Food Science and Nutrition MSc
Leeds, United Kingdom
DURATION
12 Months
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
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EARLIEST START DATE
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TUITION FEES
GBP 29,000 **
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* international applicants: 30 July 2023 – UK applicants: 10 September 2023
** UK: £12,750 – international: £29,000
Scholarships
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Introduction
Providing nutritious food is a key target for the government — and has become a growing trend throughout society. The pressure to improve food standards falls on academic and industry experts to provide sustainable solutions that’ll suit every aspect of society. From advancing quality control to developing new, healthy eating trends, being qualified in food science and nutrition will put you at the forefront of finding these solutions.
The Food Science and Nutrition MSc here at Leeds draws on ongoing world-leading research conducted in the School you’ll be studying in, teaching you the latest innovations, issues and practices in food science and nutrition.
Throughout the course, you’ll investigate the scientific aspects of food, nutrition and the wider implications of diet on our health and well-being. The breadth of the programme gives an appreciation of key positions in food and health, as well as in food composition, and the manufacturing of foods.
This means that, once you graduate, you’ll be fully equipped with the forward-thinking, relevant and topical knowledge and skill set sought after by global companies in the industry.
You’ll also have access to specialist facilities that’ll prepare you for working in the field and a programme team consisting of academics and researchers who work within the School’s research institutes and groups.
Accreditation
This degree is accredited by the Institute of Food Science and Technology.
This accreditation signifies that Leeds offers the best possible food-related education, giving students the opportunity to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to enter into employment in the food industry, research, education and the public sector.
Learning and teaching
Teaching is through lectures, practical classes, tutorials, seminars and supervised research projects. Extensive use is made of IT and a wide range of materials are available to enable you to study at your own pace and in your own time, to enhance and extend the material taught formally.
Specialist facilities
You’ll have access to excellent teaching and laboratory facilities, supplemented by extensive computing equipment. Our specialist facilities include the latest equipment for investigating the colloidal nature of foods, small and wide-angle X-ray scattering equipment (SAXs & WAXS), cutting-edge electron microscopy facilities, texture analysers, tribometers as well as HPLC and GC analytical equipment.
Our Virtual Learning Environment will help to support your studies: it’s a central place where you can find all the information and resources for the School, your programme and modules.
You can also benefit from support to develop your academic skills, within the curriculum and through online resources, workshops, one-to-one appointments and drop-in sessions.
Programme team
Dr Mahmood Akhtar is Programme Leader for Food Science and Nutrition. He is part of the Digestion and Delivery, Food Colloids and Soft Matter at Interfaces, as well as Novel Food Design and Processing research groups.
The wider programme team is made up of academics and researchers from across the School of Food Science and Nutrition who work within the School’s research institutes and groups.
In this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.
Program Outcome
Why study at Leeds:
- Graduate with an IFST-accredited MSc in Food Science and Nutrition from a university that ranks in the top ten in the UK for Nutrition and Food Science, Guardian University Guide 2023, and in the top 50 in the world for Food Science and Technology, ShanghaiRanking’s Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2022.
- Learn the latest food science innovations in areas such as digestion and delivery, food safety, functional biopolymers and novel food design, which link directly to our impactful, 'real world' research conducted right here in our School.
- Advance your knowledge and skills in critical areas sought after in the industry, including food processing, diet and cardiovascular health and the impacts of food processing on nutritional quality.
- Conduct your own individual research project as part of your course and gain industry experience in the collation, analysis and presentation of scientific data.
- Experience excellent practical and theoretical teaching, delivered by internationally renowned expert academics working at the forefront of their fields with strong industrial links.
- Access specialist facilities, including industry-grade equipment for investigating the colloidal nature of foods, small and wide-angle X-ray scattering equipment (SAXs & WAXS), electron microscopy facilities, texture analysers, tribometers and HPLC and GC analytical equipment.
- Enhance your career prospects and join our successful alumni who have pursued careers in some of the most revered institutions in the industry worldwide including NHS, Innocent Drinks and the Food and Drugs Authority.
- Master the most up-to-date practices and techniques recognised in the industry on a course that has been directly informed and advised by the Industrial Advisory Board.
- Make the most of your time at Leeds by joining our Food Science society, where you can widen your interest in food studies and get to know people on your course outside of lectures through trips and socials such as a Summer BBQ.
Curriculum
Throughout the course, you’ll tackle issues such as the nutritional significance of processed foods in the diet, the effects of nutrition labelling and nutrition claims, functional foods and catering technology and nutritional quality.
Alongside developing current techniques in food analysis, structure and processing, you’ll gain in-depth knowledge of current health topics, such as heart disease and the health benefits of antioxidants. You’ll also gain knowledge and understanding of the functions of food and nutrients and their relationship to health and disease.
In the final months of your course, you’ll have the chance to put theory into practice with an independent research project. This will be your opportunity to build on the skills and knowledge you’ve learnt throughout the course and investigate an exciting real-world problem, mirroring the type of work you’ll be conducting in your professional career.
Course structure
The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
- Microbiological and Chemical Food Safety 20 credits
- Food Processing 20 credits
- Diet and Cardiovascular Health 10 credits
- Impacts of Food Processing on Nutritional Quality 10 credits
- Nutrient & Food Biochemical Structure and Function 20 credits
- Food Analysis 10 credits
- Functional Foods 10 credits
- Research Project: Masters Students 80 credits
Admissions
Career Opportunities
The food industry is one of the largest in the world — with a vast amount of career opportunities for food and nutrition specialists to keep the industry functioning, progressing and profiting in accordance with the latest governmental demands and trends.
From enhancing food quality and improving nutritional values to researching brand-new products and creating sustainable solutions for the future — the career opportunities open to you with an MSc in food science and nutrition are hugely varied and wide-ranging.
Here at Leeds, we rank in the top ten in the UK for Nutrition and Food Science and our Food Science MSc has been accredited by the Institute of Food Science and Technology, meaning many of our alumni have been sought after by large corporations worldwide and have gone on to hold key positions in the food industry and government agencies.
Plus, the University of Leeds is in the top five most targeted universities in the UK by graduate recruiters, according to High Fliers’ The Graduate Market in 2022 report.
Here are some examples of the roles that our recent graduates are in:
- Beverage Technician, A.G.Barr
- Food Researcher, Korea Food Research Institute
- Assistant Director, Food Safety, Hy-Vee
- Registered Dietitian, NHS
- New Product Development Technologist, Rudolf Wild GmbH & Co. KG
- Food Scientist, Newly Weds Food
- Nutrition Specialist, Tongde Hospital
- Senior Regulatory Officer (Food Division), Food and Drugs Authority
- Product Developer, Innocent Drinks
- Europe Quality Specialist, Unilever PLC.
Student Testimonials
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Program Admission Requirements
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