Master's Degree Programme in Food Development

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Nordic expertise in Natural Foods

The Master's Degree Programme in Food Development provides you with competence for meeting the challenges in research and development in the food industry and academia.

The Master's Degree Programme in Food Development is designed to provide you with an understanding of 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 a 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.

Programme structure

Academic Excellence & Experience

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:

• The chemistry and biochemistry of food lipids and secondary metabolites.
• The molecular basis of food quality and the health-promoting properties of food with special focus on the northern crops and wild resources.
• Significance of northern climate as factors influencing crop quality.
• Food development research and technological innovation for the sustainable utilisation and value addition of food resources.

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 sustainable bio-future based on internationally top science. State-of-art targeted and non-targeted food metabolomics is important tools for research. In addition to basic sciences, the research of the Unit includes strong applied angle supporting the research and innovation in the food industry.

Master's Thesis & Topics

The final project aiming for the Master’s thesis in technology is based on an independent, experimental research project in a laboratory. The research work is made under the guidance of a supervisor. 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:

• Triacylglycerol fatty acid composition and expression levels of related biosynthesis genes in seeds and pulp of developing sea buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides) berries
• Effects of wine yeast on the chemical composition of black currant wine – anthocyanins and alcohols
• Development of Lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L) based Mayonnaises
• Optimization of a UHPLC method for analysis of cafestol and kahweol in various coffee types
• Sensory contribution of glycosylated phenolic compounds

Possibility for Double Degree

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 the 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:

• At least 30 ECTS, or one semester equivalent, of coursework in the Jiangnan University,
• Jointly supervised a Master’s thesis.

Competence Description

In the Master’s Degree Programme in Food Development you will:

• Learn to understand the phenomena and concepts related to molecular food sciences and different relationships between them.
• Gain strong theoretical knowledge on themes of food development and can apply it into practice.
• Learn the methods used in food development and how to apply them to research and product development purposes.
• Gain knowledge on how to search, apply and create information.
• Gain the ability to make justifiable decisions based on the information that you have critically achieved.
• Gain experience in real-life work in academic and industrial projects in food research and development.
• Get skills to work in a responsible role as part of multi-disciplinary and multicultural teams.

Job Options

The Programme provides you with competence for meeting the challenges in the research and development in the 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 society.

Students graduating from the Programme may work, among others, as:

• R&D manager
• Quality manager
• Researcher
• Product developer
• Entrepreneur
• Coordinator
• Product specialist

Career in Research

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 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.

Entry Requirements

General Admission Requirements

General Requirement

You are an eligible applicant for Master’s-level studies if:

• you have a nationally recognized first cycle degree – normally a Bachelor’s degree – from an accredited institution of higher education,
• your degree corresponds to at least 180 ECTS (European credits) or to three years of full-time study,
• your degree is in a relevant field for the Master’s degree programme that you’re applying to. Please check the programme page for detailed degree requirements.

Language Requirements

Applicants must have excellent English language skills and a certificate that proves those skills. You can indicate your language skills by taking one of the internationally recognized English language tests.

Applicants must reach the minimum required test results to be considered eligible to the University of Turku. No exceptions will be made. Read more about the language requirements here.

Programme-specific Admission Requirements

The applicant’s previous degree on the basis of which s/he is seeking admission to the Master’s Degree Programme should be in a relevant field of study. Relevant fields of previous studies for the MDP in Food Development are:

• Food sciences
• Food technology
• Food engineering
• Biochemistry
• Biotechnology
• Agricultural sciences
• Other Biosciences where sufficient knowledge in food sciences and polytechnic/engineering is achieved.

In addition to the education and language certificates, you should include certificates of any relevant work experience into your application.

Application Evaluation

Annually 15 students are admitted to the Master's Degree Programme in Food Development. The decision of admission will be based on:

• The relevance of the applicant’s awarded degree(s),
• The amount, relevance and grades of the courses in the degree(s),
• The language test result,
• The motivation letter,
• Possible answers to the optional questions included in the application,
• Possible relevant work experience,
• Possible interview.

It is possible to have only one Bachelor’s or Master’s study right at the Faculty of Science and Engineering. Therefore, when accepting an offered study place, the student will lose any previous BSc. or MSc. study right at the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

Here you will find more information on how and when to apply to the University of Turku and about our scholarships options.