BSc Nutrition - 2024 entry

Entry requirements (typical offer)

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. You’ll use cutting-edge research to understand the importance of nutrition for health and performance.

The course is practical and hands-on, so you can take advantage of the specialist facilities available in our world-class laboratories and absorb the 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 to broaden your perspective.

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 career 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.

Course variants

Fees

Tuition fees for 2024 entry

UK students: £9,250 per year
International students: £29,700 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 many different scholarships available to support your education, including £5 million in scholarships for international students, such as our Global Excellence Scholarships*. Financial support is also available 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.}

Find out more about tuition fees and scholarships

Facilities

Our specialist facilities include:

• A teaching kitchen where you’ll translate nutrition knowledge into practice, and have 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 teaching and during opening hours outside of taught sessions where you can 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
• Fully equipped workshops and audiovisual 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.

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

Our students benefit from being taught by experts in a research-led culture. Our staff have close links with a wide range of industrial, medical and sporting organisations providing 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, podcasts, infographics, case studies, 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 course.

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, meeting regularly in small groups or in one to one meetings.

Optional modules outside of this course

Each year, if you have optional modules available, you can take up to 30 credits in a subject outside of your course. This can increase your employability and widen your intellectual horizons.

Proficiency in a second subject

If you complete 60 credits of modules in one of the subjects below, you may have the words 'with proficiency in [e.g. Social Data Science]' added to your degree title when you graduate.

• A Foreign Language
• Law
• Social Data Science
• Entrepreneurship
• Leadership

Find out more about proficiency options

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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. You’ll also receive support to access high-quality work placements through the optional Career Development in Nutrition module (year 2).

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