Food Process Engineering

During your studies, you'll apply engineering skills and knowledge to the specialist requirements of the food and drink sector and gain a broad spectrum of expertise. You'll assess sustainability issues involved in food production and learn to apply a variety of solutions to food and drink sustainability problems.

You'll have the opportunity to learn from a comprehensive course structure, exploring topics in food and beverage biotechnology, processing, chemistry, toxicology, microbiology, nutrition, and biochemistry whilst also analysing emerging food products, and the life cycle of food production. During the Future Foods course and your summer Dissertation, you'll customise your learning by focusing in on a chosen subject as part of your individual research projects.

Beyond the science and engineering, you will work with your academics and peers to gain valuable transferable skills. You'll develop your team working ability, communication, time management, prioritisation, job seeking, and interview skills and techniques.

Upon completion of the programme, you will have the breadth and depth of knowledge in the necessary subjects required by the food and drink industry. You'll understand the underlying principles, concepts, theories, methods, and current and emerging developments in the food industry, which will equip you for life after graduation.

Your learning will be informed by the expertise of our research-active chemical and process engineers and academics, and our brewing and distilling scientists and academics. You’ll be taught by academics who have been employed within the Food Industry, with years of practical and professional experience in research and development.

96% of Heriot-Watt University’s engineering research was classed as world-leading in the REF 2021 review, which ranked us 1st in Scotland and 3rd in the UK for engineering research through a joint submission with the University of Edinburgh. 

Chemical and Process Engineering has been taught and researched at Heriot-Watt University for over 50 years. Heriot-Watt is ranked 2nd in Scotland and 8th in the UK for chemical engineering by the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide (2024). The MSc Food Process Engineering is directly informed by the world class research carried out by the Research Institute for Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering.

Research Institute for Biological, Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering focuses on four main themes:

• Biological Chemistry
• Bioengineering
• Brewing and Distilling

As part of the Institute of Life and Earth Sciences, our academics are involved in in food science research. You will learn directly from academics involved in world leading research focusing on the functional properties of food proteins, characterisation of beneficial food related phytochemicals, and nanomaterials in food.

The research relevance of this postgraduate programme ensures your studies remain innovative and industry focused. 

The MSc Food Process Engineering programme is taught though a combination of lectures, tutorials, and laboratory practicals, allowing you to get to know and build relationships with your teaching staff, academics, and peers. You will be evaluated by a variety of assessments, including coursework, exams, and your dissertation, and will receive support and feedback throughout the programme.  

During your studies, you’ll have access to our specialist equipment, software and laboratories used by industry, including both Brewing and Distilling facilities, e.g. our on-site nano-brewery (2 HL), distillery, and rectification laboratory, and Chemical and Process Engineering facilities, e.g. condensation rig, continuous stirred tank reactor, absorption columns, reactant distribution reactors, heat exchangers, distillation columns, absorption column, and fermenters.

You will have the opportunity to work on real-world problems, and work across disciplines to deliver practical solutions with global impact in our state-of-the-art GRID (Global Research Innovation and Discovery) facility.  

Outside of the classroom, there are various Process Engineering and Brewing and Distilling related societies which provide the opportunity to meet likeminded people, gain insights into industry and career opportunities, and get involved in regular social events and networking events. Societies include:

• Chemical Engineering Society 
• Engineers Without Borders, which is an international organisation of thousands of engineers around the world working to embed global responsibility into the heart of engineering 
• Brewing Society for those who enjoy brewing, drinking great beer or just like a good chin wag with fellow beer enthusiasts
• Cocktail Society, and Whisky Society to enjoy regular tastings, listen to special guest speakers from industry and learn more about Scotch whisky
• Foodie Society

You’ll have the opportunity to focus on the areas of food process engineering that interest you the most. You’ll follow a comprehensive curriculum studying courses including food biotechnology, future foods, food processing, and beverage microbiology and biochemistry.

In semester three, you’ll undertake an extensive and specialised research investigation into your chosen area of food process engineering through your dissertation. You’ll be required to demonstrate your mastery of the subject area by constructing a series of experiments, surveys and investigations to obtain desired date and help formulate conclusions.

The programme is delivered on a full-time basis commencing in September each year. Your studies will last 12 months.

Having launched the programme for September 2024 entry, accreditation will be sought from the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST).