Masters degrees in Food Sciences study the principles of human food production. These programmes will allow you to explore different forms of commercial food manufacture, the technologies these processes rely upon and the science behind them.
Many degrees have clear practical applications, delivering the expertise required by a range of commercial businesses and industries. Others are more theoretical, analysing the technologies used to produce, preserve or transport food and drink.
Courses can be taught or research-based, awarding MSc, MRes or MPhil degrees as appropriate. Entry requirements will vary, but you'll normally be expected to have an undergraduate Science degree.
Do you want to have an impact on what people will eat in the future? Would you like to know what makes food taste good, due to the raw materials and processing technologies? Do you want to know how we could improve the healthiness, safety, ecology and ethics of food and food processing? Are you interested in exploring innovations in food, such as "pulled oats" or using insects as food? If you answered yes, enrol in Food Sciences master’s programme.
The food industry is the 4th most important employer both in Finland and internationally. This industry is constantly looking for experts to solve new problems. With a Master’s degree in Food Sciences you could embark on a career in the food industry; in a food, agricultural or environmental control laboratory; as a teacher, researcher, or self-employed entrepreneur; or as an expert in government ministries or other expert organisations.
As a master in Food Sciences you will be able to help the food industry develop and renew itself, since you will possess know-how on:
You can enrol in the Food Sciences masters' programme if you hold a bachelors' degree in Food Sciences or in Molecular Biosciences. You can also apply to the programme if you have a bachelors' degree in a related area of the natural sciences from a Finnish or foreign university, or if you have a degree from a Finnish university of applied sciences within food sciences or other related areas of the natural sciences.
Your studies in the Food Sciences masters' programme will offer you a broad education covering courses in the composition and processing of food, in the structures and chemical reactions of food proteins, lipids and carbohydrates, and in food legislation and the safety of food additives.
Further information about the studies on the Master's programme website.
Food Sciences on the Viikki campus is a nationally unique programme that covers the whole food production chain from primary production via food processing to consumers. Food Sciences is an internationally appreciated field of education: food research at the University of Helsinki has been highly ranked.
Your masters' studies in food sciences will enable you to make an impact on the the creation of innovative solutions for the whole chain of food production. You will:
You can affect the sort of expertise you would like to gain. You can tailor your Master’s degree by choosing special studies in food chemistry, food technology, and in the science and technology relating to meat, dairy and cereals.
You can also complement your expertise in food sciences with, for example, studies in food development, food safety, food research and analysis, economics, marketing, sustainable food production, microbiology, biotechnology or nutrition.
MSc Nutrition and Food Sciences is targeted at students who have studied the core disciplines of nutrition and food science related to health and wellness. This course is highly relevant as there is a need for high quality postgraduate Nutritional and Food Scientists that will serve the North West and the current epidemic of nutrition-related health problems (Obesity, Cardiovascular Disease, Type 2 Diabetes, and Cancer). It is recognised that good nutrition and a healthy balanced diet are important to health. An in depth understanding of nutrition is inextricably linked to the foods consumed and underpinned by an understanding of the science behind food production, processing and safety.
This postgraduate course in Nutrition and Food Sciences consists of core modules in advanced human nutrition and applied food sciences as well as advanced research methods and a research project. A choice of options allows for specialism in nutrition and food law.
MSc Nutrition and Food Science requires you take nine modules in total, all at Level 7. The modules will be taken through a combination of single semester and double semester delivery. The triple research project module will be undertaken during Semesters 2 and 3.
With an increasing importance placed on the preventative medicine sectors and emphasis on the food industry to develop novel and innovative products high quality postgraduate Nutrition and Food Scientists are needed in the UK to serve the current climate of increasing non-communicable nutrition-related health problems (Obesity, Cardiovascular Disease, Type 2 Diabetes, and Cancer) and the increase in consumption of functional foods. From an international perspective postgraduates from this course will also learn to appreciate the nutritional challenges in developing countries. Access to physiology and biochemistry labs, food industry field trips and engagement with Internationally recognised Professors in Nutrition and Food Safety are some of the experiences on offer to students on this course.
Our courses draw upon a broad base of knowledge and skills across health, science and social sciences within UCLan and links with organisations outside of the university, including the food industry, regional and international charities, environmental health and the NHS.
Learning and assessment is via a combination of case studies, presentations, research reports, critical reviews and a research dissertation.
The Programme is designed to provide you with an understanding about the connections between the different aspects and functions of food. Special attention is paid to the influence of various factors on the composition, sensory properties and health effects of food at molecular level. Application of food metabolomics and modern biotechnological methods in food research and food development is an important part of the curriculum. The curriculum also covers various aspects of food safety and European food laws and legislation.
