Food Business Management and Marketing BSc Honours

Course overview

This degree has a primary focus on the production and consumption of food products and on the behaviour of people as consumers. It covers a range of social and natural science and business subjects applied to food businesses.

Key topics covered are:

• marketing and consumer behaviour
• global economics
• investigating agri-food systems from farm to folk 
• agri-business management
• food science and technology

If you’re interested in pursuing a managerial career in the food processing, retail and food service sector, this degree is for you. You'll also be well placed for a wide range of careers in the global food supply chain management sector, with a solid understanding of the complexity of the global food chain system.

You will study the principles of management, economics, marketing and finance, as they apply to the management of sustainable food businesses and the global food sector.

Graduates will have the necessary skills to analyse problems, propose and criticise alternative solutions relevant to food businesses and the agri-food sector.

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Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions  
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2022-23.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Quality and ranking

• 6th in the UK - The Complete University Guide 2022 (Food Science Category)
• 18th in the UK – The Complete University Guide 2022 (Marketing category)
• Top 125 for Business and Economics – Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2022
• Top 200 for Business and Management Studies - QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022
• 1st in the UK and 8th in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2022
• 65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021
• 42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021
• Global Top 125 University - QS World University Rankings 2023
• Global Top 140 University - THE World University Rankings 2023

Modules and learning

Modules

The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage. 

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Optional module availability
Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

Your first year provides a broad introduction to core areas of this sector, including business economics, Agri-Food business management, marketing and consumer behaviour, and nutrition, food science, and the food industry. 

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Introduction to Marketing and Consumer Behaviour	20
Introductory Business Economics	10
Introduction to Nutrition, Food Science and the Food Industry	20
Academic and Professional Skills	20
Agri-Food Supply Chains	20
Introduction to Agri-Food Business Management	20
Introductory Macroeconomics	10

During Stage 2, you'll be able to start tailoring your degree towards your specific interests or career goals, with a range of optional modules including, agricultural economics and policy, human resource management, social psychology, operations management and introduction to business law.

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Marketing Digital Strategy	20
Consumer and Business Economics	20
Dissertation and Research Preparation	10
Qualitative Research Methods	10
New Food Product Development	20

Optional Modules	Credits
Introduction to Non-Specialist Accounting and Finance	20
Agricultural Economics and Policy	10
Current Trends in Agricultural Markets	10
Agribusiness & Management Simulation	20
Human Resource Management	20
Operations Management	20
Introduction to Business Law	20
Social Psychology	10

In Stage 3, you'll be required to produce a dissertation or complete a food innovation consultancy project, where you'll work in an interdisciplinary team on a real-world problem. 

You'll also complete a number of compulsory modules, as well as choosing between options such as interpreting global company accounts, animal product quality and marketing, consumer psychology, and developing enterprise, entrepreneurship and employability. 

Modules

You take the following compulsory modules:

Data and Marketing Analytics (10 credits)

Food Business Economics (10 credits)

Marketing and Public Policy (10 credits)

Communication and Behaviour Change (10 credits)

 

You take one of the following modules:

either Agri-food Business Management and Marketing Dissertation (30 credits)

or Food Innovation Consultancy (30 credits)

 

You take 50 credits of optional modules normally selected from the following:

Interpreting Company Accounts (20 credits)

Globalisation: Patterns, Processes (20 credits)

Advanced Agri-Business (20 credits)

Animal Product Quality and Marketing (10 credits)

Your Future –Occupational Awareness (10 credits)

Enterprise and Entrepreneurship with Learn Innovation (20 credits)

Career Development for Final Year Students (20 credits)

Consumer Psychology (20 credits)

To cheat or not to cheat: The Evolution of Cooperative Behaviour (10 credits)

 

With the approval of the Degree Programme Director alternative optional modules to those listed above may be selected.

Information about these graphs

We base these figures and graphs on the most up-to-date information available to us. They combine data on the planned delivery and assessments of our courses in 2021-22 with data on the modules chosen by our students in 2020-21.

Teaching time is made up of:

• scheduled learning and teaching activities. These are timetabled activities with a member of staff present
• structured guided learning. These are activities developed by staff to support engagement with module learning. Students or groups of students undertake these activities without direct staff participation or supervision

Teaching and assessment

Teaching methods

On average, you'll have around 14 hours a week of contact time, including:

• lectures
• seminars
• workshops
• guest speakers
• field trips
• drop-in surgeries 

Assessment methods

You'll be assessed through a combination of:

• 

  Case studies

• 

  Coursework

• 

  Dissertation or research project

• 

  Essays

• 

  Examinations – practical or online

• 

  Group work

• 

  Projects

• 

  Seminar tasks/exercises

Skills and experience

Research skills

Research skills are developed throughout the degree. 

As part of the New Food Product Development module, you'll gather and analyse consumer research, showcasing your product at a pop-up shop. 

In your third year, you'll carry out an in-depth research project. 

Business skills

Through business simulations, you'll work in an interdisciplinary team to manage a virtual company in a competitive environment 

During Stage 2, you'll complete a New Food Product Development module, working with an industry partner to develop a food or drink product, from conception to commercialisation. 

You'll also be able to put your learning into practice with a placement year in industry. 

Practical skills

Throughout the programme, you'll focus on applying principles to the real-world problems faced by the global food business sector.  

You'll develop a range of practical skills, including making managerial decisions, evaluating ethical standards, and carrying out data analysis. 

You'll also have access to our NU-Food facility, where you'll take part in sensory trials and have the opportunity to carry out your own. 

Opportunities

Study abroad

Experience life in another country by choosing to study abroad as part of your degree. You’ll be encouraged to embrace fun and challenging experiences, make connections with new communities and graduate as a globally aware professional, ready for your future.

You can choose to spend up to a year studying at a partner institution overseas.

If you choose to study abroad, it will extend your degree by a year. 

Find out more about study abroad

Work placement

Get career ready with a work placement and leave as a confident professional in your field. You can apply to spend 9 to 12 months working in any organisation in the world, and receive University support from our dedicated team to secure your dream placement. Work placements take place between stages 2 and 3.

You'll gain first-hand experience of working in the sector, putting your learning into practice and developing your professional expertise.

If you choose to take a work placement, it will extend your degree by a year. Your degree title will show you have achieved the placement year.  Placements are subject to availability.

Find out more about work placements.

Facilities and environment

Facilities

Food and Land Management is based in the School of Natural and Environmental Sciences at our city-centre campus.

You'll have the opportunity to access modern laboratories equipped with industry-standard equipment. You'll also use NU-Food, our food and consumer research facility.

You'll be able to use our computing facilities, including computers running industry-standard software used in agriculture businesses, to help ensure you're career-ready.

Support

To support you in your studies, all new students entering year 1 or year 2 will receive a tablet. You can download the online learning resources you'll need for your course (helping us to make our campus more sustainable).

You'll have the support of an academic member of staff as a personal tutor throughout your degree to help with academic and personal issues.

Peer mentors will help you in your first year. They are fellow students who can help you settle in and answer any questions you have when starting university.

There's also a staff-student committee, to give you an opportunity to have a say in how your degree works.

Your future

This course equips you with the broad knowledge that comes with a management and marketing degree, as well as a niche set of skills specific to the food industry. 

Graduates from this course are well-equipped for management roles within the food processing, retail, and food service sector, as well as a wide range of careers within the global food supply chain management sector. 

The transferable analytic and problem-solving skills you will develop during your studies are sought after by a wide variety of employers around the world, opening up careers in finance, recruitment, management, marketing and communications, and consulting.

Industry links

Throughout your studies, you'll benefit from the University's strong links with key industry names.

Through a variety of industry visits, you'll develop a broad understanding of each part of the food chain and have the opportunity to make connections. 

You'll also have the opportunity to complete a work placement, with many students being offered roles within their placement company upon graduation. 

Enterprising students

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Careers support

Our Enterprise Challenge gives students the opportunity to work with industry on a project that tackles real-world issues. Watch the above video to find out more.

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Tuition fees and scholarships

Tuition fees for 2023 entry (per year)

Home Fee Students

£9250

International Fee Students

£26400

The maximum fee that we are permitted to charge for home fee-paying students is set by the UK government.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Read more about fees and funding

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

Read more about fees and funding

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our undergraduate scholarship page for more information.

Year abroad and additional costs

For programmes where you can spend a year on a work placement or studying abroad, you will receive a significant fee reduction for that year. 

Some of our degrees involve additional costs which are not covered by your tuition fees.

Find out more about:

• different tuition fees
• additional costs

Scholarships

Find out more about:

• scholarships for UK, EU and international students
• Student Loans and Government financial support for UK and EU students

How to apply

Apply through UCAS

To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle University, you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). All UK schools and colleges, and a small number of EU and international establishments, are registered with UCAS. You will need:

• the UCAS name and institution codes for Newcastle University (NEWC/N21)
• the UCAS code for the course you want to apply for
• the UCAS 'buzzword' for your school or college

If you are applying independently, or are applying from a school or college which is not registered to manage applications, you will still use the Apply system. You will not need a buzzword.

Apply through UCAS

Apply through an agent

International students often apply to us through an agent. Have a look at our recommended agents and get in touch with them.

Visit our International pages