Food Design and Innovation

Entry requirements

Applicants must:

(a) have gained

(i) an Honours or non-Honours degree from a University of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, or from a recognised national awarding body, or from an institution of another country which is recognised as being of an equivalent standard; or

(ii) an equivalent standard in a Postgraduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate or an approved alternative qualification;

and

In addition, applicants must have at least one year's work experience within the Food and Drink industry.

(b) provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English (GCSE grade C or equivalent).

In exceptional circumstances, as an alternative to (a) (i) or (a) (ii) and/or (b), where an individual has substantial and significant experiential learning, a portfolio of written evidence demonstrating the meeting of graduate qualities (including subject-specific outcomes, as determined by the Course Committee) may be considered as an alternative entrance route. Evidence used to demonstrate graduate qualities may not be used for exemption against modules within the programme.

Months of entry

September

Course content

Do you have a passion for the food and drinks industry? Do you have big ideas that you want to turn into reality? In today’s fast-moving world, product life cycles are getting shorter and new product and process development is needed to remain competitive. Enrich your understanding of consumer behaviour and design innovative solutions to give customers what they want on the MSc Food Design and Innovation course.

You will gain access to cutting edge consumer insight data and facilities allowing you to bring your ideas from conception to reality. Tackling current challenges facing the food and drinks industry, this extremely practical course has the potential to add unrivalled value to your business by enhancing your innovation and management capabilities.

You will discover first-hand how consumers shop and what this means for your future products and business with our virtual shopping Consumer Insight Lab. You will also have access to our award winning Academy restaurant and Food and Consumer Sensory Testing Suite (FACTS) with 14 development kitchens and 20 sensory booths using world leading Compusense sensory software to allow you to determine consumer preferences for a product or service. You can gain access to key market reports, for example Mintel and Passport Euromonitor helping you to use consumer trends to shape future innovations.

Designed in collaboration with key industry thought-leaders, by taking part in this course you will gain membership to the Institute of Hospitality and become part of a network of professionals whilst being supported and educated by industry experts and researchers.

Armed with insight, facilities and expertise and with practical assessment aimed towards your own unique business scenarios this course will help you to find solutions to your problems, get a step ahead of competitors in your business development and ultimately future proof your business. It's time to adapt, it's time to innovate, it's time to develop the products that consumers want.

Information for international students

English language requirements for international applicants

The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.

Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.