Program Overview

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MSc Food Quality, Safety and Innovation

A practical taught Master's degree combining food quality, food safety, sustainability and innovation.

Course Overview

The quality and safety of our food are vitally important in ensuring we have edible, nourishing and varied options at all price points.

This brand-new Food Quality, Safety and Innovation MSc will provide you with:

• The knowledge and technical skills to assess food quality and safety in a research or industrial setting
• The analytical skills to address issues encountered by consumers and producers concerned with food safety and quality

Environmental Sustainability

A key component to food safety is environmental sustainability, the importance of which is increasing exponentially. This Master’s maintains this thread throughout your studies – making it the only programme of its type to do this.

The programme will provide an understanding of the practical application of environmental management, and its role in the strategic development and operation of organisations and activities.

You will be able to evaluate the environmental performance of an organisation or activity and recommend appropriate measures to minimise pollution and food waste, and design appropriate control systems. Upon graduation, you will understand the policy, legal and ethical issues, and technical factors which influence environmental management to operate and plan sustainable projects.

You will be taught by a team of academics with a wealth of experience in the food sector, have contact with leading figures in industry, and take part in either a research project or industry placement.

As a graduate of this Master's programme, you will have:

• The knowledge and understanding to embrace the challenges around food quality, safety and sustainability – both in local, national and international contexts
• The ability to manage and control foodborne disease
• The skills to develop methodologies required to address issues arising from food directives and other forms of statutory instruments
• The knowledge to integrate results and reach conclusions regarding the holistic problems of food quality, safety and sustainability

Entry Requirements

• UK Entry:
  • Applicants should have a minimum of a lower second-class (2:2) honours degree in a subject related to biological sciences, chemical sciences, environmental sciences, food sciences, agricultural or biological science.
  • Applicants with non-standard qualifications will be considered on an individual basis, determined by prior study, work experience, professional qualifications, and references.
• International Entry:
  • We accept a wide range of qualifications from applicants from across the world. Please select the country of your qualification from the searchable list below to view entry requirements. If you have different qualifications to those listed, please contact us using the form below.

Academic Requirements

Applicants with non-standard qualifications will be considered on an individual basis, determined by prior study, work experience, professional qualifications, and references.

English Language Requirements

All courses at Abertay University are taught in English. If your first language is not English, you will need to demonstrate that you meet our English language requirements.

How the Course Works

• Full-time on campus students will complete the degree in one year: The academic year consists of three terms with the Master's project module completed in term 3.
• Part-time on campus students will complete the degree in two years: Year 1 consist of two terms, and Year 2 of three terms with the Master's project module completed in the final term.

Learning

Most modules will be assessed through practice-based coursework. This includes project work and student-led presentations as well as workplace-simulation group projects. Some modules use a mixture of coursework and formal examination.

Lectures may be used to present key concepts, theories and techniques. Tutorials and laboratory-based activities increase your understanding of the subject and develop your competence and confidence in technological and theoretical work.

Throughout your course, you’ll be required to actively participate in group work, discussions, seminars, and private study.

Assessment

A variety of assessment practices will be used across modules, creating a framework for a coherent assessment strategy that recognises different learning and communication styles and skills.

The taught course will be assessed using a combination of written coursework, presentations, examinations and portfolios, with a written dissertation at MSc level.

Modules (Subject to change)

• Core Modules:
  • Environmental Management (EEM500)
  • Food Safety and Microbiology (FOD508)
  • Project Management (BMT530)
  • Food Chemistry and Safety (FOD509)
  • Research Methods (GRS501)
  • MSc Dissertation (EEM517)
• Option Modules:
  • Waste and Wastewater Management (EEM408)
  • Clinical Nutrition 2 (FOD402)
  • New Product Development 2 (FOD404)

Fees and Funding

The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you depends on factors such as your nationality, location, personal circumstances and the course you are studying.

Scholarships

• Abertay Postgraduate Taught rUK Scholarship: This £1,000 award is open to all prospective new postgraduate students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• International Postgraduate Abertay Scholarships: This £3,000 award is open to all prospective new international postgraduate students at Abertay University.

Career Options

This Master's will prepare you to enter a wide range of food and drink industry careers, including:

• Technical manager
• Food Technologist
• Quality Assurance Manager
• Process Development Technologist
• Compliance and QA Technologist
• Sustainable Sourcing Manager

It also provides you with the knowledge and understanding to undertake further academic research.

State-of-the-Art Facilities

Our £3.5m laboratory facilities are the only ones of their type in Scotland. As a food student, you'll have access to:

• A world-leading sensory and consumer science lab
• Fully specified biological and chemical science labs
• A fully food-standard production/pilot plant
• UHT and Pasteurisation with inline homogenisation and sterile filling instruments
• Freeze and spray drying fascilities
• Small-scale brewing
• Packing facilities, including MAP (vacuum tray sealer with gas injection systems)
• Texture analysis
• High shear mixing with our Silverson mixer.

Graduate School

Our Graduate School is a dedicated facility providing support, training and professional development opportunities to our vibrant postgraduate community. Specially designed to promote integration and inculcation of interdisciplinary working in our next generation of researchers, postgraduates study and learn together at Abertay – from Environmental Management to Law, Psychology, Bioscience, Economics and Business, Cybersecurity and Computer Games Development.

Joining our Postgraduate Community

When you join us as a postgraduate student or researcher, you’ll be joining a community of creative likeminded scholars and will automatically be provided with access to our dedicated study and social spaces – a forum in which you can meet, work and learn with other researchers and postgraduates from across the University.

You’ll benefit from training and professional development opportunities, as well as support with funding applications, placement opportunities, teaching support, public engagement and outreach activity.