Undergraduate Food Science Programs in Canada

Last Updated on October 27, 2026

Canada has many undergraduate food science programs, each with its own unique traits. Some have co-op programs, some are taught in french but all provide the hands-on knowledge to excel in the field.

This guide is for students and early-career professionals. Each program links to the school’s official page, so you can check admission requirements, deadlines and costs before you apply.

1. University of British Columbia

• Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
• Degree: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Food, Nutrition, and Health
• Program Length: 4 years
• Co-op Option: Yes
• Highlights:
  • Approved by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT).
  • Provides exclusive access to dedicated undergraduate chemistry/microbiology labs, a teaching kitchen, and a modern food pilot plant facility.
  • Offers eligibility for CIFST scholarships, IFT Student Association events, and networking opportunities with students across North America.

The Food Science program at UBC provides a comprehensive, hands-on scientific foundation designed to prepare students for dynamic careers in the global and Canadian food industries. Students gain practical experience in dedicated undergraduate chemistry and microbiology labs, a teaching kitchen, a sensory evaluation space, and a Pilot Plant research facility where new food products are developed sustainably!

2. University of Alberta

• Location: Edmonton, Alberta
• Degree: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Honors in Food Science
• Program Length: 4 years
• Co-op Option: No
• Highlights:
  • Allows for specialization in Food Science and Technology or Dietetics
  • Heavy focus on research where students work closely with faculty on food science research projects
  • Offers an experimental learning through their Science Internship Program with full-time, paid internships of 4,8,12 or 16 months.

The Food Science Honors program at the University of Alberta is a research-intensive degree in the Faculty of Agricultural, Life & Environmental Sciences, designed for students headed toward graduate study or research-focused careers! Students explore food microbiology, food chemistry, food processing and engineering, sensory evaluation, and product development.

3. University of Saskatchewan

• Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
• Degree: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Food Science
• Program Length: 4 years
• Co-op Option: No
• Highlights:
  • Department has significant interactions with provincial agricultural and food industries.
  • Program has a strong emphasis on hands-on learning with the department’s outstanding laboratory facilties
  • Access to dedicated sensory analysis labs, pilot scale-up facilities, and advanced analytical instrumentation.

The University of Saskatchewan’s Food Science degree delivers an in-depth understanding of the chemical, physical, and biological properties of food and agricultural bio-resources. Students gain hands-on laboratory experience in processing, preservation, and natural product extraction, preparing them to drive innovation in global food issues involving the relationship between food, human health and food security.

4. University of Manitoba

• Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
• Degree: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Food Science
• Program Length: 4 years
• Co-op Option: Yes
• Highlights:
  • Offers tailored program streams: Science option focused on food processing, packaging, and preservation, and a Business option focused on the economics of food production, including marketing and finance.
  • Offers access to earn credits through the Cooperative Education Program, connecting classroom learning
  • Close ties to Canada’s grain, livestock, and crop processing sectors.

The Food Science program at the University of Manitoba combines foundational science with practical industrial applications to prepare students for the evolving food sector. Through comprehensive coursework in food chemistry, safety, and commercialization, students build the critical-thinking skills needed to develop nutritious, safe, and sustainable food products.

5. University of Guelph

• Location: Guelph, Ontario
• Degree: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Food Science
• Program Length: 4 years
• Co-op Option: Yes
• Highlights:
  • Approved by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT).
  • Home to Canada’s premier food research infrastructure, including extensive pilot plant processing facilities.
  • Direct integration with Ontario’s massive food manufacturing and innovation corridor.

The University of Guelph’s Food Science program gives students the opportunity to explore every stage of the food system, from farm to consumer. Through hands-on learning in food chemistry, microbiology, engineering, and sensory science, students build practical skills in state-of-the-art labs and pilot plant facilities. Strong industry connections, co-op opportunities, and experiential learning help prepare graduates for careers with leading food companies, regulatory agencies, and research organizations.

