Overview
As we strive to meet increasing global demands, the safety and authenticity of the food we eat and the hygiene of food premises that manufacture, prepare and serve food is of paramount importance. This is reflected in the work of government agencies, regulatory bodies and local councils who have responsibility for food safety. Individual food producers, suppliers and catering outlets also require knowledge and understanding of their responsibilities and legal requirements.
This course has been designed for people who have a passion for food safety and integrity, food inspection, regulation and global food developments and want to make a difference to upholding and improving the quality of the food we eat.
The second year of this degree covers the academic content of the Higher Certificate in Food Control, which needs to be completed by anyone who wishes to develop their career in Food Inspection, recognised by Local Government and the Food Standards Agency. Once the content has been successfully completed, you will be required to pass professional interviews with examiners from the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) and to complete a logbook of field practice – this can be expected to take an additional year.
The course is designed to be practical in nature and gives you opportunities to put the skills you develop in to practice in real world settings, for example previous students have undertaken inspections of food and food premises. We also use simulation to develop the skills you will need in industry, for example preparing and presenting a court prosecution case.
Our multimillion pound Alison Gingell Building features a suite of analytical and biological laboratories where you can gain hands-on experience in food safety, inspection and analytical techniques.
Why Coventry University?
An award-winning university, we are committed to providing our students with the best possible experience. We continue to invest in both our facilities and our innovative approach to education. Our students benefit from industry-relevant teaching, and resources and support designed to help them succeed. These range from our modern library and computing facilities to dedicated careers advice and our impressive Students’ Union activities.
COVID-19
The University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via emerging online technologies and methods across all courses. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2020/2021 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.
Due to the ongoing restrictions relating to Covid-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.
Global ready
An international outlook, with global opportunitiesEmployability
Career-ready graduates, with the skills to succeedTeaching Excellence
Taught by lecturers who are experts in their fieldCourse essentials
A degree which offers you more, at no extra costAccreditation and Professional Recognition
This course is accredited and recognised by the following bodies:
Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH)
Chartered Institute of Environmental Health
Eligibility for membership of the CIEH upon successful completion of the Higher Certificate in Food Control academic content, professional log book and professional interview. Additional costs may apply. Please check with the membership body for details.
Our Facilities
Ambulance
Our facilities include a mock ambulance, which students can use as part of their studies, to help simulate the patient journey. This gives students the opportunity to learn in situations that mirror real life scenarios.
Strength and Conditioning Suite
Our multi-purpose suite is equipped with multiple Olympic lifting platforms, a 20m gait analysis track, an anti-gravity treadmill and even a 3D motion capture system!
SuperLab
The Alison Gingell building contains a state-of-the-art SuperLab, capable of holding up to 270 people at once. The lab's facilities include equipment for microscopy, DNA analysis and forensic testing.
Course information
The course includes the academic content for the CIEH accredited Higher Certificate in Food Control (HCFC).
This must be supplemented with a professional log book (which may be completed during an appropriate Sandwich year placement or after graduation) and professional interview to meet the requirements of the CIEH.
Course specification
Download PDF (183kb)
Modules
We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.
In more detail...
The Food Safety, Inspection and Control degree is a versatile course which encompasses a variety of food issues with both a UK and international focus. The areas which we cover include Food Regulation and Law, Food Microbiology, Food Inspection, Hygiene Management, Food Fraud and Global Food Sustainability.
This course also incorporates the academic content of the Higher Certificate of Food Control, the baseline qualification for food hygiene and standards, official controls and the inspection of food premises within the UK.
There is a big emphasis on practice during this degree and our teaching team aim to impart their own research and professional experience into their teaching, alongside organised visits from practitioners and professionals from industry and various regulatory authorities. There are opportunities within the course to undertake practical inspections of food and food premises and to prepare and present a court prosecution case, together with many more practically based teaching sessions. This course aims to help prepare graduates for future careers within the food industry, with regulatory bodies and as food inspectors.
The University has links with a number of Local Authorities and food industries who we ask to attend as guest lectures and they also assist in offering site visits. We are planning to have guest lecturers from Birmingham City Council to talk about Food Enforcement and Food Fraud. We also plan on having a number of site visits to different sectors of the food industry from farm to manufacturer to caterer.
Some of the links we have may also offer professional placements upon successful application, with opportunities to spend an optional enhancement year in industry in the UK or overseas. There are also opportunities to attend conferences and local authority CPD run events (additional costs may apply).
This course can be studied full-time over three years, or over four years with an optional enhancement year after the second year. This optional enhancement year can be spent either studying abroad or on professional placement in an appropriate food safety setting with either a local authority or food industry partner*. The optional enhancement year is available to all students to apply for and acceptance is subject to the partner institution or company.
Each module is supported by online material to help prepare you for your taught sessions and to assist with your personal study.
Where possible, coursework uses applied tasks that mimic the skills needed in jobs to help ensure you are attractive to future employers, such as collection and interpretation of food safety policies and real life inspection scenarios. The course also offers the opportunity for numerous practical industry visits and fieldtrips e.g. visits to food manufacturers.
Teaching methods include: lectures, workshops, tutorials, presentations, group and individual problem-based learning projects, and practical case studies and application.
This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will could vary depending upon the module. Assessment methods include coursework, tests, essays, practical or project work, formal examinations, group work, presentations and posters.
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards the achieving the intended learning outcomes. Assessments may include exams, individual assignments or group work elements.
