Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Health

General Information

This B.Sc. programme in Food Science and Health prepares graduates for careers in Ireland’s largest industry. About 40,000 people are employed in the food industry which generates an annual gross output of approximately €15.6 billion.

The Government has targeted the food sector as being of great strategic importance, capable of generating considerably more wealth and employment.

Since there is a direct link between diet and health, consumers are becoming more health conscious and are demanding higher quality foods that maintain health and prevent disease.This Food Science and Health degree programme has been developed to meet these needs among consumers, the food industry, academic and research organisations, and government agencies.

Students will find the study of Food Science and Health challenging and rewarding.They will combine the study of nutrition, human physiology and diet-health relationships with classical food science and technology. This broad-based degree programme covers such topics as:

• food science and technology
• food quality
• food ingredients
• food chemistry
• food microbiology
• diet and health
• food processing
• food safety
• project management
• human nutrition
• human physiology
• food biotechnology

Outside of the food sector, non-food uses of existing and new raw materials are also considered.

Course Structure

The programme is four years in duration.The course starts with basic science, developing key areas such as chemistry, biochemistry and microbiology, human nutrition and physiology, together with introductory food science and health.

In the third and fourth years there is a series of modules dealing with:

• Health and Food
• Food Chemistry
• Food Processing and Process Engineering
• Food Quality and Food Microbiology
• Food Ingredients
• Food Biotechnology

There are also elective modules in:

• Immunology
• Business Consulting
• Waste Management
• Exercise and Health
• Accounting
• Project Management

A project which is undertaken throughout the final year allows the in-depth analysis of a relevant topic that gives the student interested in postgraduate work the opportunity to carry out an initial exploration of a potential research topic.

During the Spring Semester of year three and the subsequent Summer, a period of Cooperative Education provides industrial work experience in a food enterprise.

For further details, log on to www.ul.ie/~ls

Entry Requirements

Applicants are required to hold at the time of enrolment the established Leaving Certificate (or an approved equivalent) with at least Grade C3 in two Higher Level subjects and Grade D3 in four Ordinary or Higher Level subjects (including Mathematics; Irish or another language; and English).

In addition applicants are required to hold at least the following in the Leaving Certificate or an approved equivalent: Grade C3 in Higher Level Mathematics and a Grade D3 in a Higher or Ordinary Level paper in any one of the following: Physics,Chemistry, Physics with Chemistry, Engineering,Technical Drawing/Design & Communication Graphics, Technology,Agricultural Science, Biology.
OR Grade B3 in Ordinary Level Mathematics (Grade D3 in Higher Level Mathematics also suffices) and Grade C3 in one of the following Higher Level papers:Applied Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Physics with Chemistry, Biology,Agricultural Science.

Students can also enter this programme of study via the Science Choice degree LM117. A Special Mathematics Examination will be offered at UL following the Leaving Certificate results for those students who did not achieve the Mathematics requirement.

Career Prospects

The programme will provide graduates with the expertise and experience to effectively contribute both to the technical and business development of the food industry.There is a continuing demand from the industry for graduates in a range of application areas, including:

• Food Science
• Food Microbiology
• New Product Development
• Process Development
• Technical Management
• Food Ingredients
• Food Safety
• Ready-to-use Foods
• Functional Foods/Nutraceuticals

UL Food Science and Health graduates find employment in a diverse range of key roles e.g. in new product and process development, in food biotechnology, food quality/safety assessment and assurance, added-value ingredient production, generation of convenience consumer foods, technical management, etc.

Outside of industry there are career opportunities in the public service and with regulatory agencies. In addition, the programme prepares graduates for postgraduate academic research.