6. Carleton University

• Location: Ottawa, Ontario
• Degree: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Honours in Food Science
• Program Length: 4 years
• Co-op Option: Yes
• Highlights:
  • Dedicated courses on Canadian food regulation, food safety risk assessment, and food quality control
  • Proximity to federal regulatory headquarters including Health Canada and the CFIA.
  • Extensive undergraduate laboratory research opportunities and thesis projects.

The University of Ottawa’s Honours B.Sc. in Food Sciences blends food science, nutrition, and public policy with practical laboratory experience from the start of the program. Its location in Canada’s capital provides students with unique exposure to federal organizations such as Health Canada and the CFIA, helping prepare them for careers in food innovation, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, and scientific research.

7. University of Ottawa

• Location: Ottawa, Ontario
• Degree: Honours Bachelor of Science in Food Sciences
• Program Length: 4 years
• Co-op Option: No (Includes integrated practical work terms)
• Highlights:
  • Interdisciplinary training drawing on biology, chemistry, engineering, nutrition, and public policy
  • Courses in English or French, with the option of French immersion
  • Proximity to Health Canada, the CFIA, and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

The Honours B.Sc. in Food Sciences at the University of Ottawa combines science, nutrition, and public policy with hands-on lab training from first year! Located in Canada’s capital, students are close to key federal bodies such as Health Canada and the CFIA, and can prepare for careers in food innovation, quality assurance, regulatory affairs, and research.

8. McGill University

• Location: Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec (Macdonald Campus)
• Degree: Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Food Science
• Program Length: 3–4 years (depending on pre-university entry)
• Co-op Option: No (Internship program available)
• Highlights:
  • Graduates meet the academic qualifications for CIFST and IFT membership, and Food Chemistry graduates may also qualify for the Ordre des chimistes du Québec
  • Offers dedicated streams in Food Chemistry and Food Safety, as well as a rare concurrent double degree with Nutritional Sciences.
  • Modern analytical laboratories, sensory facilities, and pilot scale-up units.

McGill University’s Food Science program equips students with a strong scientific foundation in the physical, chemical, and biological aspects of food. Its IFT-approved curriculum combines hands-on learning with flexible stream options, preparing graduates for careers in food analysis, quality assurance, and processing technology. Students can also enhance their studies through a unique concurrent focus in human nutrition.

9.Université Laval

• Location: Quebec City, Quebec
• Degree: Bachelor of Applied Sciences (B. Sc. A.)
• Program Length: 4 years
• Co-op Option: Yes (Integrated cooperative work terms)
• Highlights:
  • Program is delivered in French
  • Gives access to the Ordre des chimistes du Québec (OCQ), and to the Ordre des agronomes du Québec (OAQ) after passing the Order’s access exam
  • Access to Laval’s food technology laboratory, which has food processing equipment

Offered in French, Laval University’s Food Science and Technology program combines food science, engineering, and microbiology with extensive hands-on learning. Students develop practical skills in modern pilot-scale production facilities while exploring how food products are developed, processed, and improved. Graduates are well prepared for careers in food manufacturing, quality assurance, product development, and research.

Which Undergraduate Food Science Program in Canada Is Right for You?

There’s no single “best” food science program in Canada, only the one that fits how you want to learn and where you want to go. A few questions can help you narrow things down:

• Do you want paid work experience built in? UBC, Manitoba, Guelph, Carleton, and Laval all offer co-op, and Alberta has its Science Internship Program with paid internships of 4, 8, 12, or 16 months.
• Are you leaning toward research or grad school? Alberta’s Honours program is research-intensive, and Carleton offers thesis projects.
• Does regulatory work interest you? Carleton and Ottawa put you close to Health Canada and the CFIA.
• Do you want to study in French (or switch between languages)? Laval is delivered in French, and Ottawa offers courses in English or French.
• Are you curious about business or nutrition alongside the science? Manitoba has a Business option, and McGill offers a concurrent double degree with Nutritional Sciences.

Whichever way you lean, check each school’s official page for admission requirements, deadlines, and costs, since these can change from year to year. And remember, a degree is just the start! Food science opens doors to roles in R&D, quality assurance, food safety, regulatory affairs, and more.