MSc Food Technology

MSc in Food Technology is a two-year postgraduate course designed for the fundamental understanding of the production of food, its packaging and its hygiene. The course also introduces understanding nutrition constituents in different types of food.

MSc in Food Technology helps students explore the genetic structure of plants and crops and to find out alternative sources of nutrition required for the human body. It is an advanced course that finds its application in the agriculture sector, food manufacturing industries and food packaging companies. The course helps students explore the latest technologies and science to improvise the consumption, packaging, safety and hygiene of food items. Students with research skills and a desire to make a career in the field that involves the improvisation of food processing and production can opt for MSc Food Technology. Throughout the programme, students gain the knowledge associated with food science and technology. They get detailed knowledge about subjects, which they can apply at the professional level.

To pursue MSc Food Technology courses in India, students need to either appear in the entrance test or get admission through their merit scores from the previous examination. The average course fee is around INR 50K to 4 LPA for two years. It may vary according to the universities and colleges.  After the successful completion of MSc Food Technology, candidates get employed in various prestigious positions like Food Technology Specialist, Food Packaging Manager, Brewer Manager, Food Production Manager, etc. They can get around 2.5 LPA in the initial stages of their career. Indian Companies like Amul, Hindustan Lever Limited, etc. offer multiple opportunities for the job role of a Food Technologist.

MSc Food Technology Highlights

Following are the major highlights of the MSc Food Technology course

Why Pursue MSc Food Technology?

Here are some of the reasons to pursue MSc Food Technology:

• As a growing field, the Indian Food Processing sector has experienced an average of 11.18% growth rate in the last five years. It is expected that in the next three to four years, this industry will flourish more. This clearly indicates that this sector will require trained and talented professionals in the future.
• The Food Technology industry has a good scope for higher studies like PhD. Therefore, those who have dreamed of pursuing a research career in Food Technology can opt for the course. The course learning makes a good base for research studies.
• The food industry is spread across the world. Hence, there are international job opportunities for students also.
• With the rapid advancement of the industry, entry-level job positions are opening frequently. These jobs are chiefly offered in the marketing sections, logistics unit, quality assurance department, etc. After completing a Master’s in Food Technology, students can be hired in these posts.
• The industry will stay forever and so will the job opportunities! This very fact ensures job security for future professionals.
• The food industry is a vast field where everyday improvement is required in the manufacturing methods for the betterment of processing and preservation. MSc Food Technology course trains the minds for innovations.

Check out the MSc Food Technology Eligibility Criteria below:

• The candidate must hold a B.Sc degree in Food Technology, B.Sc. Biology, B.Sc. Bio-Chemistry or equivalent.
• The minimum percentage in the qualifying examination should be 50%

MSc Food Technology Skills Required

The learning of MSc Food Technology allows the candidates to work in laboratories, food processing organisations etc. To work in these organisations, aspirants require some essential skills in them. The following skills are must-haves for MSc Food Technology students:

• Basic Computer Knowledge
• Problem-Solving Skills
• Management Skills
• Communication Skills

MSc Food Technology Admission Process

Admission in MSc Food Technology in India is considered based on merit or entrance examination. Candidates must confirm the admission criteria for the specific institute and complete the admission process.

Candidates will have to fill in the application form and submit the relevant documents for proof before the admission is confirmed. Once the admission is confirmed, they can pay the initial fees at the institute and join the course.

Entrance Exam-Based Admission Process

The admission process for MSc Food Technology is explained below:

•   First, students need to visit the official website of their preferred college/university and check the eligibility norms to confirm their suitability
•   Then, they should register and make the applications with the required details and deposit the fees within the prescribed timeline
•   On exam day, the students need to appear in the entrance test to prove their potential
•    After the result declaration, the colleges prepare a merit list and the successful students are called for counselling according to their ranks
•   During the counselling sessions, the admission authority verifies the documents and offers seats according to merit and seat availability
•   Students then confirm their seats by paying the required admission fees

Merit-Based Admission Process

In the merit-based admission process, candidates are selected based on the scores earned in their Bachelor’s degree.

