Show/Hide navigation
University of Reading University of Reading
Mobile search categories
mask
Choose a subject
2027/28

MSc Food Technology – Quality Assurance

  • Year of entry
    2026/27
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  12 months Part Time: 24 months
  • Year of entry
    2026/27
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  12 months Part Time: 24 months

Learn the science behind providing safe food to the public with our MSc Food Technology – Quality Assurance degree.

On this course, you’ll work with expert academics from the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences as you:

  • learn to apply and maintain advanced food quality assurance systems that meet both UK and international expectations
  • understand the chemical, biological and physical principles involved in food processing and storage
  • learn about quality and legal requirements in food provision.

Specific topics you’ll cover include:

  • Quality: the concept of quality, statistical methods in food quality assurance, and quality control.
  • Auditing and crisis management: role-play exercises will give you a deeper understanding of these areas within the food industry.
  • Legislation: discuss key topics in food legislation, such as food labelling, novel foods, hygiene issues and food additives.
  • Risk analysis: learn how to use the components of risk analysis to manage and maintain the food chain, ensuring the provision of safe food to consumers.
  • Food hazards: review and evaluate food hazards, such as aflatoxins, heavy metals and pesticides.
  • Food fraud: master your knowledge in analytical techniques used in testing for food fraud.

Gain valuable industry experience with MSc Food Technology - Quality Assurance

Our MSc Food Technology – Quality Assurance has been designed in consultation with industry to widen your skill set and boost employability.

Your case studies and project work will focus on current issues in the food sector. You will also complete a research project at the University or with one of our industry partners. This gives you the opportunity to apply your learning and gain exposure to real life food technology working environments.

Study options

You can attend this course on a full-time basis over one year, or part-time over two years.

Build on your existing knowledge

This master’s course is for graduates of pure sciences – such as chemistry, biology, biochemistry and microbiology – or applied sciences. Examples of applied sciences degrees include:

  • Food science
  • Food engineering
  • Food technology
  • Human physiology
  • Biomedical sciences
  • Agricultural engineering.

If you’re unsure whether your degree counts as an applied science, please contact us via reading.ac.uk/question.

Your studies will build on your existing scientific knowledge and cover quality assurance, food chemistry, food analysis, and food processing.

A variety of teaching methods

You will learn through:

  • lectures
  • seminars
  • problem-based learning
  • laboratory classes
  • role-play exercises.

You will also be supported through our online virtual learning environment.

Dedicated food facilities

As part of your studies, you will work in some of the UK’s largest dedicated food teaching facilities. These include:

  • Food Processing Centre. This pilot plant is unique to Reading. There is almost 1,100m2 of floor space devoted to approximately £4m worth of equipment. Used primarily for teaching and learning, the plant contains processing equipment for food product development work. No other UK university offers what we do under one roof.
  • Flavour Centre. The Centre hosts facilities that enable you to gain comprehensive practical experience in taste and aroma analysis and flavour extraction.

Research excellence

We are proud of our research: the University of Reading is ranked 8th in the UK for research power in Agriculture, Food and Veterinary Sciences (Times Higher Education, Institutions Ranked by Subject, based on its analysis of the latest Research Excellence Framework 2021) and 95% of our research is of international standing (REF 2021, combining 4*, 3* and 2* submissions – Agriculture, Food and Veterinary Sciences).

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £13,100. If you study part time over two years, your fees will be calculated at 50% of the annual full-time fee in each year. Fees will increase each year according to inflation (up to 4%) and will be rounded up to the nearest £50.

New international students: £31,650. If you study part time over two years, your fees will be calculated at 50% of the annual full-time fee in each year. Fees will increase each year according to inflation (up to 4%) and will be rounded up to the nearest £50.

Tuition fee information

The fees listed are for full-time study, unless otherwise stated. Fee information will be confirmed in offer letters sent out to successful applicants. You can find further information, including information for part-time study, through our dedicated fees and funding page.

EU student fees

With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government’s guidance for EU students.

Additional costs

Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Financial support for your studies

For information about the University of Reading’s master’s scholarships, please visit our master’s scholarships page.

You can apply for a scholarship once you hold an offer of admission for your course. If you are eligible for a scholarship, we will contact you to guide you through the process.

Careers for MSc Food Technology graduates

An MSc Food Technology - Quality Assurance degree offers a wide range of career options.

These include:

  • process technologist
  • quality assurance executive
  • new product developer
  • food technologist
  • research and development technologist.

Food technologists, for example, ensure the safety and quality of food in the production, manufacturing and distribution stages. They are highly valued for their problem-solving and technical skills.

Many of our graduates have gone on to work in food in industry, government and education. The food and drink industry is the UK’s largest manufacturing sector. It’s responsible for adding £21.9bn to the gross value of the UK economy – and it needs new graduates to meet its recruitment needs. Other graduates apply their research skills to pursue a higher degree through research and development in industry.

Recent graduates have secured roles such as:

  • Process Technologist with Pepsico International
  • Quality Executive with Agro Tech Foods
  • New Product Developer with Bakkavor
  • Food Technologist with Tesco
  • Research and Development Technologist with Kerry Ingredients and Flavours.

Graduates also go into roles related to flavour, sensory science and quality assurance.

Alternatively, you could progress to PhD-level study.

Overall, 91% of graduates from Food and Nutritional Sciences are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation; of those in full-time employment, 93% are in graduate-level roles (Based on our analysis of HESA data © HESA 2024, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2021/22; includes all Food and Nutritional Sciences responders).

Read more about where our MSc Food Technology – Quality Assurance graduates are now

  • Liwen Zheng is confident that the skills and knowledge gained on her MSc will help to achieve her career goal — working in new product development within a food company.
  • Ruth Barnes is now completing her PhD at Reading. She is jointly funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and her industry partner, AgriCoat NatureSeal Ltd., as she tackles issues like food waste and food poisoning.