Through the Programme, you will gain education and qualification for working as an expert, for example in food authorities.
The Master’s Degree in Food Development is a two-year programme amounting to 120 ECTS. The degree is comprised of:
The Food Chemistry and Food Development Unit is an essential element of core strength of food science and technology in Finland. The Unit has an internationally edge-cutting profile in research on:
With an internationally well-established record in berry research, oils and fats, human milk, and cow milk, the Unit has expanded its research into other food resources such as cereals, legumes and mushrooms. The research also targets on new food resources for future food security, healthy diet and business growth.
The ultimate goal is to support the sustainable bio-future based on internationally top science. State-of-art targeted and non-targeted food metabolomics are important tools for research. In addition to basic sciences, the research of the Unit includes strong applied angle supporting the research and innovation in food industry.
The final project aiming for the Master’s thesis in technology is based on independent, experimental research project in a laboratory. The research work is made under the guidance of a supervisor and takes three months. The results obtained at the research project will be presented in a Master’s seminar using common procedures known from scientific meetings. The Master’s thesis will be written based on the results from the experimental work and a review of relevant background literature.
Examples of thesis topics:
The University of Turku has a double degree programme in Food Development with Jiangnan University (Wuxi, China). Food Development students have a possibility to join the double degree programme pursuing Degrees of Master of Science in Technology at University of Turku and the Master Degree of Engineering at Jiangnan University
The students fulfilling the degree requirements of the Master’s Degree Programme in Food Development will obtain a Master of Science in Technology degree at the University of Turku. To obtain a double degree from both universities, a student has to, in addition, complete:
In the Master’s Degree Programme in Food Development you will:
The Programme provides you with competence for meeting the challenges in the research and development in food industry and academia. Through the Programme, you also gain education and qualification for working as an expert in food authorities and other related functions in the society.
Students graduating from the Programme, may work, among others, as:
Master of Science degree provides you with eligibility for scientific postgraduate degree studies. Postgraduate degrees are doctoral and licentiate degrees.
Graduates from the Programme are eligible to apply for a position in the University of Turku Graduate School, UTUGS. The Graduate School consists of 16 doctoral programmes which cover all disciplines and doctoral candidates of the University.
Together with the doctoral programmes, the Graduate School provides systematic and high quality doctoral training. UTUGS aims to train highly qualified experts with the skills required for both professional career in research and other positions of expertise.
The food industry is experiencing a skills gap in technical and product development roles, while also taking a leading role in driving a public health agenda and producing safe, tasty food which meet our nutritional needs.
This course prepares you for technical and product development roles in the food industry with a strong emphasis on nutrition. It is aimed at students with a background in food science, nutrition, health and wellbeing, exercise science or biological sciences who wish to specialise in food and nutrition and acquire an in-depth understanding of how to apply nutrition principles to food product development and production.
You learn about food production and nutrition in an applied setting, developing core technical skills in our state of the art development kitchens, food and nutrition labs and sensory suite. You apply those practical skills to live briefs with commercial applications provided by our industrial partners such as Morrisons and Cranswick plc.
The course is based on three key strands:
Examples of academic research and commercial projects you work on include developing tasty healthy alternatives, understanding the impact of food labelling on consumer liking, developing a food product for a major food retailer partner (brief varies) or supporting local SMEs with food quality assurance systems.
Full-time without work placement – 12 months
Full-time with work placement – 18 to 24 months
Part time – 12 to 24 months
Core modules
As a graduate from this course, career opportunities include:
This online Global Food Security (Food Safety) postgraduate programme will be delivered by leading research active staff within the internationally recognised Institute for Global Food Security (IGFS) based at Queen’s University Belfast.
This unique food safety course will comprise specialist modules such as chemical and microbiological feed and food safety, health, global food legislation, food fraud and advanced analytical methods for detecting food safety issues. The course is particularly suitable for those working in the agri-food industry, regulatory agencies and analytical communities who wish to develop their knowledge to a higher level.
Awards will be available at Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert) and Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) level, and to Masters level following completion of a dissertation-based module.
On-line module delivery is currently planned to be 15 weeks long, with required estimated student time per week of between 15-20 hours.
Each module is available for a specified 20 week period each academic year. On-line material will be released over a 15 week content delivery period with a further 5 weeks for completion and submission of the final assessment element.
Module content will be opened up on a block-by-block basis every 3 weeks and students will work at their own pace through content completing continuous assessment tasks to agreed schedules.
