BSc in Food Science and Nutrition with Professional Studies

In BSc in Food Science and Nutrition with Professional Studies degree program is about gaining knowledge and understanding of key areas in relation to food production and consumption. Food Science concerns the 'fitness for purpose' of our food in terms of appearance (e.g. color and surface qualities, texture, flavor, and odor) and how these can be improved, alongside the physical, microbiological, and chemical aspects of our food, which may be harmful to human health and how these can be minimized.

Nutrition concerns the nutrient supply from foods necessary to support the human body in health and during ill health throughout all life stages. This degree emphasizes the inter-relationship between these areas and their equal importance in food production.

Course Structure

The subjects studied in this course are wide-ranging and include; food (biochemistry, chemistry, commodities, hygiene, marketing, microbiology, policy, processing, product development, psychology, quality, and safety), fundamental and clinical nutrition, human physiology, diet, and health as well as business innovation and entrepreneurship. Students must take the equivalent of three 40 CAT modules in each stage, including any compulsory modules.

Year Out (Professional Studies): All students will spend a minimum of 46 weeks in a work placement during which they will carry out some project-type work. Students will begin preparations for the placement in the first semester of Stage 2 and the placement will be assessed within the module Professional Studies.

Stage 1

• Microbiology for Food Scientists
• Chemistry for Food
• Sustainable Food Systems
• Composition of Foods
• Fundamentals of Nutrition and Physiology

Stage 2

• Principles of Food Quality
• Food Commodities Processing and Hygiene
• Industrial Food Analysis
• Food Innovation, Diet and Health

Stage 3

• Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• Nutrition Pathways in Health and Disease
• Food Supply Chain Safety and Security
• Research Project

Year Work Placement

• Professional Studies

Studying for a Food Science and Nutrition with Professional Studies degree at Queen's will assist you in developing the core skills and employment-related experiences that are valued by employers, professional organizations, and academic institutions.

Although the majority of our graduates are interested in pursuing careers in the food industry or health promotion, some develop careers in a wide range of other sectors. The following is a list of the major career sectors that have attracted our graduates in recent years:

• Food industry - graduate recruitment schemes
• Food industry - new product development
• Food industry - production management roles
• Food industry - quality management
• Food Retailers - food technology, food security, marketing, buying, supply chain management, and logistics
• Charities - health promotion
• Nutrition - assistant dietician in a hospital trust
• Teaching - Nutrition and Food Science

Lecturing

Consultancy - training and technical advice to the food industry

Research - industry research association

Research - Ph.D. studies

Employment Links

We regularly consult and develop links with a large number of employers including all those who provide work placement opportunities. These range from multinationals such as Moy Park and Sainsbury's to local companies such as Irwin's and Tayto.

Many companies provide support for the course and students by repeatedly offering 16 or 46-week work placements. Several such placements lead to employment for the students when they graduate.

Placement Employers

Our past students have also gained work placement with organizations such as Sainsbury's, Marks and Spencer, Kerry Group, Kraft Foods, Moy Park, Tayto, Ulster Cancer Foundation, hospital trusts, and many more.