Expand+The students come to the course from a variety of backgrounds, including: speciality food producers, farmers who wish to add value to their farm produce, retailers who wish to expand into the ever increasing organic and artisan food sector, restaurat...

Hide-The students come to the course from a variety of backgrounds, including: speciality food producers, farmers who wish to add value to their farm produce, retailers who wish to expand into the ever increasing organic and artisan food sector, restaurateurs and chefs, Environmental Health Officers and others working in support agencies who wish to increase their knowledge and understanding of the speciality food sector.

Candidates wishing to be considered for entry to this programme should ideally have experience in a food related sector.

All applications are assessed on an individual basis to determine eligibility. This course will be open to national and international participants.

English Language Requirement: All applicants whose first language is not English must have attained IELTS Level 6 or the equivalent TOEFL score.

Expand+Overview
This part-time Diploma is for those who are starting or wish to further develop an artisan or specialty food business and also for those involved in this sector including farmers, producers, retailers, culinary specialists, and those in sup...

Hide-Overview
This part-time Diploma is for those who are starting or wish to further develop an artisan or specialty food business and also for those involved in this sector including farmers, producers, retailers, culinary specialists, and those in support agencies.

In previous classes we have had great diversity, including people with various backgrounds, such as farmers, artisan producers, chefs, environmental health officers, and interests, such as farmhouse cheeses, smoked fish and seafood, fresh and specialist meats, poultry and pork products, sauces, confectionery, and fresh organic produce. Such diversity together with programme tutors (from business, food science and social sciences), guest speakers and field trips creates an excellent forum for discussion, exchange of experience and learning.

A large number of these Diploma graduates are now successfully running small food enterprises from their home, farm or small production unit or have further developed and improved existing small food businesses.

Course Details
The Diploma course is a mix of lectures, practicals, workshops, project assignment and site visits. It is run on a part-time basis over one year, typically 2 days per week (Tuesday and Wednesday) every 3 or 4 weeks, from October to June. The modules include Local Food Production Systems, Food Microbiology, Food Chemistry and Packaging, Food Marketing and Distribution, Food Processing Technology, Risk Analysis, Nutrition and you will submit an assignment report at the end of the year. There are also practical sessions, guest lecturers (case studies), site visits, and an end of year field trip.

Expand+Year 1 Modules:
FE1805: Local Food Production Systems (5 credits)
The characteristics that make speciality foods distinctive from mass-produced food products. The multidimensional challenges in achieving high environmental standards in the sector.
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Hide-Year 1 Modules:
FE1805: Local Food Production Systems (5 credits)
The characteristics that make speciality foods distinctive from mass-produced food products. The multidimensional challenges in achieving high environmental standards in the sector.

FE1806: Speciality Food Marketing and Distribution (5 credits)
Market opportunities for speciality food. The marketing skills that can help make a business successful. Market analysis tools and marketing plan components.

FE1807: Managing Speciality Food Enterprises (5 credits)
Opportunities and challenges facing small speciality food enterprise establishment and development. Main components of a business plan. Elements of cost and the application of costing techniques to decision-making.

FS1817: Speciality Food Production Assignment (15 credits)
Participants prepare and submit 3,500 word individual assignment.

FS1823: Food Processing Technology (10 credits)
Main steps involved in food processes such as heating, cooling, fermentation etc. Principles of production of the main commodity food products, such as dairy, cereals, meat products etc., in terms of conversion of raw materials to finished products. Design, construction and layout of food premises and how these influence product hygiene.

FS1824: Food Chemistry and Packaging (5 credits)
Key characteristics of major food constituents such as water, lipids, proteins, carbohydrates and vitamins and how some may be determined in the laboratory. Overview of the principal packaging systems used in foods.

FS1825: Nutrition and Sensory Science (5 credits)
The process of digestion, absorption and function of nutrients in the body. An overview of diet/disease relationships in the life cycle. The dietary guidelines and key dietary recommendations for the general population. The concept of functional and therapeutic foods. The sensory system, sensory interactions and influence in food preference.

MB1800: Food Microbiology (5 credits)
The factors affecting the growth of microbes in food.
The microbes of relevance to foods.
The microbiology of raw and processed foods.
The fermentation process.
The principles of cleaning and sanitation.
The factors leading to outbreaks of food borne illness.
Strategies to minimise risk of food borne illness.

MB1801: Risk Analysis (5 credits)
The regulations and legislation of food law.
The fundamental challenge of producing consistently safe food.
Clear and simple guidelines for all individuals and organisations operating in the food, animal product, processing sector. The labelling and traceability requirements for food products.