Highly ranked
You're in good hands. Shanghai Ranking puts Massey in the world's top 75 universities in the world for food science & technology.
Be a specialist
Become a registered dietitian with Massey's specialist qualification accredited by the Dietitians Board.
Be connected
We'll help you build strong industry contacts. And your health qualification lets you work globally once you graduate from Massey.
Spoilt for choice
Explore your area of interest. Massey has a wide range of health qualifications, with many courses to choose from.
Overview
Get the most out of food. The most flavour. The best nutrition. Safe and efficient production processes.
Learn from world-class lecturers and researchers with experience as dietitians and food engineers. Explore new ideas at specialist facilities such as our Food Pilot plant, Nutrition and Dietetic Centre, and our on-site microbrewery. Get hands-on to solve real-world problems. Graduate work-ready, with qualifications recognised nationally and internationally.
Studying food and nutrition is a good fit if you:
- enjoy school subjects such as biology, chemistry or maths
- want to shape the future of food and drinks, or nutrition and healthy eating
- like solving problems and testing new ideas.
Food science and technology courses
Courses may cover:
- food chemistry
- food product development
- food safety
- how to test new and existing food products
- ingredients in food and drinks
- food processing equipment and systems
- sustainable packaging.
Nutrition courses
Courses may cover:
- how the human body processes food and nutrients
- nutritional requirements at all ages – and specialisations such as child nutrition or sports nutrition
- physiological changes (how bodies react) to too much or too little of various nutrients
- social and behavioural factors that can influence food choices
- ways to promote dietary change and better health outcomes
- what's in foods we eat – carbs, proteins, vitamins and more.
How to study food and nutrition
Discover what we offer if you’re interested in food and nutrition – whether you’re coming to university for the first time, changing direction or returning to advance your study or career.
Undergraduate study
Bachelor's degrees
Integrated Human Health – Bachelor of Health Science
Learn about the impact of biological and environmental factors on human health, and how you can make a difference.
Human Nutrition – Bachelor of Science
If you are passionate about food and nutrition and want to learn more about the science behind how diet affects health, then Massey’s Bachelor of Science (Human Nutrition) is for you.
Undergraduate bachelor's degrees with honours
Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours – BFoodTech(Hons)
Massey University’s Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours is the only degree in Australasia that combines food science, food engineering, and food business. Our graduates are highly employable and sought after.
Food Process Engineering – Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours
The world needs healthy and safe food products and ingredients manufactured on a large scale. New food products pose challenging and exciting process design problems that you can help solve.
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.
Undergraduate certificates
Certificate in Science and Technology – CertScTech
The Certificate in Science and Technology is a shorter study option at university level. It is used primarily as a ‘pathway’ to help you complete subjects you need to enter another qualification.
Graduate certificates
Graduate Certificate in Science and Technology – GCertScTech
Do you want to expand your knowledge or learn a new subject without completing a second bachelor’s degree? Massey’s Graduate Certificate in Science and Technology is a flexible postgraduate study option.
Undergraduate diplomas
Graduate Diploma in Dairy Science and Technology – GDipDairySciTec
An invaluable qualification for new and established employees across the dairy sector.
Diploma in Science and Technology – DipScTech
Undertake a shorter, more flexible study option with the Diploma in Science and Technology at Massey.
Graduate diplomas
Graduate Diploma in Science and Technology – GDipScTech
The Graduate Diploma in Science and Technology gives you the opportunity to retrain in an area of science that interests you.
Relevant undergraduate subjects to major or specialise in
When you apply to study at Massey, for some undergraduate qualifications you can choose what subject you’d like to specialise in. You can usually change your mind after you get to university, depending on the courses you enrol in.
Postgraduate study
Master's degrees
Master of Dairy Science and Technology – MDairyScTech
Learn chemistry, microbiology, and process technology required to manufacture high-quality dairy products. The qualification covers dairy industry structure, strategy, organisation, and function, including legislation and safety.
Master of Food Safety and Quality – MFoodSafQual
Enhance your career in the food industry with a Master of Food Safety and Quality. You will play a key role in managing food safety and quality in any food manufacturing company, food auditing company, or regulatory authority.
Master of Food Technology – MFoodTech
Massey’s Master of Food Technology will provide you with the practical skills needed to undertake independent research in the food industry. Become a research and development champion in the food industry.
