Artisan Food Production FdSc
- Level(s) of Study: Foundation degree / Undergraduate
- UCAS Code(s): D895; D896
- Start Date(s): September 2023
- Duration: Two years full-time, three years with placement
- Study Mode(s): Full-time / Sandwich
- Campus: Brackenhurst Campus
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Entry Requirements:
More information
Introduction:
This unique course will provide you with the skills and knowledge to work in the artisan food industry, meeting the increasing demand for high quality food that is sustainably produced. This course is delivered by professional artisan food specialists at The School of Artisan Food – based on the Welbeck Estate – alongside food technology specialists at Nottingham Trent University. You’ll study the functionality of high-end food ingredients, and practical skills such as breadmaking, patisserie and viennoiserie, butchery, charcuterie and cheesemaking.
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Teaching will be split between The School of Artisan Food, based in north Nottinghamshire on the Welbeck Estate, and NTU's Brackenhurst Campus. You'll benefit from a free shuttle bus between the sites. -
You'll have access to newly refurbished, purpose-built training rooms and a demonstration theatre at The School of Artisan Food. Meanwhile, you'll also have access to all the facilities at NTU including our food processing laboratory, general laboratories and library. -
The School of Artisan Food has an outstanding reputation for the quality of training it provides, and you'll benefit from staff who are some of the most skilled and experienced artisan producers and practitioners in the UK, Europe and beyond. -
100% student satisfaction for FdSc Artisan Food Production (FT) (National Student Survey, 2022).
What you’ll study
During this course you'll learn the skills needed to work in the artisan food industry. From developing practical expertise and producing a range of food products to setting up an artisan food business. You'll also study the functionality of high-end food ingredients, and practical skills such as bread-making, patisserie and viennoiserie, butchery, charcuterie and cheese-making.
Artisan Bread Production
Through a mixture of theory and practical bread making sessions, develop your understanding of the fermentation process and critical key stages to bread making. You’ll also learn about recipe formulation, and raw bread material function in fermented baking.
Patisserie and Viennoiserie
Gain a knowledge of the ingredients, artisan production methods, baking techniques, and vocabulary associated with artisan patisserie and viennoiserie. This module will also equip you with the necessary technical skills needed to produce a variety of different artisan products.
Artisan Dairy Production
This module will provide a background to the UK dairy industry including sourcing, quality of milk and cattle breeds. You’ll gain an in-depth knowledge of the production of dairy products, including a range of cheese types and undertake practical sessions to manufacture hard and soft cheeses, cream, butter, yoghurt and ice cream.
Food Chemistry
Understand the key scientific principles relevant to food science, including the constituents of food and the effects these have on both their properties and functions. You’ll also develop the skills necessary to undertake simple laboratory analysis of food and interpret the data.
Artisan Business Entrepreneurship and Marketing
Gain the skills needed to plan an independent artisan business, including an overview of the key choices facing a start-up business, and developing a realistic marketing proposition for an artisan food business. You’ll also explore sustainability, ethical and health issues relating to food production, consumption and quality, and how this relates to producers.
This is a placement year for students on the three-year course.
Consumer Nutrition and Health
Gain an understanding of human nutrition and the ability to analyse foods for macronutrients associated with nutrition and allergies. Throughout this module, you’ll also learn how consumer nutrition needs and trends affect product development, processing and packaging
Advanced Artisan Bread Production
Develop your bread-making skills further, developing more complex techniques and the theoretical knowledge behind them. You’ll also be exposed to larger batch production, and the requirements of this scale of production.
Artisan Business Operations and Finance
This module will provide you with the tools needed to operate an independent artisan business and understand the associated finance including feasibility, and start-up options.
Artisan Business Planning
Learn how to develop a financially robust business plan for an artisan start-up and pitch to investors. You’ll gain an understanding of return on investment and its application in business planning, and risk management within an artisan food business.
Food Industry Employability
Throughout this module you'll develop a portfolio and professional social media profile. You’ll also be given support with developing your continued professional development, and engage with our university employability team to improve your future graduate work prospects.
You'll also choose one optional module:
Artisan Butchery and Charcuterie
Gain an insight into traditional butchery methods and techniques focusing on three main meat animals - pigs, cattle and sheep. You’ll be introduced to basic anatomy, knife skills, an overview of livestock production, and the principles of transforming meat into charcuterie using curing, fermentation and smoking.
