Masters Degrees
Please note: This page is for 2027 entry. Click here for 2026 entry.
| UCAS code | 1234 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 1 year full time 2 years part time |
| Entry year | 2026 |
| Campus | Streatham Campus |
| Typical offer | We will consider applicants with a 2:2 Honours degree or above (or equivalent). |
|---|---|
82% of our research is internationally excellent
Based on research rated 4* + 3* in REF 2021. Our research in Sociology, Philosophy, Anthropology and Criminology was returned to this UoA.
Top 10 in the UK for Anthropology
9th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026
Internationally recognised for work in philosophical anthropology and the sociology of culture
Optional work placement or internship
We will consider applicants with a 2:2 Honours degree or above (or equivalent). We welcome students from any academic background.
Applications from candidates with relevant professional experience and evidence of good research and writing skills will also be considered.
Also, as this is a specialist and multi-disciplinary programme, students who do not meet the general admissions requirements but who have substantial professional or personal experience which is directly related to the programme will be considered. Students who wish to be considered on the basis of professional or personal experience should submit a detailed personal statement outlining their relevant experience. Students who do not fulfil the general admissions requirements may also be required to attend an interview and/or complete an assignment in order to assess their academic ability.
Please also see our guidance on essential documentation required for an initial decision on taught programme applications.
Please visit our entry requirements section for equivalencies from your country and further information on English language requirements.
Please also see our guidance on essential documentation required for an initial decision on taught programme applications.
International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course.
The required IELTS test scores for this course fall under Profile B1.
Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country.
This programme will prepare you to understand, critically assess, and practically engage with foodways and food systems.
Our core modules provide interdisciplinary perspectives drawing from fields including archaeology, classics, history, anthropology, sociology, geography, and political economy. You will survey the historical development of agriculture and food and develop an understanding of its place in the constitution of social identities and institutions. You will also analyse the workings of mainstream and alternative food systems and food chains as well as studying the challenges and proposed solutions to making foodways and food systems more sustainable.
A wide range of optional modules allows you to develop focused expertise in areas such as sustainable food production, health and nutrition, community development, education, or business and social enterprise.
An optional placement or internship will afford you the opportunity to gain valuable professional experience and to develop networks, while the dissertation will provide you with the chance to acquire expertise in a particular area of study and to develop research and writing skills.
The programme is studied over 12 months (full time) or 24 months (part time) and is University-based throughout the period. The programme comprises 180 credits in total: taught modules worth 120 credits in total and a supervised dissertation worth 60 credits. Teaching takes place over two terms (October to May), followed by completion of the dissertation over the summer (June to September). Each taught module spans one term and is normally taught through seminars, underpinned by reading and essay assignments. The taught element consists of core modules, directed options and free options.
The modules below provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.
120 credits of compulsory credit, 60 credits of optional credit.
You may choose either the 15 credit or the 30 credit version of each module, you cannot choose both.
Compulsory Choice 1 - HASM022 or HASM028.
Compulsory Choice 2 - ANTM021 or SOCM022.
Compulsory Choice 3 - SOCM054 or SOCM021.
Compulsory Choice 4 - SOCM044 or SOCM045.
Pathway information:
If you select the modules from the pathway groups shown and complete your SSIM909 Dissertation in Food Studies in a related area, you will be eligible to graduate with a pathway in one of the following named areas:
Pathway A - Food, Society and Culture. This pathway allows you to focus study on the social, cultural and historical dimensions of food and foodways. Modules fulfilling compulsory requirements must include: either the 15 or 30 credit version of Food and Agriculture in Historical Perspective; and either the 15 or 30 credit version of Food, Body and Society. Your dissertation will also focus on a theme in the area of Food, Society and Culture. You may graduate with MA Food Studies (Food, Society and Culture).
Pathway B - Food Systems and Sustainability. This pathway allows you to focus study on food systems, alternative food networks and sustainability. Modules fulfilling compulsory requirements must include: either the 15 or 30 credit version of Food System, Alternative Food Networks and Ethical Consumption; and either the 15 or 30 credit version of Food and Sustainability: Economy, Society and Environment. Your dissertation will also focus on a theme in the area of Food Systems and Sustainability. You may graduate with MA Food Studies (Food Systems and Sustainability).
