MSc Sustainable Food Systems at UWE Bristol

UWE Bristol’s MSc Sustainable Food Systems is a postgraduate programme designed for those seeking to understand and transform food systems from the ground up. Rooted in systems thinking, the programme takes an interdisciplinary approach that spans food policy, governance, agroecology, and the social-ecological dimensions of food production and distribution.

We take justice, equity, diversity and inclusion seriously as analytical lenses, not add-ons, exploring how power, culture and community shape who grows food, how it’s grown, and who benefits. Students engage with alternative and traditional growing practices, examining how indigenous land stewardship, agroecological principles, and just transition frameworks can inform more equitable food futures.

Learning extends beyond the classroom. Students gain hands-on experience through soil labs, polytunnel work, farm visits, and our community orchard partnership with Thatchers, launching in 2026-27. We also collaborate closely with the Bristol Food Network and regional food movement organisations, situating learning within one of the UK’s most active urban food communities.

Whether you’re coming from food justice advocacy, farming, research, or policy, the MSc offers rigorous academic grounding alongside real-world engagement with the challenges and possibilities of sustainable food system change.

Individual modules are also available as standalone CPD for practitioners and professionals looking to deepen their knowledge in specific areas, from agroecology and food policy to food justice and governance, without committing to the full programme.