Human Nutrition (Public Health / Sports) – MSc

Why study this course?

Our Human Nutrition MSc (Public Health/Sports) will build the experience you gained from a related undergraduate degree and will provide you with the option to specialise in either public health nutrition or sports nutrition. Accredited by the Association for Nutrition (AfN), this master of science course will help you to develop advanced practical experience in your approach to research and practice in nutrition. By becoming an effective learner and practitioner with cross-functional skills, you’ll be well prepared for a future career in public health or sports nutrition.

Our nutrition and food science courses are impressively ranked third in the UK according to the Guardian University Guide. They are also ranked third for teaching quality and seventh for course satisfaction.

More about this course

The course team on our Human Nutrition (Public Health/Sports) MSc has a wide range of expertise ranging from whole body metabolic research, epidemiology and dietary assessment to clinical research and nutrition policy. These interests are reflected in the subjects you’ll study on this postgraduate course.

In the core modules, you’ll explore the fundamental concepts of nutrition science and human metabolism and develop your research skills including the critical evaluation of literature, data collection and analysis. You’ll also develop your laboratory techniques and methodologies for assessing the nutritional status of individuals, groups and populations.

The Human Nutrition Dissertation module will allow you to undertake a substantial piece of research in the field of nutrition. Through the analysis of data and synthesis of theory, policy and practice in relation to either public health nutrition or sports nutrition, this is your opportunity to become an expert in your own right.

On completion of the course, you will be eligible to become a registrant with the AfN as an associate nutritionist, which will allow you to place the designatory ANutr after your name. After three years of relevant experience as an associate nutritionist, you can become a full registrant. You can apply under one of five specialisms: public health, sports and exercise, nutrition science, animal or food.

Accreditation of Prior Learning

Any university-level qualifications or relevant experience you gain prior to starting university could count towards your course.

Modular structure

The modules listed below are for the academic year 2022/23 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time.

Year 1 modules include:

Advanced Metabolic Nutrition (core, 20 credits)

Advanced Nutrition Research Techniques (core, 20 credits)

Assessment of Nutritional Status (core, 20 credits)

Human Nutrition Dissertation (core, 60 credits)

Nutritional Epidemiology and Public Health I (core, 20 credits)

Nutrition and Food Policy (alternative core, 20 credits)

Nutritional Epidemiology and Public Health II (alternative core, 20 credits)

Sports and Exercise Nutrition (alternative core, 20 credits)

Professional Practice in Nutrition (option, 20 credits)

Where this course can take you

Career opportunities include roles in the food industry, research, local authorities, governmental bodies, the media and charitable organisations. You’ll also be well placed to apply for research studentships with a view to completing a PHD. Employment opportunities are currently increasing in both fields.