This two-year Master's Programme in International Food Business and Gastronomy prepares you for international careers where food meets business. You'll study a unique combination of marketing, brand management, global trade and consumer behaviour all enriched by an understanding of gastronomy as culture, identity and experience, preparing you to thrive in an increasingly competitive global market.

Real company projects put you in contact with leading brands, producers and innovators throughout your studies. You will graduate as a food business professional with a global mindset, ready to drive exports, build brands across cultures, or shape sustainable gastronomy.

Programme details:

The programme is designed around community and collaboration: you'll work in multicultural teams and on real business cases, just as you will in your future career. In your first year, you'll build your foundation in international food business, gastronomic markets and sustainability.

You have the chance to engage in exchange studies and pursue international internships. In your second year, you'll dive into your master's thesis, an academic research project, tackling a real challenge in the food business or gastronomy with the support of your supervisor.

By graduation, you will have gained knowledge and skills in:

• International food marketing, brand building and management,
• Global trade, exporting, and market entry,
• Gastronomic markets, consumption, and trends, 
• Sustainable food systems, logistics, and food legislation,
• Product and service innovations in gastronomy,
• Data-driven methods and professional skills for the international food business.

Career opportunities:

During the studies you can network with the food companies in Finland and abroad and enhance your employment prospects. After the graduation possible career paths could include: 

• brand and product management in international food companies (e.g. brand manager, product manager)
• export and market entry roles (e.g. export manager, marketing manager)
• business and market analysis (e.g. sales manager)
• key account management with retailers (e.g. key account manager)
• distributors and HoReCa networks (e.g. supply chain manager)
• roles in food startups or entrepreneurship (e.g. entrepreneur)

Your skills can also be applied in NGOs, public organisations and research institutes working on food systems. If research inspires you, the programme also prepares you for doctoral studies and an academic career. 

The Career Services at the University of Helsinki supports you by offering career counselling, workshops, and access to career portals. Finnish courses are available for international students, as learning the local language opens up more career options.