Overview

Understanding the scientific relationships between diet, physical activity, and human health is fundamental to improving population wellbeing, preventing chronic disease, and shaping the future of the global food industry. The BSc (Hons) Food Science, Nutrition and Wellbeing at Abertay University delivers a flexible, practical education designed to equip students with core scientific knowledge and industrial technical skills. Taught within specialized laboratory facilities, the curriculum covers analytical food testing, nutritional science, exercise principles, and consumer behavior. The degree utilizes a shared two-year foundation structure before allowing scholars to customize their academic focus or select specialized pathways aligned with their career ambitions. Embedded professional work placements, industry guest lectures, and alignment with professional teaching standards further enhance the real-world application of the study program. This course is ideally suited for passionate, health-conscious individuals who wish to develop scientific expertise in food testing, public health promotion, dietary innovation, or home economics education.

What You'll Learn

• Fundamentals of food handling, ingredient functionality, raw material testing, and professional laboratory techniques

• Nutritional requirements and biological needs across human lifespan stages, from childhood to older age

• Principles of food safety, quality management systems, food legislation, and sustainable food product innovation

• Relationships between physical exercise, nutritional intake, metabolism, and lifestyle disease prevention

• Key social, economic, and psychological issues influencing consumer food choices and physical activity habits

• Analytical scientific methodologies, sensory evaluation techniques, and dietary health risk assessment tools

• Public health strategy, health promotion interventions, and educational outreach methodologies

• Professional work placement experience within relevant food manufacturing, health promotion, or community sectors

• Independent capstone research project investigating a specialized challenge in food science, human nutrition, or wellbeing

Learning Outcomes

Graduates will possess a comprehensive understanding of food science, human nutrition, and physical activity principles necessary to evaluate health risks and promote dietary wellbeing. They will demonstrate the practical capability to perform complex analytical food testing, evaluate nutritional profiles, apply quality safety standards, and develop sustainable food products. Through hands-on laboratory work, group projects, and embedded industry placements, students build robust technical abilities in research design, data analysis, problem-solving, and professional communication. Furthermore, scholars master the ability to critically evaluate public health policies, scientific evidence, and consumer trends while communicating complex nutritional concepts effectively to diverse audiences. Upon completion, graduates possess the professional standards, technical versatility, and practical experience needed to excel as food technologists, public health nutritionists, health promotion officers, corporate wellbeing advisors, or postgraduate researchers.