Food & Nutrition - Online

The food and drink industry is a global business that is thriving; the food industry in the UK alone contributes almost £90 billion to the economy. While career opportunities within food and nutrition continue to expand, there is still a worldwide shortage of qualified graduates with food and nutrition knowledge and skills.



A major aim of the PgCert /PgDip /MSc course in Food and Nutrition is to provide students with an academically challenging and professionally relevant programme of study which will enable them to pursue a career in the area of food and nutrition. The course is aimed especially at those interested in the relationships between food, nutrition and health, who wish to pursue the wide variety of career opportunities within this challenging and rewarding environment.



This course is accredited by the Institute of Food Science and Technology.



The Food and Nutrition MSc programme has the option of being taken as distance learning (which is fully online) or as blended learning (which mixes online modules with on campus provision). All students would be offered an on campus induction (optional).



Students undertaking the programme by blended learning would be required to attend campus 1 day per week in each semester for on-campus taught modules. Those undertaking the MSc in full-time mode would complete a research project either on-campus or by distance learning; on-campus this would require students to attend the campus at least 3 days per week during the semester in which the research project runs.

Year one

• Risk Analysis

• International Food Regulatory Affairs

• Food and Health

• Nutrition and Health Claims in the UK and Europe

• Food and Nutrition Research Project

• Nutritional Controversies

• Nutritional Assessment

• Research Methods and Biostatistics for Food and Nutrition

• Nutritional Assessment

• Supply Chain Management Applied to Functional Foods

A second class honours degree or better from a university of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, or from a recognised national awarding body, or from an institution of another country which has been recognised as being of an equivalent standard; or an equivalent standard (normally 50%) in a Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate, Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma or an approved alternative qualification. In exceptional circumstances, as an alternative entrance route an individual who has substantial and significant demonstrable experiential learning may be considered.



Relevant subject degree areas include biology, biochemistry, food and nutrition, food science, human nutrition, physiology or other relevant degree discipline. Applicants must also demonstrate evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE grade C or equivalent).



English Language Requirements

English language requirements for international applicants

The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement



Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.

The Food and Nutrition MSc programme has the option of being taken as distance learning (which is fully online) or as blended learning (which mixes online modules with on campus provision). All students would be offered an on campus induction (optional).

Start Date: September 2025

Career options

The academic content of the programme helps students to develop knowledge and understanding of key topics relevant to food and nutrition, developing creative and critical thinking, research and development skills, project planning, data analysis and the application of key aspects of food regulatory affairs including policy and legislative aspects. The enhanced skills base provided by this programme will lead to excellent employment opportunities in government (EU and international) and non-government organisations, and in the local, European and international agri-food industry.