Nutrition BSc (Hons)
UCAS Code: B400|Duration: 3 years|Full Time|Hope Park|UCAS Campus Code: L46Accredited|Work placement opportunities|International students can apply|Study Abroad opportunities
About the course
Nutrition is becoming a vital discipline as the awareness of the importance of healthy eating grows. Nutritionists have a key role in helping us understand how diet helps maintain health and prevents disease. Nutritionists work in a diverse and wide range of professional roles providing and implementing evidence-based nutritional guidelines, public health nutrition strategies, and developing the safe, sustainable, and healthy foods of the future.
Our Nutrition degree is focused on developing the practical, professional and research skills needed to develop a successful career as a professional nutritionist in various roles across the public health and commercial food sectors (as well as preparation for further study or pursuing a professional career in dietetics).
The curriculum includes a focus on nutritional science; the food supply chain; the social and behavioral sciences; health and wellbeing; and the importance of professional conduct. You will be taught in our new Health Sciences building, which features specialist laboratories and equipment dedicated to the study of food, nutrition and health.
You will learn from a highly committed team of research-active UK registered nutritionists (supported with additional expertise in food science, the biological sciences, and public health). Our staff have a wide range of practical experience and are enthusiastic about both the academic subject and the quality of your student experience.
Course structure
Our nutrition course will include a mixture of teaching methods, including:
- Lectures - where all students are taught together
- Seminars - smaller groups of around 15-20 students
- Tutorials - which typically have no more than 10 students
- One-to-one meetings and supervision with your tutor
Contact hours
If you study a Single Honours Nutrition degree, in your first year of study there are approximately 12 teaching hours each week, which reduces to approximately 10 hours in your second and third years. Teaching hours will be split between your two subjects if you are studying a Combined Honours Nutrition degree.
On top of teaching hours, you are also expected to spend approximately 18 hours studying independently each week, either individually or in groups (to help prepare for your individual and group assessments).
Accreditation
The Single Honours degree is accredited by the UK Association for Nutrition (AfN). This means that once you graduate, you are eligible to apply for registration as a registered Associate Nutritionist directly. If you graduate with Nutrition Major (Combined Honours) you can apply for registration via submission of a portfolio of evidence to meet the requirement of the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists (UKVRN).
Assessment and feedback
During your three years of study, you will have a number of assessments, including written exams, portfolios, case studies, laboratory logs and diaries, viva and group presentations. In your final year, you will complete a dissertation.
Feedback will be provided for all formal assessments. The feedback can be offered in various forms such as written feedback, verbal feedback in a one-to-one meeting or as general feedback of class performance in tutorial and teaching sessions. The individual feedback on written work will be typically offered within four weeks after submission.
Year One
In the first year, the curriculum will be focused on the sciences that underpin the principles of Human Nutrition. Topics studied include:
Nutrition
- Nutritional biochemistry
- Gastrointestinal anatomy and physiology
- Macronutrients and micronutrients
- Fluid and Energy balance
- Alcohol and Non-nutritive substances
- Nutrient composition of foods
- The food supply chain, sustainability and health
- Food safety and hygiene
- Theoretical and practical aspects of dietary modifications
Human Sciences (Single Honours students only)
- From atoms and molecules to cells
- General anatomy and physiology
- Tissues and organ systems
- Protein and lipid biochemistry
- Body systems in relation to dysfunction and disease
- Laboratory methods and techniques
Year Two
In the second year, the focus of the curriculum is on applying and expanding your knowledge gained in the first year. Topics studied include:
Nutrition
- Assessment of nutritional status
- Nutrition throughout the lifecycle
- Nutrition in relation to socioeconomic factors, ethnicity and religion
- Genes and obesity
- Food enrichment and fortification
- Nutrient-nutrient and nutrient-drug interactions
- Basic nutritional epidemiology and public health nutrition
Human Sciences (Single Honours students only)
- Epidemiology and pathology of diseases
- Metabolic diseases
- Molecular and cellular biology
- Endocrinology and immunology
- The gut microbiome
- Bioscience lab techniques
Year Three
In the final year, the curriculum will focus on the advanced understanding of the contemporary issues in Human Nutrition and Food Science. Topics studied include:
Nutrition
- Nutrition, physical activity and sport
- Obesity and weight management
- Clinical nutrition
- Public health nutrition & food policy
- Food choice & behaviour and the modification of dietary intake
- Food supply and formulation
- Nutrition ethics & professional practice
Food Science (Single Honours students only)
- Food processing techniques
- Sensory evaluation of foods
- Food product development (for health and sustainability)
- Food biotechnology & food fermentation
- Food allergies and sensitivities
- Food safety, authenticity, and food quality management
- Food packaging
- Contemporary issues in food science & food innovation
Entry requirements
| A-Levels | BBC |
|---|---|
| UCAS Tariff Points | 112 UCAS Tariff points must come from a minimum of two A Levels (or equivalent). Additional points can be made up from a range of alternative qualifications |
| BTEC | DMM |
| Access to HE | 112 Tariff Points |
| IB | 28 |
| Irish Leaving Certificate | 112 Tariff Points from Higher Level qualifications only |
| Welsh Baccalaureate | This qualification can only be accepted in conjunction with other relevant qualifications |
| Subject Requirements | In addition, you will need GCSE grade C/4 in Mathematics, English Language and two sciences (Chemistry, Biology, Physics or double award science equivalents). You also need to have, or be studying towards, an A level in a science discipline. |
International entry requirements
| Specific Country Requirements | Select your country |
|---|---|
| IELTS |
6.5 overall and no component score (reading and writing) less than 6.0. We also accept a wide range of International Qualifications. For more information, please visit our English Language Requirements page.
|
Careers
Nutritionists work in a wide range of careers; examples include working for national and local government (in various roles linked to nutrition, public health and food quality); the NHS, charities and public sector organisations (particularly those involved in public health nutrition initiatives); community-based organisations (such as those addressing food-related health inequalities and food poverty); commercial food businesses (particularly roles helping to develop healthier and more sustainable foods); as well as roles linked to sport, education and teaching,
Many of our graduates also go on to postgraduate study and research.
Enhancement opportunities
Work Placement Opportunities
Professional placements are a valuable part of our Nutrition degree. Placements provide you with practical experience and is essential to your academic and professional development, particularly in today’s competitive job market.
Placements are unpaid (minimum) two-week periods working full time in either commercial food businesses, clinical and hospital settings; or community-based organisations involved in food-related activities. Placements take place in the Summer each year and you typically work full-time on specific projects or providing general support to the organisation.
SALA
The Service and Leadership Award (SALA) is offered as an extra-curricular programme involving service-based experiences, development of leadership potential and equipping you for a career in a rapidly changing world. It enhances your degree, it is something which is complimentary but different and which has a distinct ‘value-added’ component. Find out more on our Service and Leadership Award page.
Study Abroad
As part of your degree, you can choose to spend either a semester or a full year of study at one of our partner universities as part of our Study Abroad programme. Find out more on our Study Abroad page.
Tuition fees
The tuition fees for the 2022/23 academic year are £9,250 for full-time undergraduate courses.
If you are a student from the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, your tuition fees will also be £9,250.
The University reserves the right to increase Home and EU Undergraduate and PGCE tuition fees in line with any inflationary or other increase authorised by the Secretary of State for future years of study.
Additional costs
On top of your tuition fees, you also need a maximum of £300 per year for field trips, textbooks, lab coats and portfolio preparation.
If you graduate and want to join the Register of Nutritionists, there is a fee. If you graduate with Nutrition Major (Combined Honours) you can apply for registration via submission of a portfolio of evidence to meet the requirement of the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists (UKVRN) as set out by the AfN. Full details about joining the register and the cost can be found on the AfN website.
You will also need to consider the cost of your accommodation each year whilst you study at university. Visit our accommodation pages for further details about our Halls of Residence.
Scholarships
We have a range of scholarships to help with the cost of your studies. Visit our scholarships page to find out more.
International tuition fees
The International Tuition fees for 2022/23 are £11,400.
Visit our International fees page for more information.
Course combinations
This course is also available as a Combined Honours degree with the following subjects: