Sustainable Food Systems and Food Security MSc

Course overview

Food security is providing nutritious, safe and affordable food for all. Being able to do this sustainably is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Food practitioners need to be able to respond to food security and safety concerns, shifting attitudes towards food and farming, changing diets and demographics, as well as balancing global economic and environmental pressures.

This course comes at a time when food and its implications on our health and planet are making the headlines. From the food-waste paradox to food’s devastating environmental impact — the need for sustainable food systems couldn’t be more paramount. That’s why organisations across the world are looking for qualified experts in this area, to help resolve some of the greatest challenges we’re facing in food today.

That’s why our MSc in Sustainable Food Systems and Food Security uses a holistic system thinking approach to understand, evaluate and deconstruct the complexity of the food system, in order to formulate secure and sustainable solutions that address these grand challenges.

The course benefits from expertise from across a wide range of Schools, giving you extensive knowledge and a varying skill set to be able to tackle real-world issues effectively. You’ll also have access to world-leading research in food and other relevant topics, conducted right here on campus. This means, once you graduate, you’ll be fully equipped to pursue an exciting and rewarding career in this industry.

Why study at Leeds:

• Benefit from interdisciplinary learning and specialist practical and theoretical teaching, with expertise from multiple Schools: Earth and Environment, Food Science and Nutrition,  Geography, Biology, the Institute for Transport Studies, and Leeds University Business School.
• Learn the latest innovations in relevant topics within food, sustainability and beyond from the globally-renowned research conducted across six different Schools and collaborations with the Global Food and Environment Institute, which feeds directly into the course.
• Advance your knowledge and skills in key areas like food security, sustainable food production, food supply chains and food consumption.
• Conduct your own individual research project focusing on a genuine real-world research challenge that suits your interests, provided by the academic supervisory team and our non-academic partners.

Join our online taster courses

Food Safety and Nutrition: A Global Approach to Public Health is a free online course, delivered via Futurelearn, exploring the challenges of ensuring food security faced by researchers, policymakers and individuals worldwide.

Learn how large-scale change, like industrialisation, globalisation, population growth and climate change, affects food safety and understand the consequences for the world’s health and nutrition.

Course details

This course will equip you with the necessary knowledge and skills to become an effective leader in the transition to a more sustainable, efficient, healthier and fairer food system.

Throughout this Masters, you’ll have the chance to become familiar with the research methods and analytical techniques used in sustainability research, the capabilities individuals require to lead change in the food system, and tools and skills required in the food industry.

During the field trip, you’ll gain first-hand experience of the challenges in balancing the three domains of sustainability (environment, people, and economy) and the implications of a local, regional or global food system. The cost of the field trip is covered in the course fee.

On completion of this course, you’ll be able to:

• demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of concepts, information and techniques at the forefront of one or several related disciplines investigating food systems sustainability.
• apply systems thinking approaches to critically and creatively evaluate current and future challenges, research and advanced scholarship in food systems.
• diagnose and propose solutions to the real-world challenges that food sustainability presents.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Sustainable Food Systems and Food Security MSc in the course catalogue

Compulsory modules

Introduction to Sustainable Food Systems – 30 credits

This module will use systems thinking as an approach/tool to explore this complexity and start identifying possible solutions to the big contemporary and future challenges our food system faces, such as food security, obesity and malnutrition, climate change and food justice.

Sustainable Food Consumption – 15 credits

Investigate the real-world challenges food sustainability presents in the context of food consumption. It will apply systems thinking approaches and integrate perspectives from psychology, nutrition and public health, sustainability, critical geography, and sociology.

Sustainable Food Supply Chains and Trade – 15 credits

Explore sustainability challenges that result from sourcing strategies and supply chain activities. Consider solutions to sustainability challenges, with a focus on linking food production and consumption to achieve sustainability outcomes.

Food Systems Fieldtrip – 15 credits

This module applies experiential learning to expose you to the realities of food production and consumption in local, regional and global food contexts. You’ll get first-hand experience of the challenges in balancing the three domains of sustainability (environment, people, and economy) and the implications of a globalised food system.

Methods and Skills for Sustainable Food Systems – 30 credits

Build the research methods and analytical techniques used in sustainability research, as well as the capabilities required to lead change in the food system.

Sustainable Food Production and Food Security – 15 credits

Consider the role of food production and processing in sustainable food systems, including traditional and innovative methods in meeting food security targets, and how food affects us all in different ways.

Food Systems Research Project – 60 credits

Building on the learning outcomes of the previous modules you will produce an original piece of research investigating a real-world challenge related to food systems sustainability. You’ll be able to choose from a range of research topics and projects provided by the academic supervisory team. There is substantial opportunity for partnership and co-supervision in this element of the programme.

Fieldwork

On this course, you’ll have the opportunity to participate in a number of field trips to food production and consumption sites, including a week-long field trip to a food-producing region in the UK. Through these field trips, you’ll be exposed to the interconnected nature of our local, regional or global food systems and the challenge of reconciling competing local and global, environmental, economic and social priorities.

Other off-campus learning opportunities may be offered through collaboration with commercial partners, such as the University of Leeds Farm. The farm is operated as a commercial business, which also hosts research and innovation projects and can provide a platform for collaborative research and innovation with industry, government and public research organisations.