MSc Food Technology Entrance Exams

To assess the potential of the aspirants, MSc Food Technology Entrance Test is conducted by various institutes and different states. Physics, Chemistry, Microbiology, Agriculture, Nutrition, Food Engineering, and Mathematics are some of the subjects candidates should study thoroughly in order to obtain a good score in the exam. Some of the popular entrance exams for MSc Food Technology are as follows:

• CFTRI Entrance Exam
• Govind Ballav Pant University of Agriculture and Technology Entrance Exam
• MDU CEE

How to Prepare for the Entrance Exams?

• Students should get the syllabus of the entrance exams and understand the exam patterns. Candidates must ensure that they cover the entire syllabus and study in detail. Creating a study schedule can be a great help for them.
• Even if the candidates have a strong grip on the exam subjects, they need to evaluate their preparation by solving mock questions. They can solve sample papers to gain a good grasp of the syllabus.
• Time management is key to answer of all questions that may come in the exam. The art of time management can be practiced by attempting mock tests.

The curriculum of M.Sc Food Technology can be studied in 2 years. It is divided into four semesters. A general idea of the MSc Food Technology syllabus is provided below:

MSc Food Technology Specialisations

Possessing an MSc degree in any of the specialisations mentioned below will help the students to explore different range of careers. The specialisations can be studied in different areas like Dairy Technology, Food Packaging, Nutrition and Dietetics, Bakery Science and Technology etc. The specialisations with details are provided below:

MSc Food Technology gives students an opportunity to opt for specialist professional roles.  These professionals can implement their intellect to improve the quality of food production, packaging and assist in the safe supply of food items.

Various Job roles available for MSc Food Technology candidates are as follows:

• Food Packaging Manager
• Food Technology Specialist
• Food Production Manager
• Quality Control Manager
• Brewer Manager

MSc Food Technology Starting Salary

Students of MSc Food Technology can apply and get a job in various companies or industries and they can expect an annual package of INR 4 LPA to 6 LPA. The pay scale varies for different job roles and increases with the year of experience in the relevant field.

MSc Food Technology Future Scope

The ever-growing prospect of the food industry denotes that the future scope in the industry is very high. Around 13% of the nation’s total food exports come from the food industry. There are hundreds of talents behind such contributions. 

Professionals having the right qualifications and skills are always in demand after MSc Food Technology. As it is mentioned before, trained professionals can work both in the government and private sectors. Career opportunities are usually offered in the following area:

•  Food Manufacturing Organisations
• Food Research Laboratories
• Food Packaging Organisations
• Food Quality and Certification Companies
• Food Instruments Manufacturing Companies

Scopes of Govt.  Employment

Several Government organiSations like FCI (Food Corporation of India), Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), State and Central Based Food Laboratories, Ministry of Food Processing Industries, etc. recruit professionals possessing degrees in Food Technology and Food Science.

Scopes for Higher Education

The graduates who are interested in higher studies will have different options. After pursuing MSc Food technology courses, they can go for research studies or management studies. For research studies, there are options like M.Phil in Food Science and Technology. For those who want to be specialised in a specific area of study can pursue PhD in Food Technology. As a management study, MBA in Food Science and Agri-business Management would be a great option.

Top Recruiters

Mentioned below are some of the top employers who recruit aspirants from all over the nation:

·   Dabur India Ltd.

·   Britannia Industries Ltd.

·   Nestle India Pvt. Ltd.

·   AMUL

·   ITC Limited

·   Agro Tech Foods

·   Parle Products PVT Ltd.

·   Hindustan Liver Limited

·   Godrej Industrial Limited

MSc Food Technology Job Profiles

The following jobs can be checked to learn about various job profiles offered after MSc Food Technology:

MSc Food Technology Job Salary

The annual average MSc Food Technology salary in India is provided below: