| UCAS code | B400 |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 years |
| Entry year | 2023 |
| Campus | St Luke's Campus |
| Discipline | Sport and Health Sciences (including Nutrition) |
| Contact | Web: Enquire online |
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
|
A-Level: BBB - BBC |
Overview
- Explore the scientific and social relationship between diet, health and wellbeing.
- Use the most up-to-date research to understand how nutrition can improve health and sport performance, and the role of nutrition in public and planetary health.
- Unique research-led modules on nutrition in health and disease, functional foods, sustainable and public health nutrition, as well as sports nutrition.
- Exceptional access to internationally-leading research groups and facilities with the opportunity to develop research projects.
- Excellent relationships between academics, leading nutrition industry partners, and local organisations including sports clubs, businesses and the NHS, provide valuable opportunities for placements and research projects to enhance your employability.
- Diverse potential career paths post-degree include: public health; health improvement and policy; local and national government; non-government organisations; the food industry; sport and exercise industries; media and communications.
Top 20 in the world for Sports-related subjects
16th in the QS World University Subject Rankings 2022
Top 5 in the UK for Sports Science
5th in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023
88% of our graduates in employment or further study within 15 months of graduating
Sport and Health Sciences students: based on full-time, first degree, UK domiciled graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes survey 2018/19
Dedicated teaching kitchens, laboratories for sport and exercise physiology, sports biomechanics and health and performance psychology
Good quality nutrition is integral across an incredibly broad spectrum, from underpinning the performance of elite athletes to preventing and treating non-communicable disease such as obesity and diabetes. This course exposes students to this rapidly-growing field via unique research-led modules, and affords opportunities to work as part of internationally-leading research groups.
Dr Daryl Wilkerson
Director of Education - Sport and Health Sciences
Accreditations
This degree programme is accredited by the Association for Nutrition (AfN).
Graduates of the programme will be eligible to apply for direct entry to the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists (UKVRN) as Registered Associate Nutritionists.
Registration with the UKVRN entitles you to use the letters ANutr after your name. It shows that you are serious about a career in nutrition and can help you stand out in the graduate job market.
Entry requirements (typical offer)
| Qualification | Typical offer | Required subjects |
|---|---|---|
| A-Level | AAB - ABB | B in Biology and B in another science subject* |
| IB | 34/665 - 32/655 | HL 5 in Biology plus either another science subject at HL 5 or two science subjects at SL 5* |
| BTEC | DDD - DDM | Applicants studying a BTEC Extended Diploma are also required to achieve A-level grade B in Biology and B in another science subject* |
| GCSE | C or 4 | Grade C or 4 in English Language and Mathematics |
| Access to HE | 24 L3 credits at Distinction Grade and 21 L3 Credits at Merit Grade | To include 12 L3 Credits at Merit Grade in Biology and 12 L3 Credits at Merit Grade in an acceptable science subject area* |
| Contextual Offer | A-Level: BBB - BBC |
Specific subject requirements must still be achieved where stated above. Find out more about contextual offers. |
| Other UK, EU and International equivalences | ||
| English language requirements |
International students need to show they have the required level of English language to study this course. The required test scores for this course fall under Profile B. Please visit our English language requirements page to view the required test scores and equivalencies from your country. |
|
NB General Studies is not included in any offer.
Grades advertised on each programme webpage are the typical level at which our offers are made and provide information on any specific subjects an applicant will need to have studied in order to be considered for a place on the programme. However, if we receive a large number of applications for the programme we may not be able to make an offer to all those who are predicted to achieve/have achieved grades which are in line with our typical offer. For more information on how applications are assessed and when decisions are released, please see: After you apply
*Accepted science subjects:
Biology/Human Biology^; Chemistry; Computing; Design and Technology; Economics; Electronics; Environmental Science; Environmental Studies; Home Economics/Food Technology; Geography; Geology; Life and Health Sciences (Double Award only); Marine Science; Maths/Pure Maths/Further Maths^; Nutrition and Food Science; Physical Education; Physics; Psychology; Science (applied); Sport Science; Statistics.
^If more than one of these is taken they would only count as one ‘science subject’ but could count as two A-levels towards our general requirements.
