Explore the sustainable development and production of safe and nutritious food while gaining valuable qualifications.
Learn how to identify gaps in the food and nutrition market.
Develop new food products in our state-of-the-art facilities.
Study food processing technologies and food safety.
Acquire sought-after external qualifications to boost your CV.


This course is accredited by the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) and prepares you for a variety of roles in the fast-paced food sector, the UK’s largest manufacturing sector. You’ll learn how to balance demands for nutritional quality, shelf life, sustainability and various sensory attributes – as well as managing food safety across a range of food manufacturing and retail contexts.

Work placements
You’ll have the opportunity to undertake a year-long work placement in between your second and third years. This gives you relevant sector experience to prepare you for your future career – and allows you to graduate with an Applied Professional Diploma to add to your CV. 

Previous students have gained placements at organisations such as Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Bakkavor, Greencore, Unilever, GSK, Premier Foods and Samworth Brothers.

Live projects
Live projects are embedded within every level of your course – culminating in a final-year consultancy project with an external partner. Here you get to use all the skills, knowledge and experience you’ve gained throughout the course. 

For example, previous students have worked with the Co-op, Warburtons, Innocent – to name a few. Past projects have included sugar reduction in biscuits and confectionery, the development of new ranges of products, and food packaging and plastic reduction for a healthier planet.

Networking opportunities
Graduates are invited regularly to come and meet our current students. Here you can  get a critical insight of your different career options while starting to build your own professional network. You’ll also benefit from our professional body membership to interact with professionals and students from other institutions.

Competitions
We’ll encourage you to submit your work to Institute of Food Science and Technology competitions. In the past our students have been recognised externally for the high standard of their work – several winning the prestigious Institute of Food Science and Technology young scientist award.

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

Our award-winning teachers have worked in the food and nutrition sectors and are actively involved in applied and impactful research. You’ll understand the latest trends in food marketing, food consumer behaviour, food characteristics and nutrition. You’ll be able to apply your knowledge to live projects in collaboration with external partners, making you stand out to employers.

At every level of the course, you’ll have the opportunity to engage with live projects and professional work opportunities. You can apply to access placements, volunteering opportunities and work experience through our relationships with food manufacturers and retailers. 

You learn through

• lectures, seminars, and workshops
• practical sessions in our development kitchens, sensory suite, food science and nutrition labs
• live projects with food manufacturers and retailers
• webinars and competitions.
• independent study and group work

You’ll gain an in-depth knowledge of food composition and ingredients – from food product development and quality management to food marketing and consumer research. You’ll learn how to pitch your ideas,  evaluate information and make sound, evidence-based decisions and recommendations. With these skills you’ll develop into a well-rounded professional – career-ready for the food industry and nutrition sector.

You will be supported in your learning journey towards highly skilled, graduate level employment through

• access to our unique student support triangle to help with your personal, academic and career development
• access to our Skills Centre with one to ones, webinars, online resources, and assignment preparation support
• industry-specific employability activities such as live projects and networking opportunities

The food and drink industry employs over 430,000 people every year across every region of the UK. The course prepares you for a career in

• food product development, including nutritional aspects
• food quality and operations management
• food styling and journalism
• sensory evaluation
• food marketing
• buying 
• food industry nutrition
• research, including postgraduate research degrees

Previous graduates have gone on to work for

• all the major food retailers – Aldi, Asda, M&S, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s and Tesco
• major food manufacturers and brands – Bakkavor, Dr. Oetker, Greencore, GSK, Mars, Pepsi-co, Premier Foods, Samworth Brothers to name a few

 

UCAS points

• 112

This must include at least 64 points from 2 A Levels or equivalent BTEC qualifications. For example:

• BBC at A Level
• DMM in BTEC Extended Diploma.
• A combination of qualifications, which may include AS levels, EPQ and general studies

GCSE

• English language or literature at grade C or 4
• Maths at grade D or 3

You can find information on making sense of UCAS tariff points here and use the UCAS tariff calculator to work out your points.

• Access - an Access to HE Diploma with at least 45 credits at level 3 and 15 credits at level 2. At least 15 level 3 credits must be at merit grade or above, from a QAA-recognised Access to HE course, or an equivalent Access to HE certificate.

• entry with prior credit - we consider applications for direct entry to the final year from those holding Higher National Diplomas or equivalent qualifications

If English is not your first language, you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum of 5.5 in all skills, or equivalent.

We welcome applications from people of any age. We may be flexible in our normal offer if you can show a commitment to succeed and have the relevant skills and experience. This must show that you will benefit from and finish the course successfully.

Please note the University will only admit students who are aged 18 or over at the point of enrolment.

Important notice:

The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.

You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.

 

Year 1 Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Applied Academic Skills	20	Coursework
Food Business Management	20	Coursework
Food Choice: People And Planet	40	Coursework
Fundamentals Of Food And Nutrition: Composition, Safety And Nutrient Function	40	Coursework Practical

 

 

 

Year 2 Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Applied Nutrition: Populations, Policy And Practice	20	Coursework
Food Innovation And Product Development	40	Coursework
Sustainable Food: Preservation, Processing And Packaging	40	Coursework
Personal And Professional Development	40	Coursework

 

Year 3 Optional modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Placement Year

 

Final Year Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Food And Nutrition Consultancy Challenge	40	Coursework Practical
Food And Nutrition Research	40	Practical
Food Quality Management	20	Coursework

 

Elective modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Global Issues In Nutrition And Health	20	Practical
Issues In Sports Nutrition	20	Practical