Start dates for next DL modules are:
For further information email [email protected] or send us a message on WhatsApp
Students can study the Masters part-time over a period of 3 years, the Postgraduate Diploma part-time over a period of 2 years and the Postgraduate Certificate part-time over a period of 1 year. You can also enrol initially for a 1 year Postgraduate Certificate and if successful continue to the Postgraduate Diploma and /or Masters.
Students aiming for MSc qualification will study 60CATS each year, normally the two Postgraduate Certificate modules [60CATS] in the first year, the additional two modules for the Postgraduate Diploma [60CATS; total 120CATS] in second year, and the Dissertation [60CATS; total 180CATS] in third year as described below:
Food Safety and Health
The contents of this module will centre on the exploration of various chemical and microbiological risks associated with animal feed and human food safety, and an examination of the reported links to health defects/disease progression.
Food Integrity, Fraud and Traceability
This module will investigate examples of highly varied, internationally relevant and difficult to detect incidences of food fraud and compromised food traceability. The range and types of food fraud will be discussed and the means of detecting such incidences to ensure that food is safe, wholesome and authentic demonstrated. The economic consequences of food product recall due to food contamination incidents will be assessed highlighting the need for traceability across the whole food supply chain, together with an exploration of consumer willingness to pay for improvements to aspects of food safety and traceability.
Advanced Analytical Tools for Food Security
This module will review the principles behind current and emerging monitoring technologies for rapid/early detection of feed/food contamination incidents and disease. Overviews and applications of various screening and confirmatory test platforms for food security analysis will be covered in this module.
Global Food Standards and Legislation
This module introduces international food standard setting, with a focus on the Codex Alimentarius Commission standard setting process and its impacts on international trade and World Trade Organisation agreements related to food in addition to trends of modernisation of food safety legislation internationally.
Dissertation
This module (60CATS) consists of research work and a written dissertation carried out around a hypothesis, case study, critical incident or other significant activity relevant to the programme. Students will prepare a project proposal for approval before registering on the module and develop a full project proposal upon which they are interviewed before carrying out the project work. Interim reports and a draft introduction will be submitted at required intervals in addition to regular contact with an assigned IGFS academic supervisor and submission of a completed thesis by an agreed deadline. Online teaching delivery will relate to project management skills, plagiarism, researching and writing techniques.
For further information email [email protected] or send us a message on WhatsApp
MP2 is a 2 year, course-based, full-time international research Master's Degree focused on Microbiology and related processes and Physicochemistry applied to food and wine Processes, offered by the University of Burgundy - Franche-Comté and AgroSup Dijon. This master aims at training future researchers and managers of the food and wine science and industry.
Indeed, today several factors influence and explain the dynamism of employment of researchers and managers in the field of the food science and food-processing industries:
The topic of the main courses of the first year of this international master will be the consumer’s perceptions of food and introduction to food and wine physical chemistry, microbiology and food processes. Then students will rapidly focus their courses (lectures, tutorials, practicals and projects) in biotechnology, analytical chemistry, physical chemistry, microbiology, mass transfer, food processes. Back to Dijon in the second year, the students have to choose an option to specialize in microbiology and microbiological processes or in physicochemistry applied to food and wine science. Finally they will have to perform a six months research internship in a laboratory (in France or in a foreign country) to validate a master thesis.
During the second semester of the first year all the students have to perform an international mobility in another European university through an Erasmus learning agreement.
Our approach is student-centered and participative. It combines lectures, seminars and practicals, workshops and individual/team projects. The modules below are indicative of those offered in this program. This list is based on the current organization and may change year to year in response to new needs in the food industry:
UE1-Toolbox (project management, statistics, mathematics, french-english, visits….)
UE2- Chemosensory perception, emotions, memory and food choices
UE3- Perception and sensory evaluation
UE4- Microbiology and Microbiological processes
UE5- Chemistry and Physical chemistry
Units to be choose through a learning agreement with academic European partners through:
Analytical chemistry, biotechnology, bioinformatics, chemistry, microbiology, heat and mass transfer, physical chemistry, food technology and processing…..
