Masters Degrees (Obesity)

Obesity is a leading preventable cause of death worldwide and is highly prevalent in most modern industrialised nations. It is a global epidemic and a leading cause of several major non-communicable diseases including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers. Prevention and management is critical in reducing the considerable health costs of obesity. This online course will focus on enabling health care professionals to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to treat patients effectively.

The course aims to create professionals who can independently access information and use the information to critically assess, evaluate and disseminate the evidence base related to Obesity and Weight Management. It will develop problem solving and clinical skills together with preparing students to take a leadership role.

On completion of the course students will have:
1. A systematic understanding of the care of patients in obesity and weight management.
2. A critical awareness of current issues affecting the care of patients undertaking weight and obesity management treatments.
3. An advanced knowledge of obesity and weight management that will facilitate decision-making in unpredictable and/or complex situations.
4. An ability to use knowledge to adapt professional practice to meet the changing demands of health care systems.

See the website http://courses.southwales.ac.uk/courses/1800-postgraduate-diploma-in-obesity-and-weight-management-online-delivery

What you will study

The course consists of 6 modules over one year, each of 6 weeks duration:

Module 1 – The adipocyte, regulation of appetite and nutrition
The module aims to develop a critical understanding of the physiology and regulation of the adipocyte, adipose tissue, human nutrition and appetite.

Module 2 – Obesity: defining obesity, epidemiology and health risks
The module aims to develop a critical understanding of the epidemiology of obesity, including the importance of the distribution of adiposity, its epidemiology, the global problems of obesity and its relationship in different populations.

Module 3 – Causation of obesity and weight gain in relation to disease and genetics
The module aims to develop an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the medical and genetic conditions that can cause obesity and weight gain.

Module 4 – Weight Management – Diet, exercise and changing behavior
The module aims to enhance the clinical skills and knowledge required to effectively evaluate and treat obesity with emphasis on lifestyle and behavioural modifications.

Module 5 – Weight Management – Medical treatments and emerging therapies
The module aims to develop an understanding of the role of medications and emerging therapies used in weight management including pharmacovigilance and post-marketing surveillance.

Module 6 – Surgical approaches to weight management
The module aims to enhance the clinical skills and knowledge required to understand surgical weight management strategies.

Learning and teaching methods

Each of the 6 modules is taught online and includes self-directed learning, tutor stimulated discussion on case scenarios, examinations, group projects and independent projects. Reflective practice is also studied which involves considering how you can apply the knowledge gained into everyday work and practice.

Work Experience and Employment Prospects

The Obesity & Weight Management courses have been developed for health professionals who are interested in a leadership role within weight and obesity management including GP’s, doctors, nurses, physicians, surgeons, physiotherapists, dieticians, psychologists, and counsellors running clinics. Following successful completion of this specialised course, you will have the knowledge to further improve patient care and it could enhance your future career progression.

Assessment methods

Assessment methods will vary for each module and include case-based examinations, discussions and scenarios, reflective portfolio, forum discussions and group activities.

Facilities

As part of your online studies you will have access to the Learning Resources Centre materials at the University of South Wales. FINDit is the University’s portal which allows you to search for over 13,000 full-text journal articles, news articles, conference proceedings and approximately 160 databases via one search box- the majority of these materials are accessible online. Interactive study skills modules are available to study via Blackboard to enable you to utilise the library services fully.

Teaching

The course is delivered by a board who have an established international reputation in Obesity & Weight Management and delivering online education:
- Dr. Steve Davies – Consultant Endocrinologist and Director of Diploma MSc
- Dr Simon Williams – Principal Lecturer, Obesity and Physical Activity Epidemiologist
- Professor Nadim Haboubi – Consultant Gastroenterologist
- Dr Dev Datta – Consultant Clinical Biochemist

Work and Study Placements

Students will usually be employed as health care professionals before commencing this course. Consequently work or study placements are not available.

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Please note this course is offered by the College of Contemporary Health

Designed for healthcare professionals, to advance your career in obesity care and management, the most prominent distinguishing feature of this course is the fact that it is delivered wholly online.

The modules in the Postgraduate Certificate in Obesity Care and Management critically review the latest research on obesity in order to prepare students to deal with the complexity of the condition, whilst ensuring a compassionate approach to dealing with those people requiring obesity care. The modules in the Postgraduate Diploma build on these skills whilst also allowing for specialisation in a particular area so that students may further develop their professional practice. You will then have the opportunity progress to the MSc where you can undertake an original research-based enquiry, in an area of personal interest, relevant to your specific area of professional practice. It is possible for students to enrol on individual modules to enhance their knowledge in a specific area.

