Completing the Application Form
The following notes have been designed to assist you in completing the application form. You may use continuation sheets where insufficient space is provided on the form. You may attach a CV for additional information in support of your application. The information you provide should be as full as possible to enable the Membership Committee to carry out a fair assessment.
You are encouraged to apply for the highest category for which you consider yourself eligible. The Membership Committee may offer membership at an appropriate lower category (with an explanation for their decision), if it decides not to award the category sought.
Surname
You will be entered in the Institute's files under this name.
Qualifications
If you are applying for Membership or Fellowship, please list the qualifications you possess and which you believe contribute to the attainment of 80 points using the tariff system. See Section 2.2. In each case provide a copy of your certificate (NOT the original) or an original letter from your university in confirmation.
If your qualification is from outside the UK, please attach a NARIC statement of comparability (www.naric.org.uk). A list of qualifications that have already been assessed for IFST membership can be found here.
If you are applying for Associate membership, please list any qualifications you do possess. You do not need to enclose copies of your certificates, unless you are seeking a reduced subscription rate in your first or second year after graduation.
Professional experience
If you are applying for Membership or Fellowship, it is important that you include as much detail as possible when describing the scope and content of your work experience. If working under a section leader or department head, for instance, this should be stated, along with some indication of how far you exercised individual initiative or responsibility.
If applying for membership of the PFMG or PFSG, ensure that the answers you give fully reflect your food microbiological or food sensory experience, as applicable. See Section 3.1 and 3.2.
Continued professional development: Applicants with personal or corporate CPD records should append their annual summaries for the previous 2 years.
Professional Review Report: If you are applying for Fellowship, you should also complete a Professional Review Report. See Section 2.3.
Membership of professional groups: Professional Food Microbiology Group. At the same time as making an application for IFST membership, applicants for Membership and Fellowship may apply to join the specialist Professional Food Microbiology Group (PFMG). See Section 3.1.
Professional Food Sensory Group: At the same time as making an application for IFST membership, applicants may apply to join the specialist Professional Food Sensory Group (PFSG). See Section 3.2.
Referees
The Membership Committee places considerable importance on the independent views expressed by referees about an applicant's work, progress, degree of responsibility attained and character and integrity. You should be aware that your nominated referees will be contacted directly and will be sent a copy of your application form for information.
Declaration
All applicants are required to sign an undertaking to comply with Memorandum and Articles of Association , the Bye-Laws and the Code of Professional Conduct.