Food Science - 8037
Program Summary
Faculty: Faculty of Engineering
Contact: School
Campus: Sydney
Career: Postgraduate
Typical Duration: 2 Years 
Typical UOC Per Semester: 24
Min UOC Per Semester: 6
Max UOC Per Semester: 24
Min UOC For Award: 96
View program information for previous years
Program Description
The Master of Science program is designed for food scientists and graduates wishing to develop and expand their knowledge and skills in their current area of expertise.* This will enable students to meet or maintain professional accreditation standards and to provide opportunities for continuing professional development, as well as the opportunity to interact with those at the cutting edge of their discipline. Students will develop their technical knowledge and ability to analyse food science problems. They will also gain further skills in solving food science problems and justifying professional decisions.
Students will have the chance to work on a complex, open-ended research-based project. This will develop their systematic approach to a problem and require project planning and the ability to analyse, interpret and communicate results proficiently. The completion of the research provides a pathway towards postgraduate research degrees through the development and demonstration of research-related skills.
(* It is also possible for students to acquire some knowledge and skills in a different specialisation with the approval of the Stream Authority. This requires completion of an appropriate stream in the Graduate Diploma program 5037, which articulates to this program.)
Students will have the chance to work on a complex, open-ended research-based project. This will develop their systematic approach to a problem and require project planning and the ability to analyse, interpret and communicate results proficiently. The completion of the research provides a pathway towards postgraduate research degrees through the development and demonstration of research-related skills.
(* It is also possible for students to acquire some knowledge and skills in a different specialisation with the approval of the Stream Authority. This requires completion of an appropriate stream in the Graduate Diploma program 5037, which articulates to this program.)
Entry Requirements
A student must hold either:
- a Bachelor degree in Food Science with at least Honours II/2 (or equivalent), or
- a Graduate Diploma in Food Science from UNSW, or
- an equivalent qualification from another recognised university or tertiary institution
- in order to be admitted to the program.
Program Objectives and Graduate Attributes
The program is designed to enable students to fulfil a number of needs including:
- Updating technical knowledge and skills in an existing specialisation
- Acquiring new knowledge and skills in a different specialisation
- Updating qualifications and knowledge to meet or maintain professional accreditation standards
- Providing opportunities for continuing professional development
- Providing opportunities for interaction with those at the cutting edge of the discipline
- Providing a preliminary step towards postgraduate research degrees.
PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES
Advanced Disciplinary Knowledge and practices
Advanced Disciplinary Knowledge and practices
- Demonstrate an advanced understanding of food science and technology, including established theories and recent developments relevant to the food industry.
- Apply food science principles and practices to new or complex environments.
Enquiry-based learning
- Plan and execute an enquiry--based or professional project, involving substantial scholarship.
- Apply enquiry-based learning and ways of thinking to new disciplinary and/or professional contexts.
Cognitive skills and critical thinking
- Investigate, generate and synthesise complex ideas and concepts at an abstract and/or applied level.
- Critically evaluate contemporary debates and literature in food science.Analyse problems or issues, articulate appropriate solutions and justify propositions and/or professional decisions.
- Analyse problems or issues, articulate appropriate solutions and justify propositions and/or professional decisions.
Communication, adaptive and interactional skills
- Communicate complex ideas in a variety of formats to diverse audiences.
- Demonstrate a high level of personal autonomy and accountability in the acquisition or application of knowledge or skills.
- Demonstrate an understanding of, and the ability to apply, the principles of teamwork and collaboration.
Global outlook
- Demonstrate an understanding of international perspectives relevant to food science and technology.
Program Structure
Students must complete 96UOC of courses to be eligible for the degree, and must complete:
- At least 18UOC of research-based courses (at least 12UOC of which must be advanced research-completion courses)
- At least a further 24UOC of advanced disciplinary courses
This degree is offered in the following specialisation (stream):
- Food Science and Technology FOODKS8037
A specialisation consists of 72UOC specialisation courses and 24UOC elective courses. A specialisation (stream) must include:
- at least 24UOC of advanced disciplinary courses
- at least 18UOC research-based courses (at least 12UOC of which must be advanced research-completion courses).
- the balance of 72UOC made up of disciplinary knowledge courses
Students may use elective courses to exceed the minimum requirements of a specialisation.
A number of specialisation courses may be offered in both internal and external attendance modes and may be delivered in regular sessions, block or intensive modes on or off campus.
At the discretion of the Program or Stream Authority, students may be required to develop their foundational disciplinary knowledge through enrolment in undergraduate level courses that are deemed appropriate by the Authority. Students will be granted credit towards the program for the satisfactory completion of these courses up to a maximum of 12UOC.
Enquiry-based learning
The specialisations (streams) must include at least 18UOC of enquiry-based learning. Of this between at least 12UOC must be advanced research-completion courses, which are typically projects requiring submission of a thesis.
Advanced research-based projects involve an independent investigation at an advanced level by the student and may include research, design, feasibility or other analysis requiring integration of knowledge and evaluation across a range of topics in the area of specialisation. Such projects must be complex, open-ended problems that allow room for student creativity, and the acquisition, analysis and interpretation of results. There must be multiple possible solutions or conclusions at the outset and sufficient complexity to require a degree of project planning from the student. Work-based projects are encouraged for practising food scientists provided they meet the requirements of advanced independent study. Such projects must be approved by the specialisation authority prior to commencement of the project.
Research project
Students complete at least 18UOC of research-based projects and research-directed courses, and at least 12UOC of this must be advanced research-completion courses. Such courses involve an independent investigation at an advanced level by the student and may include research, design, feasibility or other analysis requiring integration of knowledge and evaluation across a range of topics in the area of specialisation.
Research-based projects must be complex, open-ended problems that allow room for student creativity, and the acquisition, analysis and interpretation of results. There must be multiple possible solutions or conclusions at the outset and sufficient complexity to require a degree of project planning from the student.
Work-based projects are encouraged for practising food scientists provided they meet the requirements of advanced independent study. Such projects must be approved by the specialisation authority prior to commencement of the project.
A number of specialisation courses may be offered in both internal and external attendance modes and may be delivered in regular sessions, block or intensive modes on or off campus.
At the discretion of the Program or Stream Authority, students may be required to develop their foundational disciplinary knowledge through enrolment in undergraduate level courses that are deemed appropriate by the Authority. Students will be granted credit towards the program for the satisfactory completion of these courses up to a maximum of 12UOC.
Enquiry-based learning
The specialisations (streams) must include at least 18UOC of enquiry-based learning. Of this between at least 12UOC must be advanced research-completion courses, which are typically projects requiring submission of a thesis.
Advanced research-based projects involve an independent investigation at an advanced level by the student and may include research, design, feasibility or other analysis requiring integration of knowledge and evaluation across a range of topics in the area of specialisation. Such projects must be complex, open-ended problems that allow room for student creativity, and the acquisition, analysis and interpretation of results. There must be multiple possible solutions or conclusions at the outset and sufficient complexity to require a degree of project planning from the student. Work-based projects are encouraged for practising food scientists provided they meet the requirements of advanced independent study. Such projects must be approved by the specialisation authority prior to commencement of the project.
Research project
Students complete at least 18UOC of research-based projects and research-directed courses, and at least 12UOC of this must be advanced research-completion courses. Such courses involve an independent investigation at an advanced level by the student and may include research, design, feasibility or other analysis requiring integration of knowledge and evaluation across a range of topics in the area of specialisation.
Research-based projects must be complex, open-ended problems that allow room for student creativity, and the acquisition, analysis and interpretation of results. There must be multiple possible solutions or conclusions at the outset and sufficient complexity to require a degree of project planning from the student.
Work-based projects are encouraged for practising food scientists provided they meet the requirements of advanced independent study. Such projects must be approved by the specialisation authority prior to commencement of the project.
Academic Rules
General Rules of Progression
Progression in all postgraduate coursework programs in the Faculty of Engineering is permitted by course. However:
(a) Not all courses are available every session and some courses may only be available in alternate years. Students should check the approved list of courses for their specialisation for further details. Students will need to select courses carefully to ensure they can complete their program in minimum time. Students are ordinarily not permitted to enrol in courses with clashing timetables.
(b) Students must satisfy the rules governing re-enrolment. A student's academic standing is evaluated at the end of each session. Any student not in Good Standing should discuss the situation with the Academic Adviser in the relevant school, and may be required to talk to a counsellor in the Careers and Counselling Unit. The full description of the University policy governing enrolment and academic standing can be found at https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/academiclife/assessment/AcademicStandingExplanation.html
(c) Students must satisfy the relevant pre-requisite and co-requisite requirements for each course.
(d) Only in exceptional circumstances will students be permitted to enrol in more than 24 units of credit in a session. The part-time mode will usually require students to enrol in a minimum of 18 UOC within any three consecutive sessions.
(e) Students are only permitted to enrol in courses that satisfy the program requirements as specified in the On-Line Handbook for the program in which they are enrolled. Enrolment in any other course is permitted only on a Non-Award basis, that is, on a tuition fee basis.
(f) Notwithstanding the above, before a student can enrol in any non-standard program, such a program must meet with the approval of the relevant program authority as shown in the program rules.
Progression in all postgraduate coursework programs in the Faculty of Engineering is permitted by course. However:
(a) Not all courses are available every session and some courses may only be available in alternate years. Students should check the approved list of courses for their specialisation for further details. Students will need to select courses carefully to ensure they can complete their program in minimum time. Students are ordinarily not permitted to enrol in courses with clashing timetables.
(b) Students must satisfy the rules governing re-enrolment. A student's academic standing is evaluated at the end of each session. Any student not in Good Standing should discuss the situation with the Academic Adviser in the relevant school, and may be required to talk to a counsellor in the Careers and Counselling Unit. The full description of the University policy governing enrolment and academic standing can be found at https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/academiclife/assessment/AcademicStandingExplanation.html
(c) Students must satisfy the relevant pre-requisite and co-requisite requirements for each course.
(d) Only in exceptional circumstances will students be permitted to enrol in more than 24 units of credit in a session. The part-time mode will usually require students to enrol in a minimum of 18 UOC within any three consecutive sessions.
(e) Students are only permitted to enrol in courses that satisfy the program requirements as specified in the On-Line Handbook for the program in which they are enrolled. Enrolment in any other course is permitted only on a Non-Award basis, that is, on a tuition fee basis.
(f) Notwithstanding the above, before a student can enrol in any non-standard program, such a program must meet with the approval of the relevant program authority as shown in the program rules.
Fees
For information regarding fees for UNSW programs, please refer to the following website: https://my.unsw.edu.au/student/fees/FeesMainPage.html
Transfer Between Programs
The courses in each specialisation form an articulated sequence. Students who complete the Graduate Diploma program may upgrade to the Masters program with full credit for the courses undertaken in the previous program, provided they have completed the previous program at UNSW. A credit average (65) is required to articulate to the next level in the sequence. Students who have enrolled in a program will be permitted to exit with a lower qualification in the specialisation sequence providing they have completed the requirements of that program. Subject to the approval of the program authority and available places, students will be permitted to transfer to another specialisation with credit transfer being subject to the requirements of the specialisation into which the student is transferring.
Computing Requirements
All software required for coursework is provided on the computers in the School computer laboratories. Some students find it advantageous to buy their own computer and software so that they can work at home. Some external courses may require students to own their own computer with Microsoft Office or equivalent. Specialist software packages that are required for external courses will be provided as part of the course pack to students.
Field Excursions and Site Visits
Field projects, site visits and industry seminars or lectures are a requirement of some courses and may involve additional expense.
Part-time study
All programs are available on a full-time or part-time basis. The part-time mode will usually require students to enrol in a minimum of 18 UOC over three consecutive sessions.
Area(s) of Specialisation
