Food Nutrition & Health

The programme is suitable for graduates with no formal educational background in food science or nutrition, who wish to up-skill and become competent and employable in this increasingly important and rapidly evolving field.



This programme is delivered and assessed entirely on- line. Minimum registration to the Graduate Diploma is 18 months​. The flexible and online format of the programme enables the majority of students enrolling on the programme to combine studying while in employment.



Hosted by the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science, the Food, Nutrition and Health programme brings together academic and research staff from across UCD in health-related aspects of food research, including food science, human and public health nutrition, food production, biosystems engineering, food law, consumer behaviour and food safety.



Students will gain an understanding of the nature of food, how it is produced, how it is affected by processing, why we eat, what happens to food when we eat it, and how food components can interact with the functioning of humans. Upon completion of the MSc graduates will be able to apply this knowledge to address nutrition-related problems in different groups, cultures and societies.



Graduates will be educated to a high level in the science of food as it pertains to human nutrition and health.

Plant Products FDSC20250

Chemistry of Nutrients FDSC40500

Food Chemistry FDSC40510

Food Microbiology & Safety FDSC40520

Principles of Biochemistry FDSC40530

Food Process Technology FDSC40540

Food Marketing (O/L) FDSC40570

Principles of Sensory Science FDSC40600

Animal Foods FDSC40890

Plant Foods FDSC40920

Introduction to Nutrition HNUT40060

Nutrients in the Life Cycle HNUT40070

Omic Strategies in Nutrition HNUT40080

Pathways to Health (O/L) HNUT40090

Food Regulatory Affairs (O/L) HNUT40100

Food Quality and Safety (O/L) HNUT40110

Research Design and Statistics HNUT40130

Nutritional Assessment HNUT40150

Clinical Nutrition O/LHNUT40250

Nutritional Physiology HNUT40280

Sport and Exercise Nutrition PERS40090

Promoting Consumer Nutrition PHPS40710

Public Health Nutrition O/LPHPS40720

The course is aimed at graduates from science-based disciplines with no previous or recent formal educational background in Food Science or Nutrition who wish to up-skill and become competent in this increasingly important and rapidly evolving area.



Applicants must hold a minimum of a Second Class Honours degree in a cognate subject (Science, Engineering or related discipline), or international equivalent.

Applicants with other awards who hold substantial relevant work experience will be considered.

Applicants who do not hold the requisite Science qualification (but who hold a Level 8 Honours degree or equivalent) have been admitted previously and are advised to submit an application for assessment by the Programme Coordinator to determine eligibility.



All applications are assessed on a case by case basis by the Programme Director.



Applicants are asked to provide a CV and Personal Statement with their application, along with Academic Transcripts (non UCD Graduates) and proof of English proficiency if required.



Applicants who would like to take a stand-alone module may do so as an Occasional Student, and should contact the School of Agriculture and Food Science directly for further details on how to apply and cost per module. Email: foodonline@ucd.ie

The following entry routes are available:

Grad Dip Food, Nutrition & Health PT (X620)

Duration 18 Months

Attend Part Time

Deadline Rolling*

* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised

18 months part-time online.

Next Intake: 2024/2025 September.

Careers & Employability

There are excellent job prospects for graduates in Food, Nutrition and Health with graduates working in a range of roles across the food industry, public health and regulatory agencies. Graduates have the distinct advantage of bringing a nutrition or health perspective to their roles.



Within the food industry graduates will work in areas such as product innovation, technical sales, product quality enhancement, nutrition and health promotion or food labelling regulation.



Graduate Roles include:

Product Innovation

Technical Sales

Production Quality Enhancement

Health Promotion

Food Regulation