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Overview

Over the past decade, the impact of nutrition and exercise in optimising athletic performance and recovery from injury has become increasingly clear and there has been a growing demand for highly trained specialists in this field.

This exciting master’s aims to foster an evidence-based approach to understanding the science and application of sports nutrition and exercise for a diverse range of individuals to improve their health, fitness or sporting performance. It will appeal to dietitians, nutritionists and sport and exercise science graduates.

It is also one of the few courses in the Midlands which allows you to demonstrate the academic competencies outlined in the Sports and Exercise Nutrition register (SENr), the national register for qualified sport and exercise nutritionists.

Course information

This multidisciplinary course draws together a broad range of biosciences subject matter within the areas of sport and exercise physiology, health and nutrition.

The content has been designed to develop your appreciation of the human body and its functions, together with nutrition science and its role in promoting human health so that upon successful completion you can apply this knowledge to develop appropriate dietary advice and exercise programmes. You will consider the components of fitness, including nutritional requirements, energy expenditure, body mass and body composition, examining some of the common problems associated with general health and wellbeing, diet and nutrition, exercise and sport performance, for example hydration and supplements. You will also cover how to scientifically measure nutritional requirements and dietary allowances of macronutrients, micronutrients and other components of food such as fibre. You will also look at how ethnicity and culture may affect practical advice on foods, meals and menus.

As well as subject-specific knowledge, we will encourage a critical, analytical and flexible approach to problem-solving in sport and exercise nutrition. You will be encouraged to systematically and creatively explore complex issues, such as physical activity, nutrition and obesity, and elite physiological support through a variety of case studies, laboratory sessions and group work.

Duration : 2-3 years part-time (UK only).

Career prospects

As a qualified sport and exercise nutritionist upon successful completion of the course, you should be able to find employment in range of different areas – within academia, the sport and fitness industry or public health nutrition.

Increasingly professional in their approach, many sports clubs are now seeking the advice of nutrition consultants to assist with their performance training and rehabilitation. You could find yourself developing nutrition programmes for professional teams and elite athletes.

However, sports nutrition is a rapidly developing area in personal training and community based physical activity interventions. With public health high on the government’s agenda, there is also a growing demand for graduates who can provide guidance on exercise and lifestyle within doctor’s surgeries, hospitals and private practice, as well as research roles within governing bodies.

Our programme provides opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate specialist academic and transferrable skills, such as good communication, problem-solving, critical analysis and the ability to work independently to a high standard, upon successful completion of the course. The course's strong focus on research skills provides an ideal platform for further study at PhD level or undertaking research.