All material is evidence-based and referenced using the latest research material. Current practice guidelines are taken from professional bodies including the Royal College of Physicians, Royal College of Nursing, British Psychological Society, the Academy of Royal Medical Colleges, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), and Public Health England (PHE). Comparisons are also made with guidelines in other countries to ensure students are acquainted with best practice from across the globe.

For more information please visit the College of Contemporary Health website:

http://www.contemporaryhealth.co.uk/

Duration

Part-time PgCert - 3 modules: 12 weeks per module
January; April; September

Part-time PgDip - PGCert and 3 modules: 12 weeks per module
January; April; September

Part-time top-up to MSc - PGDip and dissertation: 12 weeks per module
January; April; September

Modules

PGCert modules

Obesity: Causes and Consequences (Core)
Obesity: Behavioural Aspects (Core)
Obesity: The Solutions? (Core)

PGDip (PGCert and a choice of 3 modules)

The Obese Person (Core)
Obesity and Reproductive Health
Paediatric Obesity
Nutritional Approaches to Obesity
Comparative Approaches to Obesity Care Services
Specialist Obesity Care Services
Research in Health and Social Care (core for MSc)

MSc (3 modules from PGDip and the following)

Research Dissertation

Teaching and learning

We advise that each module requires approximately 200 study hours to complete: 30 hours of presentations, 15 hours of peer discussion, 5 hours of tutorials and 150 hours of private study. All modules are assessed using student selected case or project material together with active participation in Discussion Forums.

Study is on a part-time basis helping to reduce the intensity of effort required. These features combine to make the MSc in Obesity Care and Management truly unique in its ability to suit the needs of even the most time-strapped professional.

Employability

Graduates of this course will enhance their knowledge and expertise in the area of obesity care and management. The course develops confident, highly skilled practitioners with a well-rounded understanding of the obesity problem and how to practically treat and manage it. It will give them the knowledge to make an impact in helping deal with the obesity epidemic.

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Our Diploma in Obesity & Weight Management course is accredited by the Royal College of General Practioners(RCGP).

The Postgraduate Diploma and Masters course in Obesity and Weight Management have been developed in conjunction with The Faculty of Life Sciences and Education at the University of South Wales, who have an established reputation for the delivery of innovative learning in Postgraduate education for health professionals.

Obesity is a growing epidemic worldwide. However, fewer than 1% of UK health professionals have received any specialised obesity training. Our team of course authors and tutors are recognised experts and opinion leaders in their specialty areas. Our MSc/ PGDip in Obesity and Weight Management will focus on the rapidly growing pandemic, expand your knowledge and enable you to effectively treat patients. This fact, in conjunction with our affordable prices, promises a truly accessible course of the highest standard.

The Obesity & Weight Management courses have been developed for health professionals who are interested in a leadership role within weight and obesity management including GP’s, doctors, nurses, physicians, surgeons, physiotherapists, dieticians, psychologists, and counsellors running clinics.

Both our Postgraduate Diploma and Masters course in Obesity & Weight Management can be completed online and are available 24/7, giving you the flexibility to learn at a time that suits your busy schedule.

Diploma Course Structure

The online course lasts one calendar year and is a part time distance learning course. It consists of 6 modules per year, each of 6 weeks duration.

Module 1 - The adipocyte, regulation of appetite and nutrition
Module 2 - Obesity: defining obesity, epidemiology and health risks
Module 3 - Causation of obesity and weight gain in relation to disease and genetics
Module 4 - Weight Management - Diet, exercise and changing behaviour
Module 5 - Weight Management - Medical treatments and emerging therapies
Module 6 - Surgical approaches to weight management
Assessment

Online Diploma in Obesity and Weight Management

The course puts assessment at the heart of learning by using clinical scenarios to facilitate problem-solving, critical analysis and evidence-based care. The scenarios act as both the focus for learning and assessment thus embedding assessment within the learning process.

Each of the 6 modules have the same assessment format. Due to the online nature of the course, students are expected to login and participate in the course regularly throughout the module (ideally on a daily basis).

