Frequently Asked Questions

Master Brewers Certificate Programs Prerequisites and Requirements

  • How do I apply?
  • You must complete and submit an application online. Applications are reviewed and accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. All minimum academic prerequisites must be met in advance of applying. Class size is limited. Early application submission is strongly encouraged.
    It is the policy of UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education to admit students without regard to race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, marital status, age, disability, or any other factor prohibited by law.
  • Do I need to be 21 to apply?
  • Students do not need to be 21 years of age to apply; however, students must be 21 years of age when they begin the Master Brewers Certificate Program.
  • What are the prerequisites for the Master Brewers Certificate Program?
  • Previous professional brewing experience is not required. Program curriculum and prerequisites are the same for both the online and in-person programs. Check out our Prerequisites page for detailed information.
    Please note: You must take course(s) from an accredited institution and you must receive a passing grade in order for the course(s) to count towards the prerequisite coursework. All minimum prerequisites must be completed in advance of applying. Incomplete applications will not be considered for admission and/or placement on the waitlist.
  • Why do I need these prerequisites?
  • Brewing is a science-based art and because of that, employers seek professionals who have been trained in the science and engineering of running brewery operation. The Master Brewers Certificate Program covers in-depth brewing science and brewery engineering topics such as malting, brewing, fermentation, finishing, fluid flow, heat and mass transfer, solid-liquid separation and more. Students explore these subject areas through professional-level equivalents of UC Davis degree-program courses, so college-level coursework in mathematics, biological sciences, chemistry, physics or engineering is required for success in the program.
  • Do my transcripts need to be official?
  • No. Unofficial transcripts and/or photocopies of official transcripts will suffice.
  • How do I transfer credits from another institution?
  • You will not officially transfer credits to UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education. Instead, you will submit a transcript demonstrating successful completion of the academic prerequisites with your application. Your transcript DOES NOT need to be official.

In-Person Master Brewers Certificate Program

  • When is the in-person Master Brewers Certificate Program offered?
  • The in-person program is 15-weeks and is offered once per year from March through June. 
  • How much does the in-person program cost?

  • Tuition for the 15-week in-person Master Brewers Certificate Program is $16,000. In addition, there is also a one-time, non-refundable certificate registration fee of $125.

    All fees are subject to change.

  • What does my tuition cover?
  • The fee includes all textbooks and course materials.
  • As a student in the in-person Master Brewers Certificate Program, am I eligible for an F-1 visa?
  • Yes. For more information about student visas, visit our Visa Information page here: https://cie.ucdavis.edu/resources-and-support/visa-information.
  • Is on-campus housing available for students in the Master Brewers Certificate Program?
  • No. On-campus housing is not available to students in the program. Most students rent apartments or homes in Davis or surrounding areas (Woodland, West Sacramento, Sacramento, Dixon). For more information about the Davis community and/or rental properties, please visit: https://daviswiki.org/.

Online Master Brewers Certificate Program

  • When is the online Master Brewers Certificate Program offered?
  • The online program is offered every January. The program consists of seven courses. Each course runs for 10 to 12 weeks with the entire program taking approximately 20 months to complete.
  • How much does the online program cost?
  • Program tuition for the online program is $13,200, not including textbooks and materials, which is an additional $1,400 (approximately). If you choose to participate in the optional week-long bootcamp at UC Davis, the cost is an additional $1,400.  There is also a one-time, nonrefundable $125 certificate registration fee.

    Fees are subject to change.
  • How well can you learn such a highly hands-on subject like brewing online?
  • The program curriculum includes assignments that simulate real-world activities in the brewing industry. The instructors are also industry professionals who bring years of experience and expertise to their teaching. They provide students with practical examples and personalized feedback aimed at preparing them for real-world situations. 

    See what students in the program have to say about learning brewing online.
  • What interactions do instructors have with students in the online program? 
  • Instructors participate in the Zoom orientation prior to the start of the program and the virtual celebration at the end of the program. They also hold weekly live office hour sessions that students can join. If students choose to attend the optional, in-person bootcamp held after the completion of the online program, they can take advantage of meet and greet opportunities with instructors. 
  • What opportunities are there for students in the program to interact and engage with each other? 
  • The online program includes discussion forums where students can pose questions to their classmates, share experiences and learn from one another. 
  • How much time do I need to commit to the online program?
  • Students should plan on spending three to five hours online each week, plus three to five hours of work outside of class on readings and assignments. This may vary depending on the course. 

