Department of Food Production

Coordinator – Professor Neela Badrie

OFFERED FULLY ONLINE

OBJECTIVE

The overall objective of these programmes is to provide quality and relevant education, training and research in food safety and quality to graduates who are farm managers, food processors, food service managers, nutritionists, regulators, public health inspectors, policy makers, importers and exporters regionally and world-wide who want to upgrade their skills.

Candidates will have the option of pursuing either the postgraduate Diploma or the MSc programmes.

POST-GRADUATE DIPLOMA

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

In order to be admitted to the postgraduate Diploma, candidates must normally:

a. Have a first degree in Agriculture, Agri-Business, Natural Sciences, Life Sciences, Medical Sciences, Human Ecology, Public Health, Environmental Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Food Sciences, Veterinary Medicine or any related areas or;

b. Have previous equivalent level of education and relevant experience which would be acceptable to the University;

c. Mature students who do not satisfy the above requirements but who have considerable work experience and who are deemed capable of achieving the standard of work required for the programmes may be permitted to enter these programmes at the discretion of the Faculty and the University.

COURSE OF STUDY

The Diploma programme comprises of 24 credits of courses as follows:

** Offered Online

DURATION

The academic year is divided into two semesters as follows: August to December and January to May.

Diploma full-time: 2 semesters of courses

Diploma part-time: 4 semesters of courses

AWARD OF THE DIPLOMA

To qualify for the award of the Diploma, candidates must successfully take and pass 6 courses (4 credits each) for a total of 24 credits.

MSC PROGRAMME

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

In order to be admitted to the MSc programme, candidates must normally:

• Have a first degree (minimum grade of a Lower Second Class Honours or equivalent) in Agriculture, Agri-Business, Natural Sciences, Life Sciences, Medical Sciences, Human Ecology, Public Health, Environmental Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Food Sciences, Veterinary Medicine or any related areas; OR

• Students with a pass degree may gain entry to the MSc programme subject to Departmental support and completion of qualifying courses.

Candidates who have successfully completed the requirements for the Diploma in Agri-Food Safety and Quality Assurance may apply to upgrade to the MSc degree. In the event that such candidates are unable to complete the requirements for the MSc, the postgraduate diploma will be awarded on successful completion of the prescribed courses.

MSc students who have been unable to complete the requirements within the maximum time but who have met the requirements for the Diploma may be awarded the Diploma.

Persons initially admitted to the post-graduate Diploma and wishing to transition into the Master’s without being awarded the Diploma must complete 24 credits required for the Diploma plus the additional 12 credits from the compulsory courses as required for direct entry into the Master’s.

Persons who apply for admission to the Master’s within a 5 year award of the post-graduate Diploma will not be exempted from more than 50% of the credits required for the Master’s on the basis of credits earned from the Diploma.

Delivery Semester1 courses by online

Delivery Semester 2 courses by online

COURSE OF STUDY

The MSc programme comprises 28 credits of courses and a compulsory research project for 8 credits.

** Offered Online

DURATION

The academic year is divided into two semesters as follows: August to December and January to May.

MSc full-time: 2 semesters of courses and research programme -12 months (minimum) – 15 months (maximum)

MSc part-time: 4 semesters of courses and research programme - 24 months (minimum) – 30 months (maximum)

AWARD OF THE MSc DEGREE

To qualify for the award of the Degree, candidates must have successfully completed 7 courses (4 credits each) for 28 credits, and the research project in the food safety and quality for 8 credits for a total of 36 credits.