Bachelor of Science (Food Technology and Nutrition)

In the first three semesters you will take foundation courses, such as chemistry and microbiology, and will be introduced to food processing and nutrition. Later your studies will focus more on courses related to your major.

The nutrition major focuses on human health and nutrition. The food technology major deals with traditional and novel technologies employed in the manufacture of food products, as well as sensory evaluation of foods, product development and quality assurance.

At our Bundoora campus you will have access to modern facilities to apply your knowledge and develop technical skills. These include:

• food pilot plant
• product development laboratory
• fully-equipped, computerised sensory and consumer testing suite
• food and nutrition research laboratory
• food analysis and characterisation laboratory microbiology laboratory
• temperature controlled rooms
• dry goods storage
• dry and wet preparation areas

Food scientists use analytical techniques to test properties of food including nutritional value, flavour, and levels of various substances. They test foods to provide product information, ensure the safety of food products and ensure that food manufacturing processes meet government and industry standards.

Food scientists explore and develop new products, manufacturing methods and conduct sensory evaluation of products. They can also investigate and set safety and quality standards for production, packaging and marketing.

Evaluating the nutritional value of foods is a vital aspect of food science. Nutritionists specialise in studying the health aspects of food as well as food composition, consumption and regulation.

Graduates of this degree have found jobs with major food companies such as:

• Nestle
• Cadbury
• Simplot
• Heinz
• Mondelez

Graduates of the food technology stream find jobs with large food processing companies in research and development, marketing or quality assurance roles.

Graduates of the nutrition stream work for food companies in areas such as product development, marketing and regulatory affairs.

Many graduates have progressed to managerial roles in food companies, while some have taken up roles in government departments or with regulatory bodies.

Globally, food production is the world's largest industry and is still growing and employment prospects for food scientists in Australia are excellent.

Nationally, the sector constitutes 30 per cent of Australian manufacturing, employs more than 220,000 people and generates more than $55 billion in exports annually.

Melbourne's food industry is set to double over the next 10 years as part of a government plan to make the city's northern region a major food industry hub with the assistance of RMIT University and other partners.

The Australian Government's National Food Plan aims to increase the value of food related exports from Australia by 45 per cent and to increase food productivity by 30 per cent by 2025.