Food Science BSc (Hons)
Study level: Undergraduate
Focused on food production, new product design, food analysis and food safety, this course provides an opportunity to prepare for a career as a food scientist in the largest manufacturing industry in the UK.
Year of entry
Location
Coventry University (Coventry)
Study mode
Full-time
Sandwich
Duration
3 years full-time
4 years sandwich
Course code
DB64
Start date
September 2023
January 2024
Course overview
Food affects every person every day and, as such, there is a large regulatory framework overseeing the food industry.
Graduates are needed across the food chain from raw material inspection, production and processing through to final product evaluation.
- A focus on practice-led teaching means you will have opportunity to develop the analytical and practical skills required by employers – working with accuracy and precision to obtain data and results relevant to the skills being taught.
- The course provides an opportunity to develop an understanding of the complex commercial nature of the industry, as well as the interactions between food composition, metabolism, diet, health, and consumer science.
- Research-informed teaching brings real life examples and case studies into lecture discussions and tutorials.

Joint Top Modern University for Career Prospects
Guardian University Guide 2021 and 2022
5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities
QS Stars University Ratings
Top 5 UK Student City (Coventry)
QS Best Student Cities Index 2023Why you should study this course
- Gain hands-on experience of a wide range of industry techniques in our state-of-the-art laboratories based in the multi-million-pound Alison Gingell Building4.
- Specialist industry-standard facilities include analytical equipment such as GC, GC-MS, ICP and HPLC, in addition to access to food science facilities for rheological and texture profile analysis of food and drink as well as tasting sessions2.
- Our current experienced teaching team bring a range of professional and research expertise into their teaching. Having worked as food scientists, public and environmental health professionals and nutritionists for both governmental and local councils as well as working in the food industry, they ensure you receive up-to-date information and can help you begin to establish your professional networks (staff may be subject to change).
for Food Science in
The Complete University Guide 2023
Accreditation and Professional Recognition
This course is accredited and recognised by the following bodies:

Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST)
This course is accredited1 by the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) for the 2023/2024 intake.
Owing to my international placement, I’ve been exposed to other cultures, different perspectives, ways of communication, not to mention forced to escape my comfort zone. It’s certainly been a life-changing experience, which has broadened my horizons and helped me to understand what it means to work in the product development sector.

What you'll study
This course has a common first year
The common first year enables you to work alongside students doing similar courses to you, to widen your knowledge and exposure to other subject areas and professions. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with other students, so you can share your insights and experience which will help you to develop and learn.
If you discover an interest in a specific subject you have studied, upon successful completion of your first year, you could swap degrees with another course in your common first year (subject to meeting progression requirements).
Common first year courses
- Food Safety, Inspection and Control BSc (Hons)
- Food Science BSc (Hons)
- Nutrition and Health BSc (Hons)
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.
How you'll learn
Our teaching methods include lectures, seminars, tutorials, group work and practical skills sessions. Practical sessions will be taught in our SuperLab, analytical laboratory and teaching kitchens4.
Teaching contact hours
Depending on the year of study you will typically have between 9-18 hours of structured weekly teaching and learning hours which may include activities such as workshops, laboratories, online tutorials, seminars and lectures. This will be supported by a weekly course programme hour with your tutors. In addition, you will be expected to undertake around 18 hours of self-directed study each week.
As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2023/2024 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.
Assessment
This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.
Assessment methods include:
- Tests
- Essays
- Group work
- Presentations
- Reports
- Projects
- Coursework
- Individual Assignments
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.
International experience opportunities
Our placement/study abroad option allows a full year work placement, which can be taken abroad, or you can undertake a study year abroad2. Previous students in our school have been successful in securing places to study in Spain, France, Canada and the US.
This course typically attracts international students, providing a diverse learning experience. This enhances the discussion of issues such as globalisation of foods and provides all students with a global perspective of developments in food, health and nutrition.
Please note that all international experience opportunities may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability and meeting applicable visa and travel requirements are therefore not guaranteed2.
Working in state-of-the-art laboratories, full of industry-standard equipment is what excites me the most.

Entry requirements
Typical offer for 2023/24 entry.
Fees and funding
2023/24 tuition fees.
Student | Full-time | Part-time |
---|---|---|
UK | £9,250 per year | Not available |
International | £18,300 per year | Not available |
If you choose to do a work placement2, you should consider travel and living costs to cover this. There is also a tuition fee3 of £1,250 that will cover your academic support throughout your placement year.
For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see The University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.
We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.
The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:
- Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
- Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad)
-
How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?
We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the government's Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.
If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.
Facilities
This course is taught at the Coventry University campus, primarily in the Alison Gingell building. Our aim is to offer you sector-leading facilities4

SuperLab
Our state-of-the-art SuperLab can hold up to 250 students at one time and has facilities for cell and microbial culture and equipment for microscopy, DNA, RNA and protein extraction and analysis.

Analytical Chemistry Suite
The Analytical Chemistry Suite is a dedicated space for chemistry-based teaching. Students can complete ‘wet’ chemistry and preparatory work, complemented by a comprehensive suite of analytical equipment which includes ICP-OES, uHPLC, HPLC, Fluorescence Spectrometers, UV Spectrometers, GC, and GC-MS.

Kitchen facilities
You will use the kitchens for a variety of tasks where you develop understanding of food processing relevant to industry and local authority food inspection, including how risks are controlled, such as sous vide, investigating gas analysis of modified atmosphere packed products, and conducting a mock kitchen Inspection.
Careers and opportunities
The food industry encompasses a wide range of businesses, from some of the largest global multinational companies to a vast array of small to medium enterprises, involving manufacturing, processing, developing, importing and exporting.
Graduates are needed across the food chain from raw material inspection, production and processing through to final product evaluation. This degree aims to provide students who wish to work in any part of the food chain process, including the areas of food and nutritional sciences, with the knowledge and skills to evaluate and analyse food in respect of safety, quality and nutrition.
Coventry University is committed to preparing you for your future career and aims to give 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 career4.
A wide range of potential career opportunities may include fields such as food analysis and safety, product development, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, food production, biological and analytical research and postgraduate study.
My technical placement year in the dairy industry with Yeo Valley was an incredibly exciting experience. I have worked with a dedicated team and acquired valuable experience in industrial processing.

How to apply
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UK students
Full-time students applying to start in September 2023 can apply for this course through UCAS from 6 September 2022. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.
Part-time students should apply directly to the university.
If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.
Chat with our admissions team
Complete our contact form
-
International students
International codes:
HLSU252Full-time students applying to start in September 2023 should apply directly to the university.
How to applyFor further support for international applicants applying for an undergraduate degree view our International hub.
You can also download our International guide which contains lots of useful information about our courses, accommodation and tips for travel.
Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.
Chat with our admissions team
Complete our contact form
-
Disclaimers
Coventry University together with Coventry University London Campus, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the “University”) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.
1Accreditations
The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.
2UK and international opportunities
Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or International opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel COVID and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the visa requirements, please contact the International Office.
3Tuition fees
The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University 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.
For International Students, we may increase fees each year but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.
4Facilities
Due 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.
Student Contract
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. The 2023/24 Contract is currently being updated so please revisit this page before submitting your application. 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.
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