Food Science & Human Nutrition
New degree in 2024
This programme is for students who wish to work in the area of food production, quality assurance, nutrition, and product development, with a focus on future foods and the role of food in the health of people, in Ireland and globally.
MH222 provides students with a broad science-based education, with specialist content on the future of food development, human nutrition, and the role of food and healthy living, and also explores the social and global challenges around food security.
In your third year, you will have an opportunity to undertake a work placement (subject to availability) which will allow you to apply what you have learned. Given the diversity of businesses in this sector, ranging from food production to assurance to development, there are opportunities to suit all interests.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | National University of Ireland |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | National University of Ireland | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 years
Erasmus/Study Abroad Option: Subject to availability
Placement Option: Yes (subject to availability)
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Leaving Certificate: 2H5 & 4O6/H7, Irish, English & O4/H7 Mathematics & O6/H7 Science subject (one of Agricultural Science, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Physics or Physics with Chemistry).
Leaving Certificate General Entry Requirements
In general, students must be 17 years or older by 15th January in the year after entry to the University. If you are younger, you must make a special application to the University’s President.
All Leaving Certificate subjects carry equal points with the exception of *Mathematics (details below). Points are awarded for your six best subjects in any one year. These do not have to include subjects needed to meet general minimum entry requirements. Minimum entry requirements and course requirements may be satisfied by an accumulation of subjects over more than one year. As well as achieving the required points, you must have a minimum of six subjects in your Leaving Certificate, with two Higher Level papers at grade H5 and four Ordinary or Higher Level papers at grade O6/H7.
The requirements for each course are shown above.
* 25 bonus points will be added to the points score for a Leaving Certificate Higher Level Mathematics grade H6 or higher.
The bonus points are included in the overall points calculation only when Mathematics is one of the applicant’s best six subjects following the addition of the bonus.
Foundation level Mathematics is accepted for matriculation (i.e. can be counted as one of the six subjects required - grade F6 or higher), but does not meet the requirement for degrees where Mathematics is a special programme requirement. Points are not awarded for this subject.
Foundation level Irish is not accepted for matriculation. Points are not awarded for this subject.
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
Points are awarded as follows:
Distinction 66
Merit 46
Pass 28
Applicants can use their points allocation for the Link Modules as one of their best six subjects for the purpose of calculating points, but the Link Modules do not qualify as a subject for minimum entry requirement purposes.
QQI FET Applicants General Information
Click on the 'QQI FET Applicants Information link' below for specific course entry requirements.
QQI FET General Information Link
Careers / Further progression
Career options:
Options after graduation?
The global food industry is currently facing unprecedented challenges – with changing dietary habits, food security with dispersed supply chains, demands for low-carbon production, as well as functional foods. In Ireland, the food sector is increasingly moving from raw ingredients to value-added food product development. This is driving the need for a more skilled workforce in all aspects of food production, handling, and product development.
Graduates of this programme will be able to take up roles in production management, nutrition, food quality and safety, new product development and research, and sales and marketing. There are also opportunities for employment in the public sector such as in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and Teagasc or working for charities on health promotion.
This programme is excellent preparation for you to progress to accredited postgraduate programmes in the area of Dietetics, as well as other postgraduate opportunities in the area of public health and social policy.
There are opportunities for students to undertake research degrees, at Master’s and PhD level in a variety of topics in the area of food science and nutrition.
Further information
Maynooth University greatly values the particular contribution of mature students to the academic and social environment of the University. A mature student is 23 years or older by 1st January in the year of entry to the University. For part-time degrees the mature age is 21. There is no upper age limit; we currently have students who range in age from 23 to over 70. Up to 200 mature students begin their studies here each year. Many of our mature entrants undertake preparatory studies in advance of gaining admission.
The Mature Student Office is committed to supporting the learning experience of our mature students. A certain number of places are reserved for mature students on all undergraduate courses. We offer a range of supports for mature students including an advisory service, tailored information sessions during Orientation/Welcome Week, academic advisors, the Student Budgeting Advice Service and a technology skills programme. There is also a Mature Student Society on campus providing a continuation of peer support, both academic and social, to incoming mature students.
See the Mature Student handbook for detailed information about applying as a mature student. Call, email or drop in to meet us in MAP Lodge on the North Campus or to request a mature student information pack. If the opportunity to return to education has presented itself to you, we hope you’ll choose Maynooth University.
Emer Sheerin, Mature Student Officer
+ 353 1 708 3307
emer.sheerin@mu.ie
Places 2024: 25
Entry 2024
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2024 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2024 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2024 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2024 at 5pm
Exceptional online late application (see page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee €60 Closing Date: 22 July 2024 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2024. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2024, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2024 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.
Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22 July at 5pm applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on 1 May 2024 in any year in any one of the participating HEIs (subject to the exclusions listed below). In order to avail of the Exceptional Late Application facility you must have entered the HEI through the CAO system. This is an exceptional late closing date and all steps must be completed by 5pm on 22 July. No changes may be made after this date.
If you did not enter your current course through the CAO system, you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply and they will inform you if you may submit an application direct to the institution.
Exclusions:
You may submit a late application only for entry to courses other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course you must arrange this within your HEI.
Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Marino Institute of Education, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick and Maynooth University have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of these five HEIs, you should apply through CAO.
Refer to page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
The Food sector is Ireland's largest industry with a turnover in excess of €25 billion, sustaining over 230,000 jobs. It consists of a range of companies from major multinational to niche food suppliers, with a reputation internationally for quality, sustainability, and innovation.
Why choose this degree?
- Flexible Opportunities. Maynooth University offers you a broad science-based programme that allows you a lot of choice while giving you a strong grounding in food production, safety, and food chemistry as well as the role of food in our health, how we sense and perceive food, and the future of food in a diverse society.
- Work Placement: The opportunity to undertake a 6-month work placement (subject to availability), in Ireland or abroad, as an integral part of your degree which gives you a chance to put your learning into practice and significantly improves your employability upon graduation.
- Future of Food: This programme explores the future of food, from superfoods that address particular health concerns, to the challenges around obesity, allergies, food security and sustainability. This will give a unique perspective to anyone interested in future food product development.
Employability: This programme is designed to support careers in both large multinational companies and small custom businesses, as well as exploring the social policy aspects. It will support roles as diverse as product development, public health, food quality assurance and safety. As one of Irelands largest sectors, graduates are in high demand in all of these areas.
Course Structure:
1st year
Food & Nutrition
Biology
Chemistry
Mathematics
2nd year
Concentrate on Food & Nutrition, Biology and Chemistry
Optional 10 credit Elective or Critical Skills
3rd year
Focus mainly on Food Science and Nutrition
Second semester includes work placement (subject to availability) or other forms of experiential learning
Final year
Concentrate on advanced topics in Food Science & Nutrition
A capstone project
1st year
> Food, Diet and Health
> Role of Food, Physiology & Exercise
> From Cell to Organism
> Biological Function & Diversity
2nd year
> Human Nutrition
> Food Chemistry and Analysis
> Energy & Metabolism
> Food – Trends, Challenges and Opportunities
> Biochemistry
3rd year
> Food Production Systems
> Food Choice - Taste and Flavours
> Food Microbiology
> Nutrition As We Age
> Texture and Structure of Food
Final year
> Nutrition & Global Health
> Personalised Nutrition
> Food Safety and Authenticity
> Food Marketing and Product Development
> Functional and Sustainable Foods
Maynooth University Department of Sport Science and Nutrition,
Callan Building
+353 1 708 4591
nutrition@mu.ie
www.maynoothuniversity.ie/sport-science-and-nutrition
Find us on Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn @MaynoothSSN