The School of Food & Advanced Technology is committed to supporting New Zealand’s export-driven growth based on high value products, processes and technologies related to our bioeconomy.
Our educational programmes build capability in food, nutrition and engineering and our internationally recognised researchers apply their skills throughout the supply chain and beyond. Our expertise covers a very broad range of food-related and engineering disciplines.
Our graduates have theoretical and practical knowledge and are in high demand internationally. Our programmes help students understand future challenges and the complexity our globe will encounter, such as population growth and a global economy. We help them develop a skill base that can future-proof their careers. Our programmes are problem-based, industry-connected and research-led.
Our researchers work collaboratively, blending disciplines to solve problems that have global impact. From microelectronics to detect animal pain to using artificial intelligence in smart homes for our aging population, bioactive food systems to food materials science, we are future-focused, committed to helping society, communities and industry.
Massey’s campus in Auckland is located in Albany on the North Shore. The food aspects of the School are based on the Otehe Rohe campus, while technology and engineering are based at the Albany Village Precinct, off Kell Drive and State Highway 17.
The School of Food and Advanced Technology is located in the Riddet Complex, adjacent to the Food Pilot Plant in the centre of Massey’s Manawatū campus in Palmerston North.
A professor of postharvest technology, Professor Heyes' research background is in cell physiology, with more recent research focusing on connecting science to growth of the horticulture sector based on novel, high-value niche products.
The School of Food and Advanced Technology is one of six interconnected schools within the College of Sciences.
The Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours degree, majoring in Food Processing Engineering, is accredited by Engineering NZ as an engineering degree under the Washington Accord.
The Bachelor of Engineering with Honours programme has provisional accreditation by Engineering NZ as a professional engineering degree under the Washington Accord. This allows our graduates to work internationally.
The Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours programme is approved by the US-based Institute of Food Technologists (IFT).
Massey University is ranked by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) as one of the top 200 universities for chemical engineering. QS is an organisation that ranks universities worldwide in various topics.
Massey University is ranked in the top 50 universities in the world for the subject area of food technology by the Shanghai Ranking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects. The ranking is determined by a series of indicators such as the number of papers authored by an institution in an academic subject, international collaboration on papers, and the number of staff winning awards in an academic subject.
If you are an individual or business looking for advice, consultancy or to commission research in any area of food science, food technology or the business of food, please contact Food Innovation. The team have extensive food industry experience and can help with everything from brainstorming concepts to small production trials. We can connect you with the relevant Massey University expertise, services and facilities and/or project manage your project.
Specialists at Massey University's Nutrition Laboratory provide consultancy for your food business, including nutritional testing of food products including for shelf life, food safety and product formulation.
Massey's campuses play host to a number of facilities and workshops available for research and teaching. Our Auckland campus has a mechatronics research lab, woodworking machine shop, welding bay and workshops.
Equipment in this laboratory includes Paar Physica MCR 301 and 302 control-stress rheometers, texture analyser, Instron universal testing machine, spectrophotometers, rapid-visco analyser and Minolta colourimeter.
Facilities within FoodPILOT include equipment for both animal and human food production. Capability includes extrusion, ice-cream-making, sausage stuffing,vacuum packing, bowl chopping, spray drying, evaporation, freeze drying, canning and pasteurising. FoodPILOT hosts the largest collection of pilot-scale food processing equipment in the southern hemisphere.
The Massey Microbrewery is a fully functioning brewing facility on the Manawatū campus.
The facility incorporates CIP cleaning systems, plate and tube heat exchangers, pumping systems along with a sophisticated computer-based process control and a data acquisition system. It has a 200L brew capacity, 10 200L combined fermentation and conditioning tanks. The brewery is also used for teaching food microbiology.
Massey University’s exchange programme with Zhejiang University in China allows food science and technology students to study in New Zealand for one semester.
You will undertake the exchange during Semester 2, which begins in July, and will study part of the Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours programme, under the Food Product Technology major.
As part of your study at Massey University you may be able to work on an industry project, with one of our business partners. Subjects like food technology, engineering, construction and computer science all have 'capstone' (final year) projects with industry where you will work on a real-world project.
In partnership with Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT), Massey University offers the Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours majoring in Food Product Technology at SIT's Dover Campus.
Students with approved diplomas from a polytechnic in Singapore can apply for exemptions and entry to Year 2. All other students, including A level students can apply for entry to Year 1.
The BFoodTech(Hons) degree is jointly awarded by both universities and is equivalent to Massey’s New Zealand degree programme.
My lecturers maintained an open door policy and acted as mentors through each project, motivating me to engineer innovatively. With their help, I won the Engineers Without Borders Award in New Zealand, GT Murray award for best presentation for my final year project and went on to publish three academic papers.
Akshaya Kumar - Electronics Research and Development Engineer, Trutest
Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (Mechatronics)
The wide range of papers offered at Massey, both practical and academic were varied – and relevant to my sector and my career.
Andre Budel - Royal New Zealand Air Force
Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (Electronics and Computer Engineering)
Massey equipped me with skills and knowledge that I can use every day in my job and this helped me to develop fast in my role.
Arron Cox - Solid Waste Engineer, Horowhenua District Council
Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering)
I enjoyed Massey because it’s not intimidating – the sizes of the classes are big enough that you had a lot of mates but small enough that you knew every person’s name.
Banu Pashutanizadeh - BCS Group, Junior Controls Engineer
Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (Mechatronics)
I love that my degree has allowed me to work all over the world, travelling to countries like Singapore, USA, China, Japan, Denmark and Germany, just to name a few!
Caitlin Briasco - Technical Assistant to the General Manager – Fonterra Europe Operations
Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours
I found the food projects very rewarding. It was great to see the whole new product development process from market research to commercialization. It's pretty cool to hold something in your hand that you've invented ...
Camilla Riddiford - Operations Process Improvement Facilitator, Tip Top
Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours
The degree was very well structured and the lecturers and supervisors were extremely knowledgeable.
Christopher Scott - Test Engineer, Martin Aircraft Company
Master of Engineering Studies (Mechatronics)
The Massey Engineering program is challenging but extremely rewarding. The diverse nature of the subjects promotes critical thinking and teamwork within a technical environment which are crucial skills as you move into the workforce.
Daniel Konings - Massey PhD student
Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (Electronics and Computer Engineering)
“I loved studying renewable energy at Massey - it was one of the best things I have done for my career…”
Elizabeth Yeaman - General Manager Transport, Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) Te Tari Tiaki Pungao
Master of Engineering Studies (Renewable Energy Systems)
My personal journey through study has been a positive one and I would hope that everyone else has a similar experience.
Greg Buckingham - Logistics Officer for NZDFs Youth Development Unit (YDU)
Graduate Diploma in Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Many of my PhD supervisors had backgrounds in the industry and maintain links with the industry through their projects. This really helped me, providing opportunities for PhD projects that are relevant to current issues in the food industry.
Hayley Stewart - Research Technologist – Fonterra Research and Development Centre
Doctor of Philosophy
The Mechatronics Engineering programme from Massey University provided a sound knowledge of engineering principles and their application but more importantly, it gave me a very solid foundation and the skill set sufficient to start a successful career. Going to Massey University is the best decision I’ve ever made.
Jason Zhou - Biometrics Technical Consultant - NEC New Zealand Limited
Master of Engineering
As I got closer to the end of my degree, I found that everything I had learnt throughout the four years was very practical and applicable in the food industry. And I am proud to say, that after all my hard work, I’ve got a job that I wanted to do.
Jeen Tae Hwang - Imported Foods advisor – Ministry for Primary Industries
Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours
The opportunity to work with new technologies such as laser cutters and 3d printers, as well as working on multi-disciplinary team projects, meant I was able to build a very strong portfolio and also develop new technical skills.
Jonathan Sng - Product Development Engineer, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare
Bachelor of Engineering with Honours
Real world, job-preparedness is great at Massey as you work on projects and presentations right from the first year. There is a great student to faculty ratio allowing excellent support from academic staff who are leaders in their fields
Jono Barnard,engineering - University of Cambridge doing a PhD in Chemical Engineering
Bachelor of Engineering with Honours
I loved the fact the programme was applied and allowed you to pursue a particular area of interest.
Kasey Kime - Regulatory Analyst Australasia - Life Sciences Solutions
Master of Quality Systems
I really enjoyed studying at Massey. My professors always had their doors open when I needed help with problems. For me, it was important to have that continuous feedback loop to help strengthen my skills as an engineer.
Krystian Toms - Software Engineer – NZ Government
Bachelor of Engineering (Mechatronics)
Studying food technology not only increased my technical expertise in multiple fields, but it also prepared me for working in industry by developing my presentation, teamwork, project management skills and more.
Lachlan Kendrick - Specifications Technologist at Danone Nutricia - Early Life Nutrition
Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours
I knew people who had studied supply chain management at Massey and I heard good things about the overall leadership and courses available.
Mike Blanchard - General Manager Strategic Procurement, Sydney Trains
Master of Supply Chain Management
What I learnt through the Master of Food Technology at Massey has been directly relevant to my role at Nestle.
Natalie D'Avila
Master of Food Technology
People have to eat so there will always be a need for food technologists. I have my own business making sports nutrition products, doing contract food technology work on the side. Massey’s programme completely set me up for this role.
Phil Dromgool - Managing Director, R-LINE Limited
Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours
I was always interested in subjects that are key to engineering, but I hadn’t even written a line of code before I took up engineering at Massey. Only a few years later I was helping Emirates Team New Zealand take back the America’s Cup!”
Ryan Thomas,America's Cup,engineering - Analyst, Emirates Team New Zealand
Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (Mechatronics)
Massey University is a very practical university that encourages their students to not only design creative solutions, but to also build them.
Sally Henseman - Product Development Engineer, Fisher & Paykel Healthcare
Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (Product Development)
I chose to study at Massey University because of its progressive view towards engineering education.
Tom Jeijin - Development engineer - TCS-NZ ltd
Bachelor of Engineering with Honours (Mechatronics)
My education at Massey University has provided me with knowledge that I use every day. Most nights, me and a number of other colleagues can be found working overtime, not because we have deadlines, but because work does not feel like work!
Victor Bell - Medifab
Bachelor of Engineering (Electronics and Computer Engineering)
