Courses & curriculum
With Sustainable Food Systems at UCV, you shape your own degree, course by course and step by step. You start broad, discover what interests you, and then specialise in the direction that suits you best. This could be within one of the three pillars, or it could cut across all three.
The three pillars are:
- Behaviour – Why do people do what they do?
- Health – How does nutrition affect our bodies and society?
- Responsible Innovation – How do you turn knowledge into real change?
Alongside your elective courses, you take 8 core courses that lay a solid academic foundation for everything that follows: the biology of nutrition, behaviour and decision-making, the philosophy of science, and global sustainability challenges. Examples of key questions you’ll explore in these modules include:
- Why do people eat unhealthily, even when they know better?
- What must we do to stop climate change?
- What role do theories and experiments play in science?
At UCV, I designed a curriculum that included courses in health, psychology, and economics (consumer behaviour). Because of my education, I now have a better understanding of how and why people make decisions regarding nutrition and health.
Ilse Knoops, UCV alumna
Education at University College Venlo
Academic Year
The academic year is divided into two semesters. Each semester consists of two seven-week periods, followed by a three-week project period. In each semester, the workload is approximately 40 hours per week, with 12–14 contact hours. The rest of your time is dedicated to self-study and assignments.
| Period 1 (7 weeks) | Period 2 (7 weeks) | Period 3 (3 weeks) |
|---|---|---|
| Course A (5 ECTS) | Course C (5 ECTS) | Project Period (5 ECTS) |
| Course B (5 ECTS) | Course D (5 ECTS) | |
| Skills Training A (2.5 ECTS) | Skills Training B (2.5 ECTS) |
Study Level and Requirements
You build your knowledge from introductory to advanced levels. You take a maximum of 4 introductory courses and then dive deeper with at least 4 advanced courses. Your academic advisor helps you make the best choices so you can make the most of the flexibility UCV offers.
Assessment
Sustainable Food Systems at UCV assesses you in multiple ways: through exams, papers, essays, or take-home assignments. Each course is assessed in at least two ways, ensuring you receive continuous feedback and can keep improving.
Skills
In addition to your subject-specific courses, you also choose skills training to strengthen your profile. Options include research, science communication, laboratory work, leadership, motivational interviewing, or data visualisation. You pick what aligns with who you want to become.
Projects
At the end of each semester, you apply what you’ve learned directly in practice. You collaborate with fellow students on a real-world issue, for an external client, in a debate, or in a research project. No fictional cases, just real challenges.
Examples:
- Advise a company on their latest food technology. How do you bring it to market? (Think Tank)
- Pull one link in the food chain and see what happens elsewhere. (Food in Transition)
- Can a pea-based burger be called a “burger”? Defend your position. (Academic Debate)
Capstone
In your final project, everything comes together. Over one semester, you work on an extensive research project or product that integrates everything you’ve learned. Whether you choose an internship or a university project, this is where you prove you can turn knowledge into real impact.
Download the UCV course catalogue for a full overview of the courses and detailed course descriptions.