General Questions

  • Is financial aid available for the Master Brewers Certificate Program?
  • At this time UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education students are not eligible for financial aid based on the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), sometimes referred to as Title IV funds, which have requirements UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education programs do not meet. However, students in courses and programs offered through UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education may be eligible for a tax credit for educational expense, job training funds, alternative student loans (which do not require enrollment in a degree program), scholarships or other financial assistance. For more information visit Financing Your Education on the UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education website.
  • What forms of payment are accepted?
  • UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Wire Transfer, checks drawn on a U.S. bank and U.S. money orders. UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education is not responsible for any transaction fees. If submitting payment by wire transfer, contact the Student Services department for banking information at cpeinfo@ucdavis.edu or (530) 757-8777. Please allocate sufficient time to process wire transfer payments.
  • Does UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education accept VA benefits?
  • Yes. Veterans of the U.S. military who have available educational benefits can enroll in either the in-person or the online Master Brewers Certificate Program and obtain reimbursement from the Veterans Administration. Students planning to use VA benefits for the online Master Brewers Certificate Program should be aware that while the VA does pay for classes and required textbooks, they do not provide a living stipend for the online program.  

    UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education has approval under the Veterans Educational Benefits program to allow veterans, their dependents and others who qualify for Veterans Educational Benefits to further their education via one of our certificate programs.

    Continuing and Professional Education programs and courses are not included in the CalVet college fee waiver benefits to dependents of disabled or deceased veterans who are enrolled in a California public college.

    Contact UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education to find out if the program that interests you has been approved for G.I. Bill educational benefits, ask questions about the process, or, when you are ready to enroll, contact Student Services at (800) 757-8777 or email cpeinfo@ucdavis.edu.
  • How does the waitlist work?
  • Applicants who are placed on the waitlist, but are not called to participate in the program during the year for which they applied will automatically roll over to the following year, with the top 35 being guaranteed a position and all others going back on a waitlist. The application will continue to roll until the applicant is offered a formal position in the program.
  • Do you offer job placement services for graduates of the Master Brewers Certificate Program?
  • While we do not offer formal job placement services to the graduates of our program, we do actively aid students in finding jobs in the brewing industry. For example, each year we publish a booklet that contains the résumés of each student enrolled in the Master Brewers Certificate Program for that year. We then provide digital access to The Résumé Booklet, as it’s called, to approximately 7,000 microbreweries in the United States.

    In addition, a weekly "Job Postings" email is distributed to the alumni of the program, which lists various job opportunities available in the brewing industry. There are ample opportunities to network with industry representatives during the Master Brewers Certificate Program as well.
  • Is the Master Brewers Certificate Program a master's degree program?
  • No. The Master Brewers Certificate Program is not a UC Davis master’s degree program. It is a certificate program. Students who successfully complete the program will be awarded the Master Brewers Certificate.
  • What textbooks do I need to purchase?
  • If you have been accepted into the in-person format of the Master Brewers Certificate Program, you do not need to purchase any textbooks. All course materials are included in your tuition.

    If you have been accepted into the online format of the Master Brewers Certificate Program, you will be responsible for purchasing required textbooks and course materials. Below is a full listing of textbooks, which can be purchased as needed for each course (you will be notified prior to the start of each course the textbooks and materials you'll need):

    - Scientific Principles of Malting and Brewing (ISBN 9781881696087)
    - Standards of Brewing (ISBN 9780937381793)
    - Technology Brewing and Malting (ISBN 9783921690871)
    - Brewing Yeast and Fermentation (ISBN 9780632054756)
    - Brewing Materials and Processes (ISBN 9780127999548)
    - Vol 1: Practical Handbook for the Specialty Brewer (ISBN 9780977051915)
    - Vol 2: Practical Handbook for the Specialty Brewer (ISBN 9780977051922)
    - Vol 3: Practical Handbook for the Specialty Brewer (ISBN 9780977051939)
    - Quality Management (ISBN 9781938469152)
    - Introduction to Food Engineering (ISBN 9780123985309)
    - Beer Packaging (ISBN 9780978772673)
    - Building a Sensory Program (ISBN 9781938469671)
    - OPTIONAL: A Handbook of Basic Brewing Calculations (ISBN 9781938469671)

    All textbooks and materials can be purchased from a vendor of your choosing. However, if you purchase the textbooks through the American Society of Brewing Chemists (ASBC), you can receive a discount with the code "UCDE10".
  • Questions about your course plan or next steps?
  • We can help. Please contact our Enrollment Coaching Team at cpecoach@ucdavis.edu.