Program Overview

Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Health

Key Information

The Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Health is a four-year major award honors bachelor degree. The course code is LM068, and the duration is four years. The fees for this course vary depending on the student's residency and citizenship.

About the Course

This B.Sc. programme in Food Science and Health prepares graduates for careers in Ireland's largest industry. The food industry generates an annual gross output of approximately €15.6 billion and employs about 40,000 people. The Government has targeted the food sector as being of great strategic importance, capable of generating considerably more wealth and employment. Since there is a direct link between diet and health, consumers are becoming more health conscious and are demanding higher quality foods that maintain health and prevent disease.

What You Will Study

The programme is four years in duration. The course starts with basic science, developing key areas such as chemistry, biochemistry, and microbiology, human nutrition, and physiology, together with introductory food science and health.

In the third and fourth years, there is a series of modules dealing with:

• Health and Food
• Food Chemistry
• Food Processing and Process Engineering
• Food Quality and Food Microbiology
• Food Ingredients
• Food Biotechnology
• Project Management

There are also elective modules in:

• Business Consulting
• Waste Management
• Functional Food
• Accounting

A project which is undertaken throughout the final year allows the in-depth analysis of a relevant topic that gives students the opportunity to carry out independent research.

Entry Requirements

Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with a minimum of six subjects which must include:

• Two H5 (Higher Level) grades
• Four O6 (Ordinary Level) grades or four H7 (Higher Level) grades
• Subjects must include Mathematics, Irish or another language, and English

In addition, applicants must hold a grade O3/H7 grade in Mathematics and a grade H4 in any one of the following:

• Applied Mathematics
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Physics with Chemistry
• Biology
• Agricultural Science

How to Apply

Irish students must apply to UL via the CAO. More information can be found on the CAO website.

Fees and Funding

Student course fees are broken into three components - Student contribution, Student Levy, and Tuition Fees.

• EU Students with Free fees status in receipt of a SUSI grant: €7,366
• EU Students with Free fees status not in receipt of a grant: €7,366
• Students with EU fee status not in receipt of a grant: €7,366
• Non-EU Students: €22,700

Scholarships

There are several scholarships available for this course, including:

• Food Science and Health Academic Achievement Award
• Johnson and Johnson WiSTEM2D Programme
• Kerry Ingredients Prize

Your Future Career

Graduates of this course will have a wide range of career opportunities in the food industry, including:

• Culinary Technologist
• Food Technologist
• Food Scientist
• Dairy Industry Scientist
• Brewer
• Officer in Food Safety Authorities
• Food Product Developer
• Laboratory Analyst
• QA & Regulatory Technologist
• Quality Analyst
• Quality Technician
• Sensory Analyst
• Supervisor
• Technical Sales Coordinator

Further Study Options

Graduates of this course may also pursue further study options, including:

• MA in Business Management
• MSc in Functional Foods & New Product Development
• MSc in Human Nutrition and Dietetics
• MSc in International Management and Global Business
• MSc in Public Health
• PhD in Food Science
• Structure Masters by Research
• Structured PhD Programme in Biological Sciences

Employability Skills

Graduates of this course will have a range of employability skills, including:

• Analysing, problem-solving, and interpreting data
• Conducting research
• Conducting laboratory work and reporting
• Attention to detail
• Oral and written communication skills
• IT skills
• Numerical and statistical awareness
• Time management

Student Profiles

Several students have shared their experiences of studying Food Science and Health at UL, including:

• Rachel McCarthy, who completed her Co-Op placement at Abbot Nutrition and is now working as a dietitian at UL Hospital Group
• Lorraine Stone, who is currently working as a Research & Development Technologist at Wyeth Nutrition (Nestlé Research)
• Evan Conroy, who completed his Co-Op placement at Kerry Group's European Research & Development (R&D) Headquarters and is now working as a production shift manager at Dairygold.