University of Queensland
Graduate Certificate in Food Science and Technology
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 6 months
Develop skills to expand your career prospects in a rapidly advancing industry and to contribute to solving global challenges such as food security, nutrition and sustainability.
Course overview
The Graduate Certificate in Food Science and Technology is an ideal program for professionals seeking to expand their career prospects into a wide range of government, commercial, community-based or research roles in the broad field of food science and technology. This six-month program will enable you to develop theoretical and practical knowledge and skills to address the many global challenges associated with feeding the world, protecting the environment, addressing biosecurity concerns and managing competition for limited resources.
You'll have access to the Food Science Innovation Precinct, a world-class teaching, research, training and development unit – and the flexibility to tailor your studies to your interests and career goals, with specialised electives such as business, agriculture and biotechnology. As a graduate, you'll be able to explain and demonstrate advanced theoretical and technical knowledge in food science and technology. You'll analyse critically, evaluate and transform information within the discipline, generate solutions to complex problems and communicate with professional and non-professional audiences.
CSP Subsidised Fees Available
This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.
Key facts
What you will study
To earn the Graduate Certificate in Food Science and Technology, students must complete eight units, comprising:
- Zero to four units from GCFoodScTech Foundational Courses
- Four to eight units from GCFoodScTech Flexible Core Courses
Each course is worth two units.
GCFoodScTech Foundational Courses
Complete zero to four units from the following:
- Food Safety and Quality Management
- Principles of Food Preservation
- Food Chemistry
- Food Microbiology I
GCFoodScTech Flexible Core Courses
Complete four to eight units from the following:
- Advanced Food Materials Science
- Food Sensory and Physical Assessment
- Food Product Development
- Food Processing Technology
- Advanced Functional Foods
- Food Process Engineering I
- Food Microbiology and Biotechnology
- Nutrition and Health
Entry requirements
To be eligible for entry, you'll need one of the following:
- A bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline, with first-year, university-level chemistry or biology or;
- Two years full-time equivalent, relevant work experience in food science, food technology or food engineering.
You must have a grade point average (GPA) of 4.0 on a 7-point scale in your previous qualification.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Your previous studies can be credited towards your postgraduate studies, provided they meet the relevant course requirements.
If you receive an offer of enrolment and you’ve undertaken prior learning, you may be eligible to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning. The procedure is governed by the university's Recognition of Prior Learning policy. Contact the university for more details.
Outcomes
Career outcomes
Postgraduate study can take you anywhere. Here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:
- Food Technologist
- Food Chemist
- Food Microbiologist
- Laboratory Supervisor
- Process and Product Development Manager
- Quality Control Manager
- Nutritionist
- Agribusiness Consultant
- Food Security Adviser
- Sustainable Food Production Specialist
Fees and CSP
Indicative annual fee in 2026: $4,765 (Commonwealth Supported Place)
All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a study load of eight units (normally four courses) per semester or year.
Student fees may vary in accordance with:
- The number of courses studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- Choice of courses.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
You may also need to pay the student services and amenities fee.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
Commonwealth Supported Places
The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.
If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you'll only need to pay a portion of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.
Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.
Your student contribution amount is:
- Calculated per the course you're enrolled in.
- Dependent on the study areas they relate to.
- Reviewed and adjusted each year.
HECS-HELP loans are available to CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.