Advanced Patisserie, Viennoiserie and Chocolate
Learn about the ingredients, advanced artisan production methods, and baking techniques required to produce a range of chocolate products, chocolate patisserie, and French patisserie and viennoiserie products. You’ll also develop knowledge of the composition of various cocoa beans, learning how and where they are grown.
Video Gallery
How you’re taught
On this course your teaching will be split between The School of Artisan Food, based in north Nottinghamshire on the Welbeck Estate, and Nottingham Trent University Brackenhurst Campus.
Applied practice is integral to this course and you'll be supported to gain relevant industry experience with the opportunity to take a year-long placement. On successful completion of the FdSc, there is the potential to complete a top-up year on the FT BSc (Hons) Food Science and Technology course. With this academic route, there would also be the opportunity to incorporate a secondary placement year in between studies. Students will be supported by the NTU Placement Office and School of Artisan Food in providing advice and knowledge on a range of suitable placements including placements with smaller artisan producers.
Please note that field trip locations may vary and are subject to availability and change.
Contact hours
Year 1 lectures/ seminars/ workshops (26%), independent study (74%)
Year 2 lectures/ seminars/ workshops (26%), independent study (74%)
How you’re assessed
Year 1 coursework (50%), written exam (8%), practical (42%)
Year 2 coursework (66%), practical (17%)
Careers and employability
Your future career
On completion of the course you will be fully enabled with all the entrepreneurial theories and skills to help you create your product and outline your business plan.
If you feel you need additional support to realise your business proposition, the NTU Enterprise Centre are able to provide additional support to entrepreneurs and new businesses.
Campus and facilities
The School of Artisan Food has an outstanding reputation for the quality of training it provides, and you’ll benefit from staff who are some of the most skilled and experienced artisan producers and practitioners in the UK, Europe and beyond.
They also boast newly refurbished, purpose-built training rooms and a demonstration theatre, which all include state-of-the-art specialist equipment.
Meanwhile you’ll also have access to all of the facilities at Nottingham Trent University including our library, Employability team and food laboratories.
Entry requirements
- 64 UCAS Tariff points from three qualifications.
- GCSE English and Maths grade C / 4.
To find out what qualifications have tariff points, please use our tariff calculator.
Other qualifications and experience
We may also consider credits achieved at other universities and your work/life experience through an assessment of prior learning. This may be for year one entry, or beyond the beginning of a course where applicable, for example, into year 2. Our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy outlines the process and options available for this route.
Getting in touch
If you need more help or information, get in touch through our enquiry form.
- 64 UCAS Tariff points from three qualifications.
- GCSE English and Maths grade C / 4.
International qualifications
We accept qualifications from all over the world – check yours here:
Please note this course is not open to students requiring a Tier 4 visa.
Undergraduate preparation courses (Foundation)
If you don’t yet meet our entry requirements, we offer Foundation courses through our partner Nottingham Trent International College (NTIC), based on our City Campus:
English language entry requirements
You can meet our language requirements by successfully completing our pre-sessional English course for an agreed length of time, or by submitting the required grade in one of our accepted English language tests, such as IELTS:
Advanced standing (starting your undergraduate degree in year 2 or 3)
You may be able to start your undergraduate course in year 2 or 3 based on what you have studied before. This decision would be made in accordance with our Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy.
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
Fees and funding
Preparing for the financial side of student life is important, but there’s no need to feel anxious and confused about it. We hope that our fees and funding pages will answer all your questions.
Getting in touch
For more advice and guidance, you can contact our Student Financial Support Service.
Tel: +44 (0)115 848 2494
Additional costs
Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team, and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses.
Library books
Most study modules will recommend one or more core text books, which most students choose to purchase. Book costs vary and further information is available in the University’s bookshop. Our libraries provide a good supply of essential text books, journals and materials (many of which you can access online) – meaning you may not need to purchase as many books as you might think! There may also be a supply of second-hand books available for purchase from previous year students.
Field trips
Non-residential UK day excursions are included in the tuition fee. You will be charged a maximum of 20% of the price per student cost for any compulsory residential trips or courses in the UK, as a contribution towards travel, accommodation and entrance fees where applicable. For example, a typical 5-day UK residential field trip cost would be approx. £500 per student, and we would ask for a £100 contribution from students. You will be charged a maximum of 30% of the price per student cost for any compulsory overseas residential courses, as a contribution towards travel, accommodation and associated trip fees where applicable. For example, a typical 6-day residential overseas field trip cost would be approx. £600 per student, and we would ask for a £180 contribution from students. Other non-compulsory field trip opportunities, in the UK and abroad, may also be offered, and these will be charged at 80% cost to students. A valid passport and any associated visas will also be required for field trips outside of the UK.
