Food Science

• Studying: 11%
• Employed in graduate job: 49%
• Employed in non-graduate job: 26%
• Unemployed: 9%

• Average graduate salary: £20,336
• Average non-graduate salary: £15,269

Over the course of your degree you will develop a good mix of subject specific and technical skills, alongside transferable core skills. Employers are always asking for transferable skills and you will develop a wide range by studying food science. Consider the skills developed on your course as well as through your other activities, such as paid work, volunteering, family responsibilities, sport, membership of societies, leadership roles, etc. Think about how these can be used as evidence of your skills and personal attributes. Then you can start to market and sell who you really are, identify what you may be lacking and consider how to improve your profile.

 View the best universities for food science degrees.

Prospects

Destination figures show that in 2010, over 40% of food science graduates were in full-time paid work, including self-employment. Of these, the majority (23%) entered the engineering sector, most as food and drink technologists, with a small number going into quality control and food production. Just over 15% of all food science graduates in employment entered careers as commercial or public sector management, 15% entered catering and retail occupations and 7% went into clerical and secretarial occupations. 

Where are the jobs?

Food scientists usually work for major food manufacturers, or within a government department developing food policy. Food scientists are also employed by retailers and food producers.

Jobs directly related to your degree

If you have combined a passion for food with a degree in food science, then you will be well placed to pursue careers as a:

• Dietitian
• Food technologist or product/process development scientist

Jobs where your degree would be useful

A degree in food science will also set you up for career opportunities such as:

• Industrial buyer or retail buyer
• Production manager
• Quality manager

Although some of the jobs listed here might not be first jobs for many graduates, they are among the many realistic possibilities with your degree, provided you can demonstrate you have the attributes employers are looking for. Bear in mind that it's not just your degree discipline that determines your options. Remember that many graduate vacancies don't specify particular degree disciplines, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

Included with the permission of AGCAS and Graduate Prospects. For the latest version of this publication, see www.prospects.ac.uk. For permission to reproduce, contact copyright@agcas.org.uk. We would welcome your comments on this section of The Complete University Guide. Please email us at admin@thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk.