Master's and magisterial degree - courses at graduate level in Food Science
At the Department of Food Studies, Nutrition and Dietetics we currently offer three subject courses and one method course at advanced level, all of which are given as distance courses, in English, at half speed. We also offer two thesis courses, in the form of campus courses, in Swedish, with three compulsory meetings in Uppsala. See below the courses listed by semester.
Spring semester:
- Children's food and eating - biological and social science perspectives 7.5 credits
- Evidence-based nutrition: reviewing, evaluating and applying food studies 7.5 credits
- Magisterial thesis in Food Science 15 credits
- Master's thesis in Food Service 30 credits
Autumn semester:
- Food, Health and Communication 7.5 credits
- Research methodology in Food Science 7.5 credits
Master's and magisterial degree
All these courses are given as stand-alone courses, which combined with other courses, can be included in a Master's degree (120 credits) or a Master's degree (60 credits).
In order to be qualified to study these courses at advanced level, you must first have completed an undergraduate degree of 180 credits, corresponding to a bachelor's degree in food science or a dietetic degree. Any additional entry requirements for each course are stated in the course syllabus. The thesis courses require, for example, an advanced course in scientific methodology/theory of at least 7.5 credits.
Magisterial degree | Master's degree | |
|---|---|---|
Credits in total | 60 credits (1 year of studies) | 120 credits (2 years of studies) |
Courses at advanced level |
at least 45 credits of which 30 credits in the main field of study, i.e. food science courses*.
The remaining courses can be in any subject/area.
| at least 90 credits of which 60 credits in the main field of study, i.e. food science courses*.
The remaining courses can be in any subject/area. |
Independent thesis | 15 credits in Food Science *included in the 30 credits above | 30 credits in Food Science *included in the 60 credits above
|
Courses at undergraduate level | up to 15 credits in any subject/area but not the same as those included in a previous Bachelor's degree. | up to 30 credits in any subject/area but not the same as those included in a previous Bachelor's degree. |
Tips for building you own magisterial or master's degree
To be able to fulfil all course credits according to the above-mentioned criteria for a master's or magisterial degree, you need, in addition to the courses offered at the department, to search for suitable courses at other departments and other higher education institutions. You can get an overview of the national course offerings via www.studera.nu.
Be creative in your search and use different keywords to find courses corresponding to food science such as clinical nutrition, nutrition and food. Carefully read the course description, stated level of the course, entry requirements, content and bibliography to see that the course fits what you intend to apply for in relation to the requirements.
Examples of departments at other Universities that provide advanced courses in the subject area of Food Science or the equivalent are:
- Department of Food, Nutrition and Culinary Science, Umeå University
- Department of Food and Nutrition and Sport Science, University of Gothenburg
- Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition,
- Department of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg,
- Department of Food and Meal Science, Faculty of Science, Kristianstad University.
Keep in mind that the content of the courses should be a specialisation and should differ from those you have previously studied and which are part of your first-level degree. Also, be sure to check which courses are offered in which time periods, so that they do not clash with each other, and whether or not they can be studied in parallel. Sketch out a possible study programme with different courses based on a schedule that suits you.
Bear in mind that a degree is usually awarded by the higher education institution where you have completed the final course for your degree.
Examples of courses in a magisterial degree (60 credits)
Semester | Example 1 (60 credits, part-time studies for 2 years, starting in Jan) | Example 2 (60 credits, full-time studies for 1 year, starting in Aug/Sept) |
|---|---|---|
1 | Spring semester 15 credits:
Children's food and eating - biological and social science perspectives 7.5 credits, 50% study rate, distance course (Jan-March). Evidence-based nutrition: reviewing, evaluating and applying food studies 7.5 credits, 50% study rate, distance course (March-June). | Autumn semester 30 credits:
Take course(s) at another university, or another department in Uppsala, 15 credits (Aug/Sept/Nov). Any subject (undergraduate/graduate level).
Continue the semester by taking the following two courses in parallel: Research Methodology in Food Science 7.5 credits, 50% study rate, distance course (Nov-Jan). |
2 | Autumn semester 15 credits:
Take a course at another university, or another department in Uppsala, 7.5 credits (Aug/Sept/Nov). Optional subject (undergraduate/graduate level). Continue the semester with the course Research Methodology in Food Science 7.5 credits, 50% study rate, distance course (Nov-Jan). | Spring semester 30 credits:
Take the following two courses: Children's food and eating - biological and social science perspectives 7.5 credits, 50% study rate, distance learning (Jan-March); Evidence-based nutrition: reviewing, evaluating and applying food studies 7.5 credits, 50% study rate, distance courses (March-June).
And parallel to this: Magisterial thesis in Food Science 15 credits, 50% study rate, distance (Jan-June). |
| 3 | Spring semester 15 credits: Magisterial thesis in Food Science 15 credits, 50 % study rate, distance course (Jan-June) |
|
4 | Autumn semester 15 credits:
Take courses at other institutions, or another university, 7.5 credits (Aug/Sept/Nov). Optional subject (undergraduate/graduate level). Food, Health and Communication 7.5 credits, 50% study rate, distance course (Nov-Jan). |
Examples of courses in a master's degree (120 credits)
Semester | Example 1 (120 credits, full-time studies for 2 years, starting in Jan) | Example 2 (120 hp, full-time studies for 2 years, starting in Aug/Sept) |
|---|---|---|
1 | Spring semester 30 hp:
Take the following two courses: Children's food and eating - biological and social science perspectives 7.5 credits, 50% study rate, distance course (Jan-March). Evidence-based nutrition: reviewing, evaluating and applying food studies 7.5 credits, 50% study rate, distance course (March-June).
Take course(s) at another university, or another department in Uppsala, in parallel with these, 50% study rate,15 credits in total (Jan-June). |
Autumn semester 30 credits:
Take a course at another university, or another department in Uppsala, 15 credits (Aug/Sept-Nov). Continue the semester by taking the following two courses in parallel: Research Methodology in Food Science 7.5 credits, 50% study rate, distance course (Nov-Jan). Food, Health and Communication 7.5 credits, 50% study rate, distance course (Nov-Jan).
|
2 | Autumn semester 30 credits:
Take a course at another university, or another department in Uppsala, 15 credits (Aug/Sept-Nov).
Continue the semester by reading the course Research Methodology in Food Science 7.5 credits, 50% study rate, distance course (Nov-Jan) and a parallel course at another university 7.5 credits.
| Spring semester 30 credits:
Take the following two courses: Children's food and eating - biological and social science perspectives 7.5 credits, 50% study rate, distance course (Jan-March). Evidence-based nutrition: reviewing, evaluating and applying food studies 7.5 credits, 50% study rate, distance course (March-June).
Take course(s) at another university, or another department in Uppsala, in parallel with these, 50% study rate,15 credits in total (Jan-June). |
| 3 | Spring semester 30 credits:
Master's thesis in Food Science 30 credits, 100% study rate, distance course (Jan-June). | Autumn semester 30 credits:
Take courses at other universities, or another institution in Uppsala 2 x 15 credits or 4 x 7.5 credits. |
4 |
Autumn semester 30 credits:
Take courses at other universities, or another department in Uppsala, 15 credits (Aug/Sept-Nov). Food, Health and Communication 7.5 credits, 50% study rate, distance course (Nov-Jan) and a parallel course at another university 7.5 credits.
| Spring semester 30 credits:
Master's thesis in Food Science 30 credits, 100% study rate, distance course (Jan-June). |
Both examples above are an arrangement with 120 credits in 2 years at 100 % study rate. It is also possible to study a master's degree spread out over several years, for example 4 years with a 50 % study rate.
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