BSc Food Business and Marketing with Placement Year

Our BSc Food Business and Marketing with Placement Year course will prepare you for the food industry of the future by providing training in business, management and marketing.

Throughout your degree, you will:

• explore the key challenges facing UK, European and global food businesses, including food processors, retailers, food services, and start-ups
• gain an understanding of current issues in the food sector, such as rising costs, sustainability, and consumer health and wellbeing
• develop valuable digital marketing skills.

You'll have the chance to apply your skills to real food business and marketing problems – contributing to the creation or launch of new food products, for example, or designing social media campaigns and marketing communication plans.

You will also have the opportunity to undertake an exciting marketing project as part of a student team. You'll complete mock-consultancies, develop research proposals, carry out market research and present your findings. You’ll also interact with different food businesses through field visits, guest speakers and placements.

During your final year, you will complete either an applied marketing project or a longer independent research project on a food-related topic that inspires you. Past projects have covered a variety of topics, including consumer attitudes towards plant-based food and social media influence on young adults’ food choices.

If you're thinking of starting your own food business, this course also offers opportunities to gain entrepreneurial skills and insight.

Learning environment

You'll study in a school that is ranked 1st in the UK, and is one of the top 20 universities in the world, for Agriculture and Forestry (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2023).

Our multidisciplinary staff have expertise that spans agri-food economics, consumer behaviour, marketing, and agriculture – enabling you to gain food chain insight from farm to fork. You'll also have access to the University's own farms and specialist facilities.

Accreditation

This course is recognised by the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) as an Accredited Degree, enabling graduates to receive exemptions from all but one module of the Certificate in Professional Marketing or Certificate in Professional Digital Marketing qualification, or exemptions from all but two CIM modules for the Diploma in Professional Marketing qualification or Diploma in Professional Digital Marketing.

Placement

This four-year course includes an integrated, year-long work placement between your second and final year. Placements can be located anywhere in the UK, and occasionally take place overseas.

You could work in a wide variety of areas, including food product development, account management, category management, brand development, and business administration. Recent students have worked at major companies such as Unilever, Warburtons, and Waitrose.

Our dedicated placements officer can offer advice and support in finding your ideal placement, as well as developing your CV and interview skills.. They will continue to support you throughout your placement year.

For more information about securing and completing a placement, please visit our Important Information page.

To learn more about the course and Department, please visit the Agri-Food Economics and Marketing website.