Brewing and Distilling MSc

Overview of Programme
MSc Brewing and Distilling provides you with the unique opportunity to develop the necessary knowledge and skills to enter the malting, brewing or distilling industries, or conduct related research. You’ll learn a broad range of subjects, from malting, brewing and distilling science and chemical engineering to optional units in business studies and production management, to set you up for a variety of careers including malting, brewing, and distilling production, sales, marketing, and technical sales.

You’ll have the opportunity to learn from a comprehensive course structure, whilst also choosing optional courses to customise your learning based on your interests and goals. You’ll develop a broad spectrum of expertise, covering topics in cereal science and technology, yeast science, microbiology, biochemistry, process technology, business strategies, management, food safety, quality control and quality assurance, flavour assessment, and analytical chemistry. You’ll explore policy, legislation, ethical, health and safety issues of concern as they relate to the design, manufacture, marketing, and sale of alcoholic drinks within the brewing and distilling industry.

Beyond brewing and distilling practical and legislative skills and knowledge, you can gain key business insights which will allow you to work in managerial and professional services within industry. You’ll have the opportunity to choose optional units and explore the fundamental business areas of management, accounting and finance, sustainable development, operations management, and enterprise which can set you up for a wide range of roles and careers upon graduation.

Customise your learning

You’ll have the opportunity to focus on the areas of brewing and distilling, and bioscience that interest you the most. You can customise your degree to match your specific interests or desired career pathway by studying five mandatory courses and choosing three further options from a range of relevant specialist courses, including beverage microbiology and biochemistry, foundations of energy, chemistry of food, management in the food and beverage industries, and food processing.

In semester three, you’ll have the opportunity to further customise your learning, by analysing a particular brewing and distilling industry-based problem or topic in depth through your research project/dissertation. You’ll be required to demonstrate your mastery of the subject area by designing, planning, and conducting a piece of original research applied to the brewing, distilling, and allied trades sector. You may also have the option to work with an industrial collaborator on your dissertation, and many recent MSc Brewing and Distilling projects have been collaborations between industry and students.

You can choose whether to study the programme full-time or part-time. This flexibility allows you to fit your postgraduate studies around your lifestyle. You can begin the programme in September, and the full-time course will last 12 months full time or 24 months part time. If you decided to study part-time, you register for two courses per semester and progress to the dissertation at the end of your second year.  

Accreditation
The Institute of Brewing and Distilling (IBD) offer MSc graduates the opportunity for exemption from the Diploma in Brewing, or Diploma in Distilling should they, later in their career, wish to undertake the IBD Master Brewer or Master Distiller qualification through the IBD. Students from the programme can join the IBD at a reduced student rate and can access continuing professional development and networking opportunities organised by the IBD.