Explore UCD

UCD Home >

MSc Food Safety

MSc (NFQ Level 9)

This course is available through the following application route(s)

Contact Us

This programme, which is underpinned by current and ongoing research, will give students a detailed understanding of the issues affecting food safety both from the perspective of the food industry and regulatory authorities, as well as enabling students to develop the necessary analytical skills and theoretical understanding to manage food safety programmes within global food companies or within national and international food safety regulatory agencies. This programme is designed for and will appeal to Science or Technology graduates who currently don’t have a qualification in Food Safety, as well as professionals who are currently working in the Food Industry, that wish to upskill and further develop their expertise in food safety.

Delivered by leading international experts from the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science and the UCD Institute of Food and Health the MSc Food Safety will develop committed and interdisciplinarily trained graduates skilled in the area of Food Safety in the context of the broader food industry

Modules include a mixture of autonomous student learning, course work, and lectures. The course is assessed by a combination of assignments, in-trimester continuous assessment exercises, and end-of-trimester examinations.

Modules for students enrolling in this programme include: • Advanced Food Safety and Security • Bioinformatics in Food Safety • Food Chain Integrity • Food Microbiology and Safety • Food Preservation • Food Safety Project • Food Security: Food Access and Availability • Microbiology • One Health • Precision Food Safety in the Genomics Era • Quantitative Risk Assessment for Human and Animal Health • Research Design and Statistics • Risk Analysis in Food Safety • Traceability and Authenticity in Food Supply

This programme is delivered and assessed entirely online. The minimum registration to the MSc is two years, however, students have four years in which to complete the programme thereby affording flexibility. The online format of the programme enables students enrolled to combine studying while in employment.

About This Course

Graduates from the MSc Food Safety will:

  • Demonstrate a critical awareness of principles relating to scientific integrity and ethical issues in Food Safety.
  • Develop core principles of Food Safety from a consumer and policy perspective.
  • Develop Knowledge of background of Food Safety and regulation.
  • Familiarity with process of Risk Analysis consisting of: Risk Assessment, Risk Management, and Risk Communication.
  • Identify and knowledge of hazards in the food supply chain.
  • Integrate and apply knowledge of key principles underlying Food Safety.
  • Understanding of development of Food Safety from farm to fork.
  • Use the principles of scientific inquiry to research a particular Food Safety issue.

The UCD MSc in Food Safety positions graduates for leadership roles in this critically important area for the Irish and Global economy.

There are excellent career opportunities for graduates in advisory, technical, and management roles both within the food industry, government organisations, and regulatory agencies.

Graduate Roles include:

  • Food Regulation
  • Food Safety and Risk Analysis
  • Food Safety Research
  • Policy Development
  • Scientific Analyst

Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Options - A)25CR:
All students must take the 25 credits of core modules listed below over 2-4 years of the programme. Students should take FDSC40500, FDSC40520, FDSC40530, and FDSC40950 in their first Autumn trimester of Year 1. These modules are pre-requisites for several Spring modules.
 FDSC40500 Chemistry of Nutrients Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A)25CR:
All students must take the 25 credits of core modules listed below over 2-4 years of the programme. Students should take FDSC40500, FDSC40520, FDSC40530, and FDSC40950 in their first Autumn trimester of Year 1. These modules are pre-requisites for several Spring modules.
 FDSC40520 Food Microbiology & Safety Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A)25CR:
All students must take the 25 credits of core modules listed below over 2-4 years of the programme. Students should take FDSC40500, FDSC40520, FDSC40530, and FDSC40950 in their first Autumn trimester of Year 1. These modules are pre-requisites for several Spring modules.
 FDSC40530 Principles of Biochemistry Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A)25CR:
All students must take the 25 credits of core modules listed below over 2-4 years of the programme. Students should take FDSC40500, FDSC40520, FDSC40530, and FDSC40950 in their first Autumn trimester of Year 1. These modules are pre-requisites for several Spring modules.
 FDSC40950 Food Health and Diet Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A)25CR:
All students must take the 25 credits of core modules listed below over 2-4 years of the programme. Students should take FDSC40500, FDSC40520, FDSC40530, and FDSC40950 in their first Autumn trimester of Year 1. These modules are pre-requisites for several Spring modules.
 FDSC40990 Food Safety Project Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B)50CR:
Group 1 Option Modules: Students must take all option modules from the following list (50 credits) over 2-4 years of the programme.
 FDSC40900 Food Microbiology Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - B)50CR:
Group 1 Option Modules: Students must take all option modules from the following list (50 credits) over 2-4 years of the programme.
 FDSC40970 Food Safety Genomics Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - B)50CR:
Group 1 Option Modules: Students must take all option modules from the following list (50 credits) over 2-4 years of the programme.
 FDSC41020 Food Security Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - B)50CR:
Group 1 Option Modules: Students must take all option modules from the following list (50 credits) over 2-4 years of the programme.
 HNUT40100 Food Regulatory Affairs (O/L) Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - B)50CR:
Group 1 Option Modules: Students must take all option modules from the following list (50 credits) over 2-4 years of the programme.
 HNUT40130 Research Design and Statistics Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - B)50CR:
Group 1 Option Modules: Students must take all option modules from the following list (50 credits) over 2-4 years of the programme.
 FDSC40540 Food Process Technology Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B)50CR:
Group 1 Option Modules: Students must take all option modules from the following list (50 credits) over 2-4 years of the programme.
 FDSC40710 Bioinformatics in Food Safety Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B)50CR:
Group 1 Option Modules: Students must take all option modules from the following list (50 credits) over 2-4 years of the programme.
 FDSC40890 Animal Foods Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B)50CR:
Group 1 Option Modules: Students must take all option modules from the following list (50 credits) over 2-4 years of the programme.
 FDSC40940 Food Toxicology Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B)50CR:
Group 1 Option Modules: Students must take all option modules from the following list (50 credits) over 2-4 years of the programme.
 FDSC41050 One Health O/L Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - C)15CR:
Group 2 Option Modules: Students must take 15 credits of option modules from the following list over 2-4 years of the programme.
 FDSC40920 Plant Foods Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - C)15CR:
Group 2 Option Modules: Students must take 15 credits of option modules from the following list over 2-4 years of the programme.
 FDSC40980 Sustainability in Diet Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - C)15CR:
Group 2 Option Modules: Students must take 15 credits of option modules from the following list over 2-4 years of the programme.
 FDSC41030 Food Chain Integrity O/L Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - C)15CR:
Group 2 Option Modules: Students must take 15 credits of option modules from the following list over 2-4 years of the programme.
 FDSC41040 Environmental Food Processing Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - C)15CR:
Group 2 Option Modules: Students must take 15 credits of option modules from the following list over 2-4 years of the programme.
 HNUT40110 Food Quality and Safety (O/L) Spring  5

Laura Kelly - MSc Food Safety; Assistant Quality Manager at Kelly's Bakery

I chose the MSc Food Safety course to further my career and build upon my background in Quality Assurance and my current role as a Quality Manager in the food industry. Having worked in Quality Assurance since completing my BSc, I aimed to deepen my understanding of food safety principles to enhance my professional capabilities and advance my career prospects. The part-time structure of the MSc Food Safety program allows me to balance my full-time job while advancing my education. I am finding the course excellent, with a diverse range of modules to choose from, catering to various interests and specialisations within the field. The lecturers are highly supportive and understanding of other life commitments, helping to accommodate assignment deadlines and workloads. The course content is highly relevant to my work, providing valuable insights and practical skills that I can directly apply to ensure the highest standards of food safety in my organisation.

MSc Food Safety (D079) Part Time
EU/NONEU    fee per credit - € 125.1

***Fees are subject to change

  • Applicants must hold a minimum of a second-class level 8 degree, or international equivalent, in a cognate subject (Science, Engineering, or related discipline) and/or have considerable relevant work experience in the Agri-Food industry.
  •  Applicants who do not hold the requisite Science qualification (but who hold a Level 8 Honours degree or equivalent) have been admitted previously and are advised to submit an application for assessment by the Programme Director to determine eligibility.
  •  Applicants with other awards who hold substantial relevant work experience will be considered.
  • Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (no band less than  6.0 in each element), or equivalent.

Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes


This programme is suitable for individuals working full-time in the food industry charged with improving the safety and security of food systems as well as recent graduates of Science and Technology from areas such as Agriculture, Bioinformatics, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology who are interested in enhancing their knowledge in the area of Food Safety.


Print this page

General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to MSc Food Safety:

ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt D079
MSc Food Safety
Master of Science		 Part-Time
Commencing 2024/2025 September		 Graduate Taught Apply
* you can change options at the top of the page
Contact UsOpen Days & EventsDownload Brochure
Fill in the following details:
Enter the body of your query here.

From time to time UCD would like to send you further information that we feel, based on your enquiry, would be of interest to you.