Food Science (BSc (Hons)) at University College Cork

If you are interested in developing new innovative food products to meet the demands of the modern consumer, be it in the areas of healthy eating, athletic performance and disease prevention, the BSc in Food Science is the perfect course for you.  The diverse scope of subjects covered provides students with a unique blend of scientific and technical skills designed to meet the needs of careers in the food industry, ranging from research and development to food processing and production. 

A six-month work-placement period forms an integral part of the course and will give you the opportunity to work in industry, thus gaining real-world experience and acquiring key transferable skills in communication, management and organisation.

This degree programme provides you with a unique blend of scientific and technical skills, workplace experience and food innovation skills.

Graduates from this course have excellent employment prospects and are highly sought after by national and international food companies.

A strong emphasis is placed on applied aspects of food science, and the work placement allows you to get a taste of what working in the food industry is like at an early stage in your career. Many companies who host students as part of the work-placement programme recruit those students when they graduate.

The BSc in Food Science has been accredited by the Institute of Food Science and Technology (UK).

Placement or Study Abroad Information

In Year 3, you will have a 24-week work placement in the food industry, during which you will have the opportunity to make a significant contribution to a relevant project under the supervision of an industrial and UCC mentor.

This placement period is a key part of the course and gives you the opportunity to gain industry experience and acquire key transferable skills in communication, management, organisation and presentation. This provides you with a great advantage for employment and career development.

Skills and Careers Information

Graduates from this course have a strong track record of acquiring senior positions in national and international food companies. A study by the Careers Service, UCC, indicated that in 2016 81% of graduates had gone straight to employment.

Graduates are equipped to work in a wide range of positions such as food production and management, quality assurance, food research and food product and process innovation and development.

In addition, graduates have many opportunities to advance to MSc and PhD courses.