
Dr Ramana Sundara - Programme Leader
Dr Sundara has been actively involved in food research for over 25 years. Before joining the University of Lincoln, he was a Group Leader for Confectionery at Nestle Product Technology Centre, York (Nestle PTC), responsible for developing and launching new products in various countries. Subsequently, he led the External Research Collaborations portfolio at Nestle PTC including the supervision of PhD studentships. He secured funding from BBSRC, EPSRC, and Innovate UK, and successfully managed multi-disciplinary projects. He has authored over 50 scientific papers and 6 patents, with an emphasis on chemistry and processing technology of fruit, vegetables, dairy, and chocolate products.
Academic Staff List Make an EnquiryWelcome to MSc Agri-food Technology with Professional Practice
The globally important agri-food sector is intrinsically linked to challenges around land and water use, climate change, sustainability, health, and wellbeing. This industry-guided programme aims to equip students with the advanced skills, knowledge, and expertise needed to undertake technical and production management roles within this growing industry.
Students at Lincoln have the opportunity to study a variety of forward thinking topics such as advanced crop science, advanced food manufacturing, new product and process development, food safety and technical management, agri-robotics, as well as commercial, operational, supply chain management.
During the programme, you may have the chance to visit agri-food organisations to see the practical application of subject matter. Field trips or visits will go ahead as long as restrictions allow. You may also have the opportunity to hear from a series of guest speakers.
Students on the MSc Agri-food Technology with Professional Practice programme will have the opportunity to undertake a Collaborative Research Project in collaboration with an industry partner. Students are expected to identify and secure their own industry projects, however support is available to those who need it. This can be with one of the University's industry partners or with an independently sourced organisation.
How You Study
This MSc is intentionally wide-ranging and is designed to prepare students for opportunities across the broad and fast-moving agri-food sector. The programme takes a holistic, all encompassing, farm-to-fork approach, acknowledging the need to optimise performance and best assure/control the food products in the agri-food supply chain.
Programme Modules:
- Advanced Food Manufacturing
- Agri-Robotics
- Digitisation in Agri-food Industry
- Food Safety and Technical Management
- Global Agri-food Supply Chain Systems
- New Product and Process Development
- Principles of Crop Science
- Research Methods
- Collaborative Research Project
Following the taught element of the programme, students will undertake a Collaborative Research Project, where they will have the opportunity to make contacts and apply their knowledge in a real-life setting with a six-month professional practice route.
Students are expected to pay for their own travel, accommodation, and general living expenses while undertaking this project. Students will be expected to identify and secure their own projects. Support is available to those who need it.
Contact and Independent Study
Weekly contact hours on this programme may vary depending on the individual modules and the stage of study. Postgraduate level study involves a significant proportion of independent study, exploring the material covered in lectures and seminars. As a general guide, for every hour spent in class, students are expected to spend at least two to three hours in independent study. For more detailed information please contact the Programme Leader.
An Introduction to Your Modules
† Some courses may offer optional modules. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by staff availability.
How you are assessed
A variety of assessment methods are used during this course, including essays, examinations, oral presentations, and practicals. These assessments are designed to develop the skills that will be needed for a career in the sector.
The University of Lincoln's policy on assessment feedback aims to ensure that academics will return in-course assessments to students promptly - usually within 15 working days of the submission date.
Features
Students on this programme will have access to industry-relevant specialist technologies and new equipment at both the University’s National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM) and Riseholme campus. Travel costs between campuses will be covered by the Lincoln Institute for Agri-food Technology.
The National Centre for Food Manufacturing, located in Holbeach, is committed to helping the sector innovate. It works with employers and partners towards this goal, aided by the University’s partnership with leading equipment suppliers, and specialist facilities, food factory, and cutting-edge automation.
Our employer and industry links provide an opportunity to network, which could lead to placement opportunities for students who choose to undertake the Professional Practice route.
Students on this course will have the opportunity to study at our Riseholme campus, situated just three miles north of Lincoln on a beautiful parkland campus.
Students may also have the chance to visit agri-food companies, helping them to understand the practical applications of their knowledge, and hear from a series of guest speakers on sustainability in the food industry and agri-robotics.
A Rural Setting
Situated just three miles north of Lincoln in a beautiful semi-rural setting, the University's Riseholme Park Campus is home to the Lincoln Institute for Agri-Food Technology, offering short courses in agriculture and agronomy alongside postgraduate and research programmes.
The campus spans more than 200 hectares, incorporating woodlands, parkland, watercourses and grasslands. It features a working farm and a variety of heritage features, centred around the historic Grade II listed Riseholme Hall.
The University's National Centre for Food Manufacturing (NCFM) is based in Holbeach, in south Lincolnshire. This food manufacturing technology hub provides specialist facilities and industry-standard equipment, including analytical laboratories with a test kitchen and sensory testing suite, a technician training centre and processing facilities.

Accreditations and Memberships
This course is accredited by the Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST). IFST is the UK’s leading professional body for food science and technology. For more information, visit https://www.ifst.org/.

Career Opportunities
This programme is designed to prepare students for a career in one of the world’s largest industries, agri-food. Agriculture companies, food manufacturers, producers, and retailers are large employers, as are government departments that develop food policy.
Graduates may pursue careers in technical roles, marketing, distribution, plant supervision, and product development. They may also choose to form their own company, with the help of the University’s award-winning business support centre, Sparkhouse. Some may choose to pursue research and PhD pathways (particularly in the field of agri-robotics).
Research
The University of Lincoln has launched the world's first Centre for Doctoral Training in Agri-Food Robotics in collaboration with the University of Cambridge and the University of East Anglia. This new advanced training centre in agri-food robotics is creating the largest ever cohort of Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) specialists for the global food and farming sectors, thanks to a multi-million pound funding award the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
Thorvald is one of a number of pioneering robots and the future of autonomous farming. The University of Lincoln, through the Lincoln Institute for Agri-Food Technology, is building the digital “brains” to work on Thorvald’s steel–framed 200kg square chassis, capable of carrying a further 200kg payload.
Interviews
All applicants meeting the initial academic requirements for this course are required to undertake an interview with academic staff before a decision concerning the offer of a place can be made. It is expected that applicants will be able to demonstrate a keen interest in agriculture and all aspects of the farm-to-fork process. In order to make this process available to all applicants, we utilise Skype as the preferred medium for those applicants who are not able to travel to Lincoln prior to the start of the programme.
International Applications
Please note that this programme is now closed for international applications for September 2023 entry.
Entry Requirements 2023-24
First or second class honours degree or equivalent overseas qualification.
We will consider applicants from non-related degrees, with relevant experience.
If you have studied outside of the UK, and are unsure whether your qualification meets the above requirements, please visit our country pages for information on equivalent qualifications:
https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studywithus/internationalstudents/entryrequirementsandyourcountry/
Overseas students will be required to demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. For information regarding other English language qualifications we accept, please visit the English Requirements page:
https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studywithus/internationalstudents/englishlanguagerequirementsandsupport/englishlanguagerequirements/
If you do not meet the above IELTS requirements, you may be able to take part in one of our Pre-session English and Academic Study Skills courses:
https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studywithus/internationalstudents/englishlanguagerequirementsandsupport/pre-sessionalenglishandacademicstudyskills/
These specialist courses are designed to help students meet the English language requirements for their intended programme of study.
Fees and Funding
For eligible students, there are more ways than ever before to fund your postgraduate study, whether you want to do a taught or research course. For those wishing to undertake a Master's course, UK students can apply for a loan as a contribution towards the course and living costs. Loans are also available to those who wish to undertake doctoral study. The University offers a number of scholarships and funded studentships for those interested in postgraduate study. Learn how Master's and PhD loans, scholarships, and studentships can help you fund your studies on our Postgraduate Fees and Funding pages.
Programme-Specific Additional Costs
For each course students may find that there are additional costs. These may be with regard to the specific clothing, materials or equipment required. Some courses provide opportunities for students to undertake field work or field trips. Where these are compulsory, the cost for travel and accommodation will be covered by the University and so is included in the fee. Where these are optional, students will normally be required to pay their own transport, accommodation, and general living costs.
With regards to text books, the University provides students who enrol with a comprehensive reading list and you will find that our extensive library holds either material or virtual versions of the core texts that you are required to read. However, students may prefer to purchase some of these and will be responsible for this cost.
Postgraduate Events
Find out more about how postgraduate study can help further your career, develop your knowledge, or even prepare you to start your own business at one of our postgraduate events.
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