Program Overview

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Veterinary Public Health (Food Regulatory Affairs) - PgDip, MSc

Overview

The programme provides postgraduate training in Food Regulatory Affairs with Veterinary Public Health specialism.

Summary

Food Regulatory Affairs is an interdisciplinary subject area - integrating science, law and food/health policy as applied to the regulation of the entire food chain from pre-harvest to the consumer. International perspectives on Food Regulatory Affairs have become increasingly important particularly since the formation of the World Trade Organisation and the international acceptance of Codex Alimentarius standards. This part-time programme provides postgraduate training in Food Regulatory Affairs together with a specialism in Veterinary Public Health (VPH) and is particularly designed for veterinarians employed in the food sector who wish to develop their career in this field but who are unable to undertake study on a full-time basis. In addition, the programme fulfils the additional requirement for the training of official veterinarians as set out in European Regulation 854/2004.

About this course

About

This programme provides students with broad knowledge and understanding of food regulatory affairs and promotes their ability to assess available evidence and data, make sound judgements and communicate findings effectively to all stakeholders in the food chain – producers, regulators, industry and consumers. Relevant EU food regulatory policy is integrated within the lectures and translated into a coherent regulatory framework so that students will grasp the complex idea of total regulation of the food chain from primary production through to consumer health issues. Core domains of VPH are addressed in relation to the regulatory responsibilities of the veterinarians and the protection of animal health and welfare and human health.

Attendance

There is no requirement to come on campus - the programme is delivered fully online.

Start dates

• September 2025

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

A variety of methods is used to support and enhance the student learning experience:

• Formal lectures remain a key feature in teaching and learning within academic institutions and are increasingly interactive, and may include discussion elements, particularly at postgraduate level. Within these distance-learning programmes lectures are delivered using teaching material specifically adapted for presentation on BBLearn to ensure all students are provided with a similar information set. The interactive nature of face-to-face teaching is mirrored in the e-learning environment by discussion boards and, increasingly, by asynchronous chat rooms.
• Case studies are used for many classes to illustrate the practical application of subject specific knowledge.
• Online discussions are designed not only to extend the lecture topics but also equip students with the skills to seek out relevant subject material and to present and defend the material within a given time-frame.
• Online tutorials are used to support students who need help with their studies in specific subject areas.
• Group working is an important element of learning and is used to help students acquire, integrate and apply knowledge from a variety of sources. Group work is facilitated for distance learning students to allow for group interaction via Discussion and Chat tools.
• Assignments encourage students to be independent learners. Assignments take a variety of forms (essays, literature reviews, case studies, word-limited reports, data analysis, and presentations) which encourage students to read the literature, integrate and apply knowledge and improve written skills.
• Research projects are undertaken by all those postgraduate students who proceed to MSc. The research project will normally be carried out under supervision of allocated academics at the University.

Modules

Year one

• Risk Analysis
• International Food Regulatory Affairs
• Veterinary Public Health 1 - Regulatory
• Veterinary Public Health 2 - Applied

Year two

• Food Regulatory Affairs Research Project
• Food and Health
• Nutrition and Health Claims in the UK and Europe
• Research Methods and Biostatistics for Food and Nutrition

Standard entry conditions

Entry Requirements

Applicants for the PgD/MSc Food Regulatory Affairs with Veterinary Public Health specialism must hold a degree in veterinary medicine from a university of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, or from an institution of another country which has been recognised as being of an equivalent standard. Normally students will have a minimum of one-year post qualification experience prior to commencement of the programme.

English Language Requirements

The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement

Exemptions and transferability

Studies pursued and examinations passed in respect of other qualifications awarded by the University or by another university or other educational institution, or evidence from the accreditation of prior experiential learning, may be accepted as exempting candidates from part of the programme provided that

(a) they shall register as students of the University for modules amounting to at least the final third of the credit value of the award at the highest level in respect of a Master’s award and at least 50% of the credit value of the award in respect of a Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate award;

(b) for the master’s award no exemption shall be permitted from the research project.

Careers & opportunities

Career options

The academic content of the programme helps students to develop knowledge and understanding of legislative, policy and scientific aspects of food regulatory affairs as well as to acquire skills to disseminate and implement knowledge in practice. This leads to excellent employment opportunities in government (EU and international) and non-government organisations, and in the European and international agri-food industry.

Fees and funding

10% Alumni Discount

Are you a graduate of Ulster University? Did you know you could be eligible for a 10% fees discount.

Tuition Fee Loans Available

Students domiciled in Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and UK students can apply to Student Finance NI for a Tuition Fee loan of up to £6,500 (subject to eligibility).

Fees

Fees Credit Points| NI/ROI/GB Cost| International Cost* ---|---|--- 5| £249.95| £494.70 10| £498.90| £989.40 15| £748.35| £1,484.10 20| £997.80| £1,978.80 30| £1496.70| £2,968.20 60| £2993.40| £5,936.40 120| £5986.80| £11,872.80 180| £8980.20| £17,809.20

Scholarships, awards and prizes

A prize for the best MSc student has been provided by the Food Standards Agency Northern Ireland.

Additional mandatory costs

It is important to remember that costs associated with accommodation, travel (including car parking charges) and normal living will need to be covered in addition to tuition fees.