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.
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)20CR: Students must take the following 20 credits of Core Modules over the course of their registration. Core modules are pre-requisites for several Spring modules so please keep this in mind when planning your registration. |
FDSC40500 | Chemistry of Nutrients | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR: Students must take the following 20 credits of Core Modules over the course of their registration. Core modules are pre-requisites for several Spring modules so please keep this in mind when planning your registration. |
FDSC40520 | Food Microbiology & Safety | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR: Students must take the following 20 credits of Core Modules over the course of their registration. Core modules are pre-requisites for several Spring modules so please keep this in mind when planning your registration. |
FDSC40530 | Principles of Biochemistry | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - A)20CR: Students must take the following 20 credits of Core Modules over the course of their registration. Core modules are pre-requisites for several Spring modules so please keep this in mind when planning your registration. |
FDSC40950 | Food Health and Diet | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - B)10CR: Students must take 10 credits of option modules from the following list over their programme registration. |
FDSC40710 | Bioinformatics in Food Safety | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - B)10CR: Students must take 10 credits of option modules from the following list over their programme registration. |
FDSC40900 | Food Microbiology | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - B)10CR: Students must take 10 credits of option modules from the following list over their programme registration. |
FDSC40920 | Plant Foods | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - B)10CR: Students must take 10 credits of option modules from the following list over their programme registration. |
FDSC40970 | Food Safety Genomics | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - B)10CR: Students must take 10 credits of option modules from the following list over their programme registration. |
FDSC40980 | Sustainability in Diet | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - B)10CR: Students must take 10 credits of option modules from the following list over their programme registration. |
FDSC41020 | Food Security | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - B)10CR: Students must take 10 credits of option modules from the following list over their programme registration. |
HNUT40100 | Food Regulatory Affairs (O/L) | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - B)10CR: Students must take 10 credits of option modules from the following list over their programme registration. |
HNUT40130 | Research Design and Statistics | Autumn | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - B)10CR: Students must take 10 credits of option modules from the following list over their programme registration. |
FDSC40540 | Food Process Technology | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - B)10CR: Students must take 10 credits of option modules from the following list over their programme registration. |
FDSC40890 | Animal Foods | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - B)10CR: Students must take 10 credits of option modules from the following list over their programme registration. |
FDSC40940 | Food Toxicology | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - B)10CR: Students must take 10 credits of option modules from the following list over their programme registration. |
FDSC41030 | Food Chain Integrity O/L | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - B)10CR: Students must take 10 credits of option modules from the following list over their programme registration. |
FDSC41040 | Environmental Food Processing | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - B)10CR: Students must take 10 credits of option modules from the following list over their programme registration. |
FDSC41050 | One Health O/L | Spring | 5 |
Stage 1 Options - B)10CR: Students must take 10 credits of option modules from the following list over their programme registration. |
HNUT40110 | Food Quality and Safety (O/L) | Spring | 5 |
Laura Kelly
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.
The course is aimed at
1)Individuals working full-time in the food industry charged with improving sustainability of food systems.
2) Recent graduates with a BSc. in areas such as Science, Agriculture, Nutrition and Environmental Sciences, as a means of differentiating themselves from other graduates in this area and thus increasing their employability.
Applicants must hold a minimum of a Second Class Honors degree (NFQ Level 8 or international equivalent) in a cognate subject (Science, Engineering or related discipline).
Applicants with other awards who hold substantial relevant work experience will also be considered.
Applicants who do not hold the requisite Science qualification (but who hold a Level 8 Honors degree or equivalent) have been admitted previously and are advised to submit an application for assessment by the Programme Director to determine eligibility
Part Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants: Yes
General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Graduate Certificate Food Safety:
| ROWCLASS | Apply to |
|---|---|
| showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt | D088 Graduate Certificate Food Safety Graduate Certificate Part-Time Commencing September 2026 Graduate Taught |