Food Marketing & Entrepreneurship
BSc (Hons) Food Marketing & Entrepreneurship offers a unique combination of business and science, providing graduates with the skills to work in an exciting, fast-paced industry.
| Award Name | Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) |
|---|---|
| NFQ Classification | Major |
| Awarding Body | National University of Ireland |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 NFQ |
| Award Name | NFQ Classification | Awarding Body | NFQ Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degree - Honours Bachelor (Level 8 NFQ) | Major | National University of Ireland | Level 8 NFQ |
Duration
4 Years
Specific Subjects or course requirements
Leaving Certificate entry requirements:
At Least six subjects must be presented. Minimum grade H5 in two subjects and minimum grade O6/H7 in four other subjects. English and Irish are requirements for all programmes unless the applicant is exempt from Irish. Applicants will need to meet the following minimum entry requirements:
English O6/H7
Irish O6/H7
Maths O6/H7
Other Language O6/H7
Leaving Certificate Vocational Progamme LCVP
UCC awards the following points to the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme Link Modules:
Distinction 66 points
Merit 46 points
Pass 28 points
While Link Modules are counted for point scoring purposes they may not be counted as one of the six subjects to satisfy minimum entry requirements.
QQI FET Applicants General Information
Careers / Further progression
Skills and Careers Information
The skills acquired will ensure that our graduates can position themselves to find employment in the thriving indigenous food sector and exploit career opportunities within fast-moving consumer goods markets both here and abroad.
International growth will underpin demand for graduates in areas such as consumer research, product marketing, key account management, and supply-chain management not only in Ireland but worldwide. And with suitable experience, there is always the prospect of setting up your own business!
The most recent Graduate Employability Survey (UCC 2020 Graduate Outcome Survey) points to 96% of graduates being in full-time employment or pursuing further study within six months of completing this degree. Many of our graduates commence their careers on graduate programmes with companies such as Kerry, Musgrave, Aldi, Kepak, Bord Bia, and IBEC amongst others. Career prospects cover a wide range of functional areas including Brand Management (e.g. Kerry); Social Media Marketing (e.g. Tesco); Buying (e.g. Musgrave, Aldi, Dunnes); Key Account Management (e.g. General Mills); New Product Development (e.g. Musgrave, Kepak); Category Management (e.g. Danone); Digital Strategy (e.g. Google, Lidl); State Agencies (e.g. Bord Bia); and Supply Chain (e.g. Sodexo).
A variety of masters programmes in related disciplines are available to graduates of the programme.
Further information
Approximate Available Places 4
Find out about the mature entry requirements at https://www.ucc.ie/en/study/undergrad/entryreqs/matureapplicants/
Approximate Available Places Overall 45
Entry 2024
Early online application (discounted): Fee €30 Closing Date: 20 January 2024 at 5pm
Normal online application: Fee €45 Closing Date: 1 February 2024 at 5pm
Late online application - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: €60 Closing Date: 1 May 2024 at 5pm
Change of Mind - restrictions apply (see page 3 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee: Nil Closing Date: 1 July 2024 at 5pm
Exceptional online late application (see page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook): Fee €60 Closing Date: 22 July 2024 at 5pm
Be sure to complete any action well in advance of closing dates. You should avoid making an application close to a closing date. No extensions to closing dates will be allowed and all application fees are non-refundable.
LATE APPLICATIONS
Late Applications are those which are received after 5pm on 1 February 2024. The closing date for late applications is 5pm on 1 May 2024, subject to the restrictions listed on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook. The online facility for late applications opens on the 5 March 2024 at 12:00 noon - a fee of €60 applies.
Exceptional Late Applications (Exception to the timetable)
The exceptional closing date of 22 July at 5pm applies only to applicants who are registered as an undergraduate student on 1 May 2024 in any year in any one of the participating HEIs (subject to the exclusions listed below). In order to avail of the Exceptional Late Application facility you must have entered the HEI through the CAO system. This is an exceptional late closing date and all steps must be completed by 5pm on 22 July. No changes may be made after this date.
If you did not enter your current course through the CAO system, you must first contact the Admissions Office of the HEI to which you wish to apply and they will inform you if you may submit an application direct to the institution.
Exclusions:
You may submit a late application only for entry to courses other than your existing course. If you wish to repeat the year in the same course you must arrange this within your HEI.
Mary Immaculate College Limerick, Marino Institute of Education, Trinity College Dublin, University of Limerick and Maynooth University have special procedures in place in the case of current or previous students who wish to apply for entry to another course in the same HEI. Such applicants must contact their Admissions Office to determine the application procedure. However, if you are a student in another HEI and you wish to apply to any of these five HEIs, you should apply through CAO.
Refer to page 34 of the 2024 CAO Handbook on how to make an Exceptional Late Application.
Restrictions
As a CAO applicant you may experience one or more of the following restrictions based on your course choices, your category of application, or restrictions imposed by the HEIs that you wish to apply to. Please read the section on 'Restrictions' on page 3 of the 2024 CAO Handbook carefully. This section includes information on:
General Restrictions
1. Making a late application
2. Making changes to your course choices
Restricted Courses
3. Applying for a restricted course
Mature Applicants
4. Mature applicants
Supplementary Admissions Routes
5. Applying for DARE and/or HEAR
Course Outline
BSc (Hons) Food Marketing & Entrepreneurship offers a unique combination of business and science, providing graduates with the skills to work in an exciting, fast-paced industry. During Years 1-3 you will study various modules across a range of disciplines including Food Business, Marketing, Food Policy, Management, Economics, Microbiology, Accounting, Law, and Nutrition.
This will provide you with a well-rounded education which will prepare you for a career in the dynamic food industry and other sectors, by nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship skills, by building knowledge of the food and nutrition sciences, by developing skills to assess business viability, and by promoting an understanding of consumer market trends and marketing strategies.
Year 3 will also offer opportunity to avail of a 6-month placement, to further develop practical skills. As an alternative to placement, you will also have the opportunity to apply to partake in the Erasmus programme, spending 6 months in either France (Rennes 1), Germany (Konstanz), Italy (Bologna) or the Netherlands (Utrecht) conducting your research project.
In final year, in addition to studying core modules across business disciplines, you will also have the opportunity to choose modules which most align with your interests and anticipated career path. All business and food science subjects will be taught at an introductory level at first, so do not be concerned if you have not taken science or business subjects at the Leaving Certificate. Graduates will learn skills in strategic decision-making, innovation, enterprise and knowledge management, delivered through an integrated range of subjects that support successful personal and entrepreneurial business development.
The course is designed to consider the challenges faced by businesses and expose students to the concepts, theories and experience of practice that explain how the business world operates. Practical applications in the form of group and individual projects, along with placement and study abroad opportunities will be an integral part of your learning experience. The programme is built on UCC’s international reputation in food education and research and taught by lecturers who are internationally recognised in their fields of expertise.
Year 1 Modules (all 5 credits):
FE1017 Introduction to Food Marketing; FE1016 Introduction to Food Business; FE1030 Introduction to International Food Policy; FE2200 Introduction to Food Supply Chain Management; EC1500 Ethics and Economic Decision Making for Food Business; EC1503 Economic Analysis for Food Business; FS1011 Introduction to Food Science and Technology; MB1901 Introduction to Food and Industrial Microbiology; AC1116 Financial Accounting; LW1108 Introduction to the Legal System; LW1109 Introduction to Business Law; MA1100 Introductory Mathematics for Business.
Year 2 Modules:
Digital Food Marketing and Branding; Placement Preparation plan; Quantitative Research for Food; Food Sustainability; Introduction to Management Accounting; Introduction to Information Systems; Information Systems for the Networked Enterprise; Principles of Food Science and Technology; Topics in Food Quality and Legislation; Fundamentals of Nutrition Part 1; Introduction to Business Statistics; Methods of Business Statistics.
Year 3 Modules:
Market-oriented New Food Product Innovation; Food Market Research Methods; Food Enterprise Management; Understanding Supply Chain Management; Science and Technology of Food Systems B; Fundamentals of Food Packaging; Food and Industrial Microbiology I; Enterprise and Innovation; Fundamentals of Nutrition Part 2; Sensory Evaluation for Food and Nutritional Sciences;
Electives:
Transferrable skills - Food Business and Development research project; Work Placement
Year 4 Modules:
Core
Food Marketing and Entrepreneurship (FYP); Consumer Behaviour in Food Markets ; International Food Retail Marketing; Global Food Supply Chain Management; Global Food Policy; Strategic Marketing; Strategic Management; Accounting in Business Public Health Nutrition (5 credits)
Electives:
Advanced Food Packaging; Cereals and Related Beverages B; Financial Reporting 1; Financial Reporting 2; Food Security and the Developing World; Co-operatives, Food and Rural Sustainability; International Marketing Management.
Having successfully completed this course you should be able to:
- comprehend and resolve a variety of marketing and business challenges within a fast-paced business environment
- communicate effectively to business and food science communities
- recognise the importance of good science in business success
- contribute, either in a leadership or supporting role, to the effective functioning of a team
Placement or Study Abroad Information
An integral part of this programme is a six-month industrial placement during Year 3. The placement offers an excellent opportunity to draw on your knowledge and skills in performing tasks in specific work contexts. This will enhance your work capabilities and offers you a chance to reflect on and better understand these.
Placement opportunities are both national and international, and past placements have included:
Aldi (Buying Office)
Nestle
Cully & Sully
Dairygold
Dunnes Stores (Buying Office)
Glenilen
Glanbia (Supply Chain)
Kepak Group
Musgrave Group (Own Brand, Buying, Marketing)
Rich Dairies (USA)
Silver Pail
Alternatively, as part of the Erasmus programme, students can apply to spend the six-months studying abroad in either a German, Dutch, Italian or French university. As well as providing an engaging learning and social experience, studying abroad will provide insight into other markets and cultures, further boosting employability, particularly in organisations which rely heavily on export markets.
Academic Programme Catalogue
See the Academic Programme Catalogue (https://ucc-ie-public.courseleaf.com/programmes/) for the complete and up-to-date content for this course. Note that the modules for all courses are subject to change from year-to-year. For complete descriptions of individual modules, see the Book of Modules (https://ucc-ie-public.courseleaf.com/modules/)
Dr Alan Collins
FME@ucc.ie
+353 (0)21 490 2570
https://www.cubsucc.com/programmes/undergraduate/bsc--hons--food-marketing-and-entrepreneurship/