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Why choose the School of Life Sciences
Our Life Sciences Liaison Board draws in professionals from across the industry including Glaxo Smith Kline, Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency and Cellmark Forensics
Our academics are involved in real-world research, leading the way in areas such as COVID-19 testing technology, autoimmune disease, obesity, cancer pathways and global food security
We work with leading employers including Glaxo Smith Kline, Medicines & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, Nelson’s Natural Healthcare and Cellmark
About the course
This MSc course is designed to equip you with an advanced understanding of food security and its role to public health and to ensure you have the skills and expertise you need to follow a rewarding career in this important area.
The study of food security in public health encompasses a number of different fields and areas of expertise so this course takes a multidisciplinary approach. You explore and evaluate current research in the field; the issues within food security in public health and how to overcome them; public health policy and practices; and the effectiveness of public health information. You also study food systems management as well as the legal and ethical considerations including those relating to food standards.
The course links theory to practical application with case studies from both developed and developing economies so you develop the skills of enquiry and technical expertise necessary to respond in innovative ways to current and future challenges.
Why choose this course?
- Work with our expert Life Sciences team all of whom are actively involved in research so you are up to the minute when it comes to current and emerging developments in the field
- Benefit from the expertise of аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹û’s School of Society Community and Health who work collaboratively with Life Sciences on this course
- Access the high-spec science facilities in our STEM building including its state-of-the-art laboratories
- Build your analytic and evaluative skills with an advanced food security research project
- Work closely with industry representatives and gain valuable work experience through our Life Sciences Liaison Board which has strong links to a network of organisations including government regulatory agencies and the health sector
What will you study?
Food Quality Assurance
Food quality assurance includes all the processes a product should go through. It consists of a variety of primary inspections, audits, registrations and certifications of agricultural and food industry products, provides consumers with safe, high quality food products along with the maintenance of fair trade practices and enhances product marketability for the agricultural and food industry.
This unit will explore and assess the management of quality processes in the agrifood chain in the context of public health. The whole supply chain is studied from the primary sector to the final consumer.
The aims of this unit are to:
Develop an up to date knowledge and critical understanding of technological food quality properties and quality management.
Develop knowledge of processes, tools and methods used in food quality design, control, improvement and assurance.
The syllabus is based on appropriate content from the recommended text books for the unit and peer-reviewed literature published in scientific journals.
Food Systems Management
A sustainable community food system is a collaborative network that integrates sustainable food production, processing, distribution, consumption and waste management in order to enhance the environmental, economic and social health of a particular place.
This unit explores the complex management of food system from farm to home, and everything in-between (growing, harvesting, processing, packaging, transporting, marketing, consuming and disposing of food and food packages) to sustain food security. This unit addresses the best practice in delivery of nutritious products to meet dietary requirements and habits and consumer trends; This unit assesses ethical issues in the food industry including the environment and food law. This unit will shape our food system, including political, societal, environmental, economic, and ethical concerns. This unit integrates knowledge of the unit Food and Nutrition Insecurity and can be applied during the research project (BHS038-6).
The aims of this unit are to:
Develop a critical understanding of current food systems management
Gain knowledge of ethical issues in the food industry
Gain in-depth knowledge of general food law
Apply management skills to ensure legal compliance with current food law and appropriate standards
The syllabus is based on recent publications from the Food Ethics Council, enforcement and regulation recommendations from the Food Standards Agency and standard text books.
Principles, Policies And Issues In Public Health
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To facilitate an understanding of key principles of public health and the public health policies that shape the way in which public health issues might be addressed.
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To foster a critical understanding of the principles, relevant policies and research issues that have impacted on the way in which public health is currently addressed in the UK and internationally.
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To develop students’ skills of critical analysis and evaluation, as these are the basis for reviewing and evaluating policy and practice and its underlying evidence base.
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To enable students to develop and achieve their learning objectives, which is relevant to addressing the needs of the population.
