MRes Agricultural and Food Industry Research

New University training scheme to sustain the future of food quality

The University of Birmingham is laying the foundations for brand new food programmes as part of the Food Advanced Training Partnership (Food ATP), a major scheme to ensure the agri-food industry has the key skills needed to meet the challenges posed by national and global food security. The partnership joins leading UK institutions in food and agricultural research with the food industry.

Birmingham’s Food team in the School of Chemical Engineering is developing the Food ATP programmes in conjunction with the University of Reading, funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), to develop highly skilled food industry leaders of tomorrow.

The University and its partners have developed formal postgraduate qualifications, and offer continuing professional development through taught modules, tailored programmes and active research. The Food ATP academic qualifications will be jointly awarded by the Universities of Birmingham and Reading.

The Food ATP will allow industry professionals to integrate learning from across the food chain from primary production to consumers, through bringing together expertise in a unique training partnership. More than 20 foremost industry partners from across the food industry including Kraft Foods, Waitrose, British Sugar and Sainsbury’s , are steering and shaping the training to ensure industry’s needs are met.

Course fact file

Type of Course: Combined research and taught

Study Options: Full time, part time

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School of Chemical Engineering

Course details

Details

The programme delivers training that crosses traditional skill disciplines within the fields of food and agricultural science, and encourages critical reflection upon existing scientific literature and current state-of-the-art research findings within an original industry-based research project.

The MRes programme is taken on a part-time basis, typically over 2-3 years up to a maximum of six years. The taught modules may be taken in any order agreed with the Programme Director.

The total study requirement for an MRes consists of 6 one-week modules with directed study before and after each week (60 credits over 6 x 10 credit modules) combined with a substantial research project, based in the employing company, equivalent to approximately 12 months of research (120 credits).

Fees and funding

All programmes are classified under the fee band of self-financing and will not be charged through Banner. The fees for the programmes are as follows:

Professional Doctorate in Agriculture and Food Home/EU £38,000
MRes in Agricultural and Food Industry Research Home/EU £22,000
MSc Food Quality and Health Home/EU £22,000
PGDip Food Quality and Health Home/EU £18,000
PGCert Food Quality and Health Home/EU £9,000

Entry requirements

Candidates will require an undergraduate degree in a relevant field, typically Science or Engineering. This should be a 2nd class honours degree [2 (i)] as a minimum although relevant experience and recent study may be taken into account for candidates without that minimum. In the case of the MSc, such candidates would typically be offered places on the PG Cert or PG Dip in the first instance with progression onto the MSc dependent on achieving the required standard. Candidates on the MRes may transfer to the Professional Doctorate with approval from the relevant Examination Board.