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Ulster University · Undergraduate
BSc (Hons) Food Business and Innovation Bachelor's degree at Ulster University
BSc (Hons) Food Business and Innovation at Ulster University. The course, founded in 1984, combines practical business knowledge with innovation-focused study.
BSc (Hons)
Award
–
Years
Part-time
Study mode
Coleraine
Location
About this course
BSc (Hons) Food Business and Innovation is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at Ulster University, based in Coleraine. It is studied part-time; duration varies by route.
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Business & Management, see the sections below.
Curriculum & modules
A typical UK Business & Management degree builds from foundations to specialist options and a final project. An indicative structure:
| Stage | Module |
|---|---|
| Year 1 | Introduction to Management & Organisations How firms work: structure, culture and managerial roles. |
| Year 1 | Marketing Principles Customers, segmentation and the marketing mix in practice. |
| Year 1 | Business Economics & Data Micro/macro essentials plus data skills for business analysis. |
| Year 2 | Operations & Supply Chain Management Designing and improving processes, quality and logistics. |
| Year 2 | Organisational Behaviour & HRM Motivation, teams, leadership and managing people. |
| Year 2 | Strategy Analysing industries and competitive advantage; strategy tools applied to cases. |
| Year 3 | Specialist options Typically entrepreneurship, international business, digital business or consulting. |
| Year 3 | Innovation & Entrepreneurship From opportunity to business model, often with a live venture project. |
| Year 3 | Capstone / consultancy project A real client brief or dissertation integrating the whole degree. |
Typical structure for this subject (indicative). Modules vary by university. Check the provider's course page for the exact curriculum.
Specialisations & pathways
Tip: click a specialisation → current jobs in that area.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
This degree equips you to launch and lead innovation in the food industry. You'll typically begin with business fundamentals, management, marketing, economics and data analysis, before progressing to operational and strategic thinking. In your final year, you'll focus on the course's distinctive strength: innovation and entrepreneurship in food, often through a live venture or client project. Throughout, you'll usually have the opportunity to specialise in areas such as entrepreneurship, international business, digital business, marketing, consulting, or people and HR, depending on your career direction. The course integrates practical case studies and real-world application, culminating in a capstone project that brings together food industry knowledge with business strategy.
Who it's for
This course suits professionals already working in food production, retail or related sectors who want to formalise their business knowledge, as well as graduates seeking to transition into food industry management. The part-time format allows you to continue earning whilst studying. You'll need to meet Ulster University's entry requirements; check the university's admissions pages for specific details on qualifications and English language requirements.
Careers & job market
Across Business & Management courses nationally, 87% of graduates are in work or further study 15 months after graduating. Of those working, 60% are in highly skilled roles or undertaking further study. National earnings data shows starting salaries (15 months post-graduation) typically range from £24,000 to £32,000, rising to £26,350–£37,200 after five years. These figures reflect the broader graduate population and individual outcomes vary. The food sector offers roles in production management, supply chain, quality assurance and business development.
University & format
This BSc (Hons) is delivered part-time at Ulster University, a university located in Coleraine. Taught in English, the course leads to a nationally recognised Bachelor's degree. Ulster University is a recognised UK degree-awarding body and is. Bursaries and scholarships are also available, check the university's funding pages for details.
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
2027 entry deadlineApply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. UCAS dates
2026 entryLive availability check
Opened 2 July 2026; last choice 19 October 2026. Check vacancies now. A cached page never claims a place is still available.
Entry & how to get in
Entry requirements are set by the universityGrades, subjects and contextual offers vary. Check Ulster University's official course page for the current offer.
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Offer-based entry
Entry is set by the university and based on your offer. Use your predicted grades to see how you compare, then check the university's stated requirements.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
Apply byApply directly to the providerfor this course
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course. One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by Apply directly to the provider
Part-time application dates vary by provider. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
💡 Many universities make a contextual (reduced-grade) offer, for example based on your school’s results, time in care, or where you live. Ask Ulster University whether you’re eligible before you apply; it can lower the grades you need.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Internationalset by the university
Set under Northern Ireland's student-finance system; the provider's page is authoritative.