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory 1 | ||
| Dissertation in Food Studies | 60 | |
| Compulsory Choice 1 | ||
| Food and Agriculture in Historical Perspective | 15 | |
| Food and Agriculture in Historical Perspective | 30 | |
| Compulsory Choice 2 | ||
| Food, Body and Society | 15 | |
| Food, Body and Society | 30 | |
| Compulsory Choice 3 | ||
| Food Systems, Alternative Food Networks and Ethical Consumption | 30 | |
| Food Systems, Alternative Food Networks, and Ethical Consumption | 15 | |
| Compulsory Choice 4 | ||
| Food and Sustainability: Economy, Society and Environment | 15 | |
| Food and Sustainability: Economy, Society and Environment | 30 | |
For the dissertation, you will conduct independent research under the supervision of a member of academic staff. You may work on a theme of your own choosing, whether drawn from a core or optional module or of your own development, so long as the theme fits within the scope of the course and is agreed upon by your supervisor. Your dissertation may focus on a debate within an existing body of literature or within the public sphere, or it may involve fieldwork, but in any case, you will pose original questions, identify and utilize relevant resources, present findings, and offer analysis in the form of a 12,000 word piece of work.
To undertake this module you must have been admitted onto the MA in Food Studies.
The aim of this module is to pursue an individual programme of research, applying appropriate research methodologies and drawing on appropriate materials, to a topic approved by the programme convener and under the guidance of an academic supervisor.
This module examines food and foodways from the late Paleolithic to the present day. You will study the transition from hunter-gathering to pastoralism and agriculture in the late Paleolithic; foodways and food systems in antiquity; the development of food markets and the movement of food stuffs between world regions; changing cultures of cooking and dining from the early modern period to the present day; the industrialization of agriculture and food processing; the nutrition transition and the rise of obesity; and the implications of changing foodways and food systems for the environment and consumer safety.
You will read works on food and agriculture produced within a range of disciplines, including archaeology, classics, ancient history, history, and anthropology. Through engagement with the literature, you will gain perspectives on both historical trends in human foodways and the particularities of foodways in specific places and times. The module will prepare you for your own research in the field of study, whether academic or within the context of public institutions, industries, or third sector organisations with an interest in food and foodways, heritage and sustainability.
This module examines food and foodways from the late Paleolithic to the present day. You will study the transition from hunter-gathering to pastoralism and agriculture in the late Paleolithic; foodways and food systems in antiquity; the development of food markets and the movement of food stuffs between world regions; changing cultures of cooking and dining from the early modern period to the present day; the industrialisation of agriculture and food processing; the nutrition transition and the rise of obesity; and the implications of changing foodways and food systems for the environment and consumer safety.
You will read works on food and agriculture produced within a range of disciplines, including archaeology, classics, ancient history, history, and anthropology. Through engagement with the literature, you will gain perspectives on both historical trends in human foodways and the particularities of foodways in specific places and times. The module will prepare you for your own research in the field of study, whether academic or within the context of public institutions, industries, or third sector organisations with an interest in food and foodways, heritage and sustainability.
This module examines the relationship between food and the body, as well as how foodways and food systems shape social bodies, from families, to religious communities and social classes, to nations. You will study socially variable ideas about healthy eating; conceptions of food as medicine; food prohibitions and avoidances; how commensality — eating together— may forge shared identities, whether embraced or enforced; how cuisine relates to social class; how food and foodways may transmit or transform memory; and the role of food and foodways among migrant and diaspora populations.
You will read works on food, the body and society produced within a range of disciplines, including nutrition, medicine, psychology, sociology, anthropology, religious studies, literary studies, and philosophy. Through engagement with the literature, you will gain historical and comparative insights, and develop critical perspectives on the relationship between food and bodies — from the individual to the social. The module will prepare you for your own research in the field of study, whether academic or within the context of public institutions, industries, or third sector organisations with an interest in food and foodways, consumption, and diets.
This module examines the relationship between food and the body, as well as how foodways and food systems shape social bodies, from families, to religious communities and social classes, to nations. You will study socially variable ideas about healthy eating; conceptions of food as medicine; food prohibitions and avoidances; how commensality - eating together - may forge shared identities, whether embraced or enforced; how cuisine relates to social class; how food and foodways may transmit or transform memory; and the role of food and foodways among migrant and diaspora populations.