Option1: New insigths in microbiology and food processes
UE1: Toolbox and project management
UE2A: Microbiology applied to food safety: pathogens and flora alterations
UE3A: Interactions and adaptations of microorganisms to their environments
UE4A: Food and wine design by the mean of microbiology
UE5A: Food processes and emerging technologies
Option1: New insights in chemistry and physicochemistry for food design
UE1: Toolbox and project management
UE2B: Food and wine analysis
UE3B: Food and wine stability
UE4B: Food design by the mean of physicochemistry
UE5B: Chemistry and toxicology applied to food safety
UE6: Training
During the 2nd year, students carry out a 6 months research internship (France or international) to validate a master thesis
The University “Bourgogne Franche – Comté” has been ranked 2nd best French University in the field of Food Sciences (Shangaï, 2017). Most of the lecturers and scientists involved in the Master’s program are members of the Food and Microbiological Processes research unit (UMR PAM). The PAM Research Centre plays a major role in scientific and technological advances in the field of food and wine. The joint scientific focus of all the members is to understand the physical, chemical, and biological phenomena that determine food quality with the ambition of developing new products and new food processes. In addition to the pedagogical team, international invited lecturers will be involved.
As an international postgraduate you will benefit from France’s low tuition fees and have access to a wide range of funding programs (Grants from I-SITE UBFC, ERASMUS, French embassies, AUF bursaries, etc.). You can also apply for funding from the Université Bourgogne Franche - Comté (25 grants in 2017).
Applicants must hold a Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent (180 ECTS) in biology, food science, chemistry, physical chemistry or engineering science. Those having completed a Master’s Degree or equivalent (240 ECTS) related to biology, chemistry or physical chemistry can enter directly in the 2nd year.
Candidates should have good English proficiency (B2 required).
This Master’s Degree aims at providing students with job-relevant competencies and skills for a career as research project leader in academic laboratories, research institutes or R&D departments of international companies. The expertise will be in the field of microbiology and microbiological processes, chemistry and physical chemistry applied to food and wine science. Students will be encouraged to perform a PhD after this master degree
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Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading centres in Food Science and Technology in Europe and the world. The history of the Food Technology programme at the university goes back more than 50 years; it is considered to be one of the best and most innovative programmes in its field in Europe.
Wageningen (the Netherlands, 40.000 inhabitants, 10.000 students) is one of the leading areas for Food Technology and Nutrition in the world. Besides the many groups within Wageningen University & Research working on Food Science and Nutrition, there are also numerous companies and research institutes in Wageningen.
On the Programme of Food Technology page you can find the general outline of the programme and more detailed information about courses, theses and internships.
Within the master's programme you can choose one of the following Specialisations to meet your personal interests.
Graduates of the Food Technology programme generally find a job in either one of the food industries, the government, universities or institutes. Around 10% of the graduates will pursue a PhD degree. Below you can find several stories of graduates Food Technology about their job. Read more about career perspectives and opportunities after finishing the programme.
Related programmes:
From artisanal bakeries to Ministries of Agriculture and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, our students come to study the MSc in Food Policy from around the world, across the food landscape and go on to develop their careers in a variety of ways once they graduate.
The course is for students who are passionate about food policy and are open to challenging their own assumptions. We want you to graduate from this Masters with a more disciplined and rigorous approach so you can be more effective in pursuing your passions within the food domain.
How does a coconut growing in Malaysia become a coconut drink in the UK? On this programme we explore how policy influences the trajectory of food not just from field to fork but across time and territory.
The MSc in Food Policy is about analysing, researching and informing the future of food policy from the local to global scale. It is run by the Centre for Food Policy, founded by Prof. Tim Langin 1994. Read this report for a summary of the Centre's past work and vision for the future.
The ways in which we produce, process, distribute, market, prepare and consume food have important consequences for our health and that of the planet. We look at the positive and negative impacts of food, from the health, environmental, political, socio-economic and cultural perspective.
This Masters promotes genuine interdisciplinary because we think you need to look at the subject from all angles to make the most holistic evaluation. It draws on social sciences (sociology, politics, economics, anthropology, psychology) as well as health sciences and epidemiology. We look at the latest food policy debates and place them in a historical context.
You will be taught by a team of specialist food policy specialists who are leaders in the field. Our academic staff are actively involved in research and in policy-making on the local, national and global stage. Our teaching reflects this engagement.
Students are exposed to conflicting narratives about the problems facing the food system and the best ways to resolve them. We address important questions of our time, such as:
We are a passionate and engaged team who will help you understand how to change the food system for the better. You will learn through a mixture of lectures, small group activities, whole class discussions, workshops and independent study. There are a lot of group discussions in class. We encourage you to ask questions, contribute your own experiences and apply your own perspectives to the issues we explore. The programme also encourages a strong peer-to-peer community through social media.
For the distance-learning mode you will be able to watch the lectures online, which are supplemented with written exercises and one-to-one Skype tutorials with the teaching staff.
Read this report for a summary of the CFP's past work.