Check fees at Ulster University →If you normally live in Northern Ireland
Studying in Northern Irelandtuition loan up to £4,985
Studying elsewhere in the UKtuition loan up to £9,790
2026/27 maximum Tuition Fee Loan for eligible Northern Ireland students. Maintenance support depends on household income. Students from elsewhere use their home funding body.
Check the current amounts with Student Finance NI →Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: up to £4,985 in Northern Ireland or £9,790 elsewhere in the UK for eligible NI-domiciled students in 2026/27.
- Maintenance support: a mix of grant and loan from Student Finance NI, weighted to household income.
- Repayment: only above the income threshold, and written off at the end of the plan term.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
Northern Ireland runs its own system through Student Finance NI; check studentfinanceni.co.uk for current rates.
Funding matched to this course
All Ulster University funding →Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
Named awards published by the university. Compare the eligibility and application route before budgeting for one.
Amounts, exclusions and deadlines can change. An award is not guaranteed unless the university confirms it.
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Career quizApplication walkthroughSalary & CV check
Careers & earnings
What Business & Management graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
- 1Graduate / AnalystOn a scheme or first role · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / ManagerOwning an area, marketing, finance, ops · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / Head ofLeading a function and a team · 5–10 yrs
- 4Director / FounderRunning a business unit or your own company · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Business & Management nationally
Starting (15 months) HESA GO
£24,000 – £32,000
After 3 years LEO
£21,250 – £30,000
After 5 years LEO
£26,350 – £37,200
national rangeaxis £20,000 – £38,500
National figures for Business & Management graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
Job market & outlook
How Business & Management graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
87%
in work or further study 15 months after graduating, across Business & Management courses nationally.
Graduate Outcomes60%
of working graduates are in highly skilled work or further study.
highly skilled81%
of students continue past their first year (still enrolled or completed).
continuationHow AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine reporting and data pulls
- First-draft decks and copy
- Standard forecasts and reconciliations
- Scheduling and admin workflows
More human than ever
- Strategy and judgement under uncertainty
- Leading, negotiating and selling
- Sense-checking and owning what AI produces
- Relationships with clients and teams
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Business & Management graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Consultancies
- Corporate graduate schemes
- Retail & FMCG
- Startups & scale-ups
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Business & Management graduates.
Business Director, Marketing ScienceXcedeBusiness ManagerLGPS CentralBusiness Change ManagerIGA Talent SolutionsBusiness Case ManagerPeregrineBusiness DirectorMedialab GroupBusiness Rates SurveyorW TalentLive from the StudySmarter job board · as of 2026-08-01.See all matching jobs
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
Ulster University
All students32,915
International32.5%
Aged 25+35%
Business and management across the UK
Students586,710
Aged 25+44.3%
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Coleraine
156 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Anti Social Behaviour 69Violent Crime 45Criminal Damage Arson 26Drugs 4Other Theft 4
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Business & Management right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Ulster University from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is set per course by Ulster University; international fees are typically £12,000–£30,000/year for classroom subjects and higher for lab/clinical ones. You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check Ulster University’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Ulster University and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Ulster University
Business & Management at other universities
Common questions
What are the entry requirements?
Set by Ulster University. Check the university's course page for the exact offer.
What do graduates earn?
See the career and earnings data for Business & Management below (national Graduate Outcomes / LEO figures).
What will it cost me?
Fees for this course are set under Northern Ireland's own student-finance system, not the England cap; check the provider's course page for the exact figure. If you normally live in Northern Ireland, Student Finance NI can pay a Tuition Fee Loan directly to the university. For 2026/27 the maximum is £4,985 when studying in Northern Ireland and £9,790 elsewhere in the UK. Students from elsewhere use their ordinary-residence funding body, and maintenance support is a mix of grant and loan weighted to household income. You repay only above the income threshold. See Fees & funding on this page to work out your numbers.
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