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10 Best Schools for Food Science in the World

Best Schools for Food Science in the World. Although food is good for the body and keeps us alive, are you familiar with the science behind its constituent parts? Would you be interested in learning how to increase the nutrient content, accessibility, and abundance of food? If so, you must enroll in a food science degree program at one of the top food science universities in the globe.

Although a profession in food science is lucrative, nothing compares to the satisfaction that comes from saving lives and advancing health. The World Health Organization estimates that over 600 million people get sick after eating tainted food, and approximately 420,000 people pass away each year as a result.

Your work as a food scientist contributes to lowering this number, but if you don’t enroll in a renowned food science program, you won’t be well-prepared for this role. Due to this, we will list the top universities where you can major in food science. To start and succeed in a career in food science, however, you must first be aware of the types of degrees required.

If you read through to the end of this essay, you will get all the answers to the questions you may already have about the subject.

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What is Food Science?

Food science is a broad field of study. It is a subject that combines engineering, chemistry, biochemistry, nutrition, and microbiology to comprehend the scientific components of food and provide solutions to issues pertaining to various parts of the food system.

According to Wikipedia, the field of food science starts with nutrition and agricultural science before moving on to the scientific principles of food processing and expanding the field of food technology.

Food science is interested in leveraging its multidisciplinary expertise to investigate the origins of foods, reasons why foods degrade, the fundamentals of food processing, and ways to make food better for consumers.

Food science is a field that is still developing. It got its beginnings as a reaction to social developments in affluent nations like North America. People in these areas needed food products that were simple to make, practical, sophisticated, and refined.

The food industry needs highly qualified scientists with an understanding of the intricate chemistry of the food chain and expertise in preservation techniques in order to control this issue. Food science was therefore born.

Dedicated academics, researchers, and industry experts in the subject of food science attend conferences and symposiums to advance their expertise. Make arrangements to attend this year’s Global Food Security Symposium in the USA.

What are the Various Disciplines in Food Science?

Food science is a vast discipline because it crosses many different academic fields. A number of food science subdisciplines may pique your interest. They consist of:

  • Food Chemistry: Here, you study the chemical processes and interactions of all biological components of food (e.g, meat, poultry, lettuce, beer) and the non-biological components.
  • Food Physical Chemistry: This is an aspect of food chemistry, but here, you study the physical and chemical interactions of foods.
  • Molecular Gastronomy: This involves the scientific investigation of the physical and chemical transformation of ingredients during cooking.
  • Food Engineering: This deals with the industrial processes for manufacturing food.
  • Food Microbiology: This subdiscipline concerns itself with the microorganisms that live in, create, or contaminate food as well as those that make food to get spoilt.
  • Quality Control: Here, you’ll deal with the causes, prevention, and communication of food-borne illnesses. Hence, quality control is a subdiscipline that ensures that food products meet the written specification on the package.
  • Food Preservation: This subdiscipline concerns the causes and prevention of quality spoilage.
  • Food Substitution: This deals with the science of replacing fat, sugar, or calories in food products while maintaining their former shape, texture, color, or taste.

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Why Study Food Science?

While learning what to eat and what not to eat may not require formal education, learning the components of food in order to solve major global challenges does. Your interest in food and nutrition will motivate you to learn more, but this is not the only factor.

Here are some further justifications for studying food science:

1. Job Security

The necessity of food is one constant in our existence. So there will always be plenty of employment prospects in the food industry. You can always find work in the food industry if you have a degree in food science. Food businesses will value you for your knowledge from your degree as well as your abilities in food substitute and preservation. These are not particularly typical skills.

2. Diverse Work Environment

There are many various occupations with a food science degree in many other businesses, not only the food industry. You can work as a quality controller, R&D staff member, sales executive, and even as a teacher in educational institutions, business organizations, and governmental organizations because to the discipline’s multidisciplinary nature.

3. Generous Income

A food science bachelor’s degree will earn you high money. For instance, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, agricultural and food scientists in America would make $64,020 in 2018. Naturally, this wage will rise as one gains knowledge and expertise in the sector.

4. Journey Possibilities

If you want to work in the field of food science, you will have several travel options. This is due to how international the food sector is. In order to offer your services or advance your knowledge in the area, you may therefore need to relocate depending on your position and line of work.