Students are split into groups of 10-15 students and are assigned a dedicated expert tutor who:

Facilitates clinical case discussions with the group.
Monitors, assesses and marks each student throughout the module.
Students use the skills gained during the lectures to engage with the different activities (see below).
Clinical case scenarios with case based discussion - 40%
Individual learning portfolio - 10%
Group/individual activity - 20%
Case based examination - 30%

MSc Course Structure

Module 1 - Research Methodologies and Critical Appraisal (compulsory module)
Module 2 - Professional Project or Independent Prescribing Module
Teaching Methods

Module 1 - Research Methodologies and Critical Appraisal

MSc teaching methods for this module are similar to the PG Diploma course modules however it is run over 12 weeks.

Module 2 - Professional Project

To produce the professional project, students continue to use the online course however much of the work is self-directed.

Students are expected in the first 8 weeks to interact with their tutor on a weekly basis. Students select a specific project and submit a project summary/proposal (approximately 1500 words).

Once the proposal has been approved, the professional project (10,500 words) itself is then completed through online guidance and supervision offered by the tutor. The student and tutor will interact regularly (weekly) on the dedicated students/tutor discussion area or through any other means of communication deemed appropriate by both parties (telephone/SKYPE/email). Note of any verbal communication with the tutor is recorded on the student's journal by the student.

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Obesity is a leading preventable cause of death worldwide and is highly prevalent in most modern industrialised nations. It is a global epidemic and a leading cause of several major non-communicable diseases including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and some cancers. Prevention and management is critical in reducing the considerable health costs of obesity. This online course will focus on enabling health care professionals to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to treat patients effectively.

The course aims to create professionals who can independently access information and use the information to critically assess, evaluate and disseminate the evidence base related to Obesity and Weight Management. It will develop problem solving and clinical skills together with preparing students to take a leadership role.

On completion of the course, students will have:
1. An applied understanding of how established techniques of research and enquiry are used to create and interpret knowledge in an appropriate clinical setting.
2. An in-depth knowledge and understanding of the discipline informed by current scholarship and research.

See the website http://courses.southwales.ac.uk/courses/1799-msc-obesity-and-weight-management-online-delivery

What you will study

The course consists of two modules. Module one is compulsory and module two is a choice between Professional Practice or the Independent Prescribing module.

Module 1 – Research Methodologies and Critical Appraisal (compulsory module):
This module will address the terminology and methodologies used in epidemiology and research studies, and you will learn how to interpret graphical and other statistical data such as Kaplan-Meier Curves, Forrest Plots and Meta-analyses. You will develop an understanding of the importance of evidence based practice and how to apply it within a clinical setting.

Module 2: Professional Project or Independent Prescribing Module:
- Professional Project
This modules aims to develop an ability to critically evaluate areas of professional practice of your choice and develop skills in independent research and study. You will produce a report of 12000 words which will include a project proposal of 1,500 words and the remaining 10,500 words will consist of a literature review and an evidence appraisal, clinical or organisational practice audit. It will also involve the implementation of evidence-based practice and undertaking qualitative or quantitative research. As part of the module you will be in regular contact with your tutor who will offer guidance and supervision either via email, telephone or SKYPE.

- Or Independent Prescribing Module
This module aims to prepare students, both academically and practically, for the role of independent prescribing. The module also meets the registration criteria for the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).

Synopsis of module content:
- Consultation, decision-making and therapy, including referral.
- Influences on, and psychology of, prescribing.
- Prescribing in a team context.
- Clinical pharmacology, including the effects of co-morbidity.
- Evidence-based practice and clinical governance in relation to nurse prescribing.
- Legal, policy and ethical aspects.
- Professional accountability and responsibility.

Learning and teaching methods

Each of the modules is taught online and includes self-directed learning, tutor stimulated discussion on case scenarios, examinations, group projects and independent projects. Reflective practice is also studied which involves considering how you can apply the knowledge gained into everyday work and practice.

Work Experience and Employment Prospects

The Obesity & Weight Management courses have been developed for health professionals who are interested in a leadership role within weight and obesity management including GP’s, doctors, nurses, physicians, surgeons, physiotherapists, dieticians, psychologists, and counsellors running clinics. Following successful completion of this specialised course, you will have the knowledge to further improve patient care and it could enhance your future career progression.

Assessment methods

Assessment methods will vary for each module and include case-based examinations, discussions and scenarios, reflective portfolio, forum discussions and group activities.

Facilities

As part of your online studies you will have access to the Learning Resources Centre materials at the University of South Wales. FINDit is the University’s portal which allows you to search for over 13,000 full-text journal articles, news articles, conference proceedings and approximately 160 databases via one search box- the majority of these materials are accessible online. Interactive study skills modules are available to study via Blackboard to enable you to utilise the library services fully.

Teaching

The course is delivered by a board who have an established international reputation in Obesity & Weight Management and delivering online education:
- Dr. Steve Davies – Consultant Endocrinologist and Director of Diploma MSc
- Dr Simon Williams – Principal Lecturer, Obesity and Physical Activity Epidemiologist
- Professor Nadim Haboubi – Consultant Gastroenterologist
- Dr Dev Datta – Consultant Clinical Biochemist

Work and Study Placements

Students will usually be employed as health care professionals before commencing this course. Consequently work or study placements are not available.

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Our Master’s course will provide advanced-level education and training for those with, or seeking, roles in obesity prevention, weight management or health promotion.

Why Study Obesity and Weight Management with us?

This course was the first of its type to run in UK and Ireland, and is delivered by a team of experienced academics, GPs, hospital doctors, surgeons, dietitians, nutritionists, exercise specialists and psychologists. The specialist input from field experts and academics keeps the course fresh and up to date to cater for the needs of professionals working in this area.

While this is a focused professional development course aimed at healthcare professionals from around the world, it is also suitable for newly qualified graduates aspiring to work in this high-profile area.

What will I learn?

Modules consider obesity and weight management from a variety of perspectives. The course begins with a focus on the obesity epidemic and moves on to cover key areas such as childhood obesity, behaviour change, exercise, dietary approaches, causes of obesity and assessment in obesity.

The MSc is then completed with a research methods module followed by a research project.

How will I be taught?

Our course runs on a modular basis and is delivered at Parkgate Road Campus. Sessions will involve a mixture of practical and theoretical work, relevant to the module being studied. This includes body composition assessment workshops and practical exercise capacity testing.

Each module is delivered in intensive learning blocks of typically three days (25 hours), which are followed by self-directed learning supported by experienced tutors.

How will I be assessed?

Assessment is by a 4,000-word written assignment or its equivalent – e.g. poster presentation. Research projects may be laboratory or work based under the direction of an individually allocated supervisor.

Postgraduate Visit Opportunities

If you are interested in this courses we have a number of opportunities to visit us and our campuses. To find out more about these options and to book a visit, please go to: https://www1.chester.ac.uk/study/postgraduate/postgraduate-visit-opportunities

Request a Prospectus

If you would like to know more about the University please request a prospectus at: http://prospectus.chester.ac.uk/form.php

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This part-time programme commenced in Sept 2010 and is run in Dublin in association with the National Obesity Forum. It was the first of its type in the UK and is delivered by a team of experienced academics, GPs, hospital doctors, surgeons, dietitians, nutritionists, exercise specialists and psychologists. Students travel from all over Ireland for the series of six long weekend modules which is then followed by a period of home-based learning.

Why study Obesity and Weight Management in Dublin?
The need for professional development in obesity and weight management, particularly for the wide range of health professionals dealing with clients and patients for whom overweight and obesity are key contributors to illness and poor recovery rates, is now clearly evident. Whilst this multidisciplinary programme is focused professional development programme aimed at healthcare professionals from worldwide, it is also suitable for newly qualified graduates aspiring to work in this high-profile area.

This programme is recruiting for September 2016.

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The principal goal of this pathway is to provide a thorough grounding in cutting edge clinical research, with a strong focus on diabetes and obesity.

The programme provides a structured approach to developing knowledge and skills which will enable students to develop their own research portfolio or assist in the management of an existing portfolio.

It is ideal for those wishing to progress to a PhD studentship or a research based role within the NHS.

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This module concentrates on Type 2 diabetes, maturity onset diabetes of the young (MODY), rare genetic forms of diabetes and diabetes secondary to other conditions such as cystic fibrosis and during cancer therapy.
-Intended for health professionals involved with the care of children or adolescents with diabetes.
-Taught as an intensive study block, comprising lectures, group work and supervision.
-The teaching and learning style is interactive, drawing on both the expert teachers and the experience of other students.

Other options

-MSc route: available as an option on MSc in Diabetes programme
-Not sure an MSc is for you? Take this module as a Postgraduate Award. Contact us for more information: [email protected]

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Nutritional science is a subject of growing importance in many aspects of healthcare, lifestyle and industry. This programme, established since 1994 and accredited by the Association of Nutrition (AfN), provides students with an expert evidence-based approach to Human Nutrition, integrating teaching on basic sciences, clinical practice and public health applications.

