This course is available through the following application route(s)
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.
Graduates from the MSc Food Safety will:
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:
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.
| 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.
Part Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants: 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.
General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to MSc Food Safety:
| ROWCLASS | Apply to |
|---|---|
| showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt | D079 MSc Food Safety Master of Science Part-Time Commencing September 2026 Graduate Taught |