Food Safety (Online Learning) MSc, PgDip (ICL), PgCert (ICL), PgProfDev

Why study this programme?

Based in the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies (R(D)SVS), the MSc is uniquely positioned to draw expertise from the world-class staff based in the vet school, Roslin Institute and the Global Academy of Agriculture and Food Security.

Globally, poor food safety affects 600 million people and results in 420,000 deaths in a year (World Health Organisation report; Estimates of the global burden of foodborne diseases, 2015).

This report highlighted the importance of producing safe food to save human lives, reduce morbidity, conserve resources and improve the economy of every country.

Concern about foodborne diseases is a heightened public health concern worldwide.

The contamination of food with microorganisms or chemicals may occur at any stage in the process from food production to consumption. Environmental contamination, including pollution of water, soil, or air, also poses a threat.

What will I learn?

Uniquely positioned to provide a holistic (“farm to fork”) food safety approach to the food chain, this MSc covers key food safety issues in:

• agricultural food production
• harvest
• slaughter
• processing
• storage
• transport
• retail
• consumption

This MSc considers the pre- and post-harvest stages of agricultural food production. It incorporates:

• the drivers and economics of food safety throughout the food chain,
• how to minimize, detect and deal with potential hazards in crop production, animal products, food processing, manufacture, and storage
• how to collect and analyse data from a foodborne disease outbreak
• a guide to relevant microbial and chemical hazards, and testing systems.
• designing and implementing food safety management systems
• an introduction to animal welfare and food safety/quality concerns on farms, transport vehicles, slaughterhouses, meat processing plants, including waste management
• guides to relevant legislation, comparing legislation and issues with labelling, traceability, enforcement, and food fraud
• other topics are available in elective options

Online learning

The University of Edinburgh has been delivering online postgraduate programmes since 2005 and is the largest provider of online programmes in the prestigious Russell Group of universities.

How will I learn?

As an online student, not only do you have access to Edinburgh's excellent resources, but you will also become part of a supportive online community, bringing together students and tutors from around the world.

You will engage with learning materials on a week-by-week basis, accessing lecture materials developed specifically for online learners.

You will take part in online discussion boards with fellow students and activities set by the tutors.

You also have access to lecturers via live sessions.

How will I be assessed?

The programme has been designed to use a range of assessment tools, both formative and summative, with multiple feedback opportunities across the programme.

Summative assessment and feedback have been designed to help you develop the key skills associated with the learning outcomes.

Assessment is tied to practical applications such as report and project proposal writing. Examples include:

• a data analysis report for a foodborne disease outbreak

• a qualitative microbiological risk assessment report

• a brief for an information sheet on dioxins for farmers

• a presentation on HACCP measures for a method of food processing

• a procedural strategy to verify the veracity of food labels

• developing a dissertation research proposal selected by you with the programme team

Formative assessment, for example, multiple-choice questions and discussion groups, will be included in each course to provide opportunities for feedback before assessment deadlines.

Opportunities will be provided for formative feedback on assessment drafts.

Accreditation

Courses within the MSc in Food Safety programme, once accredited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS), can be used by veterinarians towards the RCVS Certificate or Diploma in Veterinary Public Health.

The programme aligns and contributes to the current European College of Veterinary Public Health (ECVPH) approved specialist standard residency training programme that occurs at the RDSVS.

We are globally recognised for our research, development and innovation and we’ve provided our students with world-class teaching for more than 425 years.

An Edinburgh degree works for you

The University of Edinburgh is one of the world’s top universities, consistently ranked in the world top 50 and placed 22nd in the 2024 QS World University Rankings.

Our graduates are ranked 26th in the world by employers1.

Excellence in research

The University of Edinburgh has an international reputation for innovative research across a wide range of disciplines.

According to the results of the 2021 Research Excellence Framework (REF2021), the University is ranked fourth in the UK based on the quality and breadth of its research - known as research power - and is Scotland’s top-ranked institution.

The REF2021 results reveal that nearly 90 per cent of the University’s research activity is in the highest categories – 4 star and 3 star – which are classified respectively as ‘ world-leading’ and ‘internationally excellent’, a growth of 10 percentage points since the previous REF in 2014.

Innovation in teaching

The latest report from the Quality Assurance Agency awarded us the highest rating possible for the quality of the student learning experience. We are always working to develop innovative approaches to teaching in order to discover the methods that work best for students, including e-learning techniques and peer-assisted learning.

Experts in online learning

We offer the largest portfolio of postgraduate online degrees in the UK2, welcoming more than 8,000 online students since 2005. Our flexible and supportive programmes are well-established and an increasingly popular choice for students looking to balance further study with professional or family commitments.

Beautiful capital city

Ranked in the world’s top 10 student cities3, Edinburgh is a compact city with excellent transport links, which makes it easy to get around and to travel to other parts of Scotland.

Large enough to offer something for everyone, but small enough to feel like home, Edinburgh is a modern, sophisticated and beautiful European city with a diverse, multicultural community.​

Facilities and support to help you succeed

You will have access to one of the largest and most important academic libraries in the world, housing over 1.8 million printed volumes. You’ll also benefit from 30 open-access computer labs with 24-hour access across key locations, as well as free laptop loans.

We offer a free Student Counselling Service and a University Health Centre, and our Student Disability Service provides a range of support for students with disabilities. We also offer excellent childcare services, making it easier to juggle parenthood and study.

Impressive global community

Our ambitious internationalisation strategy ensures the teaching and research we deliver offers global benefits. We’re ranked in the world's top 20 most international universities4. Students from two-thirds of the world’s countries study here.

We collaborate with a host of world-leading institutions in fields as diverse as e-science, engineering, life and medical sciences, and arts and culture. We’re also a member of the global research network Universitas 21 and the European networks Coimbra Group and LERU.

Leading on social responsibility and sustainability

We are committed to being a world leader in addressing global challenges including poverty, climate change and the growing demand for energy, food and water.

As Scotland’s first Fairtrade University, we have been promoting better conditions for farmers and communities in developing countries since 2004.

We have championed environmental sustainability since the early 1990s and were a founder signatory to the Universities and Colleges Climate Commitment 2009 and to the 10:10 campaign.

The University is host to several Global Academies committed to tackling issues related to health, justice, environment, and agriculture and food security. The Academies cross boundaries in research and teaching, adopting a multi-disciplinary response to challenging global issues.

1QS World University Rankings 2024 2Higher Education Statistics Agency 2017/18 3QS Student Cities 2023 4Times Higher Education, World’s Most International Universities 2022