Everything you need to know...
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What is the fee?
Home: £12,120 for the course
International/EU: £19,225 for the course -
How long will I study?
2 Years
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Where will I study?
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When do I start?
September 2025
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Placement year available?
Yes
Course summary
- Gain a detailed understanding of consumer behaviour within global food systems.
- Explore marketing principles that drive purchasing behaviours.
- Study food composition, ingredients and processing technologies in depth.
- Develop safe, nutritious and sustainable food products in state-of-the-art facilities.
- Explore responsible and ethical solutions to food business challenges.
On the MSc Food Consumer Marketing and Product Development course you’ll consider sustainability, corporate social responsibility, legislative issues and business ethics. You’ll develop and apply masters-level skills – academic, research, managerial, practical, technical and analytical – all preparing you for a future career in the dynamic, fast-paced food industry. The course also includes a work experience opportunity – a 12-month placement for September starters.
Accredited by
The course is accredited by The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) for the purpose of gaining exemptions from units on CIM qualifications. Students may have the opportunity to join The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) as a Studying Member.
Sheffield Business School accreditation
Sheffield Business School is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) and has been awarded the Business School Impact System label by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD).
Come to an open day
Find out more at our postgraduate open days. Book now for your place.
How you learn
Your lecturer's view
On this course you’ll apply theoretical knowledge in practical ways, aligned to real-world challenges facing the food sector. You’ll develop and apply key skills including gap and competitor analysis, benchmarking and sensory testing techniques – alongside tailored managerial and business skills such as human resource and financial management.
You’ll build a broad knowledge of food processing and safety, product development, business-to-business and consumer marketing and the food chain. You’ll then apply your learning to commercially relevant scenarios in our state-of-the-art specialist kitchens and laboratories. You’ll also have opportunities to develop managerial and research skills relevant to the food sector.
The course is delivered on-campus over three trimesters, with teaching scheduled based on the length of your course and the academic calendar. Our research-active staff will deliver up-to-date taught sessions informed by current thinking. You’ll be able to undertake a research project relevant to food marketing, food science, consumer science or product development.
You learn through:
- lectures, seminars and workshops
- practical sessions
- real-world projects
- case studies
- academic research
- a final project
Key themes
We’ll begin with the underlying science of food, including food composition, ingredient functionality, nutrient functionality, food safety, quality assurance and global food systems. Alongside this, you’ll explore sustainable business strategy to understand how food businesses operate, such as financial and human resource management.
You’ll undertake practicals and workshops in our specialist laboratories, kitchens and sensory suite. Here you’ll gain the skills you’ll later apply to develop new food products that meet the global market demand for sustainable, healthy, safe and nutritious food for all.
You’ll also explore drivers of consumer behaviour, and how these inform food marketing, advertising and branding. Then you’ll progress to your project – your chance to bring together the practical, theoretical, research and knowledge-based skills you’ve developed throughout the course.
Course-level support
You’ll be supported by industry-experienced academic staff – as well as an academic adviser, an employability adviser and a student support adviser. We’ll also encourage you to collaborate with peers in both your learning and in extra-curricular activities, so you can benefit from a sense of course community.
You’ll mostly be assessed through coursework, with workshops to provide you with regular feedback. Where appropriate, we’ll build flexibility and personalisation into the assessment design to allow you to tailor your own learning.
- Our teaching is digitally enriched, with opportunities to engage online with peers and tutors.
- You’ll be welcomed onto campus with in-person workshops.
- Supported independent study builds confidence and resilience, shaping individual creative practice.
- You’ll collaborate with other students, staff and organisations to develop the personal and professional competencies required for a career in the food or marketing industries.
Course leaders and tutors
Jo Pearce
Senior Lecturer in NutritionStaff profile for Jo Pearce Senior Lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University
Applied learning
When you graduate, if you choose to register with the Institute of Food Science & Technology (IFST) or the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM), you’ll need to undertake regular continued professional development (CPD) to further your career – and to reflect on the value of CPD.
To support your development of this key skill, we embed work-related learning throughout the course and assessments, offering you chances to engage in personal and professional development and reflection. These work-related learning opportunities may include simulated work experience, volunteering, networking, conferences, university-wide initiatives, guest lectures by external speakers or real-life project briefs.
For example, previous students have used Nutritics to analyse diets or recipes or to produce nutrition panels and labels.
Work placements
You’ll have the opportunity to go on a work placement for up to 12 months, where you’ll apply academic theory and your skills in a real-world setting. This hands-on experience will enhance your professional development and help you to make informed career choices after graduation. We’ll support you to source a placement that is relevant to your course. Throughout your placement, you’ll be supported to reflect on your experience and contribution to the organisation you work for. You'll also share your progress and achievements with your Placement Academic Supervisor as part of your final assessment.
