Food, Nutrition and Health

Overview

The programme is suitable for graduates with no formal educational background in food science or nutrition, who wish to up-skill and become competent and employable in this increasingly important and rapidly evolving field. Graduates will be educated to a high level in the science of food as it pertains to human nutrition and health.

This programme is hosted by the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science and brings together academic and research staff from across UCD in health-related aspects of food research, including food science, human and public health nutrition, food production, biosystems engineering, food law, consumer behaviour and food safety. 

Students will gain an understanding of the nature of food, how it is produced, how it is affected by processing, why we eat, what happens to food when we eat it, and how food components can interact with the functioning of humans. Upon completion of the programme graduates will be able to apply this knowledge to address nutrition-related problems in different groups, cultures and societies.

This programme is delivered and assessed entirely on-line. The minimum registration to the MSc is two years, however students have four years in which to complete the programme thereby affording flexibility. 

Students can complete a Prof. Diploma or Prof. Certificate and advance to MSc over time. 

The flexible and online format of the programme enables the majority of students enrolling on the programme to combine studying while in employment.

Career Opportunities. 

There are excellent job prospects for graduates in Food, Nutrition and Health with graduates working in a range of roles across the food industry, public health and regulatory agencies.  Graduates have the distinct advantage of bringing a nutrition or health perspective to their roles.  

• Within the food industry graduates will work in areas such as product innovation, technical sales, product quality enhancement with the distinct advantage of bringing a nutrition perspective to all aspects of the food industry including product development, marketing and sales.
• Within public health and regulatory agencies graduates will work in the areas of nutrition and health promotion or food labelling regulation.