International and multicultural experience. Take a unique opportunity to study and stablish a network of contacts and collaboration with participants and experts from different countries.
Lectures of recognised experience. Well qualified lecturers from UZ, UPM, and international organisations, universities, research institutes and private companies in 8 countries.
Initiation to professional work and research. Traineeship at a firm in the agro-food production or animal nutrition sector, a livestock farm or a public institution and research work for the Master thesis.
Official Spanish Master degree awarded by the UZ and Master of Science Degree awarded by CIHEAM. Postgraduate Specialisation Diploma awarded by CIHEAM upon completion of the first year.
High employability rate of alumni.
The programme delivered in the first year (60 ECTS) has a professional orientation and includes a taught programme, individual and group practical work, a supervised individual project, technical visits and a professional traineeship.
Students learn the scientific principles of animal nutrition and feeding, through detailed analysis of the chemical composition and physical properties of feeds, digestion processes, metabolism, feed evaluation systems, nutrient requirements and control mechanisms and estimation of feed intake.
Students are provided with the knowledge and skills required to become professionals in animal nutrition and guarantee optimum livestock nutrition through efective use of feeds. They will address available raw materials and manufactured feeds, learn to calculate their nutritional value and determine what factors affect feed conservation and quality. Students also gain insight into feed manufacture technology.
Students learn how to apply concepts, techniques and methods seen in the first two modules to define feeding strategies for various livestock species. They will examine the appropriate feeding strategies for each production phase, from a technical and economical perspective and address how feeding influences the quality of end products.
Students acquire theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the use of specialized data bases and software packages, experimental design and statistical analysis of experimental data. Students also learn how to apply models and decision support systems to predict, assess and optimize physiological and nutritional processes and calculate rations.
Students gain insight into the relationship between animal nutrition and health and animal welfare. They also address management strategies to develop safer and higher quality products and acquire the knowledge and skills needed to develop feeding systems to minimize the impact of nutrition.
In the first part of the Master students carry out an individual project on novel animal nutrition methodologies or techniques and how to apply them in a productive context. The project may also focus on the design of a nutrition programme for a given species, production system or conditions of a specific area, normally in students’ countries of origin. Each student is assigned a tutor to develop this project under the supervision of the Master’s scientific coordinators.
The last month of the first part of the Master is dedicated to a professional internship where students apply the knowledge acquired during the taught part of the programme and gain practical experience and insight into relevant issues for the sector. The internships are organized in feed manufacturing industries and modern livestock farms and at institutions related with animal nutrition or animal product quality.
The second year (60 ECTS) consists of a tutored initiation to research and a Master Thesis, based on an original research work submitted under the supervision of a thesis director. The research work will be conducted at the organising institutions or different collaborating entities for an approximate period of 10 months.
CIHEAM Zaragoza (Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Zaragoza) is one of the four Institutes of the International Centre for Advanced Agronomic Mediterranean Studies (CIHEAM), alongside those in Bari (Italy), Montpellier (France), and Chania (Greece). Established in 1969, CIHEAM Zaragoza is committed to delivering high-quality training and promoting research and international cooperation to address the challenges facing Mediterranean agri-food systems.
CIHEAM Zaragoza is located on the Campus of Aula Dei, one of the largest and most prestigious agricultural science complexes in Spain, strengthening synergies between the scientific community, firms and students.
Training is a core activity at CIHEAM Zaragoza and our approach is international and multidisciplinary. The organisation offers two lines of training: Master programmes and advanced courses for professionals. The Institute also promotes innovation in the agrifood sector through research and cooperation projects generating knowledge for applied solutions.
Candidates must apply online at the following address: admission.iamz.ciheam.org
The Master is designed for participants that fulfil the following criteria:
Eligibility to pursue postgraduate studies in their country of origin or accrediting the equivalent of 240 ECTS in graduate studies.
University degree, preferably in agricultural science, veterinary science, animal husbandry, animal science, agricultural engineering. Previous knowledge of animal biology, animal physiology, animal nutrition and statistics must be accredited.
Knowledge of Spanish and English. Spanish is the working language of the Master. Applicants from non-Spanish-speaking countries should accredit knowledge of Spanish at B2 level or higher. Knowledge of French will be also valued.
Registration fees are approximately 1880 euro per academic year
This amount covers:
Cost of credits enrolled
Administration fee
The price is indicative only, this fee corresponds to Decree 98/2024 of 19 June 2024 of the Government of Aragon and will be updated in accordance with the new official fees set by the Department of Science, Universities and Knowledge Society for the academic year 2025-2026.
First year: the main activities will be held from 6 October 2025 to 19 June 2026.
Second year: it will begin in October 2026 for a duration of approximately 10 months.
Application deadlines are as follows:
Candidates requiring visa and/or without knowledge of Spanish: 4 May 2025.
Candidates not requiring visa and with knowledge of Spanish: 15 September 2025.
Non-European candidates should be aware of visa application deadlines.
Candidates from CIHEAM member countries (Albania, Algeria, Egypt, France, Greece, Italy, Lebanon, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Tunisia and Türkiye) may request a scholarship to cover registration fees and accommodation. They will be awarded according to academic merit. Priority will be given to applicants from low, medium and medium-high income CIHEAM member countries according to the World Bank: Albania, Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and Türkiye. Requests for scholarships should be made during the application process.
Candidates from other countries seeking finance should apply directly to other national or international institutions.
