Food Product Technology – Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours

Learn how to develop the great-tasting food products of the future, incorporating exciting new nutritional health benefits.

Where you can study

Manawatū campus (Palmerston North)

International students

International students are not New Zealand citizens or residents.

Definition of New Zealand citizens and residents

Open to international students on campus in New Zealand

Specialise in Food Product Technology for your Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours at Massey

The world looks to New Zealand as a trustworthy provider of safe, healthy food. As a food technologist you will learn how to contribute to economic growth through improvements in productivity and Research and Development (R&D). You will play a key role in the development of new products and processes for the food industry.

Developing and improving food products, nutrition, health and safety are a priority for food technologists. You will learn how to produce products that consumers desire. That might be products with new beneficial characteristics, products that taste amazing, or that have longer shelf life but contain fewer additives. Or all three!

Global opportunities

By studying the Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours (Food Product Technology) at Massey you will learn how to contribute towards the global trend and desire for healthier food. Some examples that have been worked on by Massey students include:

  • a sports drink to improve performance
  • a high-protein cereal
  • an extruded snack high in protein but low in fat
  • a low-calorie dessert or chocolate product.

A Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours in Food Product Technology is a good fit if you:

  • are interested in creating new food products
  • would like to learn how to bring new food products to the market
  • are interested in being a leader in the food industry.

Planning information

Full-time study in the first year comprises eight 15-credit courses, for a total of 120 credits. We recommend studying 60 credits per semester.

You must pass at least 105 credits in Food Product Technology. This includes all compulsory courses required for your major.

Practical work experience while you study

During your time with us you have to spend 800 hours (a minimum of 6 months) working as engineers with companies.

You will be required to submit two reports on your experiences. You may complete your practical work at the end of your second and third years of study (or the final practical after your fourth year).

See the main Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours page for more detailed information.

Typical pattern for the Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours

Core courses These courses are a compulsory part of your qualification.

Major courses Choose from a selection of courses appropriate for your specialisation.

Year one
120101 Plant Biology
123104 Chemistry for Biological Systems
123105 Chemistry & the Physical World
124104 Physics 1A: Mechanics & Thermodynamics
160101 Calculus
160102 Algebra
228115 Engineering & Technology Principles
247111 Science & Sustainability for Engineering & Technology
Year two
123201 Chemical Energetics
123271 Molecules to Materials
141211 Food Technology 3: Product Development
141212 Food Technology 4: Manufacturing
228271 Engineering Mathematics 2
280201 Industrial Microbiology
280271 Heat & Mass – Conservation & Transfer
280272 Fluid Flow & Particle Technology
228210 Practicum I
0 credits
Year three
141311Food Technology 5: Food Microbiology & Safety
141312 Food Technology 6: Food Characterisation
141362 Food Formulation Technology
141395 Food Chemistry
228371 Statistical Modelling for Engineers & Technologists
280371 Process Engineering Operations
280372 Reaction Technologies & Process Modelling
300-level food product technology
228310 Practicum II
0 credits
Year four
141710 Food Packaging Engineering & Legislation
141723 Industrial Systems Improvement
700-level food product technology
30 credits
700-level food product technology
30 credits
700-level food product technology
700-level food product technology

Courses are each worth 15 credits, except where indicated

Official regulations

To understand what you need to study and must complete to graduate read the official rules and regulations or this qualification.

You should read these together with all other relevant Statutes and Regulations of the University including the General Regulations for Undergraduate Degrees, Undergraduate Diplomas, Undergraduate Certificates, Graduate Diplomas and Graduate Certificates.

Returning students

For returning students, there may be changes to the majors and minors available and the courses you need to take. Go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.

In some cases the qualification or specialisation you enrolled in may no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these qualifications go to the Massey University Calendar.

Please contact us through the Get advice button on this page if you have any questions.

Courses you can enrol in

Course planning key

Prerequisites
Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level. For example, a lot of 200-level courses have 100-level prerequisite courses.
Corequisites
Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course are known as corequisite courses.
Restrictions
Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar. This means you can only choose one of the offered courses to study and credit to your qualification.

Core courses for the Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours

As well as the specialisation courses listed below, this qualification has core courses that you will need to complete.

Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours core courses

Food Product Technology courses

Part Three

Choose 15 credits from
Course code: 141358 Nutrition and Food Choice 15 credits

Nutrient recommendations, nutrition and disease, New Zealand diet, functional foods, food choice, ethical and legal aspects of the food industry response in relation to nutrition claims and concerns.