Why this programme

-Students explore how our choices of foods affect the biochemical and physiological functions of cells and organs, and how our diets influence physical, mental and social health.
-This MSc is unique in the UK in providing four different specialisation areas – Public Health Nutrition, Clinical Nutrition, Obesity & Weight Management and Sports & Exercise Nutrition.
-If you are passionate about nutrition and keen to learn through an in-depth, evidence based, critical approach and enthusiastic about specialising in a particular area - public health nutrition, clinical nutrition, obesity and weight management or sports and exercise nutrition, then this programme is for you.
-There is a long tradition of excellence in Nutrition at the University of Glasgow, with pioneering research by Cathcart, Paton and Boyd. More recently Durnin, Cockburn and Dunnigan, and current Glasgow academics continue to make important contributions in the field of Nutrition.
-This programme has a truly global reach, taught by international staff and external experts, offering great flexibility to suit individual student needs.
-A range of transferable skills are integrated and embedded into this programme, for example, critical review skills, which are highly sought after within the competitive job market. You will learn how to develop a substantial research proposal as a team, gaining valuable skills for future employment.
-After completing this programme you will have gained valuable understanding and a range of skills for interdisciplinary working and for interpreting nutrition research.
-Our staff are highly trained, enthusiastic and experienced. The staff and University environment are very supportive: feedback from past students emphasises the dedication, approachability and enthusiasm of the programme team.
-The MSc (Med Sci) Human Nutrition is accredited by the Association for Nutrition. All graduates will be eligible for direct entry to the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists (UKVRN) as an Associate Nutritionist (ANutr). It is expected that you will normally transition to full registration after three years, when you will also identify your area of specialism from the five options available. For more information, please see http://www.associationfornutrition.org/.
-You will have the opportunity to study at the recently refurbished Glasgow Royal Infirmary with its state of the art teaching facilities.

Programme structure

The programme provides a thorough grounding in the principles, practice and research of human nutrition and the opportunity to follow a successful career in the UK or overseas. You will have the knowledge and experience necessary for engaging in and contributing to current issues in the field of human nutrition. An additional research component allows the development of valuable skills for practising and interpreting nutrition research.

The teaching programme is given in the form of lectures, practical sessions, debates, case studies, team work tasks, self-directed learning, seminars and tutorials. Additional material and electronic resources such as quizzes, online chats and teaching videos are available on moodle, the University’s virtual learning environment, to support and enhance students’ learning experience.

Core courses
-Food and nutrient requirements and nutrition through the lifecycle
-Digestion, absorption and nutritional metabolism
-Dietary and nutritional assessment
-Public health and eating behaviour

Specialisation courses - one from the following:
-Public health nutrition
-Clinical nutrition
-Obesity and weight management
-Sports and exercise nutrition

As part of their specialisation, all students complete a taught course and research proposal.

Research Project
Subject to satisfactory results, students progress on to a research project in the area of their specialisation. The project is presented as a written report in the form of a scientific paper for assessment in August and may also provide the basis for publication and presentation at scientific meetings.

Transferable Skills
This programme includes a range of training in transferable skills.
-Learning techniques
-Communication
-Presentation
-Literature searching
-Academic journal review
-Statistics and data handling

PLEASE NOTE: THIS PROGRAMME DOES NOT LEAD TO STATE REGISTRATION IN DIETETICS.

Career prospects

Graduates are well placed for a variety of employment opportunities in the food and health industries, public health, research, health promotion, food policy, the media and relief/development work in less developed countries. There is an expanding role for high quality nutritionists in all these sectors. The programme is intended to meet this demand. This course provides a sound basis from which to apply for employment in advisory positions in industry or government agencies, to undertake professional training in dietetics, or for further doctoral-level research training for academic or teaching careers.

A high proportion of our graduates go on to complete PhDs in Glasgow or other high quality institutions across the world. Careers of some of our recent graduates include:
-Weight management consultant
-Researcher, MRC nutrition research facility
-Nutritionist, Dribble Delights
-Assistant project worker, Angus Healthy Happy Communities
-Research Associate, Nutritional Biochemistry (U. of Glasgow)
-Nutrition Society of China officer
-Project administration, Action Against Hunger, Canada
-Private Nutrition clinic, Greece
-Nutrition Researcher, Kenya
-Lecturer in Clinical Nutrition (U. of Glasgow)
-Research Fellow on Eating Behaviour (U. of London)
-Development Worker, High Five for Fruit, Lanarkshire Community Food and Health Partnership
-Nutritionist, North Lanarkshire Council
-Food & Health Alliance Co-ordinator, NHS Health Scotland
-Nutrition Consultant, FAO Rome
-Programme Officer, Food & Health Alliance, NHS Health Scotland
-New Product Development Project Manager, Kinnerton Confectionery Ltd
-Intervention worker on prevention of childhood obesity, National Institute of Perinatology, Mexico
-Nutrition Adviser, Scottish Consumer Council
-Milton Community Food Project Officer, North Glasgow Healthy Living Community
-Emergency Nutrition Worker, Action Against Hunger, GOAL

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Help tackle the big public health issues of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease by becoming an expert in food and nutrition. By looking at how lifestyle affects food and nutrition, the vested interests of the food industry, and the role of food and nutrition in disease, you will gain a solid understanding of the current issues, allowing you to make a positive difference in a variety of nutritional-related roles around the world.

You will develop practical skills such as the ability to devise programmes for interventions, secure funding from commissioners, and report your findings to wider audiences. By working face-to-face with local community groups, and using marketing tools such as journals, websites, media presentations, workshops and social media, you will understand how to successfully engage with audiences and influence behaviour change.

Our links with employers in the nutrition field ensures that you have an opportunity to integrate work experience alongside your academic study, enhancing your employability when you qualify and enabling you to meet the Association for Nutrition competencies.

If you have a degree in a health, science, psychology or sport related subject, along with an interest in food and nutrition and its application in the workplace, we can widen your knowledge to give you greater career options.

- Research Excellence Framework 2014: 20% of our research in the Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care unit is world leading or internationally excellent.

Visit the website http://courses.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/nutritioninpractice

Mature Applicants

Our University welcomes applications from mature applicants who demonstrate academic potential. We usually require some evidence of recent academic study, for example completion of an access course, however recent relevant work experience may also be considered. Please note that for some of our professional courses all applicants will need to meet the specified entry criteria and in these cases work experience cannot be considered in lieu.

If you wish to apply through this route you should refer to our University Recognition of Prior Learning policy that is available on our website (http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/studenthub/recognition-of-prior-learning.htm).

Please note that all applicants to our University are required to meet our standard English language requirement of GCSE grade C or equivalent, variations to this will be listed on the individual course entry requirements.

Careers

Your future job options are varied and can meet your own professional interests. You could work in nutritional research at a charity, in the food industry with a major retailer, or in international public health delivering nutrition programmes. Other options are also available to you in public health departments, local government, the NHS, consultancy work, specialist service provision or in the media.

- Nutritionist
- Community Development Worker
- Nutrition Researcher
- Food Industry Nutritionist

Careers advice: the dedicated Jobs and Careers team offers expert advice and a host of resources to help you choose and gain employment. Whether you're in your first or final year, you can speak to members of staff from our Careers Office who can offer you advice from writing a CV to searching for jobs.

Visit the careers site - https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/employability/jobs-careers-support.htm

Course Benefits

You'll undertake a four to six-week placement either in the UK or abroad. It's an opportunity to gain significant work experience in areas such as food product development, weight loss and healthy lifestyles, and consultancy in either the private, public or charity sector. You'll also have access to our state-of-the-art biomedical science laboratories, clinical skills suite and kitchens, which will allow you to hone your practical skills further.

You'll be taught by an experienced team of professionals including Professor Pinki Sahota, an expert in childhood nutrition and obesity with 17 years' experience in the NHS, and Professor Alan White, Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Men's Health Forum.

You'll also hear from other leading professionals in the field as we host regular guest speakers from nutritional practice, the food industry, public health departments, hospital settings and research.

Core Modules

Enterprise in Public Health Nutrition
A population and lifespan based approach to the nutritional needs of individuals and communities, and contemporary issues influencing these.

Food Systems and Policy
Study the food systems currently operating across the food chain in agriculture, processing, distribution, retailing and food service. We will increase your awareness of the properties and behaviour of food, and how various systems are managed and operated.

Lifestyle Disease and Social Context
Examine lifestyle conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity and analyse the health, psychosocial, cultural and socioeconomic determinants associated with prevalence.

