Course Summary
Course Category: PLC (Further Education - FET) - Apply directly to College
If you are interested in one of the world’s biggest industries and want a bite of it look no further. Don’t know where to start? This course offers you the building blocks to take your studies further. If you have an interest in science and see yourself as anything from a Food scientist or a Home Economics teacher, the possibilities are endless!
Course Details
This course prepares you for working in the following Career Sectors:
What will you study?
-
Food Chemistry
Food Processing
Microbiology
Maths
Nutrition
Food Safety & HACCP
Biology
Communications
Personal & Professional Development
Word Processing
Important
- Colleges may add/remove modules to keep the course updated and to meet demands.
- Almost all PLC courses have a Work Experience module, which requires students to find their own placement in an area directly related to their course.
Progression to CAO Courses
Higher Education Links Scheme (HELS)
This course leads to a QQI Major Award, and provides progression opportunities to a number of Higher Education courses, including those in the CAO.
To view CAO courses to which this award provides a possible progression route, click below:
QQI Code |
5M5267 |
To calculate Points based on your QQI award results, use the PLC Points Calculator.
The Student - Career Interests
This course is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Investigative
The Investigative person will usually find a particular area of science to be of interest. They are inclined toward intellectual and analytical activities and enjoy observation and theory. They may prefer thought to action, and enjoy the challenge of solving problems with sophiscticated technology. These types prefer mentally stimulating environments and often pay close attention to developments in their chosen field.
Naturalist
Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalist's interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.
Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results and prefer action to talking and discussing.
Further Research
National Statistics for this Award (All Ireland)
The following data provides general information about this Award from colleges across Ireland.
Disclaimer: These links are to web sites outside of CareersPortal and we accept no responsibility for the information on them.
Career Progression
The Food Industry offers many career prospects from Nutrition, to Food production, Food Quality, Education, Public health, Health Promotion, Food marketing and research. The Food sector is Ireland’s largest industry with a turnover in excess of 25 billion, sustaining over 230,000 jobs.
Students may also progress to participating Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) through the QQI Higher Education Links Scheme. Examples of progression pathways below:
- TU: Food Science (TU881); Culinary Arts (TU942); Nutraceuticals in Health and Nutrition (TU882);Science (TU755); Science (TU854); Biotechnology (TU889) etc.
- Maynooth: Food Science & Human Nutrition (MH222)
- AU Sligo: Nutrition, Food & Business. (AU989); Home Economics (AU990); Home Ec. & Biology /Education (AU985); Home Ec. & Religion/Education (AU986);etc.
- AU Letterkenny: Food Science & Nutrition (AU379);
- MTU Cork: Home Ec. & Business/Education (MT930)
- UCC: Food Science (CK505)
- MI Thurles: Home Ec. & Business/ Education (MI022)
- SE Carlow: Brewing and Distilling (SE521)
- UU: Dietetics; Food & Nutrition
- Lab Science Apprenticeships
- Other Unis & TUs countrywide.