Food

We all need food to survive: it's a product that will be forever in demand. So it's not surprising that the sector is Europe's largest and most buoyant industry.

Featuring regularly in the national media, food is often found at the centre of debates on such areas as human health and disease, global shortages and surpluses, consumer demand, the rights and wrongs of genetic modification, and food quality and nutrition. Through studying one of our courses in food and nutritional sciences or food business and marketing, you can explore these issues and prepare yourself for an exciting and relevant career.

A world-class institution

The University of Reading is a world authority on food chemistry, chemical engineering, microbiology, food law, and human nutrition.

• We are in the top 10 universities for food science in the UK (7th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2025).
• Our research in agri-food economics and marketing is driven by key global challenges and aligns closely with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• We are ranked 1st in the UK and 22nd in the world for Agriculture and Forestry (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2024).

Our staff across departments are actively engaged in world-class research and will tailor their teaching to reflect changing trends and emerging technologies within the sector.

Facilities and expertise

In the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, you will have access to one of the largest ranges of dedicated food teaching facilities in a UK university. These include a large pilot plant containing processing equipment for food product development work, advanced taste panel facilities, and specialist laboratories for assessing human gut microflora.

In the Department of Agri-Food Economics and Marketing – home to our food business and marketing degree – you’ll benefit from staff expertise in food consumer behaviour. Staff will help you get to grips with the challenges of sustainable food system transformation from farm to fork, while developing strong entrepreneurial and digital skills for the food industry.

Professional recognition

Graduates from many of our food and nutritional sciences degrees will be recognised as professional food scientists or food technologists by the Institute of Food Science and Technology.

Overall, 96.2% of graduates from Food and Nutritional Sciences are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation (based on our analysis of HESA data (c) HESA 2023, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2020/21, includes all Food and Nutritional Sciences responders).

Our food business and marketing degrees are accredited by the Chartered Institute of Marketing, enabling graduates to receive exemptions from all but one module of the Certificate in Professional Marketing or Certificate in Professional Digital Marketing qualification, or exemptions from all but two CIM modules for the Diploma in Professional Marketing qualification or Diploma in Professional Digital Marketing.

Graduates from our nutrition courses will also be eligible to apply to become a Registered Associate Nutritionist with the Association for Nutrition via the direct entry pathway, providing a clear and respected marker of your status as a nutrition professional.

Choose your path

Our selection of courses enables you to pursue your interests within the food sector, whether you are keen to study it from a technological, nutritional, or business angle.