What are the Educational Requirements for a Career in Food Science?

You will require an undergraduate or graduate degree, depending on the role and career path you select in the science area. A bachelor’s degree in agricultural science or a closely related field, for instance, can be enough to land a job in farming or food processing technology.

However, food scientists wishing to teach in the discipline would require a PhD; those working in research jobs at university institutions must possess at least a master’s degree. The degrees and educational requirements you need for food science are listed below.

Bachelor’s degrees

You will likely be able to get entry-level jobs in the food business with a bachelor’s degree in food science. Food processing and packaging, agricultural analysis and chemistry, dairy biology, nutrition, and food legislation are among the topics you’ll study in your degree programs. The majority of food science bachelor’s programs will give you the chance to do internships and obtain practical experience in the field.

Graduate degrees

A master’s or doctoral program in food science is required for bigger roles in the food sector. These degrees emphasize advanced, specialized training that combines in-class and lab learning. For a graduate degree in food science, you’ll probably take classes in food microbiology and chemistry, preservation, food safety, and research methodologies.

Some food science Ph.D. programs will also include teaching assistantships or training in the classroom. A thesis project or dissertation will be due when your graduate program is over.

What Can I Do with a Degree in Food Science?

Once you get a degree in food science, you will have several chances both domestically and abroad. Let’s examine the key positions you can hold with a degree in food science.

Nutritional therapists can interpret complex information about diet and nutrition for their clients in a way that is informal and clear. These experts provide nutritional advice based on an individual’s needs, assisting people in leading healthy lives. Nutritional therapists make about $60,370 a year in the USA. Managers of quality assurance make ensuring that food items adhere to the requirements set forth in industry laws. In order to aid in making decisions that will improve the standards and procedures now in use, they also gather and analyse data about them. In the USA, quality assurance managers make $38,250 annually.

To become a chef, you need more training than just a degree in culinary science. However, your degree will help you advance more quickly in the field and earn up to $48,460 in the USA.

Food science marketing managers concentrate on packaging, social media, consumer research, advertising, and brand development for their organization. Marketing managers can make up to $147,240 per year in the USA. Toxicologists do research on soil, air, water, and food to understand how various chemicals affect these components and harm humans. Toxicologists make around $71,498 annually in the USA.

Food researchers and technologists collaborate closely with manufacturing teams to create novel food recipes that satisfy particular criteria. Meals that are quick to prepare and low in fat and sugar are a few of these conditions. Food scientists in the USA make an average of $72,570 a year.

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What are the Best Schools in the World for Food Science?

It has been more and more challenging to choose the best universities in the world because there are so many colleges offering food science courses.

However, some nations have more schools that rank highly for food science than others since they are more oriented toward agriculture and food. Here is a list of the top institutions teaching food science worldwide:

1. Jiangnan UniversityChina

One of the most reputable universities in China is Jiangnan University. The Chinese Ministry of Education oversees this important national university that is part of the nation’s Project 211 initiative. Over 28,000 students are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs in Chinese universities, where it has been going on since 1902.

Jiangnan University, which is ranked number one in ARWU as the world’s top institution for food science, but not ranked in the QS World University Ranking (WUR). However, this Chinese University is ranked between 101 and 150 globally by QS based on subject rankings. Furthermore, Jiangnan is a top-notch international university thanks to IFT’s recognition of its Food Science bachelor’s programs.

The two bachelor’s degree programs in food science offered by Jiangnan University are Food Science & Technology and Food Safety & Quality Control. Additionally, it provides a Professional Masters in Food Safety & Quality Control as well as a Master’s program in Fermentation Engineering.

Jiangnan’s Ph.D. programs are its main selling feature. Light Industry Mechanical & Packaging Engineering and Sugar Engineering are two of the six.

2. China’s Zhejiang University

Zhejiang University (ZJU) is the university that, if there is one in China, is comparable to the Ivy League Universities in the United States. It is the oldest, most prestigious, and most selective institution in China.

Zhejiang University, in contrast to Harvard, has a sizable student body and a vast faculty. Wikipedia states that there are 3,741 members of the academic staff and 54,641 students overall. ZJU is among the top schools in the world for obtaining a degree in food science and technology. As the sixth-best university in the world for food science, it is ranked 54th in the QS World University Ranking.

