Higher Diploma in Food Technology and Safety

Programme Aims

This programme aims to provide students with professional and comprehensive training with a broad knowledge and practical skills relating to food, nutrition, food product development, safety management. It covers a spectrum of modules including food technology, food legislation, food testing, food packaging, food quality audit and systems implementation, and food product innovation.

This programme is also designed with an emphasis on generic and language training, whole-person development and workplace experience to better prepare students for further studies and employment after graduation.

Professional Recognition

Graduates are eligible to apply for the Full Membership of Hong Kong Food Professionals Association and Hong Kong Food Hygiene Administrators Association.

Career Prospects

Graduates may be employed in various food and nutritional related industries and public health services, including food production, food product development, catering organizations, global food logistics and business trade, food product testing, health inspectors for Food and Environmental Hygiene Department and food safety auditors. Graduates are competent to fill positions at technical, supervisory and managerial levels as food technical assistants, food quality controllers, food logistic and hygiene managers, and other relevant technical practitioners in the food trade discipline.

Information

Duration of Study	2 Years
Mode of Study	Full-time
Offering Campus(es) / Venue(s)	IVE (Chai Wan)
Entrance Requirements	VTC Diploma of Foundation Studies; OR VTC Diploma of Vocational Education / VTC Diploma of Vocational Baccalaureate; OR Diploma Yi Jin / Diploma of Applied Education; OR Relevant and substantial work experience and/or prior qualification(s) obtained in or outside Hong Kong (e.g. assessed through recognition of prior learning and credit accumulation and transfer), with demonstrated ability to undertake sub-degree education; OR Equivalent Remarks : Applicants can use HKDSE Applied Learning (ApL) subjects (except ApL Chinese) for admission purpose. An "Attained", "Attained with Distinction (I)" and "Attained with Distinction (II)" in an ApL subject (Category B subjects) are regarded as equivalent to an HKDSE subject at "Level 2", "Level 3" and "Level 4" respectively for admission purpose. For 2024 HKDSE and before, a "Grade D or E" and a "Grade C or above" in an HKDSE Other Language subject (Category C subjects) are regarded as equivalent to an HKDSE subject at "Level 2" and "Level 3" respectively; From 2025 HKDSE onwards, Language Proficiency Level A2 or above in French / German / Spanish, N3 or above in Japanese and TOPIK II: Grade 3 or above in Korean are also recognised as one of the five HKDSE subjects in fulfilling the general entrance requirement. Recognition of Urdu Language subject in 2026 HKDSE Other Language subject (Category C subjects) will be announced later. For details, please click here. One Other Language subject can be counted for admission purpose. An "Attained" in HKDSE Citizenship and Social Development is regarded as equivalent to an HKDSE subject at "Level 2" for admission purpose. If one of the five HKDSE subjects is Citizenship and Social Development, the general entrance requirement would become "Attained" for Citizenship and Social Development and Level 2 or above in four other HKDSE subjects including Chinese Language and English Language. Besides, Level 2 or above in Mathematics Extended Part (Module 1 or Module 2) is also recognised as one of the five HKDSE subjects in fulfilling the general entrance requirement. If applicants have taken both Module 1 and Module 2, either one of the modules (with a higher level) will be counted for admission purpose. Applicable to holders of Diploma in Vocational Education / Diploma of Vocational Education (DVE) (students admitted to DVE in AY2017/18 or before are required to complete prescribed further studies modules). Upon completion of the Diploma of Vocational Baccalaureate (DVB) programmes, students can progress to Higher Diploma programmes in VTC, subject to their BTEC and IGCSE results. Applications with work experience and/or prior qualification(s) submitted will be assessed individually by the departments concerned.
Articulation	Graduates may articulate to the Degree programmes offered by Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi): BSc (Hons) in Food Science and Safety Graduates may apply for admission to the following programme: BSc (Hons) in Food and Nutrition offered by the University of Ulster, United Kingdom; BSc (Hons) in Food Science offered by the London South Bank University, United Kingdom; BSc (Hons) in Food Science (Food Safety) offered by the London South Bank University, United Kingdom; BSc (Hons) in Food Science (New Product Development) offered by the London South Bank University, United Kingdom; BSc (Hons) in Food and Nutrition offered by the London South Bank University, United Kingdom; BSc (Hons) in Baking Science and Technology offered by the London South Bank University, United Kingdom; BND (Hons) offered by the Queensland University of Technology, Australia; BNutrSc offered by the Queensland University of Technology, Australia; and BSc (Hons) in Food Science and Nutrition (Reg No. 251919)^# offered by the Northumbria University, United Kingdom (in collaboration with SHAPE). ^#It is a matter of discretion for individual employers to recognise any qualification to which this course may lead. Please refer to the corresponding programme page in the website of SHAPE.
Notes	Students may be required to attend classes on other VTC campuses. VTC reserves the right to cancel any programme, revise programme content or change the offering institute(s) / campus(es) / class venue(s) if circumstances so warrant.