The University of Edinburgh is currently ranked 16th in the World in the QS World University Rankings 2022.
The MSc in Food Safety is a part-time online learning programme.
What will I learn?
Uniquely positioned to provide a holistic (“farm to fork”) food safety approach to the food chain, this MSc covers key food safety issues in:
agricultural food production
harvest
slaughter
processing
storage
transport
retail
consumption
This MSc considers the pre-and post-harvest stages of agricultural food production. It incorporates:
the drivers and economics of food safety throughout the food chain,
how to minimize, detect and deal with potential hazards in crop production, animal products, food processing, manufacture, and storage
how to collect and analyse data from a foodborne disease outbreak
a guide to relevant microbial and chemical hazards, and testing systems.
designing and implementing food safety management systems
an introduction to animal welfare and food safety/quality concerns on farms, transport vehicles, slaughterhouses, meat processing plants, including waste management
guides to relevant legislation, comparing legislation and issues with labelling, traceability, enforcement, and food fraud
other topics are available in elective options
Why study this programme?
Globally, poor food safety affects 600 million people and results in 420,000 deaths in a year (World Health Organisation report; Estimates of the global burden of foodborne diseases, 2015).
This report highlighted the importance of producing safe food to save human lives, reduce morbidity, conserve resources and improve the economy of every country.
Concern about foodborne diseases (microbial diseases and those due to contaminants) is a heightened public health concern worldwide.
The contamination of food with microorganisms or chemicals may occur at any stage in the process from food production to consumption. Environmental contamination, including pollution of water, soil, or air, also poses a threat.
Based in the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies (RDSVS), the MSc is uniquely positioned to draw expertise from the world-class staff based in the:
Vet School
famous Roslin Institute
Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Security
The programme also has close collaboration with the Scottish Rural College.
Teaching excellence
The University of Edinburgh has been delivering online postgraduate programmes since 2005 and is the largest provider of online programmes in the prestigious Russell Group of universities.
The RDSVS online postgraduate programmes have an overall satisfaction rate of 89% in the UK postgraduate taught experience survey (PTES) 2019-20.
World rankings
The teaching quality at the RDSVS is reflected in its high rankings.
We are ranked 2nd and 6th in the world for veterinary medicine teaching by the Shanghai Rankings GRAS and QS World University Rankings respectively in 2020.
UK rankings
We are ranked 1st in the UK (for the third year running) by the Guardian University Guide 2020.
We are ranked 1st in the UK (for the 5th year running) by the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide.
The University of Edinburgh was ranked 20th in the QS World University rankings in 2021.
Accreditation
Courses within the MSc in Food Safety programme, once accredited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), can be used by veterinarians towards the RCVS Certificate or Diploma in Veterinary Public Health.
The programme aligns and contributes to the current European College of Veterinary Public Health (ECVPH) approved specialist standard residency training programme that occurs at the RDSVS.
Online learning
How will I learn?
As an online student, not only do you have access to Edinburgh's excellent resources, you will also become part of a supportive online community, bringing together students and tutors from around the world.
You will engage with learning materials on a week-by-week basis, accessing lecture materials developed specifically for online learners.
You will take part in online discussion boards with fellow students and activities set by the tutors.
You also have access to lecturers via live sessions and will be allocated a personal tutor for pastoral care.
How will I be assessed?
The programme has been designed to use a range of assessment tools, both formative and summative, with multiple feedback opportunities across the programme.
Summative assessment and feedback have been designed to help you develop the key skills associated with the learning outcomes.
Assessment is tied to practical applications such as report and project proposal writing. Examples include:
a data analysis report for a foodborne disease outbreak
a qualitative microbiological risk assessment report
a brief for an information sheet on dioxins for farmers
a presentation on HACCP measures for a method of food processing
a procedural strategy to verify the veracity of food labels
developing a dissertation research proposal selected by you with the programme team
Formative assessment, for example, multiple-choice questions and discussion groups, will be included in each course to provide opportunities for feedback before assessment deadlines.
Opportunities will be provided for formative feedback on assessment drafts.
Postgraduate Professional Development
Postgraduate Professional Development (PPD) is aimed at working professionals who want to advance their knowledge through a postgraduate-level course(s), without the time or financial commitment of a full Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate.
You may take a maximum of 50 credits worth of courses over two years through our PPD scheme. These lead to a University of Edinburgh postgraduate award of academic credit. Alternatively, after one year of taking courses, you can choose to transfer your credits and continue on to study towards a higher award on a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate programme.
Although PPD courses have various start dates throughout a year you may only start a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate programme in the month of September. Any time spent studying PPD will be deducted from the amount of time you will have left to complete a Master, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate programme.
Additional professional qualifications
Over the three year MSc programme (60 credits per year), students will undertake SCQF level 11 core courses (90 credits compulsory, with 30 credits elective) of specialist training with a final dissertation (60 credits). This credit load and the syllabus allow the programme to align and contribute to the current European College of Veterinary Public Health (VPH) approved specialist standard residency training programme that occurs at the RDSVS. However, there will not be any overlap in assessment or awards.
The European College Diplomas are awarded following independent examinations run by the relevant College at the end of the residency. Credentials to sit the examinations vary between the Colleges but typically involve a minimum amount of time spent in VPH activities and at least three papers accepted for publication in peer-reviewed journals. Courses of the MSc in Food Safety, once accredited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), can be used by veterinarians towards the RCVS Certificate or Diploma in VPH.