You will read works on food, the body and society produced within a range of disciplines, including nutrition, medicine, psychology, sociology, anthropology, religious studies, literary studies, and philosophy. Through engagement with the literature, you will gain historical and comparative insights, and develop critical perspectives on the relationship between food and bodies--from the individual to the social. The module will prepare you for their own research in the field of study, whether academic or within the context of public institutions, industries, or third sector organisations with an interest in food and foodways, consumption, and diets.
This module critically examines the workings of food systems, from the global scale to the local. You will study the globalization of trade in agriculture and food, including arguments for and against trade liberalization, as well as the idea of food sovereignty. You will examine food poverty, from famines to food deserts, and critically analyze the concept of food security in diverse contexts. You will also study a range of alternative food movements and networks as well as forms of ethical consumption, such as fair trade, organics, and transitions towns, with a focus on how these might create more viable livelihoods and contribute to environmental sustainability. You will also examine the use of food and foodways in the development of cultural economies and in the preservation of cultural heritage.
You will read works on food systems within a range of disciplines, including political economy, development studies, geography, sociology, and anthropology. Through engagement with the literature, you will develop perspectives on food systems at various scales, not only analyzing how existing systems work but also how alternatives to these might be created. The module will prepare you for your own research in the field of study, whether academic or within the context of public institutions, industries, or third sector organisations with an interest in food and its role in economic development, social justice, cultural preservation and environmental sustainability.
This module critically examines the workings of food systems, from the global scale to the local. You will study the globalization of trade in agriculture and food, including arguments for and against trade liberalization, as well as the idea of food sovereignty. You will examine food poverty, from famines to food deserts, and critically analyze the concept of food security in diverse contexts. You will also study a range of alternative food movements and networks as well as forms of ethical consumption, such as fair trade, organics, and transitions towns, with a focus on how these might create more viable livelihoods and contribute to environmental sustainability. You will also examine the use of food and foodways in the development of cultural economies and in the preservation of cultural heritage.
You will read works on food systems within a range of disciplines, including political economy, development studies, geography, sociology, and anthropology. Through engagement with the literature, you will develop perspectives on food systems at various scales, not only analyzing how existing systems work but also how alternatives to these might be created. The module will prepare you for your own research in the field of study, whether academic or within the context of public institutions, industries, or third sector organisations with an interest in food and its role in economic development, social justice, cultural preservation and environmental sustainability.
This module surveys the ways in which food production and consumption is connected to the contemporary crisis of sustainability, as well as ways in which associated problems may be addressed. You will critically examine the technologies of contemporary food production, processing, and retailing. You will focus on the impact of fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and antibiotics on soil, water, biodiversity, food productivity and consumer health; the promises and threats arising from new technologies such as genetic engineering, automation and artificial intelligence; and the causes and effects of waste along the food chain. You will also learn how proponents and practitioners of innovative approaches—from regenerative agriculture to a circular economy approach—draw selectively on knowledge systems, old and new, in attempts to build more sustainable food systems. In the examination of each of these topics, you will look at the social, political, economic, and environmental dimensions of problems and proposed solutions, with a view toward understanding the tensions between these as well as potential synergies.
Suitable for specialist and non-specialist students such as MSc Global Sustainability Solutions; MSc Environment and Human Health; MSc Sustainable Development
This module surveys the ways in which food production and consumption is connected to the contemporary crisis of sustainability, as well as ways in which associated problems may be addressed. You will critically examine the technologies of contemporary food production, processing, and retailing. You will focus on the impact of fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and antibiotics on soil, water, biodiversity, food productivity and consumer health; the promises and threats arising from new technologies such as genetic engineering, automation and artificial intelligence; and the causes and effects of waste along the food chain. You will also learn how proponents and practitioners of innovative approaches—from regenerative agriculture to a circular economy approach—draw selectively on knowledge systems, old and new, in attempts to build more sustainable food systems. In the examination of each of these topics, you will look at the social, political, economic, and environmental dimensions of problems and proposed solutions, with a view toward understanding the tensions between these as well as potential synergies.
Suitable for specialist and non-specialist students
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Optional 1 | ||
| Theory and Methods of Food Preservation | 15 | |
| Gardening, Wellbeing and Community | 15 | |
| Themes in Archaeological Theory and Practice | 15 | |
| Discovering the Past with Molecular Science | 15 | |
| Advanced Zooarchaeology | 15 | |
| Zooarchaeology | 15 | |
| Blue Planet | 15 | |
| Perspectives on Sustainable Development | 15 | |
| Research Skills in Classics, Ancient History and Theology | 30 | |
| Theory for Sustainable Transitions | 15 | |
| Green Planet | 15 | |
| Planetary Health | 15 | |
| Research Methods in the Social Sciences | 15 | |
| Social Theory | 15 | |
| Health, Culture and Society | 30 | |
| Directed Practical Study: Agriculture and Food | 30 | |
Please note that the module information displayed here is subject to change.
Our flexible programme enables you to choose either a specific pathway or a selection of modules, which might be at a much later date than date of entry to the MA Food Studies. All students graduate with a Masters in Food Studies, but if you elect to specialise, you will have one of the following pathways named in your degree title:
This pathway allows you to focus study on the social, cultural and historical dimensions of food and foodways. Modules fulfilling compulsory requirements must include: either the 15 or 30 credit version of Food and Agriculture in Historical Perspective; and either the 15 or 30 credit version of Food, Body and Society. Your dissertation will also focus on a theme in the area of Food, Society and Culture.
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| HASM022 | Food and Agriculture in Historical Perspective | 15 |
| or | ||
| HASM028 | Food and Agriculture in Historical Perspective | 30 |
| ANTM021 | Food, Body and Society | 15 |
| or | ||
| SOCM022 | Food, Body and Society | 30 |
This pathway allows you to focus study on food systems, alternative food networks and sustainability. Modules fulfilling compulsory requirements must include: either the 15 or 30 credit version of Food System, Alternative Food Networks and Ethical Consumption; and either the 15 or 30 credit version of Food and Sustainability: Economy, Society and Environment. Your dissertation will also focus on a theme in the area of Food Systems and Sustainability.
| Code | Module | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| SOCM054 | Food Systems, Alternative Food Networks, and Ethical Consumption | 15 |
| or | ||
| SOCM021 | Food Systems, Alternative Food Networks, and Ethical Consumption | 30 |
| SOCM044 | Food and Sustainability: Economy, Society and Environment | 15 |
| or | ||
| SOCM045 | Food and Sustainability: Economy, Society and Environment | 30 |
£12,650 full-time; £6,325 part-time
£25,550 full-time; £12,775 part-time
The University of Exeter is pleased to offer a fee reduction worth £5000 to up to five full-time students enrolling on our MA Food Studies programme in 2026/2027. This scholarship is open to home and international students, and will be awarded to the candidate/s who can best demonstrate an exceptional track record and future potential for work in this field. Find out more and apply here.
The University of Exeter offers a wide range of scholarships to support your education, with £7 million available for international students applying to study with us in the 2026/27 academic year, including our prestigious Exeter Excellence Scholarships. We also provide awards for sport, music and other achievements, as well as regional and partner scholarships with organisations such as Chevening, The Beacon Trust and the British Council. For more information on scholarships and other financial support, please visit our scholarships and bursaries page.
We are pleased to offer the University of Exeter Alumni Scholarship, a scholarship for University of Exeter alumni beginning a standalone postgraduate programme in 2026/27 with us a scholarship worth 20% of the cost of your first year tuition fees.
Terms and conditions, including deadlines, apply.
Core teaching takes place over the first two terms, leaving the third for your dissertation. Research-centred teaching is at the heart of the programme. Teaching is done in small seminar groups, through individual presentations and round table discussions of common readings. Some optional modules include practical work combined with reading.
Students have the opportunity to engage in a substantial piece of research into a topic of their choosing through the dissertation module. You will be assessed through coursework which will vary depending on the modules you choose, as well as the completion of a dissertation.
Depending upon your interests and career objectives, you may go on to conduct doctoral research, or you may find employment in:
The College's Employability Officer works with our central Career Zone team to give you access to a wealth of business contacts, support and training, as well as the opportunity to meet potential employers at our regular Careers Fairs.
