Degree type: DipHE
UCAS Code: DN4X DipHE/FCS
Duration: 2 years (full-time)
How to Apply
Please note that no admission to this course is available in September 2012.
Why choose this course?
The Diploma in Higher Education (DipHE) Food and Consumer Studies shadows the BSc (Hons) Food degrees very closely. The key difference is that DipHE students are given additional targeted study skills support designed to help ease the transition to higher education study. This helps you learn to manage and organise information, develop better communication skills (oral and written) and to make most effective use of our library resources and information technology.
On successful completion of the course, students may exit with a Diploma in Higher Education or progress to year 3 of their chosen Food degree.
Subjects studied are varied and interdisciplinary. The relationship between food and health, which is ultimately shaped by consumer choice, makes for a fascinating area of study. You will learn about the nature of food, how to produce safe, nutritious and appetising food, an understanding of the factors that affect consumer choice and the nutritional knowledge that will enable you to confidently deliver healthy eating messages appropriately to groups of the population.
How you learn
Classes include a mix of lectures, tutorials, seminars and guest lectures, practical workshops, laboratory skills and computer-assisted-learning. Teamwork and confidence-building communication skills are integrated into some modules. We also organise industry visits and guest lectures to help you see the connections between theory and practice.
How you are assessed
We know that students learn in different ways so assessment is varied across modules. It includes coursework (such as practical assignments, problem-solving projects and laboratory reports), oral presentations, exams and short answer class tests. Some projects include an element of team work, as well as individual contribution.
Higher BC; A Level DD; ILC (H) BC; UCAS Tariff 120 points*
*See UCAS Tariff Guidance below
Essential subjects: None
Applicants with non-standard qualifications and experience will be considered on an individual basis.
UCAS Tariff Guidance
Although there is no limit to the number of points that you can accumulate, for entry to Abertay you must have qualifications at an appropriate level (SCQF 6/NQF 3); you cannot count the same or similar qualifications twice; Standard Grades, Intermediate 2s, GCSEs and key/core skills cannot be counted; and D grades at SQA Higher and Advanced Higher are not counted.
Applicants who have taken either SQA Highers or A Levels must offer at least three Highers or two A Levels for degree entry (or two Highers or one A Level for DipHE entry). If you have studied a subject at two different levels, the most advanced will be taken into consideration; e.g. if you studied both Higher Biology and Advanced Higher Biology, then only the Advanced Higher will be counted.
Overseas/EU
All applicants are required to provide certified proof of competence in English Language and the University's minimum requirements are listed here
Mature
In order to determine an applicant's ability to benefit from study or research at the University of Abertay Dundee, a range of standard and flexible criteria will be used in considering applications. In most circumstances applications will be considered in light of the following:
Applications from mature students are assessed on the same criteria used for school leavers, e.g. SQA Highers or GCE A Levels, where relevant school leaving qualifications exist. For those without standard entry qualifications, consideration is given to experience gained as well as professional qualifications and other forms of learning that could provide evidence of ability to benefit from a particular course.
The successful completion of approved access courses (such as those offered by Dundee College in association with the universities of Abertay, Dundee and St Andrews) provides significant evidence of ability to benefit from study at Abertay.
For further advice please use our Ask a Question section.
What our students say
“I was really worried about starting university but all the staff have been really helpful and I have just passed my first assessment - phew!”
Becky, Glasgow
“Our class is all really friendly. A few of us got together in a private study group in semester 1, which has helped a lot. Amazingly, it’s quite a good laugh too!”
Greig, Perth
“When I enrolled on the Dip HE, I thought that I would just do the two years but I’m now in year 3 of the Food and Consumer Science degree and have just got my placement set up with a food marketing organisation.”
Graeme, Inverness
“I’ve signed up to do some volunteer work this semester as I want to improve my chances of getting a job in the Community food and health sector.”
Angela, Arbroath
Your future
The majority of students who successfully complete the DipHE course progress onto one of the degrees. The Diploma is designed with this in mind because there is a wider range of employment opportunities for graduates. Alternatively, it is possible to exit with the Diploma and to find employment in the food and drink sector.
Professional accreditation
Our three degree courses are approved by the General Teaching Council (GTC) for Scotland as suitable for entry to a PGDE (Secondary) Home Economics Course.
Specialist facilities
The University has invested heavily in state-of-the-art training facilities for our food and consumer sciences suite of courses. There are two training kitchens, a food testing laboratory, an anatomy and physiology laboratory, as well as a food photography studio and a demonstration lecture theatre.
