Master in Food Safety and Quality Assurance

USTH’s International Master’s Program in  Food Safety and Quality Assurance is taught entirely in English.  The program provides a solid academic and professional foundation, emphasizing hands-on experience through internships and practical training in laboratories, research institutes, and industry environments. Alongside in-depth scientific training in food safety and quality assurance, the program also incorporates up-to-date knowledge of the broader and increasingly vital field of food security.

1. OVERVIEW

Food safety (FS) has been and continues to be a pressing public health issue worldwide. In Vietnam, concerns related to the quality control of agricultural and food products, as well as food safety assurance, have received attention and guidance from central to local authorities. These issues have been frequently discussed in scientific conferences and covered by the media in recent years.

Recently, Directive No. 17-CT/TW, issued on October 21, 2022, by the Secretariat of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, emphasized strengthening food security and safety in the new context. It calls for the enhancement of high-quality human resources in food science and technology, particularly in inspection, management, quality assurance, and food security.

In response to this, USTH’s Master’s program in Food Safety and Quality Assurance (FSQA) is designed with a modern curriculum that provides a strong academic and professional foundation. The program addresses emerging issues in food safety and security while incorporating a high level of hands-on training and internships in laboratories, research centers, institutes, and real-world professional settings.

Why you choose this course

• Follows the Bologna Process with the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS)
• Learner – centered teaching with a focus on hands – on training
• Taught in English by professors from top universities worldwide
• 9 – month internship (domestic and international) for professional experience
• High chances for scholarship and living support from USTh
• Opportunities for internship scholarship in France and Europe 
• Chance to apply for PhD scholarship in France and Europe 
• Career opportunities in government, NGOs, research institutes, universities, and global enterprises.

2. PROGRAM 

2.1. Curriculum

2.2. Career opportunities

Graduates of the FSQA Master’s program have diverse career opportunities in various positions:

• Government agencies on food safety management: Working as policy specialists involved in developing food safety regulations, national food safety monitoring and evaluation officers, food safety inspectors, supply chain management and food traceability experts in relevant ministries and departments, local food safety management officers for agricultural products, and strategists for food security and sustainable food system development.
• Research and testing institutes: Engaging in food safety analysis and testing, as well as developing food-related standards and technical regulations.
• Food industry professionals: Serving as quality management and food safety assurance experts in domestic and international food enterprises and corporations.
• Non-governmental organizations (NGOs): Working on projects related to food safety and nutrition, food security, sustainable food value chain development, and food waste reduction.
• Academic and research careers: Pursuing further studies as PhD candidates and becoming lecturers or researchers at universities and research institutes in Vietnam and abroad.

3. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS 

Vietnamese citizens and foreigners who hold a Bachelor’s degree in relevant fields and meet one of the following language proficiency requirements for admission:

• Obtaining a language proficiency certificate equivalent to level 4* promulgated in the six-level foreign language proficiency framework of Vietnam
• Obtaining a Bachelor’s degree or a postgraduate qualification in English, or in a recognized training program using English as the main language of instruction,
• Having completed USTH’s English Intensive course.

Citizens belonging to one of the following categories may be considered by the Admissions Committee to be admitted to a second year Master’s program (M2):

1. Candidates who have completed the first year of Master’s program (M1) at local or international foreign universities following the Bologna process or have completed 240 ECTS-European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System, and pass the application review process.
2. Candidates who have obtained Engineering degrees from institutions accredited by CTI/PFIEV, or from other educational institutions recognized by authorities, and must be approved by the Admissions Committee.
3. Candidates who have obtained a four-year Bachelor’s degree ranked Good or higher, recognized by the French government as equivalent to the first 60 ECTS after obtaining a Bachelor degree, can pass the application review process, and must be approved by the Admissions Committee with the decision of Rector.

* Conversion table of Foreign Language Degrees and Certificates equivalent to Level 4 of the six-level Foreign Language proficiency framework used in Vietnam for admissions and academic training at Master’s level.

No.	Certificate/Degree	Level/Score Level 4 equivalent
1	TOEFL iBT	46 – 93
2	IELTS	5.5 – 6.5
3	Cambridge Assessment English	B2 First/B2 Business Vantage/ Linguaskill. Score 160 – 179
4	TOEIC (4 skills)	Listening: 400 – 489 Reading: 385 – 454 Speaking: 160 – 179 Writing: 150 – 179
5	Aptis Esol	B2

Admissions method: Application dossier assessment and interview.

4. CONTACT 

For more information, please contact

– About the training program: 

Department of Life Sciences (LS)

Tel: (+84-24) 3212 1576

Email: ls_dept@usth.edu.vn

Add: Room 307, 3rd floor, A21 building, University of Science and Technology of Hanoi

– About Admission: 

Department of Admissions and Communications (DAC)

Tel: (+84-24) 3791 7748

Email: admission@usth.edu.vn

Add: Room 102, 1st floor, A21 building, University of Science and Technology of Hanoi