Nutrition and Dietetics – Master of Science
Study Massey’s Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics to learn about the intricacies of and relationships between food, nutrients, health, and disease, and how they can be manipulated to improve health and wellbeing.
PhD and other doctoral degrees
Doctor of Philosophy – PhD
A prestigious research qualification that demonstrates your ability to carry out independent and original research in your chosen field.
Relevant research areas at Massey
Discover research expertise, projects and initiatives relating to food and nutrition at Massey.
What our students say
“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.”
“I chose Massey because of the personable staff, campus experience and the research areas that interested me. The vast array of teamwork, placements and coursework during my master’s provided me with essential people skills, adaptability and the capacity to build quality relationships.”
Our facilities
You'll have access to a wide range of first-class facilities when you study with us.
Nutrition and Dietetic Centre
The centre combines the clinical, nutritional and research expertise of Massey dietitians and nutritionists, with the enthusiasm and creativity of our dietetics students.
Location: Auckland campus
FEAST Consumer and sensory laboratory and services
Sensory and consumer research, training and consultancy.
Facilities include:
- ISO standard sensory booths
- areas for running central location tests
- focus groups
- virtual reality testing.
BodPod and other specialist equipment
The BodPod is an advanced piece of equipment used to accurately and easily measure your body composition. It uses an air-displacement method to measure all the fat in your body, which sets it apart from less direct techniques of body composition measurement.
Location: Manawatū (Palmerston North) campus
Massey Student Enterprise: Develop your entrepreneurial mindset
Got a business idea? Massey Student Enterprise helps students and staff gain hands-on experience and knowledge to build a sustainable enterprise.
Join a community of like-minded entrepreneurs and innovators, supported by people who understand your goals.
Location: All campuses and available to distance students
Jobs in food and nutrition
Food science careers can span food businesses large and small, factories, and healthcare. Some food technologists move into management, research and development, or start their own business.
Nutrition careers include work in community or iwi organisations, the health system, or for government agencies. Some jobs focus on supporting specific groups, such as sports nutrition for athletes or helping people overcome barriers to healthy eating.
Job prospects are good, with skilled workers needed to feed the world – and support people's wellbeing – now and into the future.
Careers in food and nutrition include:
- dietitians, who give clinical advice on nutrition and healthy eating
- flavour technologists, who develop new tastes or textures
- food engineers, who design production processes
- food technologists, who develop new products or packaging
- health promoters, who work in community, health or sports organisations
- microbiologists, who study bacteria and yeasts used in food production
- nutritionists
- winemakers or brewers.
Annual salary ranges for jobs
- Brewer – $48,000 to $120,000
- Dietitian – $74,000 to $147,000
- Food technologist – $50,000 to $140,000
- Microbiologist – $48,000 to $130,000
- Winemaker – $48,000 to $211,000
Salary ranges disclaimer
Indicative pay rates are:
- in New Zealand dollars
- based on careers.govt.nz data.
Which food and nutrition qualification?
Examples of where our qualifications may take you.
| Jobs | Examples of what you could study |
|---|---|
| Dietitian | Master of Science (Nutrition and Dietetics) |
| Food safety manager or consultant | Master of Food Safety and Quality |
| Food technologist (new products or packaging) |
Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours (Food Product Technology) Master of Food Technology |
| Health promoter | Bachelor of Science (Human Nutrition) |
| Nutritionist | Bachelor of Science (Human Nutrition) |
| Process technologist | Bachelor of Food Technology with Honours (Food Process Engineering) |
Accreditations and rankings
New Zealand Dietitians Board
The Master of Science (Nutrition and Dietetics) programme is accredited by the New Zealand Dietitians Board. Our graduates are eligible to register as a New Zealand Registered Dietitian (NZRD) and to practice as a dietitian in New Zealand.
Institute of Food Technologist (IFT) approved
Both majors of the BFoodTech (Hons) are approved by the US-based Institute of Food Technologists (IFT).
ShanghaiRanking - Food science and technology
Massey University is ranked as one of the top 100 universities worldwide for Food Science and Technology (out of 300) by ShanghaiRanking.
Get an information guide
Download our guides to find out more about studying food and nutrition at Massey.
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