Prerequisites: 123271 Restrictions: 141458

View full course details

Part Four

Compulsory courses

Choose 75 credits from
Course code: 141759 Food Technology Project 30 credits

An original investigation of a food industry problem or opportunity. The student works under academic supervision within an industrial research brief and learns from practice, systematic skills in problem analysis, research and communication. Consideration of ethical, legal and social environments. This major project integrates knowledge the student has already acquired.

Prerequisites: ((141311 or 141393), (141312 or 141330), 141362, 141395, (141458 or 141358), (228371 or 228340), (280371 or 280391), and (280372 or 280392)) or Appraisal Required Restrictions: 141459, 228485, 141749, 141449

View full course details
Course code: 141772 Innovative Food Design and Development 30 credits

Students will commercialise an innovative food product from idea generation through to the business case for full-scale manufacture. The emphasis is on following a formal, systematic process that utilizes both qualitative and quantitative analysis techniques, within a realistic commercial context. Critical evaluation of the product development outcome and process from commercial, technical, and professional perspectives is an important component.

Prerequisites: (141311 or 141393), (141312 or 141330), 141362, 141395, (141458 or 141358), (228371 or 228340), (280371 or 280391), (280372 or 280392) Restrictions: 141457, 141471

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Course code: 141791 Advanced Food Technology 15 credits

An integrative study of food systems. Individual and group problem-based learning is used to understand political, economic, societal and technological forces shaping the global food industry. Additional aspects of the course focus on interactive project-based activities aimed at honing market awareness, product development and food production skills and competencies. Proficiency in the selection and application of appropriate tools and methodologies for quality assurance and evaluation will also be developed.

Prerequisites: ((141311 or 141393), (141312 or 141330), 141362, 141395, (141458 or 141358), (228371 or 228340), (280371 or 280391), and (280372 or 280392)) or Appraisal Required Restrictions: 141491

View full course details

An approved elective from

Choose 15 credits from
Course code: 112702 International Agri-Food Marketing Strategies 15 credits

An advanced study of international agri-food business and marketing. Emphasis is placed on international consumers and agri-food exports, including external environment, terms of trade, transportation, packaging, documentation, methods of payment, risk management, intercultural communication and negotiation.

View full course details
Course code: 141755 Added-Value Processing of Food Products 15 credits

A study of the latest manufacturing techniques applied to the food industry and their role in satisfying current and future needs for food manufacturers and consumers. A course designed to integrate food science, process engineering, microbiology and food safety into today's food manufacturing environment with processing practices in order to offer novel methods to formulate foods and assure safety and quality.

Prerequisites: 280201 or 141222 or 162212 or 162214 Restrictions: 141355

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Course code: 238700 Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Footprinting Principles 15 credits

The concept of life cycle thinking and its application to support decision-making for product systems. The course will provide an overview of the principles and methodology for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) according to the ISO 14040 and 14044 standards, and introduce related environmental footprinting approaches (carbon and water footprinting).

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Course code: 280702 Process Control 15 credits

Practical process control techniques including tuning single proportional integral derivative controllers, choosing appropriate control loops for a processing plant and measurement instrumentation. An overview of advanced control techniques. Programmable logical controllers. A practical course.

Prerequisites: (228222 or 228271) and (280371 or 280391) Restrictions: 142402

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Course code: 280771 Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering 15 credits

Integrated design of processes based on the application of thermodynamic and transport phenomena principles. Systematic methods for the development of dynamic modelling, simulation and visualisation of heat and mass transport applied to chemical and bioprocessing industries.

Prerequisites: 280371 and 280372 Restrictions: 280403

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Course code: 287741 Quality System Development and Management 15 credits

All organisations are required to effectively manage the quality of their goods and services, and that of the processes and systems that produce or deliver them. This course introduces the key principles of quality systems and their control and management. This includes core definitions, key theories, relevant standards, documentation requirements, and associated tools, methods and principles for managing and controlling quality.

Restrictions: 287730

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Entry requirements

Admission to Massey

All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.

Specific requirements

Please see entry requirements details on the Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours page.

To study this qualification you must meet Massey University's English language standards.

English language skills

If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, see our English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses.

Can't meet the entry requirements?

There are some alternative ways to help you enter the food technology qualification:

Certificate in Science and Technology

This one-semester pathway is for students who need extra preparation in mathematics (160105 Methods of Mathematics), physics (124100 Introductory Physics) or chemistry (123103 Chemistry for Modern Sciences). These courses can be taken separately (depending on your background) or as part of the CertScTech qualification.

Please note you must have achieved 16 Credits in NCEA Level 2 Mathematics (or equivalent) before you enrol into 124100 Introductory Physics, 160105 Methods of Mathematics. To find out if you have what it takes, or what you need, to do the introductory courses we recommend that you attempt the relevant quiz here. Once you have completed the test/s, please contact the relevant course coordinator or enquire through this page to discuss your suitability for this course or an alternative pathway.

Diploma in Science and Technology

This two-semester pathway is if you need extra preparation in mathematics, physics or chemistry.This is suitable if you wish to study a wide range of courses and keep your options open to change to another qualification.

You can also choose subjects from: biology, programming, statistics, food, accounting, marketing, finance and management.

Summer compact courses (at Auckland campus only)

For students that need extra preparation in mathematics, physics or chemistry. These courses are an intensive learning experience. Students are advised to only take two introductory subjects. Tuition in each course takes six weeks and attendance is required during January and early February. These courses can be taken as a Certificate of Proficiency and can be put towards another qualification in the Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Information Sciences and Bachelor of Business.

If you prefer to study at a slower pace, equivalent preparatory courses are available via Distance Learning mode: 123103 Chemistry for Modern Sciences, 124100 Introductory Physics or 160105 Methods of Mathematics.

If you are currently completing Year 13 you should apply for discretionary entrance if you intend to begin study over summer before your NCEA Level 3 results (or equivalent) become available in January. See Massey University entry requirements for more information.

Summer Distance Courses

If you need extra preparation in mathematics, physics or chemistry, we have courses offered by distance learning over the summer that may help.

You are advised to only take two introductory subjects. These courses can be taken as a Certificate of Proficiency and can be put towards another qualification such as the BSc, BInfSc and BBus.

  • 123103 Chemistry for Modern Sciences
  • 124100 Introductory Physics
  • 160105 Methods of Mathematics.

If you are currently completing Year 13 you should apply for discretionary entrance if you intend to study these courses before your NCEA Level 3 results (or equivalent) become available in January. See Massey University entry requirements for more information.

Fees and scholarships

Fees, student loans and free fees scheme

Your tuition fees may be different depending on the courses you choose. Your exact fees will show once you have chosen your courses.

There will also be some compulsory non-tuition fees and for some courses, there may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.

Already know which courses you're going to choose?

You can view fees for the courses that make up your qualification on the course details pages.

Student loans (StudyLink) and Fees Free scheme

You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.

The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students. Find out more about the scheme and your eligibility on the Fees Free website. To use the site's eligibility checking tool, you will need your National Student Number.

Current and returning Massey students can find their National Student Number in the student portal.

Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours fees

The BFoodTech(Hons) is a four year honours degree programme. Please note that fees will be charged according to the academic level of courses. This means that Years 1, 2 and 3 will be charged at the undergraduate course rate and Year 4 which is an honours year, will be charged at the postgraduate course rate.

Fees disclaimer

This information is for estimation purposes only. Actual fees payable will be finalised on confirmation of enrolment. Unless otherwise stated, all fees shown are quoted in New Zealand dollars and include Goods and Services Tax, if any. Before relying on any information on these pages you should also read the University's Disclaimer Notice.

Careers and job opportunities

Career options after completing the Food Product Technology major include:

  • product development technologist
  • process improvement technologist
  • packaging technologist
  • specification technologist - R&D
  • quality and procurement technologist
  • applications technologist
  • R&D technologist
  • development technologist
  • raw materials specifications technologist
  • systems food technologist
  • quality assurance supervisor.

International students

New Zealand is a great place to study. Massey University’s reputation is supported by our international rankings, accreditations and associations. We are rated five star plus by the QS World University Rankings.

Massey University has small class sizes, and our lecturers and staff are friendly and approachable.

As an international student, there are entry requirements that will apply to you. We recommend that you apply at least three months before your anticipated start date so your application can be processed in time. There are additional steps you will need to take. These include obtaining a visa and travel bookings if your study is to be in New Zealand.

Accreditations and rankings

Accreditation by Engineering NZ under the Sydney accord

The BFoodTech(Hons) (Food Product Technology) is accredited by Engineering NZ under the Sydney Accord (an international agreement).

Learn more

Institute of Food Technologist (IFT) accreditation

Both majors of the BFoodTech (Hons) are approved by the US-based Institute of Food Technologists (IFT).

Learn more

ShanghaiRanking - Food science and technology

Massey University is ranked as one of the top 75 universities worldwide for Food Science and Technology (out of 300) by ShanghaiRanking.

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Related study options