UCD Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine Programme Office

Oifig Chlár Eolaíocht na Talmhaíochta agus an Leighis Tréidliachta, UCD

Food Science

Interested in food, nutrition and what you eat? Want to develop new food products? Then feed your mind with a degree in Food Science!

Degree: BSc (Food Science)

Direct entry CAO Code: DN261

Length of Programme: 4 years.

Required Subjects: Irish, English, Mathematics, one laboratory science subject, two other recognised subjects.

Introduction
Food Science focuses on the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of food along the entire production chain from farm to plate. This degree programme develops your scientific knowledge in how to produce high quality, safe and healthy foods. As a food scientist you will have a role to play in all technical and managerial aspects of the food chain from product development and production to distribution and marketing.

Our degree programme is unique in that it ensures you have a broad knowledge of food production on-farm and thus the constraints and opportunities for developing different types of food products. Core modules include nutrition, food chemistry and microbiology and specific modules on food products, packaging and new product development.

Find out what current students think of the programme by clicking here.

Career Opportunities
It is no understatement that as a graduate of this degree programme you will have excellent employment prospects both nationally and internationally. Our graduates work in areas such as: production management, food quality, food safety, new product development and research, nutrition, sales and marketing, and processing technology.

Employers range from the major international corporations to small and medium size enterprises in such areas of the food sector as convenience foods, beverages, baked products, food ingredients, meat/dairy products and fresh fruit/vegetable production.

Programme Objectives

· an understanding of foods, the food industry and the underlying sciences;

· an understanding of food production and processing systems and how the components are integrated and managed in a sustainable manner (the ‘Farm to Fork’ concept);

· an understanding of all aspects of food safety and quality, the context in which the Irish food industry operates, and its relevance in the European and world-wide provision of safe, healthy foods;

· an ability to contribute to all aspects of the food industry from production to product development and from processing through to marketing.

As well as providing you with the principles, knowledge and skills directly related to Food Science, this degree programme is also designed to develop your transferable skills, such as:

● the ability to think analytically, solve problems, and be creative; and

● a range of information technology and communication skills plus interpersonal and

professional development skills which can be used in many areas of professional

employment.

Programme Content
Year 1 is focused on understanding the core sciences needed. There is also an introduction to the Food Science programme, which gives you a flavour of the degree in the following years.

Year 2 covers the applied sciences required for Food Science such as food physics and food analysis, chemistry and biochemistry, as well as principles of agricultural production to develop your understanding of raw materials.

Year 3 concentrates on the major Food Science modules including: human nutrition, food chemistry and food engineering.

The final year is products based with modules on the technology and chemistry of meat, dairy, cereal products and beverages, and special modules on food safety and marketing.

Throughout the programme, you start to get direct experience of food production and processing techniques through sensory analysis, product development exercises, a research project and Professional Work Experience.

It is important that you study the programme syllabus before making your final choice

click here for year 1 programme modules and descriptions.

Professional Work Experience
Ten weeks Professional Work Experience is an integral part of the programme and takes place within food related businesses during the summer of year 3. Not only does this help you develop your skills but it also allows you to develop contacts in the sector which can lead to employment following graduation.

Facilities
Food Science is superbly equipped in the area of food manufacturing with world class wet and dry processing laboratories and excellent sensory analysis facilities. There are also quality control, food microbiology and food physics labs and extensive student computer facilities.

Transfer/Progression Applications
The programme accepts a number of transferees from Institutes of Technology who have completed relevant Higher Certificate/Ordinary Degree Programmes. Details are available from the Programme Office, contact numbers below.

Further Information: Agricultural Science and Veterinary Medicine Programme Office

Room G10 (ground floor),

UCD Agriculture and Food Science Centre

University College Dublin

Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

Tel: +353 1 716 7194

Fax: +353 1 716 1118

Email: agandvet@ucd.ie

Website: www.ucd.ie/agandvet