Best Universities for Food Science

Food science is dedicated to understanding the chemistry, physicality and biology of food products, and how different culinary or storage processes impact taste, experience and shelf life. It also allows students to learn about the food industry, from fine dining to mass food production, bringing elements of psychology, sociology, marketing and business management together with culinary science. 

It offers a great opportunity for students to train for a range of roles, from working as a chef to developing and managing new product lines for supermarkets, research into new food technologies or helping with the regulation and safety of food. 

There are a wide range of postgraduate programmes available in food science across UK universities. This guide looks at some of the best universities for food science, providing you with the perfect first step in your search for the best food science programme for you. 

Best Universities for Food Science 

The Complete University Guide 2024 league tables are a definitive ranking of the top universities for food science (among many other subjects). This guide explores the highest performing institutions across categories, but there are three universities who have topped the overall rankings for food science and nutrition. These are a sensible place to start in your research, to give you an idea of what you could expect from your postgraduate studies. 

The three best universities for food science and nutrition are: 

• University of Glasgow 
• University of Plymouth 
• University of Surrey 

Top choice for Student Satisfaction 

Looking at student satisfaction rankings during your course search is a great way to identify the top universities for masters in food technology. It reflects how happy current and recent students are with the experience of their programme, from the standard of teaching and the quality of its content to the supporting services and extracurricular activities available. 

For food science students, this can be an indicator of how good the lab, kitchen and classroom facilities are, the expertise of teaching staff, and the academic or personal support available. 

The best university for food science, when it comes to student satisfaction, is Bournemouth University. 

Go to: Search for food science courses at Bournemouth University

Top choice for Graduate Prospects 

Graduate prospects is an essential consideration for any postgraduate student. Being able to prepare for career success will allow you to identify and move into your preferred professional role, whether it’s in a kitchen, research lab or policy office. Graduate prospects is based around the relevance of course content to related industries, the volume of networking and professional skill training opportunities and the quality of careers support throughout and after your studies. 

In terms of graduate prospects, the top university for food science is King’s College London. 

Go to: Search for food science courses at King's College London

Top choice for Research Quality 

Research quality is another important factor in any postgraduate student’s decision of where to study food science. It’s a summary of the research power of the university, the standard of research facilities and the opportunities for students to get involved in impactful and constructive research activity. It’s particularly important to students who are enrolled on a research programme, or who want to move into a research role after their master’s. 

Queen’s University Belfast ranked particularly highly for food science courses. 

Go to: Search for food science courses at Queen's University Belfast

Ranking Information Source   

For this article we have used ranking information from the Complete University Guide’s league tables. Data is courses from the 2021 Research Excellence Framework, the National Student Survey and the Higher Education Statistics Agency, and the Complete University Guide uses its own methodology to create the rankings for the league tables. 

Go to: See the 2024 Complete University Guide food science subject league table 

Student reviews 

Real student reviews from Whatuni are a great way to complement the ranking information we can get from the Complete University Guide tables. These reviews provide a real insight into the experience and opinions of recent and current students, so you can make a truly informed choice about your future postgraduate studies. 

One university that is especially well reviewed by its students, including many five star ratings, is London Metropolitan University. One reviewer said, “I really appreciate the community environment I have received from the uni and the lecturers and excited for third year!!” 

Go to: Search for food science courses at London Metropolitan University

More universities for studying Food Science 

There are many more universities offering postgraduate courses in food science – in fact, you can find more than 20 degrees in food technology and culinary science offered at 15 different universities via our course search tool. It features information on course content, entry requirements and all sorts of other essential factors so you can make an informed choice for your postgraduate studies. 

Next: Search for food science courses