Key information
- Level
- Postgraduate Taught
- Delivery type
- Full Time, Part Time
- Degree qualification
- MSc
- Mode of delivery
- On-Campus
- Duration
- 1 year
- Location
- Edinburgh
- Start date
- September
MSc Brewing and Distilling provides you with the unique opportunity to develop the necessary knowledge and skills to enter the malting, brewing or distilling industries, or conduct related research. You’ll learn a broad range of subjects, from malting, brewing and distilling science and chemical engineering to optional units in business studies and production management, to set you up for a variety of careers including malting, brewing, and distilling production, sales, marketing, and technical sales.
Through the master’s programme, you’ll learn the underlying principles, relevant defining concepts, theories, and methods of the malting, brewing and distilling industries whilst understanding the current and emerging characteristics of and problems faced by industry. You’ll explore the global, regional, and local contexts and structure of industry, and be made aware of the political, legal, ethical, health and safety issues in producing, selling, and marketing alcoholic drinks and beverages.
You’ll have the opportunity to learn from a comprehensive course structure, whilst also choosing optional courses to customise your learning based on your interests and goals. You’ll develop a broad spectrum of expertise, covering topics in cereal science and technology, yeast science, microbiology, biochemistry, process technology, business strategies, management, food safety, quality control and quality assurance, flavour assessment, and analytical chemistry. You’ll explore policy, legislation, ethical, health and safety issues of concern as they relate to the design, manufacture, marketing, and sale of alcoholic drinks within the brewing and distilling industry.
Beyond brewing and distilling practical and legislative skills and knowledge, you can gain key business insights which will allow you to work in managerial and professional services within industry. You’ll have the opportunity to choose optional units and explore the fundamental business areas of management, accounting and finance, sustainable development, operations management, and enterprise which can set you up for a wide range of roles and careers upon graduation.
You’ll gain hands-on experience by utilising our on-site brewery, distillery, and rectification laboratory to support your in-depth scientific learning. This will ensure you build the skills and expertise to perform successfully in industry and make you highly employable in all sizes of brewing, distilling and allied industries.
Your student experience
Your learning will be informed by the expertise of our research-active brewing and distilling scientists and academics. Teaching in Brewing and Distilling at Heriot-Watt began in 1903, which led to the establishment of the highly reputable International Centre for Brewing and Distilling (ICBD) in 1989. The ICBD has established itself as an excellent research centre, with close ties with the professional and industrial world of science, engineering, and technology.
The International Centre for Brewing and Distilling is a unique teaching and research facility which meets the needs of the brewing, distilling and malting industries worldwide. You will learn directly from academics involved in this world leading research, whose work focuses on promoting excellence across five main research themes across the brewing and distilling industries:
- Raw materials
- Malting
- Process improvement
- Sustainability
- Biochemistry and microbiology
The research relevance of this postgraduate programme ensures your studies remain innovative and industry focused.
Go Global
With Go Global, Heriot-Watt's global student programme, you can carry your studies to new places and experience new cultures, expanding your horizons on the way. You'll discover what it means to be a true global citizen and emerge prepared for wherever your career journey will take you.
Inter-Campus Transfer
Course content
September Intake - Edinburgh
Mandatory September
- Cereals, Malting and Mashing
- Wort Boiling and Fermentation
Optional September
- Foundations of Energy
- Renewable Energy Technologies
- Beverage Microbiology and Biochemistry
- Introduction to Process Technology
- Food and Beverage Toxicology
Mandatory January
- Distilling and Whisky Maturation
- Filtration and Packaging
- Research and Professional Practice
Optional January
- Environmental Impact Assessment
- Chemistry of Food
- Food Processing
- Management in the Food and Beverage Industries
Mandatory May
- MSc Research Project
Programme Video
Brewing & Distilling at Heriot-Watt
Video of Brewing and Distilling at Heriot-Watt
Student testimonials
Leon Webb
Student, MSc Brewing and Distilling
Heriot-Watt is the home of the International Centre for Brewing and Distilling and has an outstanding reputation for expertise in the field.
Fees and funding
| Status | Full Time | Part Time |
|---|---|---|
| UK | £12,344 | £6,172 |
| International | £28,056 | £14,028 |
- Status: Your residency status is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course.
- International: 'International' includes applicants from European Union countries who do not hold Pre-Settled or Settled status in UK. (This does not include students from the Republic of Ireland - see above).
Scholarships and bursaries
Postgraduate scholarships and bursaries
We aim to encourage well-qualified, ambitious students to study with us and we offer a wide variety of scholarships and bursaries to achieve this. Over £6 million worth of opportunities are available in fee and stipend scholarships, and more than 400 students benefit from this support.
Postgraduate UK Merit Scholarship
This course is eligible for our UK Merit Scholarship, this provides a 20% tuition fee discount to all UK students who achieve a 2:1 in their Undergraduate degree.
Entry requirements
We have standard entry requirements for all of our courses that you will have to meet.
A minimum of honours degree at 2:2 or non-UK equivalent in a science or engineering subject such as Biology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering. Relevant work experience will also be considered in support of your application.
Candidates who do not necessarily fulfil the above criteria may wish to instead apply to the Postgraduate Diploma programme.
We welcome applications from international students and accept qualifications from around the world. Please refer to the entry requirements for your country for more details.
Why Heriot-Watt
We're the top university in Scotland for graduate outcomes which means that more of our graduates are employed or in postgraduate education than any other institution in the country and we ranked 5th in the UK.
We're also rated number one in the UK for CEO or MD roles, meaning more of our graduates go on to become CEOs or MDs than any other university in the whole of the UK. On top of that, we have beautiful campuses, across the globe, so you'll get a truly international education. Our Edinburgh Campus is home to Oriam, Scotland's National Sports Performance Centre combined with plenty of wellbeing resources, prioritising fitness and mental health for all students. Our Global Research Institutes look at solving real world issues such as climate change and saving our oceans as well as working on the next medical technological breakthrough and the future of AI and robots.
Student life
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