ZJU’s food science programs are not IFT accredited, however the university does offer five institutes that focus on sustainable research in the area. Zhejiang University offers 5 Ph.D. degrees, 6 master’s degree programs, and 1 undergraduate degree in food science through the College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science at ZJU. For a complete list of the Food Science degree programs offered by ZJU, click the link below.

3. University of Wageningen – The Netherlands

The Netherlands must be mentioned whenever the topic of food and agriculture in the world is discussed. The founding mission of the University of Wageningen (UR) was to investigate how nature may enhance human well-being. Therefore, it is impossible to discuss food science without including UR.

The old Agricultural Research Institute of the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture and Wageningen University made up this Netherlands University when it first opened its doors in 1876. Wageningen University & Research (WUR) is ranked 125 in the QS World University Ranking and is ranked as the second-best food science school in the world by ARWU.

The IFT acknowledges the food science program at UR, just like it does at Jiangnan University. This is the graduate program in food science at the University of Wageningen. Only two university degree programs in food science and technology are provided at Wageningen University. They are the BSc and MSc in Food Technology, respectively. In contrast, the Master’s degree offers nine food science concentrations, and there are three research institutes whose primary focus is on food science and technology.

4. China Agricultural University

One of the greatest institutions in the world to earn a degree in food science is already implied by the university’s name. Nearly 13,000 students attended the university’s undergraduate and graduate programs when it opened in Beijing, China, in 1905. The Beijing Agricultural Engineering University was merged with the university in 1995, giving it its current shape.

China Agricultural University stands out as a top worldwide university for food science, holding the third-best ranking in the world for food science according to ARWU and placing between 651 and 700 in the QS World University Ranking. This Chinese institution boasts remarkable six (6) research centers devoted to food science and technology, despite the fact that IFT has not yet recognized its food science programs.

Additionally, China Agricultural University includes four food science departments under its College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering. They are the Department of Viticulture and Enology, Department of Nutrition and Food Safety, Department of Food Science and Engineering, and Department of Food Biotechnology. These departments provide five (6) master’s degree programs, a PhD program in aquatic products process engineering, and four (3) undergraduate degrees.

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5. South China University of Technology – China

The Tianhe District of China is home to the 1952-founded South China University of Technology (SCUT). It is a well-known institution of higher learning in China with a strong reputation for its engineering and science programs. Wikipedia states that there are more than 40,000 students enrolled at SCUT, 1,829 of whom are from abroad.

The South China University of Technology is ranked #4 in the world for food science schools by ARWU, while it is ranked #480 by QS World University rankings. The university’s programs in food science are not IFT-accredited. Nevertheless, it provides a huge selection of degree programs in food science through its school of Light Industry and Food Science.

This institution provides four master’s degrees, two undergraduate programs, and four doctoral programs. Food Quality and Safety and Food Science & Engineering are the two bachelor’s degree programs. Fermentation engineering, sugar engineering, starch resources science & engineering, and food science & engineering are the master’s degree programs. The Ph.D. programs in industry, food science, sugar engineering, fermentation engineering, and food science & engineering are the last ones.

6. University of Campinas – Brazil

Brazil is one more nation that can proudly claim to produce food and engage in agriculture. Therefore, it would be unfair to leave out a Brazilian university from our ranking of the top institutions for food science. As a result, the University of Campinas (Unucamp) is a Brazilian university that leads the globe in both gastronomic and scientific research. It was connected to Washington University in St. Louis and started in 1962 in Sao Paulo.

The finest university in the world for food science is Unicamp, which is ranked 5 by ARWU and 214 by QS World University Ranking. The Brazilian University Unicamp offers Master’s and Doctoral Programs in the World, which sets them apart from many other food science and technology degrees, despite the fact that its food science programs are not IFT accredited.

Unicamp provides four Master’s and Doctorate programs in food science through its School of Food Engineering. Food engineering, food science, food technology, and communication. In addition, 15% of Brazilian research is carried out at Unicamp, which is true of its food science research. In Brazil today, Unicamp is the standard for both instruction and research in the field of food science.

7. Ghent University in Belgium

Another European nation notable for agriculture and food security is Belgium. On our list of the top food science universities, Ghent University (UGent) is the sole institution from Belgium. Over 44,000 students are enrolled at the institution, which was founded in 1817 in Ghent by King William 1 of the Netherlands.

