Nutrition and Food Science
UCAS Code: BD46
Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
Two science subjects including at least one of Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Maths. Acceptable second science subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Further Maths, Statistics, Psychology, Geography, Environmental Studies, Applied Science, Geology, Food Technology, Home Economics.
Access to HE Diploma
including relevant science units.
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
Two science subjects including at least one of Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Maths. Acceptable second science subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Further Maths, Statistics, Psychology, Geography, Environmental Studies, Applied Science, Geology, Food Technology, Home Economics.
Extended Project
In recognition of the excellent preparation that the Extended Project Qualification provides to students for University study, we now include achievement in the EPQ as part of a formal offer. Eligible applicants would receive two offers, our usual offer plus an alternative offer of a B in the EPQ and one grade lower in their A level subjects
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Two Higher Level science subjects at grade 5 including at least one of Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Maths. Acceptable second science subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Further Maths, Statistics, Psychology, Geography, Environmental Studies, Applied Science, Geology, Food Technology, Home Economics.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
including relevant science modules.
Scottish Higher
Two science subjects including at least one of Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Maths. Acceptable second science subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Further Maths, Statistics, Psychology, Geography, Environmental Studies, Applied Science, Geology, Food Technology, Home Economics.
UCAS Tariff
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About this course
The role of nutritionists within the food industry is increasingly important, as consumers grow more aware of the importance of healthy eating. Our BSc Nutrition and Food Science course will help you to understand the processes of food production and how these can be amended to create healthier products. It combines training in the science of nutrition with areas of food science and consumer studies. Additionally, the course is accredited by the Association for Nutrition (AfN), and after graduating you will be eligible to apply to become a registered associate nutritionist with the AfN via the direct entry pathway, providing a clear and respected marker of your status as a nutrition professional.
The University of Reading is a world authority on human nutrition, food chemistry, chemical engineering, microbiology and food law. Our staff are actively engaged in world-class research and will tailor their teaching to reflect changing trends and emerging technologies within the sector.
During the first year you will study the fundamentals of human nutrition, food chemistry, food microbiology, cell biology, genetics, human physiology, and psychology. You will then be able to build upon this knowledge by exploring areas such as public health nutrition, food choice and regulation, and the development of new products.
You will also gain experience of using key technical skills through sensory evaluation, laboratory-based practicals and work in our pilot-scale food processing plant. During your final year you will carry out an original project as part of one of our existing research groups, enabling you to work alongside world authorities in areas such as food and human health.
**Careers**
Food is Europe's largest and most buoyant industry, and there is a constant demand for graduates with knowledge of technical skills and ways to tackle the latest consumer issues.
As a graduate of this course, you will be recognised as a professional food scientist by the Institute of Food Science and Technology. You can embark on a career within the food industry or a related sector, working for companies such as PepsiCo, Marks & Spencer, Mars, Unilever and McCormick.
Additionally, you may decide to move into other areas, such as teaching, accountancy and environmental health. Our degrees are also a stepping stone to MSc or PhD study.
Modules
Samples modules may include:
*Composition and Properties of Foods
*Nutritional Epidemiology and Dietary Assessment
*Genes, Lifestyle and Nutrition (Nutrigenetics)
*Nutrition, Health and Disease
*Food Product Development
Check our website for more details of the course structure.
Tuition fees
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The Uni
University of Reading
School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy
What students say
We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.
How do students rate their degree experience?
The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Food sciences
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
Nutrition and dietetics
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.
Food & beverage studies
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
Allied health
What are graduates doing after six months?
This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
This is the subject you need to study if you want to become a dietician — an important job in the country’s healthcare sector, and the single most common job for nutrition graduates. We don’t have many graduates in nutrition every year and with the population becoming more aware of health and well-being and with many medical needs being addressed by the application of specific diets, this is likely to be an area of increasing demand in the future.
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Agriculture, food and related studies
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£23k
£25k
£27k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
Allied health
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£22k
£25k
£28k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.
It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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Graduate field commentary:
The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show
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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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