Food And Nutrition Insecurity
There are major global food and nutrition insecurity issues arising from the complications of climate changes, population increase, food spoilage and food waste etc. Food and nutrition insecurity has risen to the top of the international policy agenda over the last decade. It is a complex and multi-faceted issue, requiring a broad and inter-disciplinary perspective for full understanding. This core unit will enable the comprehensive compilation of current knowledge of food and nutrition insecurity from a global perspective. This unit will review current research and the challenges across food and nutrition security in public health.
The aims of this unit are to:
Develop up to date knowledge and skills required to investigate the food and nutrient supply chain
Develop understanding of sustainable agriculture (land and water systems including major biological systems) in relation to public health.
Importance of the key concepts such as epidemiology, principles and policies in public health in tackling global food and nutrition insecurity and the associated health burdens.
The syllabus is based on appropriate content from the recommended text books for the unit and peer-reviewed literature published in scientific journals
Food Safety
Food safety systems have been introduced in the developed world to increase confidence in food and to prevent us from eating food that may make us ill. The traceability of an ingredient or malfunction in food chain is important for identifying food quality. This unit explores various biological and chemical agents potentially present in animal feeds and human foods and examines the potential risks to human health and associations with disease progression.
The aims of this unit are to:
Develop an up to date knowledge and critical understanding of food safety with particular emphasis on public health
Design and implement a traceability system fully compliant with customer and legal requirements; monitor to verify validity of process
The syllabus is based on appropriate content from the recommended text books for the unit and peer-reviewed literature published in scientific journals.
Food Security Research Project
The project unit is an intensive research experience, which may take place in the laboratory or field or may be management related work in a chosen food industry and/or a government policy area.
Independent research is a critical part of any master’s degree and the part that most students find the most satisfying since it is an opportunity to undertake an extended period of personal research and present it in a professional format.
The project unit aims to provide you with the opportunity to gain experience in performing an independent research investigation with guidance from experienced researchers.
Epidemiology In Public Health
The aim of this unit is designed to introduce the key concepts and principles of epidemiology and acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to describe, analyse, interpret and appraise epidemiological studies.
Other specific aims of the unit are to:
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develop a critical understanding of the concepts of disease incidence, prevalence, and risk, and how they are assessed.
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develop a critical understanding of the main issues in the design of epidemiological studies and critically assess the suitability of each type of study design (cohort design, case-control design and intervention)
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develop a critical appreciation of key issues in the analysis and interpretation of epidemiological results and critically assess the effects of bias and confounding as well as the distinction between association and causation using appropriate research and evidence.
How will you be assessed?
Assessment is integral in all units to check that you have met the threshold standards expected of all graduates. They are also linked to learning designed to develop key subject specific and transferable skills for future employment. The requirements of each assessment will be detailed in a formal assessment brief document and discussed in teaching sessions. Units that include an end of unit examination shall include a formative exam experience to prepare students. The assessment tasks will include:
- Poster presentations
- End of unit examination (unseen written examinations)
- Problem-based learning based on case studies
- Laboratory report
- Poster presentation
- Reflective writing and portfolio submissions
- Open book examination Dissertation report writing
Careers
аÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±½á¹ûing this course will create career opportunities for you in government agencies industry and other organisations related to the broad area of food systems management public health and environmental sustainability.
Recent graduates have gone into a diverse range of sectors including healthcare; pharmaceutical; food; research; and science and education. Others have secured funding to pursue PhDs and/or places to study medicine.
Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements
Fees for this course
UK 2024/25
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2024/25 is £10,000 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs. Visit
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
International 2024/25
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2024/25 is £15,600
If you have any questions around fees and funding, please email international@beds.ac.uk
Fees for this course
UK 2024/25
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2024/25 is £10,000 per year. You can apply for a loan from the Government to help pay for your tuition fees and living costs. Visit
Alternatively if you have any questions around fees and funding, please email admission@beds.ac.uk
International 2024/25
The full-time standard fee for a taught Master's degree for the Academic Year 2024/25 is £15,600
If you have any questions around fees and funding, please email international@beds.ac.uk