Frequently Asked Questions
Which institution is the provider for this program and where are classes held?
The University of Adelaide is the sole provider for the program. All on-campus courses within the Food Studies Program will occur on the North Terrace campus; some electives may be taught at the University's Waite campus. For campus details refer to the University's campuses and maps information.
I don't have a university degree; am I still eligible to apply for admission?
Normal entry requirements for the Graduate Program in Food Studies are a bachelor degree in any discipline, but applications from students without a bachelor degree will be considered on the basis of previous education and experience. Admission will be judged on a case-by-case basis, in terms of work or other experiences which show the ability to read, write, and think critically. Applicants should provide a c.v. or similar which details their background and skills which provide evidence of competence appropriate to undertake graduate work in this program. Students applying for this Program ideally will have some knowledge of food history and culture, will have an abiding interest in all aspects of food, cooking, and eating, and will be able to understand and synthesise a wide range of information contained in the readings for each course. Although students without an undergraduate degree may be accepted into the Program, they must achieve a result of 65% (GPA 5.0) or more in order to progress beyond the award of Professional Certificate.
I was previously a student in the Graduate Program in Gastronomy at the University of Adelaide; can these courses be credited to a degree in the Food Studies Graduate Program?
Yes: students who have successfully completed one or more courses in the Gastronomy program may apply for enrolment in Food Studies and have their previous coursework credited the degree in which they wish to enrol. For further information refer to the entry and exit points chart and Credit of Previous Courses.
I have taken courses previously in Food Writing at the University of Adelaide; can these be credited to a degree in the Food Studies Graduate Program?
Yes: students who have successfully completed one or more courses in the Food Writing program may apply for enrolment in Food Studies and have their previous coursework credited the degree in which they wish to enrol. See Credit of Previous Courses.
Can I get credit for courses I've completed elsewhere?
No candidate will be granted credit for any course that he or she has presented for another award, except with special permission from the Faculty. Credit from courses taken outside the University of Adelaide will only be granted in exceptional circumstances, and will only be awarded for graduate-level studies (up to 12 units) and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis for equivalency to courses in the Food Studies Program.
May I combine online and on-campus study?
Yes: subject to having the appropriate student visa, students may combine online and on-campus study. Please consult the Program Co-ordinator for detailed advice on study plans.
Does the University provide on-campus accommodation?
For details on accommodation options please refer to the University's accommodation website.
Do I need a visa to study online?
No visas are required for online study as you will remain resident in your home country.
Are scholarships or financial aid available?
You should make enquiries in your own country in the first instance. For example, if you are a US citizen studying at the University of Adelaide you are eligible to apply for a Federal loan (for further information, go to the finance information for international students. If you are an Australian citizen you can apply for FEE-HELP when you enrol.
A limited number of scholarships are available on a highly competitive basis for students from particular countries; please see the international scholarships information for more details.
I have interests in food science; is this program appropriate for me?
This program is primarily focused on humanities-based approaches to food studies. Depending on your career preferences, you may decide that food studies can complement your scientific background. If your interests are primarily in the food sciences, investigate postgraduate options available through the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine.
I have interests in food/wine marketing; is this program appropriate for me?
Some electives in food/wine marketing are available within this program; see the list of electives. If you are primarily interested in food/wine marketing, investigate postgraduate options available through the School of Agriculture, Food and Wine.
Will I be eligible for PhD research following completion of the Masters degree in Food Studies?
Admission to PhD research in Australia depends on a number of factors including previous academic work; please consult the Program Coordinator for more information about pathways to higher degree research studies. Students with an interest in Food History and with an honours degree in a relevant area (or similar) may be eligible for direct admission to higher degree work. You also may wish to explore the option of a Masters of Philosophy (MPhil) which can serve as a bridge to PhD study. Institutions outside Australia have different requirements for PhD work; again, we can provide guidance about options and planning your academic pathway.
Which method of study, online or on-campus, is most enjoyable and rewarding?
Different students have various commitments which make either online study or on-campus study preferable. Both courses contain the same content and the online course includes a support website and a virtual classroom which allow activities similar to those that take place on campus, as well as access to all electronic library resources. Many students may wish to combine the two options for instance by beginning on-campus and returning home to complete the degree online, which they find allows them to maximise the benefits of both forms of study. Online study is typically part-time, and is suitable for those working full-time and/or with family and other responsibilities. On-campus study is typically full-time, except for students who are Australian citizens.
If I study on-campus in Adelaide can I work part-time?
If you are an international student, your student visa allows you to work up to 20 hours per week.
How many hours per week should I expect to commit to my studies?
To successfully pass your courses, you will need to allocate an appropriate time commitment to your study. In addition to the formal contact time required for each of your online or on-campus courses (e.g., lectures and tutorials) you will need to allocate non-contact time. Non-contact time will be required for a range of activities which may include, but are not limited to, assessment tasks, reading, researching, note-taking, revision, writing, consultation with staff, and informal discussions with other students. While the relative proportion of contact and non-contact time may vary from course to course, as a general guide, a half-time student should expect to spend, on average, a total of approximately 24-26 hours per week on their studies during teaching periods, and a full-time student approximately 48-50 hours per week.
Can assessment tasks for each online course be completed at a student's own pace, or are there established deadlines?
Online courses are conducted utilizing a range of web-based technologies including virtual classrooms which permit discussion with other students and instructors; hence the curriculum centres on completing assessment tasks on a set schedule in order to allow students to maximise their learning by building on the discussions and other activities within the course.
What computing capabilities do I need to participate in the online version of this course?
In order to participate in the online classroom, which is a critical part of online learning, you will require the following:
- Computer with basic word processing software
- Headset with microphone or similar
- Internet connection (some dial-up services may not be fast enough to support all functions in the classroom and MyUni but most other types of connections are
sufficient) - Browser: Internet Explorer 8.0, Firefox 3.6 or Safari 4.0
- Java: 1.5.0_17 or 1.6.0_07
For more details see the standard operating environment provided on campus. Once students are enrolled, an email account is provided and some software is available for download to personal computers (e.g., Endnote, antivirus software, and Microsoft student package); more information is available to enrolled students at Infrastructure(Property & Technology) Technology (login/password required)
When can I graduate?
The University of Adelaide typically has two series of graduation ceremonies in Adelaide, one in April and one in August. There are also off-shore graduations in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and/or Beijing. You can choose to graduate in person or in absentia at any of these ceremonies. For details on graduations including deadlines for applications to graduate, see the graduations website.
Is my award recognised in other countries?
The University of Adelaide is a world-ranking university, ranked in the top 1% of universities in the world based on the Times Higher Education, QS and Jiao Tong rankings. For exact equivalence you should check with the education authority in your home country. In those countries with which Australia has signed a free trade agreement that includes mutual recognition of academic qualifications, your University of Adelaide award should be duly recognised. The program is accredited in the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).
I want to apply to start Food Studies in 2013: when will applications be open?
If you are a domestic student or an online international student, you can apply for admission now via SATAC (for late 2012); once your offer of admission is received you can elect to defer your admission to a later semester when you respond to the offer. If you are an international student who wishes to study on-campus in 2013 or beyond, please go to the Degree Finder for details on applying.
