Food Safety (Online Learning) MSc, PgDip (ICL), PgCert (ICL), PgProfDev

The University of Edinburgh is currently ranked 15th in the World in the QS World University Rankings 2023.

The MSc in Food Safety is a part-time online learning programme.

It is aimed at busy professionals keen to acquire in-depth knowledge of food safety, with relevant backgrounds in:

• public health
• food and beverage
• agriculture
• veterinary
• biology

This programme would be suitable for those with an undergraduate degree in:

• agricultural sciences
• biological science
• food systems
• veterinary medicine
• human medicine

It is also suitable if you are a/an:

• agriculture professional
• rural industries professional
• food industry professional
• government official
• international organisation employee
• researcher in food safety
• third sector employee

Beyond gaining factual knowledge of the immediate subject matter, programme participation is designed to achieve a series of key learning outcomes:

• · critical identification, evaluation and assessment of the main theories, principles and concepts related to sources and pathways of foodborne hazards along the food chain and formulation of bespoke intervention strategies to mitigate the risk to public health
• · use of a significant range of the principal skills, techniques and practices associated with the evaluation of economic burdens of foodborne diseases, epidemiological and statistical analysis of food safety data and most advanced practices to isolate and identify microbiological foodborne hazards from different food matrixes
• · apply critical analysis, evaluation and synthesis to a holistic approach to animal health, animal welfare, plant and environmental health as an integral part of food safety and how this can contribute to improving efficiency and saving resources from a food security perspective.
• Critically evaluate food safety data by applying epidemiological and statistical methods (including statistical software) from collection to presentation including data generation, collection, curation, backup, cleaning, analysis and communication
• · deal with complex professional issues, to make informed judgements, on your own or collectively, about food safety

This programme aims to equip you with the fundamental knowledge and expertise to be able to influence and promote food safety at different levels of your organisation.

It gives solid grounds to enhance your career, help secure a position, or pursue a different career in food safety-related organisations. Whether for the government, for the industry or in research, for example, to prepare for a PhD in Food Safety or to have a more hands-on experience.

As a graduate of the food safety programme, you have a range of options, often progressing your current career to a higher level.

There are careers available in managing, auditing, and inspecting food safety and quality in both large and small production and manufacturing environments.

Some of our students are vets and are progressing in their careers in veterinary public health.

Others run their businesses, or are setting up their businesses, and are aware of their need to be up-to-date with the legislation and current food traceability, safety and quality issues.

Local and international governmental and non-governmental organisations are also destinations for food safety experts.

The degree programme is structured to allow sequential progression from individual courses to Certificate, Diploma and MSc phases. Students may also exit the programme on completion of each phase.

The programme is designed to be taken part-time over three years at 20 hours per week, with the option to complete in up to six years if required.

The completion times are as follows:

• PgCert: 1-2 years
• PgDip: 2-4 years
• MSc: 3-6 years

Year 1

You will take 4 compulsory courses:

• Food Supply Chain and Food Safety
• Data Analysis for Food Safety
• Food Safety Hazards and Food Safety Management Systems
• Food Production Systems

If you successfully complete Year 1 and exit the programme, you will be awarded a PG Certificate (PG Cert) in Food Safety.

Year 2

You will take 2 compulsory courses:

• Food Processing and Waste Management
• Research Methods and Data Analysis

You will also choose 2 to 3 elective courses (10 or 20 credits) from within the postgraduate taught (PGT) portfolio of courses which allow you to follow your own interests.

Courses within Food Safety and Global Food Security fields include:

• Food Traceability
• Labelling
• Fraud and Crime
• Food Policy
• Innovations in Sustainable Food Systems

Elective options are also available from One Health and Livestock Management topics, such as:

• One Health Policy
• Production Animal Welfare
• Globalisation and Health

If you successfully complete Year 1 and 2 and exit the programme, will be awarded with a Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) in Food Safety.

Year 3

You will complete a final dissertation to gain the award of MSc.

Postgraduate Professional Development

Postgraduate Professional Development (PPD) is aimed at working professionals who want to advance their knowledge through postgraduate-level learning, without the time, or financial commitment, of a full award.

You may take a maximum of 50 credits worth of courses from within this degree over two years and gain a University of Edinburgh postgraduate award of academic credit.

It may also be possible to continue your studies after one year and put credits towards a postgraduate Certificate, Diploma or full master's degree. Any time spent taking courses through the PPD scheme will be deducted from the amount of time you have left to complete the higher award.

Although PPD courses have various start dates throughout a year you may only start a Masters, Postgraduate Diploma or Postgraduate Certificate programme in September.

Additional professional qualifications

You will take 60 credits per year over the three-year MSc programme.

You will undertake:

• SCQF level 11 compulsory courses - 90 credits
• elective courses - 30 credits
• 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 assessments 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 number of time spent on VPH activities
• 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.