Options with your subject: Food science

A degree in food science can lead to a range of jobs in sectors as diverse as engineering, retail, and health...

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

• Animal nutritionist
• Dietitian
• Food technologist
• Product/process development scientist
• Technical brewer

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

• Production manager
• Purchasing manager
• Quality manager
• Retail buyer

Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here. To find out what jobs would suit me, log in to My Prospects.

Work experience

Food scientist and technologist employers value work experience. If your course does not include an industrial placement, seeking work experience in the holidays would be useful. Any kind of role in a food science or food technology setting would develop your skills and allow you to demonstrate your passion for working with food.

Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships.

Typical employers

Food scientists usually work for major food manufacturers or within a government department developing food policy. They are also employed by retailers and food producers.

Land-based economies still play a large part in the UK and indeed the world's social and economic development. Food scientists work in a range of areas within this sector, which looks at agriculture and animal-related areas as well as fresh produce and retail.

The food and beverage manufacturing industry, which includes bakery, meat and poultry, offers a range of work, including biotechnological research. Food scientists can also find opportunities in the health sector, especially if you want to work as a dietitian.

Find information on employers in environment and agriculture, engineering and manufacturing, and other job sectors.

Skills for your CV

You will develop a good mix of subject-specific and technical skills, alongside transferable core skills such as analytical and problem-solving skills, as well as an ability to interpret data critically. Practical work helps your communication and teamworking skills, sharpening your attention to detail and ability to accurately record results.

Studying food science will also develop your ICT skills through experimental work and in the preparation and production of reports and assignments. Your numerical and statistical awareness will be improved through practical and theoretical work. Group or individual projects give you experience of time management and research skills.

Further study

Most food science graduates who choose to do further study take either a higher degree, which is useful for pursuing a career in research, or a professional qualification. Some study taught MSc courses in related or unrelated topics; some do a professional qualification such as a dietetics diploma (two years full time); others study a one-year Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), or Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) in Scotland, in order to become a teacher. Others find places on science-related PhDs.

For more information on further study and to find a course that interests you, see postgraduate study in the UK and search courses and research.

What do food science graduates do?

Almost two-thirds of food science graduates are employed six months after graduation. Of these, the majority (28%) enter the engineering sector, most as food and drink technologists, with a small number going into quality control and food production.

After finishing their degrees, one in five food science graduates go on to further study, either full time or while working.

Find out what other graduates are doing six months after finishing their degrees in What Do Graduates Do?  

Graduate destinations data from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

AGCAS

Written by AGCAS editors

Date: 

April 2012

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