Each taught module is assessed by two pieces of written work. The first is handed in during the middle of term so that you receive useful feedback before moving on to the second assignment. In each case you will choose the topic. You will also be asked to write different kinds of documents (briefing papers, memos, reports as well as essays) that correspond to those you would have to write in policy-making organisations. Then you work on your dissertation, which is a longer (15,000 word) piece of work, enabling you to delve into a food policy topic of your choice in depth. You will gain support from a personal supervisor who is a senior academic from the Centre for Food Policy.
The course consists of four core taught modules (worth 30 credits each) and a dissertation (worth 60 credits). The dissertation gives you the opportunity to undertake research on a topic of your choice that is relevant to food policy. The course has been designed to enable you to pursue your own interests and passions. In every assignment you have the opportunity to engage with the issues you care about.
The course is flexible to fit in with your work commitments so you can study this Masters on a full-time (one year), part-time (two years) or on a distance-learning basis (two years). The taught modules take place in the first and second terms, and the dissertation starts in the third term and continues until September (December for part-time students). For each taught module there are approximately 10 three-hour teaching sessions. In addition you are expected to undertake around 270 hours of independent study. For the whole programme, you should expect to study for around 1800 hours (35 hours per week for full-time students, 17.5 hours for part-time students).
According to the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, previous graduates in employment six months after completing the course earn an average salary of £34,750.
We are very proud of our alumni. For example, our alumni run NGOs and progressive food businesses, work in government and UN agencies, and have established great careers in health advocacy, journalism and academia.
Demand is growing across the world for experts in food science, and GCU’s MSc Food Bioscience produces highly trained graduates to meet this demand. Through this programme, you will explore the fascinating world of food science and gain the skills for a rewarding career.
Whether by ensuring high standards in food safety, innovating preservation techniques, or boosting nutrition in kids’ favourite foods, there are so many ways for food scientists to make a positive impact and support the common good.
The curriculum puts science first and educates students on the classical aspects of food science.
Plus, with an independent research project that supports your individual interests and career goals, you’ll build both practical skills and specialised expertise.
The department is home to a UKAS-accredited food science laboratory that supports practical investigation and real-world impact, contributing to the common good in our field and our community.
Our well-regarded faculty pursue a wide range of food science research:
Food Science; Skills for Professional Practice for Biosciences; Food Commodities; Food Microbiology and Biotechnology; Project and Workshop; Food Quality and Safety Assurance; Instrumental Techniques for Food Analysis; Food Toxicology; Research Project; and Industrial Placement.
A key part of the curriculum is the three-month placement in the food industry, enabling you to put your knowledge to work in the real world. The MSc Food Bioscience programme will help you build skills for success in the food science industry, beginning with your first job.
This is the only MSc in Food Bioscience in Scotland accredited by the IFST Institute for Food Science & Technology.
We use a wide range of learning and teaching methods to ensure that you have both the necessary knowledge and understanding of business and management and a portfolio of intellectual and personal skills.
Each module on the programme uses its own learning, teaching and assessment strategy to achieve learning objectives. Assessment methods vary between modules and may include unseen examinations, class tests, essays, management reports, case studies, presentations, and group work.
The learning and teaching methods we use ensure that our programme is both vocationally relevant and academically challenging. Our approach is student-centred, practical, participative and relevant to the needs of employers.
We've moved away from the traditional teacher-centric learning to a more independent learning approach, where you are encouraged to develop critical thinking skills.
As an expert in food science with practical, career-focused training, your job prospects will be excellent. Graduates can find work in a variety of areas, including food manufacturing, food processing, new product development and research, food safety process development, quality assurance and marketing.
Wageningen University & Research is one of the leading centres in Food Science and Technology in Europe and the world. The Food Safety programme of the university was the first MSc in Food Safety worldwide. The programme is unique, with a highly integrated approach to the field of food safety.
Most other programmes in this field focus on the technological aspects of food safety or focus on the interaction of food safety and food quality. The programme in Wageningen focuses on the technical aspects, as well as on the legal aspects of food safety and integrates these in Food Safety Management.
Wageningen University is one of the few universities in Europe with the ability to offer education and research in all fields of food safety. This includes not only technical disciplines such as microbiology and toxicology, but also the legal, economic, risk management and communication aspects of food safety.
On the programme Food Safety page you can find the general outline of the programme and more detailed information about courses, theses and internships.
Within the master programme you can choose one of the following Specialisations to meet your personal interests.
The programme is aimed to provide the market with graduates that can work as a food safety specialist in the food industry, governmental organisations, product associations or federations, food inspection services or similar, research institutes or specialized law agencies. Read more about career perspectives and opportunities after finishing the programme.
Related programmes:
