A food science degree can lead to a career in a number of different sectors, including manufacturing, engineering and healthcare

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

• Food technologist
• Naturopath
• Nutritional therapist
• Product/process development scientist
• Quality manager
• Regulatory affairs officer
• Scientific laboratory technician
• Technical brewer

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

• Chef
• Procurement manager
• Production manager
• Research scientist (life sciences)
• Toxicologist

Work experience

Work experience is highly valued by employers, so if your course does not include an industrial placement try to get some related experience in the holidays. Any kind of role in a food science or food technology setting will be useful for developing your skills and allowing you to demonstrate your interest in the industry.

If possible, tailor your work experience to the type of role you would like to fill. For example, if you want to become a food technologist, quality manager, or product developer, look for work and placements in a food manufacturing company or with a retailer. Or, if you're interested in following a nutritional pathway, try to get some experience in a healthcare setting.

Typical employers

The main employers of food science graduates are food manufacturers, producers and retailers. Technical service providers and government departments concerned with developing food policy and enforcement processes also offer employment.

Food science graduates also work in a range of areas in the land-based sector, which encompasses agriculture and animals as well as fresh produce, food service and retail.

Other employers operate in the industrial and scientific sectors. The NHS and private healthcare organisations offer employment opportunities - particularly for roles such as a nutritional therapist.

Skills for your CV

Studying food science develops a good mix of subject-specific and technical skills, alongside transferable core skills, such as:

• analytical and problem-solving skills
• the ability to research and interpret data
• effective communication
• teamworking skills
• attention to detail
• accurate record keeping and report writing
• numerical and statistical awareness
• IT skills
• project-management skills
• time management.