Course content
Our BSc Nutrition programme offers you the opportunity to explore the scientific relationship between diet, health and wellbeing using cutting-edge research to understand the importance of nutrition for health and performance.
The course provides practical, hands-on experience taking advantage of the specialist facilities available in our world-class laboratories, and informed by the vast expertise of our Sport and Health Sciences academics. We incorporate inter-disciplinary teaching and research in nutrition, drawing expertise from the Exeter Food Network, Natural Sciences and the Medical School.
There are also opportunities for industry placements to enhance your employability, facilitated by the excellent relationships between academics and the local community such as schools, sports clubs, businesses, NGOs, the NHS, GP networks, Devon County Council, and leading nutrition industry partners.
As well as the modules listed below, you can choose optional modules from other disciplines to suit your interests.
The modules we outline here provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand.
Focus on developing your foundational knowledge and skills within nutrition, including: structure and function of the human body, fundamental chemistry and energy transfer in the human body. You can also choose optional modules across other disciplines to suit your interests.
You will build on the knowledge you developed in Year 1, along with being exposed to content relating to professional conduct in nutrition.
Find out more about placement options under Course variants.
You will be using the skills you developed in Years 1 and 2 to put theory into practice. This will include the completion of a research project.
Course variants
This programme offers the opportunity to take a professional placement year (through a competitive entry process). You will spend your third year on a self-organised work placement with an organisation relevant to your degree, which we support you to secure. You will be encouraged to consider a wide range of organisations, including those in the food, nutrition, community, healthcare, and sport industries.
Why choose a professional placement year?
In your professional placement year you will learn to apply the knowledge learnt during your first and second years, improve personal and transferable skills, make new contacts and enhance your employability. Work placements allow you to gain experience of a professional workplace prior to graduating and develop your career focus, and are extremely valued by employers.
What support is available during my placement?
You will be supported through your professional placement by a programme director who will provide high-quality advice to ensure you get the most from your placement.
Does it count towards my degree?
The professional placement year counts towards your degree through the completion of your placement and associated coursework. It contributes to your final degree classification, and the words ‘with Professional Placement’ will appear in your degree title. This variant of the programme is also accredited by the Association for Nutrition (AfN).
During your first, second and final years of study, you will follow the same programme of study as the BSc Nutrition (see Course content).
How does it affect my tuition fee?
If you spend a full year on a work placement, you will pay a reduced fee. Find out more in the fees section.
How do I apply?
There is no need to apply directly to this programme: apply via UCAS for BSc Nutrition, and you can transfer onto the four-year programme with Professional Placement once you are at Exeter.
As a mature student I was worried about being able to keep up, but my lecturers are very helpful and there is lots of support available from the University, which made me comfortable very quickly. I enjoy the varied ways of learning, and the course is based on the latest research so we learn the most up-to-date information. I cannot wait to explore my opportunities with my Nutrition degree.
Brigi
From Hungary, studying BSc Nutrition.
Fees
Tuition fees for 2023 entry
UK students: £9,250 per year
International students: £27,000 per year
Professional Placement
If you spend a full year on a work placement (in the UK or abroad) you will pay a reduced fee of 20 per cent of the maximum fee for that year.
Scholarships
The University of Exeter has over £2.5 million in scholarships available for students applying to study with us in 2023 - including our Global Excellence Scholarships* for international fee paying students and financial support for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, lower income households and other under-represented groups to help them access, succeed and progress through higher education.
* Terms and conditions apply. See online for details.
Facilities
Our specialist facilities include:
- A teaching kitchen in which you will be able to translate nutrition knowledge into practice, together with opportunities to gain work experience by conducting research and educational sessions for the community
- Life Sciences Resource Centre containing a vast selection of anatomical models used for both teaching and during opening hours outside of taught sessions where you can come and use them to enhance learning
- Purpose-built laboratories for nutrition science practicals, food tasting, nutrition and exercise physiology, and health and performance psychology, cognitive and social psychology
- Well-equipped workshops and audio visual recording suite available within psychology
Learning and teaching
How will I learn?
On average you’ll have 15 hours of teaching time per week with more at the beginning of the programme and less as you progress and take more responsibility for your own learning.
We’re actively engaged in introducing new methods of learning and teaching. For example, positive feedback from our students has led us to increase use of our learning environment, an easily navigable website where you can access detailed information about modules and utilise multimedia learning resources.
Ways of learning
- Lectures: introducing topics, and providing a framework for further reading, and background material for extended work.
- Laboratory and practical sessions: working in small groups with specialist equipment to put knowledge into practice and develop skills you will need in your future career.
- Seminars: discussion, role play and short presentations in smaller groups.
- Independent research and study: reading, researching, writing, practice assignments, projects and dissertation.
- Study groups: work with other students and utilise their support.
- Dissertation: an extended and original piece of independent research conducted in an area related to your specialism. You will present this at a third-year student dissertation conference.
- Guest lectures: hear from visiting experts in nutrition science, public health nutrition, nutrition policy, nutrition entrepreneurship, private practice and freelancing.
Learn from experts
We believe every student benefits from being part of a research-led culture and being taught by experts. Our staff have close links with a wide range of industrial, medical and sporting organisations with whom there may be the chance to collaborate for your final year research project.
Staff expertise includes:
- the role of nutrition in childhood cancer
- diet and exercise effects on the gut microbiome in health and performance
- sustainable nutrition and food systems
- the use of polyphenol supplementation in exercise performance and healthy ageing
- the effects of dietary nitrate supplementation on vascular health and ergogenic effects for exercise performance
- and the effects of protein ingestion and muscle metabolism in exercise, inactivity, and ageing.
Our department projects have been developed in collaboration with strong industry partners, namely: Quorn, Pukka, ActiveEdge and sport partners Exeter Chiefs, Exeter City F.C, UK Athletics.
Assessment
All modules are assessed, with second and third year modules contributing towards your final degree classification. Modules are assessed using a variety of methods including essays, exams, oral and written presentations, laboratory reports and a dissertation. We aim to strike a 50:50 balance between coursework and exams over the duration of the programmes.
Academic support
Teaching staff on every module are available for individual tutorial sessions when required. Module leaders are available to discuss module logistics, examinations and absences. Teaching staff also make themselves available at the end of lectures for further discussion and debate.
Extra-curricular support is also provided in the form of ‘drop-in’ sessions for more challenging parts of the course such as statistical analysis, scientific writing, and research methodology.
For pastoral support students are assigned a personal tutor, with whom they meet regularly in small groups or in one to one meetings.
Your future
Employer-valued skills this course develops
A degree in Nutrition will help you develop the key transferable skills valued by employers, such as problem-solving, decision-making, planning and organising, personal communication and leadership.
Graduate-level attributes and core competencies that open up these employment opportunities include:
- Theoretical knowledge of underpinning biochemistry physiology and food chemistry
- Food chain and social and behavioural drivers of eating behaviours
- Health promotion
- Professional conduct
Supporting your career in Nutrition
Each year Nutrition students are able to access a huge range of opportunities when considering their future career options.
Teaching staff regularly circulate placements and job opportunities to students through the programme webpage, email and the programme Twitter account (@Nutri_Ex).
A range of employability sessions are put on which include: career talks from visiting alumni and employers from a range of backgrounds; career conversations with employers; an annual Careers and Networking evening with alumni, organisations and employers; and a Careers in Healthcare event. In addition, you will receive support to access high-quality work placements through the optional Career Development in Nutrition module (year 2).
Careers services
We have a dedicated, award-winning Careers Service ensuring you have access to careers advisors, mentors and the tools you need to succeed in finding employment in your chosen field on graduation. We offer the Exeter Award and the Exeter Leaders Award which include employability-related workshops, skills events, volunteering and employment which will contribute to your career decision-making skills and success in the employment market.
The University of Exeter has an excellent reputation with graduate recruiters and our students and graduates compete very successfully in the employment market. Whatever path you wish to follow, we’re here to help and support you with all your career and employability needs.
Career paths
There are many potential career paths for nutritionists including:
- Private practice
- Public health
- Health improvement
- Health policy
- Local and national government
- Non-Government Organisations (NGOs)
- Food industry
- Sports and exercise industries
- International work in developing countries
- Media and communications