The best university in the world for food science is Ghent University, which is ranked 7 by ARWU and 130 by QS World University Ranking. UGent is one of the top universities in the world for food and science despite the fact that none of its food science programs have IFT certification. This is due to the university’s abundance and range of programs.

In addition to its three international degree programs, one exchange program, two programs for industrial engineers, two programs for bio engineers, and two programs for food and science, UGhent also provides a brief training in food science. 3 bachelor’s and 5 master’s degree programs in the topic of food science are available overall at UGhent.

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8. University of Massachusetts Amherst – United States

UMass distinguishes out among the many American colleges that offer degree programs in food science. Over 30,000 students were enrolled in one of the 109 undergraduate, 77 master’s, and 48 doctoral programs at the University of Massachusetts Amherst when it first opened its doors in 1863.

The university excels in its doctorate research, in particular. It belongs to the group of R1 Doctoral Universities, which are colleges with particularly active research agendas.

USP is ranked as the 305th university in the world by QS World University, and ARWU lists it as the 9th top school in the world for food science. IFT certification gives UMass’ undergraduate and graduate food science programs more credibility as a leading institution in the field. In its Fergus M. Clydesdale Center for Foods for Health and Wellness, it also offers a top-notch food science research center.

There are four different food science programs offered by the Department of Food Science at UMass. They are the 1-Year Professional Master’s Degree in Food Science, the B.S. in Food Science, the Ph.D. in Food Science, and the M.S. in Food Science.

9. The University of Porto – Portugal

Another notable nation in Europe for its contributions to food and agriculture is Portugal. So, The University of Porto is one outstanding institution you may trust for a food science degree. Based on the number of students, the institution of Porto is the second-largest institution in Portugal. In Porto, this institution was founded in 1836 and now enrolls more than 30,000 students.

The 11th-best institution in the world to study food science, according to ARWU, which recognizes its contributions to the subject through research.

On the other hand, the University of Porto is ranked as the 353rd best university in the world by QS. The Assessment and Accreditation of Higher Education Agency has additionally accredited the university’s food science programs.

Last buhe University of Porto’s Faculty of Nutrition and Food Science, FCNAUP, offers a degree in nutrition science (BSc), five master’s degrees, and four doctorate degrees in the field. View the complete list of food science courses offered at the University of Porto

10. University of Sao Paulo – Brazil

You won’t mention the University of Sao Paulo (USP) or any other Brazilian universities. This is the biggest and most prestigious university in Brazil. It started in 1034 and had 92,792 total pupils at the time, according to Wikipedia. USP scores well because its degrees are unquestionably some of the best in Brazil and the entire world.

USP is ranked as the 116th best university in the world by QS World University, and ARWU ranks it as the eighth greatest school in the world for food science. Despite not having IFT certification, the University of Sao Paulo’s Food Science programs have one of the field’s most committed research centers in its College of Agriculture.

Food processing and quality, food and beverage biotechnology, food microbiology and good manufacturing practices, and food safety and applied nutrition are the main topics of its research.

USP, on the other hand, solely provides courses in food science. They are agronomics engineering (BSc) and food science (BSC).

FAQs on Best Schools for Food Science in the World

Which country is best for food science study?

Countries like China, the USA, the UK, the Netherlands, and Italy offer the best degree programs for Food Science. The average tuition fees for studying Food Science come to about USD 10,000 – 30,000 depending on the country of education and the university chosen.

Which degree is best for food science?

Bachelor in Food Science and Technology

The Degree Course in Food Science and Technology is designed to provide graduates with good basic and practical knowledge in the main sectors of food science and technology.

Is food science a good career in USA?

According to the BLS, food science and technology jobs in USA are projected to grow by 7 percent with expected employment of 16,100 in 2030. Good Salary: Food science and technology is a rewarding career with the best paying jobs in US. A food scientist earns a basic pay of over 74,160 USD annually.

Is food science a good career in Nigeria?

Without a doubt, a degree in Food Science and Technology could open up doors to numerous high-paying jobs, both here in Nigeria and abroad. The average salary of a food scientist here in Nigeria ranges from N45,000 to N650,000, depending on where you work.

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