Why Study / Key Benefits

• The Master of Food Safety and Quality is designed for advanced study of food safety, quality assurance, food processing, food technology and related risk-management issues.
• It is particularly relevant to students who already work in food safety or a related field and want professional development or career progression.
• Massey describes the qualification as providing both practical skills and deeper knowledge for managing problems in food manufacturing and developing preventative tools that support food safety and quality.
• Students have access to modern food-processing and analytical facilities, including a fully equipped pilot plant, specialist thermal and non-thermal processing equipment, analytical laboratories and a PC2 laboratory for work involving foodborne pathogens.
• Research can be applied to areas including meat, fish and dairy technology, fruit and vegetable postharvest storage and processing, food formulation, additives and ingredients.
• The qualification can support careers in food manufacturing, food auditing, government food-safety agencies, regulatory organisations and food-safety consultancy. 

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The MFoodSafQual is a parts-based qualification. Students complete Part One before progressing to Part Two.

Part One – 120 credits

Students select 120 credits according to the current schedule.

Research methods:

• 119729 Research Methods – 15 credits
• Covers scientific foundations, ethics, the scientific method, systems approaches to problem-solving and research, research-method selection, survey methods, case studies, project/enterprise analysis, modelling, analysis of results and communication of research findings.

Other Part One courses include:

• 141708 Food Packaging, Preservation and Storage – 15 credits
  • Food microbiology
  • Chemistry
  • Reaction kinetics
  • Process engineering
  • Packaging technology
  • Preservation processes
  • Storage and supply-chain systems.
• 141709 Emerging Technologies for the Food Industry – 15 credits
  • Novel food-processing technologies
  • Food preservation
  • Food structuring
  • Separation of food materials
  • Packaging
  • Storage and handling.
• 141720 Advanced Food Quality – 30 credits
  • Critical reviews
  • Case studies
  • Advanced study/research into selected food-quality topics.

Students also select 45 credits from the available schedule, including:

• 141710 Food Packaging Engineering and Legislation – 15 credits
• 141712 Strategic Food Product Development – 15 credits
• 141724 Food Quality Safety and Innovation – 15 credits
• 141730 Toxins and Food Safety – 15 credits
• 141731 Allergens and Food Intolerance – 15 credits
• 141732 Integration of Food Safety and Nutrition – 15 credits
• 231727 Epidemiology and Biostatistics – 30 credits
• 287741 Quality System Development and Management – 15 credits.

Part Two – 60 credits

• 141803 Research Report: Food – 60 credits.
• The research report involves research in a defined area of Food Science, Food Technology or Food Engineering.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The MFoodSafQual is awarded without a formal specialisation.

Students instead develop an area of emphasis through their elective choices and research topic. Relevant areas include:

• Food safety
• Food quality
• Food processing
• Food packaging
• Food preservation
• Food legislation
• Food product development
• Food allergens and intolerance
• Food toxins
• Food safety and nutrition
• Quality-system management
• Food epidemiology and biostatistics
• Food science
• Food technology
• Food engineering.

Programme Highlights

• NZQF Level 9 master's qualification.
• 180 credits.
• 1.5 years full-time.
• Part-time study available.
• Manawat? Campus location.
• Online learning environment supporting the programme.
• Practical food-industry orientation.
• Access to food-processing and analytical facilities.
• Research report in Food Science, Food Technology or Food Engineering.
• Curriculum covering food safety, quality, packaging, preservation, processing, legislation, allergens, toxins, nutrition and quality systems.
• B grade average required across Part One for progression to Part Two.
• Qualification awarded without formal specialisation.

Career Outcomes

Massey identifies opportunities in the global food industry and specifically notes career possibilities in:

• Food manufacturing
• Food-safety management
• Food-quality management
• Food auditing
• Food-safety consultancy
• Regulatory organisations
• Government food-safety departments
• Crisis management
• Food-safety training
• Establishing and managing risk-management systems
• Food-industry research.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

• The current 2026 qualification regulations require a minimum 180 credits.
• The current entry route requires either a relevant food-engineering/food-science/food-technology bachelor's degree with a B average, or a broader engineering/science/technology bachelor's degree plus at least 24 months relevant industry experience.
• A CV documenting relevant food or biological-products industry experience is specifically required for applicants using the professional-experience pathway.
• A B average across Part One is required before progressing to Part Two.
• The degree is awarded without specialisation.
• Students may be required to attend field trips, workshops, tutorials and laboratories as part of the qualification requirements.
• Not all listed course options are offered every year.
• The current regulations contain transitional provisions for students enrolled before 2023 and a specific provision concerning course 228797 for students enrolled before 1 January 2026; these provisions are not generally relevant to a new 2027 applicant.

International Student Visa Requirements

An international student physically studying the MFoodSafQual at Massey's Manawat? Campus will normally need a New Zealand Fee Paying Student Visa.

Immigration New Zealand currently requires applicants to have, among other things:

• An offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Enough money to pay tuition fees, or an applicable scholarship.
• Enough money for living expenses or an acceptable sponsor.
• Acceptable medical and travel insurance.
• Satisfactory health and character.
• A genuine reason for studying in New Zealand.
• Evidence that they can leave New Zealand at the end of their stay.