Short Course

Developing a Food Sensory Analysis Panel

Whether you work at a food company, have set up your own company or wish to develop this new set of skills, this Developing a Food Sensory Analysis Panel course will equip you with the knowledge and skills to set up your own food sensory panel, develop your own sensory tests and analyse the results you obtained.

The course will provide you with the practical understanding of the principles and techniques of food sensory analysis. This includes choosing the relevant type of sensory test, setting up a consumer panel and a trained panel, creating your sensory questionnaire, evaluating the performance of the panel and analysing the relevance of the results.

Why QMU?

A proud history in food science.
We work with industry.
All our courses train and educate students for professional life.
We have been teaching courses in food science for over twenty years.

Who is this course for?

This course is for those working at a food company and wanting to further develop the sensory analysis capacity of the company, those who have set up their own company and want to implement sensory analysis of their products or for those who wish to develop this new set of skills for their CV.

Developing a Food Sensory Analysis Panel: The course in brief

What will I learn on the course?

The module will equip you with the practical understanding of the principles and techniques of food sensory analysis. This includes choosing the relevant type of sensory test, setting up a consumer panel and a trained panel, creating your sensory questionnaire, evaluating the performance of the panel and analysing the relevance of the results.

By the end of the course what will I be able to do?

On completion of the course, you will be able to:

set up your own food sensory panel;
develop your own sensory tests; and
analyse the results you obtained.

How will I be taught?

How is the course delivered?

The course is a combination of online pre-recorded material, online workshops and seminars and practical work which you will carry out in your work environment:

pre-recorded online videos about the principles and techniques of sensory analysis, which you can access at any suitable time in your own time.
scheduled online workshops, where a tutor will cover the more practical aspects of the module to enable to carry out the practical work.
practical work during which you will set up a sensory panel in your work or personal environment and carry out a series of sensory tests.
scheduled online seminars, where a tutor will review with you the outcomes and results of your practical work.

How long does the course last for and how much time will I need to spend on it each week?

The course runs from w/c September 16, 2024, with synchronous online sessions taking place on set dates (TBC). The course is designed to integrate with your work and to fit around your professional commitments.

Does the course have an assessment and if so what sort of assessment will it be?

You will be required to submit a 1500-word report which will include presentation of the results and the analysis and discussion of these results relating to the sensory analysis of a food product.

Who will be teaching me?

The course is delivered by two specialist tutors, Dr Julien Lonchamp and Dr Anil de Sequeira.

Both tutors have experience in both academia and industry.

What equipment/resources will I need for this course?

You will require access to a computer or laptop, Microsoft Excel, internet connectivity and a webcam.

Participants will need to recruit enough people (between 6 and 12 depending on the type of project they wish to carry out) in either their work or personal environments to become members of their sensory panel or the duration of the module.

Participants will need to cover the costs (ingredients, food products) of the samples they will either prepare or present to their sensory panel.

Student support/access to facilities

For the duration of your course you will be able to make use of our on-campus learning resource centre as well as access to our full range of online resources, including e-books and academic journals.

You will also have limited, mainly online access to Student Services support. Students with particular support requirements can contact the Disability Service.

As you will be studying with us for less than a full academic year you will not be provided with a personal academic tutor (PAT). However, any queries regarding your studies should be directed to the staff member leading the delivery of your course.

Developing a Food Sensory Analysis Panel: Entry requirements, fees and application information

Entry requirements

Participants must work in a food environment and have access to a small number of people who will be able to be part of the sensory panels they set up.

Participants will need to recruit a sufficient number of people (between 6 and 12 depending on the type of project they wish to carry out) in either their work or personal environments to become members of their sensory panel or the duration of the module.

Participants will need to cover the costs (ingredients, food products) of the samples they will either prepare or present to their sensory panel.

English Language requirements: This course is taught and assessed in English. Applicants do not need to provide proof of their English Language skills when applying for this course, but all applicants should consider whether they have sufficient English competence to study at this level. Applicants for this level of study would usually be able to demonstrate a level of English equivalent to IELTS 6.5 overall, with no component score below 6.0.

Fees (and free places)

Fees: £800

A number of free places are available for any person resident in Scotland, who holds an undergraduate degree (or equivalent professional experience), who is not currently studying for a degree level qualification, and meets at least one of the criteria below: