BSc (Hons) Food Marketing and Entrepreneurship

If you are interested in learning about, understanding and, most importantly, contributing to the success of the most important home-grown sector in the Irish economy, this is the course for you.

As a student of this course we aim to develop your ability to gather market intelligence, interpret data from multiple sources, and judge and realise market opportunities, while also enhancing your appreciation of the science of food and ensuring that you understand the significance of the regulatory and business environment. This will support you in developing a skills set that fosters leadership and innovation.

You will get opportunities to test your technical knowledge (in both business and science) through projects and work placement. Skills such as working with and for others, responding to briefs, working to deadlines, using initiative, communicating and presenting in professional manner will also be developed. These transferable skills form an important part of your armoury when seeking employment and advancing your career.

This programme offers a unique combination of business and science. This positions graduates to work in the space between science and business. Furthermore, the programme is built on UCC’s international reputation in food education and research and includes many lecturers who are internationally recognised in their field of expertise.

BSc Food Marketing and Entrepreneurship programme's recent partnership with the SuperValu Food Academy 

Current students on the BSc Food Marketing and Entrepreneurship were delighted to participate in a recent partnership with the SuperValu Food Academy Food Producers programme.  The Food Academy is a longstanding Musgrave initiative that helps develop and support emerging food & drink brands by giving producers their first step into the retail sector.  The SuperValu Food Academy promotes  producers and their products in Supervalu stores across the country  in a manner that is creative, local, committed to quality, and sustainable.  Throughout February and March, 1^st and 2^nd year FME students, mentored by 3 and 4^th years,  gained invaluable experience from working closely with Food Academy producers, providing expertise and creative input in the areas of social media, marketing , consumer & product market research and packaging redesign.   Significant business benefits were realised by SuperValu Food Academy producers, with increased brand awareness and social media engagement, new packaging developments and better consumer insights allowing for more informed decision making.   Students learned  what it means to be a food entrepreneur and experienced the passion, creativity, challenges and joys that entrepreneurship entails. In addition the initiative provided students with the opportunity develop to their communication, interpersonal, creativity, and networking skills, while applying in-class learning to real-life businesses. Our Food Business and Development Department and the BSc Food Marketing and Entrepreneurship degree is looking forward to a continued relationship with the Musgrave group and the Academy.'

Placement or Study Abroad Information

An integral part of this programme is a six-month industrial placement during Year 3. The placement offers an excellent opportunity to draw on your knowledge and skills in performing tasks in specific work contexts. This will enhance your work capabilities and offers you a chance to reflect on and better understand these.

Placement opportunities are both national and international, and past placements have included:

• Aldi (Buying Office)
• Nestle
• Cully & Sully
• Dairygold
• Dunnes Stores (Buying Office)
• Glenilen
• Glanbia (Supply Chain)
• Kepak Group
• Musgrave Group (Own Brand, Buying, Marketing)
• Rich Dairies (USA)
• Silver Pail