made my experience truly                                     enriching and still continues to inspire my work today."

                                                ^{Mirna, Lebanon, GFNH graduate 2023}

"My journey began with studying Nutrition Science at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in Iran, followed by two years of working as a medical nutrition expert in a metabolic and diabetes clinic. Seeing the challenges patients faced inspired me to look beyond clinical practice and explore how scientific research could improve their lives. Joining the interdisciplinary Global Food, Nutrition and Health programme was a turning point in my journey. It broadened my perspective on nutrition and health and opened the door to the exciting world of research. My research internship in Nutritional Biochemistry at the University of Bayreuth was especially meaningful, as it strengthened my scientific skills and encouraged me to believe in my potential as a researcher. Today, I am pursuing my long-held dream of doing a PhD, namely at the Institute of Nutritional Sciences at                                              Friedrich Schiller University Jena. Looking back, GFNH was more than a master's                                                  programme; it helped me find my path and gave me the confidence to follow it."

                                               ^{Zahra, Iran, GFNH graduate 2025}