Previous organisations that have provided placement opportunities include Bells of Lazonby Bakery, ALS Global, Freshpak, and King Asia Foods Ltd.
Networking opportunities
You’ll be able to meet or network with professionals through guest lectures from visiting academics, researchers and other professionals.
Future careers
This course prepares you to work in a range of food marketing, brand/account management, product development or technical roles in the food industry. Your course has embedded support from an academic to help you prepare for your future career. The University also offers workshops and support sessions.
This course prepares you for a career in:
- food product development
- food regulation and labelling
- food industry policy
- procurement and food supplier management
- food quality management
- Previous graduates of this course have gone on to work for:
- retailers e.g. Morrisons
- food Manufacturers e.g. Finsbury Food Group, Greencore
- NHS Trusts
- local council
- voluntary, community and social enterprises
Where will I study?
You study at City Campus through a structured mix of lectures, seminars and practical sessions as well as access to digital and online resources to support your learning.
City Campus
City Campus is located in the heart of Sheffield, within minutes of the train and bus stations.
City Campus map | City Campus tour
Adsetts library
Adsetts Library is located on our City Campus. It's open 24 hours a day, every day.
Learn moreEquipment and facilities
You’ll benefit from state-of-the-art learning environments, including IT-equipped lecture halls, specialised hardware and software resources, interactive group workspaces, and a continuously expanding library.
On this course you’ll have access to:
- industry-standard professional development kitchens for food product development
- support from specialist technicians
- ingredients provided to support your learning
- assistance from our specialist procurement team
- our 12-booth specialist sensory suite, sensory kitchen and discussion room
- specialist sensory analysis software
- nutrition labs measuring anthropometric and biochemical markers of health
- food analysis labs measuring chemical and physical properties of foods
- specialist dietary analysis software such as Nutritics
Entry requirements
All students
Normally one of the following in a relevant subject
• an honours degree, 2.2 or above
• an equivalent recognised qualification
• an HND with significant relevant industrial experience
Relevant subjects include • business • science • social science • a food related discipline
In exceptional circumstances we consider candidates without formal qualifications who demonstrate the necessary experience, intellect and motivation. You may also be able to claim credit points which can reduce the amount of time it takes to complete your qualification at Sheffield Hallam. Find out more
Work Experience Route
If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum 6.0 in all skills.
Non Work Experience Route
If English is not your first language you will need an IELTS score of 6.0 with a minimum 5.5 in all skills.
If your English language skill is currently below the required level we recommend you consider a Sheffield Hallam University pre-sessional English course which will enable you to achieve an equivalent English score.
Additional information for EU/International students
If you are an International or non-UK European student, you can find out more about the country specific qualifications we accept on our international qualifications page.
For details of English language entry requirements (IELTS), please see the information for 'All students'.
Modules
Important notice: The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.
You will be able to complete a placement year as part of this course. See the modules table below for further information.
Year 1
Compulsory modules
Developing Food Products
Food Marketing And Consumer Behaviour
Global Food Systems, Quality And Sustainability
Postgraduate Work Experience Applied Professional Diploma
Sustainable Business Strategy
Final year
Elective modules
Consultancy
Dissertation
Work Experience Project
Fees and funding
Home students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £12,120 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. For this work experience route, your fees will be payable over two years, divided into two annual payments based on credits studied. The fee includes dedicated employability support to help you prepare for and secure work experience. It does not guarantee you a placement and if a placement is not secured the work experience fee will still be charged. If a placement is not secured you will transfer to the standard version of the course to complete your remaining credits, where the balance of your course fees will be due in year one in line with completing the course.
If you are studying an undergraduate course, postgraduate pre-registration course or postgraduate research course over more than one academic year then your tuition fees may increase in subsequent years in line with Government regulations or UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) published fees. More information can be found in our terms and conditions under student fees regulations.
International students
Our tuition fee for UK students starting full-time study in 2025/26 is £19,225 for the course. The tuition fee displayed above is for the full course. For this work experience route, your fees will be payable over two years, divided into two annual payments based on credits studied. The fee includes dedicated employability support to help you prepare for and secure work experience. It does not guarantee you a placement and if a placement is not secured the work experience fee will still be charged. If a placement is not secured you will transfer to the standard version of the course to complete your remaining credits, where the balance of your course fees will be due in year one in line with completing the course.
Postgraduate student loans
Up to £12,471 is available in 2024/25 for home students on most masters courses.
Additional course costs
The links below allow you to view estimated general course additional costs, as well as costs associated with key activities on specific courses. These are estimates and are intended only as an indication of potential additional expenses. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the choices you make during your course.
General course additional costs
Additional costs for Sheffield Business School (PDF, 142KB)Legal information
Any offer of a place to study is subject to your acceptance of the University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations.