On successful completion, you will be able to:
- Apply both theoretical and practical scientific concepts in food science, technology, nutrition, microbiology, epidemiology and food law to analyse food related risks to human health and to develop creative solutions that ensure a safe and sustainable global food supply chain.
- Integrate theory and practice by practical inspection of food and food premises, applying current national and international food hygiene and standards legislation.
- Demonstrate knowledge meeting the academic requirements of the CIEH syllabus for the Higher Certificate in Food Control (HCFC).
- Plan, conduct, analyse and report the results of research based practical scientific investigations including due regard for health and safety and ethical considerations.
- Access and critically evaluate information to develop reasoned and balanced arguments pertaining to local, national and global food safety and control topics, challenge opinion and communicate ideas effectively in written, verbal and digital formats.
- Work effectively within a team, demonstrate leadership and team management skills and communicate effectively with a diverse range of individuals and organisations.
- Demonstrate knowledge and skills, including appropriate professional conduct relevant for future employment within a control related profession (i.e. government control bodies, local government control authorities or private sector auditing/certification or consultation).
- Demonstrate self-management and independent learning skills that are transferable to graduate level/professional employment.
In a typical teaching week, you will have up to 20 ‘contact’ hours of teaching. This generally breaks down as:
- Personal tutorial/small group teaching
- Medium group teaching
- Large group teaching
In addition, you will be expected to undertake a further 20 hours of self-directed study each week e.g. working on coursework assignments.
Food safety practice takes place in higher education institutions, regulatory bodies and industry throughout the world. This international perspective is reflected in a number of modules on the course, which deal with issues of global importance, such as epidemiology and food borne illness, food fraud, food inspection and global food security and sustainability.
There may also be an opportunity for you to apply to spend your optional enhancement year in an international setting, should a suitable international partner be identified. In addition, there are also opportunities to attend an international food safety conference.
The course provides the opportunities for online collaboration with overseas institutions on a joint problem-based learning assignment. An OIL (Online International Learning) opportunity will be provided for students included either within the Level 1 skills modules or our Food Law module 1002 BMS.
Global ready
Did you know we help more students travel internationally than any other UK university according to data from the experts in higher education data and analysis, HESA?
In 2018/19, we were able to provide a total of 5,469 experiences abroad that lasted at least five days.
Much of this travel is made possible through our Global Leaders Programme, which enables students to prepare for the challenges of the global employment market, as well as strengthening and developing their broader personal and professional skills.
Explore our international experiences1st for
international experiences
Sending more students overseas than any other UK uni 2016/17
5,469
Student experiences
The number of student trips abroad for at least 5 days in 2018/19
12,000
and counting
The number of students we’ve helped travel internationally since 2016
12
global programmes
As well as trips, we offer other opportunities like language courses
Entry Requirements
Tuition Fees
We pride ourselves on offering competitive tuition fees which we review on an annual basis and offer a wide range of scholarships to support students with their studies. Course fees are calculated on the basis of what it costs to teach each course and we aim for total financial transparency.
For more information, please visit our Finance pages.
Course essentials at no extra cost
We're committed to communicating study costs clearly to make sure you're not faced with having to make any unexpected payments.
This is why our ‘Flying Start’ package provides you with a few course essentials. Your full-time fee for an undergraduate degree will cover the following:
UK field trips
Any mandatory site visits and trips within the United Kingdom.Key material
This can include core textbooks, software and equipment.Laser prints
1,000 A4 sides of black and white laser printing credits per year.Optional year
Pay no tuition fees for optional work placements or study abroad trips.EU student fees
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year remain eligible for the same fees as home students and the same financial support. Financial support comes from Student Finance England, and covers undergraduate and postgraduate study for the duration of their course, providing they meet the residency requirement.
For tuition fee loans
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year must have resided in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland for the three years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that three year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
For maintenance loans
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year must have resided in the UK and Islands for the five years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that five year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
Career prospects
Graduate Immigration Route visa
Based on current information from the UK Government, international students whose study extends beyond summer 2021 may be eligible for a visa under the UK Government’s Graduate Immigration Route, which will enable students to stay and work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for up to two (2) years. Check the most up to date guidance available to check your eligibility and any updates from the UK Government before making an application or enrolment decision.
This course is designed to meet the needs of the food industry and regulatory agencies by covering skills including: how to assess food safety risks, advise on food hygiene and safety, inspect food and food premises, and understand and apply legislation relating to food.
We aim to share knowledge about how technologies will aid the food quality assurance process, and the problems of maintaining a sustainable global food chain. In addition, there will be opportunities for you to develop skills in problem solving, team work and effective communication that may be applicable to non-discipline specific graduate career routes.
The course includes the academic content for the CIEH accredited Higher Certificate in Food Control (HCFC). This must be supplemented with a professional log book (which may be completed during an appropriate placement year or after graduation) and professional interview to meet the requirements of the CIEH.
Coventry University is committed to preparing you for your future career and giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market. The university’s Talent Team provide a wide range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your career.
Disclaimer
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2020/21 Contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.
The tuition fee for the course that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For UK and EU students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation. Following the UK’s exit from the European Union, EU students should be aware that there may be a change to UK laws following the UK’s exit, this may change their student status, their eligibility to study part time, and/or their eligibility for student finance. We will act in accordance with the UK’s laws in force in relation to student tuition fees and finance from time to time.
For International students the tuition fee that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For international students, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation.
