Farm
MJRU-FODSC

Food Science

Undergraduate major

Find your career in the expanding and diverse fields of food sciences and food securities.

Course outline
  • ATAR

    ATAR

    Guaranteed ATAR 70
  • Qualification
    Food Science Major (BSc Science)
  • Credit

    Credit

    200
Course outline

Select your preferred degree

This course belongs to multiple degrees. Select the single degree or double degree below to see the application deadlines.

Course outline
Food Science

Overview

Overview

Food scientists develop and improve ways to process raw ingredients – including grains, meats, milk, fruit and vegetables – into safe, nutritious and tasty foods.

There is high demand for food scientists to work in product development, quality assurance, food manufacturing and sustainable technologies, across government agencies and private industry. Expertise in food science is also diverse: one day you could be developing a new food product, and the next you could be solving technical issues on a processing line.

As a multidisciplinary science, Food Science involves the study of biology, chemistry, nutrition, microbiology and engineering. It also includes the latest research in the handling, processing and packaging of foods, from the farm to the consumer's plate.

This degree is designed as a pathway to a professional career in the industry or to further study in the expanding fields of food sciences and food securities.

What jobs can the Food Science course lead to?

Careers

  • Food scientist / technologist
  • Food microbiologist
  • Food product developer
  • Quality control technologist

Industries

  • Food manufacturing and supply
  • Food research and development
  • Agricultural research
  • Airline and hospitality
  • Analytical laboratories
  • Food marketing and sales
  • Hospitals and health agencies
  • Supermarket and grocery
  • Wine and viticulture
  • Education

What you'll learn

  • have demonstrated knowledge and understanding food science that is typically at a level that, whilst supported by advanced textbooks, includes some aspects that will be informed by knowledge of the forefront of food science, GC1
  • can apply their knowledge and understanding in a manner that indicates a professional approach to food science, and have competencies typically demonstrated through devising and sustaining arguments (to both specialist and non-specialist audiences) and solving problems within food science, GC2
  • understand the constructs of the scientific method and apply these principles in food science using digital technologies, GC3
  • can gather and interpret relevant data within food science to inform judgements that include reflection on relevant social, scientific, or ethical issues, including being aware of the diversity of international perspectives associated with food science, and how these impact upon the practice of food science, GC4
  • understand and appreciate cultural diversity and how it impacts on the practice of food science, GC5
  • display a high standard of professional behaviour, including effective time management, both independently and as a team member, GC6

Admission criteria

What you need in order to get into this course. There are different pathway options depending on your level of work and education experience.

Select an option that best suits you:

You’re considered a high school leaver if you:

  • Completed year 12 in Australia or overseas in the past two years, or
  • Completed TAFE or VET studies in the past two years.

ATAR pathway

  • Guaranteed ATAR 70

    This course has a guaranteed ATAR of 70

  • Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Mathematics Applications ATAR.

  • Desirable WACE subjects

    Desirable WACE subjects

    There are no desirable WACE subjects for this course.

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

StepUp Entry

StepUp Entry

Successful StepUp Entry and StepUp Equity Adjustment Admission Pathway (StepUp Bonus) applicants will be eligible to be considered for admission into this course.

Alternative pathways

  • UniReady

    If you don’t meet our minimum admission criteria, the UniReady Enabling Program can help you qualify for entry into a range of undergraduate courses.

  • Certificate IV + English Competency

    The certificate IV is the minimum requirement for university entry. It qualifies you for entry to Curtin courses with a 70 ATAR. You must also meet English language proficiency.

  • STAT entry

    Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)

    Not accepted. Written English may be used to demonstrate English Competency (140)

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

6

Speaking

6

Reading

6

Listening

6

Overall band score

6

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

How others gained admission

View the ATAR breakdown to see the low, median and high ATAR scores of students who started studying this course recently.

To see the other pathways students have taken, see the pathway breakdown.

You’re considered someone with work and life experience if:

You have left secondary education more than two years ago (i.e. who are not classified as recent secondary education applicants) and have not undertaken vocational education training (VET) or higher education study since then.

How we define ‘experience’
‘Experience’ includes a combination of factors sufficient to demonstrate readiness for higher education such as mature-age entry, professional experience whether completion of the Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) is required or not, community involvement or work experience. Applicants may have undertaken non-formal programs that have helped prepare them for tertiary education or are relevant to the proposed higher education field of study.

Pathways

  • STAT entry

    Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)

    Not accepted. Written English may be used to demonstrate English Competency (140)

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

6

Speaking

6

Reading

6

Listening

6

Overall band score

6

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

You’re considered someone who studied at TAFE or have done an apprenticeship if:

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study are those whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a VET course. This includes study at a public TAFE or other VET provider, whether a qualification was completed or not. Applicants with VET study may have other qualifications such as a Year 10 or Year 12 secondary school certificate.

Pathways

  • TAFE entry

    • A TAFE Diploma or Advanced Diploma in a relevant field of study, if you are not sure if it is relevant, check with the course co-ordinator for the major they are going into.

    • Curtin College Diploma of Information Technology does NOT meet the MAM requirements for the data science major. Alternative offer B-MTDSC to be given

     

  • STAT entry

    Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)

    Not accepted. Written English may be used to demonstrate English Competency (140)

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

6

Speaking

6

Reading

6

Listening

6

Overall band score

6

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

You’re considered someone who has recently left university if:

Applicants with higher education are those whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a higher education course, such as a university degree. This may include applicants who are currently studying a higher education course at another education provider and want to transfer to Curtin University, or applicants who are currently studying at Curtin but want to switch to a different course. It may also include applicants who have completed past study with university and non-university higher education providers.

Curtin course switcher criteria

To switch into this course, you need to have:

  1. Met the admission criteria for minimum entry
  2. Met the Mathematics Applications ATAR prerequisite (or equivalent)

Prerequisite Information

The ATAR Maths Applications prerequisite can be met with one of the following Curtin units:
MATH1013 Introductory Mathematics
MATH1005 Pre-Calculus

Higher education course switcher criteria

To switch into this course from another higher education course provider, you need to have:

  1. Met the admission criteria for minimum entry
  2. Met the Mathematics Applications ATAR prerequisite (or equivalent)

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

6

Speaking

6

Reading

6

Listening

6

Overall band score

6

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

Unsure what option suits you?

We’re here to help you navigate the complexities of university admission. Choose the support you need from the options below.

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool
Credit for recognised learning (CRL)

Use your experience to get credit towards your degree

Finish your course sooner with credit for your previous study or work experience.

Fees and scholarships

Please view the Bachelor of Science (Science) degree for indicative fees.

Looking for more detail on the course structure?

View course structure

How to apply

Please review information on how to apply for the campus of your choice

Apply now
  • The offering information on this website applies only to future students. Current students should refer to faculty handbooks for current or past course information.

    The information on this page may be subject to change. In particular, Curtin University may change the content, method or location of delivery or tuition fees of courses.

    While Curtin uses reasonable efforts to ensure that the information provided on this page is accurate and up to date, errors and omissions sometimes occur. Curtin makes no warranty, representation or undertaking (expressed or implied) nor does it assume any legal liability (direct or indirect) for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information.

    View courses information disclaimer.

  • Curtin course code: MJRU-FODSC
  • Last updated on: 10 December 2024

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