BSc Food Science with International Foundation Year - September Entry

At Reading, you won’t just sit in lectures and take notes — you’ll actually roll up your sleeves and experience what food science is all about. The foundation year eases you in with plenty of lab work and academic support, while the main degree puts you into professional-standard facilities where ideas turn into real products. From testing food safety to creating new flavours, you’ll learn by doing, not just by reading.

Here’s how you’ll gain that hands-on edge:

• Work inside the Food Processing Centre, a pilot-scale facility where you can practice large-scale food manufacturing and see how lab concepts translate to industry.

• Explore taste and aroma in the Flavour Centre, where you’ll use advanced tools to understand what makes food appealing.

• Train at the Sensory Science Centre, evaluating real products with consumer panels and learning how to interpret what people actually like.

• Get practical experience in microbiology, nutrition, and chemistry labs, analysing food safety, shelf life, and nutritional quality.

• Take modules such as Introduction to Sustainable Food Manufacturing, which blend theory with practical plant-based work, preparing you to tackle global challenges like sustainability.

• Build your academic confidence during the foundation year with structured lab classes, data analysis, and academic English support — everything designed to set you up for success in the full degree.

Studying Food Science at Reading opens the door to a wide range of careers in an industry that touches everyone’s lives. Whether you want to help develop exciting new products, make our food safer, or guide companies towards more sustainable practices, this degree prepares you for roles such as Food Technologist, Quality Assurance Officer, Product Development Scientist, or Food Safety Specialist. Because the course combines strong scientific training with real-world application, you’ll graduate with the kind of skills employers are actively seeking.

Here’s what gives Reading students an edge:

• The dedicated Careers Service offers one-to-one support, CV advice, interview prep, and direct links with food industry employers.

• Industry input is built into the programme, and many students take advantage of placements or research projects with leading companies.

• Graduate outcomes speak for themselves: for example, graduates from related food science degrees at Reading report average earnings of around £29,500 just 15 months after finishing, with nearly 100% in work or further study.

• The degree is professionally accredited by the Institute of Food Science & Technology (IFST), which carries weight with employers and adds long-term professional recognition.

Further Academic Progression:
If you’d like to take your studies further, you could continue with a specialist master’s such as MSc Food Science, MSc Food Safety, or MSc Nutrition & Food Quality, or move into research with a PhD. With Reading’s strong research links and industry partnerships, you’ll have clear pathways into both advanced study and high-level careers.