Placements
If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.
Print and copy costs
The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the Printing, photocopying and scanning information on the Library website.
Other costs
All students will also be expected to provide their own steel-toe-capped safety boots and working overalls.
Tuition fees for September 2023 entry
Mode of study | International tuition fee |
Full-time | £15,600 |
Full-time with placement | £15,600 + £1,385 (placement year) |
Tuition fees are payable for each year that you are at the University. The level of tuition fees for the second and subsequent years of your undergraduate course may increase in line with inflation and as specified by the UK government.
Scholarships
We offer scholarships of up to 50% of your tuition fee. You can apply for your scholarship when you have an offer to study at NTU.
Living costs
Get advice on the cost of living as an international student in Nottingham and how to budget:
Paying fees
Find out about advanced payments, instalment plan options and how to make payments securely to the University:
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
Additional costs
Your course fees cover the cost of studies and include loads of great benefits, such as the use of our library, support from our expert Employability team, and free use of the IT equipment across our campuses.
Library books
Most study modules will recommend one or more core text books, which most students choose to purchase. Book costs vary and further information is available in the University’s bookshop. Our libraries provide a good supply of essential text books, journals and materials (many of which you can access online) – meaning you may not need to purchase as many books as you might think! There may also be a supply of second-hand books available for purchase from previous year students.
Field trips
Non-residential UK day excursions are included in the tuition fee. You will be charged a maximum of 20% of the price per student cost for any compulsory residential trips or courses in the UK, as a contribution towards travel, accommodation and entrance fees where applicable. For example, a typical 5-day UK residential field trip cost would be approx. £500 per student, and we would ask for a £100 contribution from students. You will be charged a maximum of 30% of the price per student cost for any compulsory overseas residential courses, as a contribution towards travel, accommodation and associated trip fees where applicable. For example, a typical 6-day residential overseas field trip cost would be approx. £600 per student, and we would ask for a £180 contribution from students. Other non-compulsory field trip opportunities, in the UK and abroad, may also be offered, and these will be charged at 80% cost to students. A valid passport and any associated visas will also be required for field trips outside of the UK.
Placements
If you're undertaking a placement year, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst on placement. Many of our placement students do earn a salary whilst on placement which can help to cover these living costs.
Print and copy costs
The University allocates an annual printing and copying allowance of £20 depending on the course you are studying. For more details about costs for additional print and copying required over and above the annual allowance please see the Printing, photocopying and scanning information on the Library website.
Other costs
All students will also be expected to provide their own steel toe-capped safety boots and working overalls.
How to apply
Ready to join us? Then apply as soon as you can. Just click the Apply button at the top of the page and follow the instructions for applying. Make sure you check the entry requirements above carefully before you do.
Writing your application and personal statement
Be honest, thorough and persuasive in your application. Remember, we can only make a decision based on what you tell us. So include all of your qualifications and grades, including resits or predicted grades.
Your personal statement is a really important part of your application. It’s your chance to convince us why we should offer you a place! You’ve got 4,000 characters to impress us. Make sure you use them to show how your skills and qualities are relevant to the course(s) you’re applying for. For more hints and tips, take a look at our page on how to write a good personal statement.
Keeping up-to-date
After you’ve applied, we’ll be sending you important emails throughout the application process so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
You can get more information and advice about applying to NTU on our Your Application page. Good luck with your application!
Getting in touch
If you need any more help or information, please email our Admissions Team or call on +44 (0)115 848 4200.
You can apply for this course through UCAS. If you are not applying to any other UK universities, you can apply directly to us on our NTU applicant portal.
Please note this course is not open to students requiring a Tier 4 visa.
Application advice
Apply early so that you have enough time to prepare – processing times for Student visas can vary, for example. After you've applied, we'll be sending you important emails throughout the application process – so check your emails regularly, including your junk mail folder.
Writing your personal statement
Be honest, thorough, and persuasive – we can only make a decision about your application based on what you tell us:
Advice on writing a good personal statement
Would you like some advice on your study plans?
Our international teams are highly experienced in answering queries from students all over the world. We also have members of staff based in Vietnam, China, India and Nigeria and work with a worldwide network of education counsellors.
- Complete this simple form to keep in touch with the International Office.
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