Learning and teaching

Our groundbreaking research feeds directly into teaching and you’ll have regular contact with staff who are at the forefront of their disciplines. You’ll often interact with academics through lectures, seminars, tutorials and small group work.

Problem-based learning is at the heart of this programme. All key disciplinary or theoretical perspectives are embedded in each module to encourage innovation and interdisciplinary practise. For example, you’ll work in teams to tackle complex sustainability challenges, such as food security, which require you to incorporate diverse resources, such as existing knowledge, data collection, interpersonal skills, reflections and reasoning ability, in order to meet these challenges.

Independent study is also important to this course, as you develop your problem-solving and research skills through the extended research project which culminates the programme. You’ll produce an original piece of research investigating a real-world challenge that food sustainability presents.

You will be assigned a personal tutor, who will maintain contact with you throughout the year and offer pastoral guidance. They will help you to settle into the university and clarify any procedures, as well as helping you prepare for employment on graduation.

Active research environment

This Masters degree builds on the success of the University’s interdisciplinary research on the theme of Food. Through strong collaborations with the Global Food and Environment Institute, you will not only be exposed to cutting edge research but also given the opportunity to collaborate with industry, policymakers, non-governmental organisations, and the third sector.

You’ll be exposed to the latest thinking and research in a wide range of disciplines underpinning food sustainability, in order to successfully apply your knowledge and skills to real-world challenges.

The programme’s strength lies in its interdisciplinary nature and the integration of concepts, approaches, and perspectives from different disciplines in each module, offering a seamless narrative throughout the course.

Programme team

This course is innovative and interdisciplinary, bringing together expertise from across the University including the schools of Earth and Environment, Food Science and Nutrition, Geography, Biology, the Institute for Transport Studies and Leeds University Business School to make up the wider programme team.

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

You will be assessed by a combination of traditional assessment techniques such as essays, presentations, report writing, and assessment techniques for the problem-based, experiential and blended learning elements of the programme such as group work and case studies.

Applying

Entry requirements

A bachelor degree with a 2:1 (hons) in a relevant subject such as (but not limited to) earth and environment, sustainability, geography, agriculture, biology, food science, nutrition, business and management, sociology, politics or public administration.

Applicants with any of the following will be considered on a case-by-case basis:

• A bachelor degree with a 2:2 (hons) where applicants can demonstrate significant relevant work experience in a relevant specialist field.
• Professional qualifications and relevant experience.

International

We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications. For more information, please contact the Admissions Team.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Science (6 weeks) and Language for Science: General Science (10 weeks). 

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional.

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

How to apply

Application deadlines

Please read our How to Apply page for full details, including application deadlines and what to include with your application.

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.

30 June 2025 – International applicants

12 September 2024 – UK applicants

Click below to access the University’s online application system and find out more about the application process.

If you're still unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2025

This course is taught by

School of Earth and Environment

Contact us

School of Earth and Environment Postgraduate Admissions Team

Email: apply-masters@see.leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Fees

UK: £14,750 (Total)

International: £32,000 (Total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Additional cost information

Standard travel and accommodation costs associated with compulsory field trips are covered by the University. However, you must pay for some subsistence, incidental or personal expenses such as suitable clothing, footwear and any related visa costs associated with overseas travel.

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.  Find out more at Masters funding overview.

Career opportunities

The food industry is constantly under the spotlight from government agencies to provide more sustainable systems for the future, meaning the demand for qualified specialists in this field are far-reaching.

This course will equip you with both the necessary knowledge and skills, such as systems thinking, problem solving, strategy and policymaking, to become an effective change agent who will lead the transition to more sustainable food systems. Through its interdisciplinary nature, it offers a holistic or systems-based perspective of the food system and balances critical thinking with practical solutions, which is key to enhancing employability prospects.

This programme is ideal for those intending to pursue a range of future employment roles in management and decision-making positions, in a wide range of organisations such as, but not limited to agribusiness, food processing, retail, non-governmental organisations, charities, social enterprises, governmental organisations and policy-making bodies e.g. Defra, WRAP, regulatory bodies, food standards organisations, consultancy, international organisations e.g. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Plus, University of Leeds students are among the top 5 most targeted by top employers according to The Graduate Market 2024, High Fliers Research, meaning our graduates are highly sought after by some of the most reputable companies in the field.

Careers support

At Leeds, we help you to prepare for your future from day one — that’s one of the reasons our graduates are so sought after by employers. The University’s Careers Centre is one of the largest in the country, providing a wide range of resources to ensure you are prepared to take your next steps after graduation and get you where you want to be.

• Dedicated Employability Officer — gain quality advice, guidance and information to help you choose a career path. From CV and cover letter writing to supporting you with job applications, our School’s dedicated Employability Enhancement Officer is on hand to help maximise your capabilities through a process of personal development and career planning.
• Employability and networking events — we run a full range of events including a careers fair with employers who are actively recruiting for roles and a dedicated Industry Recruitment Day, giving you the opportunity to network with industry sponsors. 
• MyCareer system — during your course and after you graduate, you’ll have access to a dedicated careers portal where you can book appointments with our team, get information on careers and see job vacancies and upcoming events.
• Opportunities at Leeds — there are plenty of exciting opportunities offered by our Leeds University Union, including volunteering and over 300 clubs and societies to get involved in.

Find out more at the careers website.