BSc Hons Food with Nutrition

At Bath Spa University, the Food with Nutrition program is designed so you learn by doing. From day one, you’ll get hands-on experience in modern labs, try out real food science techniques, and use professional software to analyse diets and nutrition. If you choose the placement option, you’ll also spend a significant amount of time working in real professional settings, building skills and confidence that employers love.

Here’s how your practical learning could look:

• Professional Placement Year (PPY): A 4-year route includes a 9+ month work placement, giving you real industry experience with guidance from the Placements Team.

• Specialist Food & Nutrition Labs: Work in labs designed for biochemistry, microbiology, human biology, food analysis, sensory testing, and recipe development.

• Analytical Suite & Project Lab: Carry out detailed food analysis, shelf-life testing, microbiological work, and packaging development using modern instruments.

• Software Tools: Use professional nutrition software like Nutritics for dietary analysis, assignments, and lab work.

• Group & Industry-Connected Projects: Collaborate on real-life briefs, developing new food products or working with external organisations.

• Dissertation / Independent Research: In your final year, complete a research project or investigation, sometimes in partnership with industry.

• Facilities & Study Spaces: Access libraries, virtual learning platforms, resource rooms, and lab complexes to support your hands-on learning.

With these experiences, you’ll leave the program confident in lab work, nutrition analysis, product development, and working in professional environments.

A degree in Food with Nutrition from Bath Spa sets you up to step confidently into the world of food science, nutrition, and public health. Graduates leave with practical skills, industry experience, and professional recognition, making them highly employable in a variety of roles:

• Food Product Developer – Creating new foods and improving recipes for taste, nutrition, and safety.

• Quality Assurance Officer – Ensuring products meet health and safety standards in factories and labs.

• Food Technologist – Applying science to improve food production, packaging, and shelf life.

• Nutritionist – Helping people or organizations make healthier choices based on scientific evidence.

How Bath Spa supports your career:

• Placements Team & Professional Year – Helps you secure real work experience, build networks, and gain up to 900+ hours in industry.

• IFST Accreditation – Adds credibility to your degree and opens doors in the food science industry.

• Industry Links – Graduates have gone on to work with companies like Yeo Valley, Kerry Foods, Marshfield Bakery, and Coldwater Seafoods.

• Graduate Outcomes – Around 90% of graduates are in work or further study within 15 months, with starting salaries typically around £23,000 and higher if you’ve completed a placement year.

• Practical Facilities – Access to food analysis labs, sensory workshops, and industry visits that bring classroom learning to life.

This combination of hands-on experience, professional recognition, and industry connections ensures you graduate not just with a degree, but with the skills and confidence to succeed.

Further Academic Progression:

After finishing your degree, you have plenty of ways to continue growing:

• Postgraduate Study – MSc or PgDip in Food Safety, Nutrition Science, Public Health Nutrition, or Food Innovation.

• Teaching – Pursue a PGCE if you want to teach biology or food science in schools.

• Research – Master’s or PhD paths for those interested in advancing knowledge in nutrition, diet, or food systems.

• Professional Certifications – Short courses in quality assurance, HACCP, or regulatory affairs can boost industry-specific career prospects.

With these pathways, you can specialize, lead, or innovate in food and nutrition, building a career that’s both rewarding and impactful.