Nutrition Advances in Practice
Explore the theory and principles of human nutrition. You'll focus on integration of nutritional science, clinical science, and food science. Alongside theory, you will develop skills to critically evaluate and integrate current research.

Nutrition Epidemiology
Examine the role of nutrition in the aetiology and trends of nutrition-related diseases. You'll look at the strengths and weaknesses of nutritional epidemiological methods, design concepts and application of appropriate statistical methods.

Research and Practice Development
An opportunity to undertake a small scale piece of research and / or development that supports your health-related practice within nutrition.

Research Methods in Health and Wellbeing
Develop both theoretical and practical skills that you will use in your dissertation module.

Nutritional Placement
A four to six week work experience placement taking place either in the UK or abroad over the summer.

Professional and Collaborative Practice

Kate Austin

Senior Lecturer

"I'm passionate about raising the profile of the preventative nutrition agenda, working to develop strategies and services to halt the rise in obesity and prevent the development of nutrition-related disease in the UK. This passion extends into my teaching where I enjoy facilitating the development of students into competent practitioners."

As well as a Course Leader and lecturer, Kate is also the regional representative for the Association for Nutrition. Her main area of research is nutrition in early years and links to appetite regulation.

Facilities

- Nutrition Laboratories
Our nutrition labs will allow you to develop your practical nutritional skills.

- Library
Our libraries are two of the only university libraries in the UK open 24/7 every day of the year. However you like to study, the libraries have got you covered with group study, silent study, extensive e-learning resources and PC suites.

- Clinical Skills Suite
Make use of our well equipped community living area allowing you to practice first hand the application of your skills and knowledge.

Find out how to apply here - http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/postgraduate/how-to-apply/

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This MSc focuses on the problems of over- and under-nutrition, which apply to most developed nations as well as those undergoing rapid transformation. The programme offers specialised training in the clinical and scientific basis of malnutrition and obesity, and therapeutic approaches to correcting this in the hospital, community and educational setting.

Degree information

The programme focuses on periods of the lifecycle when nutrition is particularly important; these include: acute illness, trauma, surgery or malignancy; and chronic conditions in which disease, nutrition and treatment interact. The aetiology, pathophysiology and epidemiology of obesity will be explored alongside all approaches currently being used in its treatment.

Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.

The programme consists of eight core modules (120 credits) and a research dissertation (60 credits). A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits) comprising all taught modules is offered. A Postgraduate Certificate comprising four core modules (60 credits) is offered. There are no optional modules for this programme.

Core modules
-Fundamentals of Nutrition and Metabolism
-Disease-related Malnutrition
-Experimental Design and Research Methods
-Practical Nutritional Assessment
-Therapeutic Aspects of Clinical Nutrition
-Nutrition and Public Health
-Malnutrition in the Community
-Disease and Disordered Eating

Dissertation/report
All MSc students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 10,000-15,000 words.

Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of seminars, lectures, laboratory work, site visits and practicals. Assessment is through examination, presentations, essays, practical reports and the dissertation.

Careers

This MSc is particularly suitable for candidates who wish to pursue a lifelong career in the field of cutting-edge translational research and the practice of nutrition therapy in the health services of the UK and other countries, or in the clinical nutrition industry. It is envisaged that this programme will provide an ideal foundation for graduates who wish subsequently to undertake a PhD within UCL or elsewhere.

Whilst this MSc does not lead to registration to practice as a dietitian, it provides a firm foundation for an application (via the indirect route) for registration with the Association for Nutrition, a professional body that holds the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists (UKVRN), a competency-based register of nutritionists.

Top career destinations for this degree:
-PhD Obesity, Imperial College London
-Food Researcher, COFCO
-Dietitian, Self-Employed Dietician
-Senior Clinical Fellow, Salford Royal Hospital (NHS)
-MPhil/PhD Nutrition and Health, University College London (UCL)

Employability
This programme runs within the School of Life & Medical Sciences; one of the largest and most prestigious aggregations of academics in its field, with a global reputation for teaching informed by cutting-edge research. Our close links with major hospitals and public health organisations allows students to perform significant nutrition projects. Some use the MSc to improve their medical/clinical knowledge-base, or to gain entry to Dietetics courses; one in eight will continue with PhD studies; several are working in the voluntary sector or in industry; one is a leading public health clinician, several teach and research in home universities.

Why study this degree at UCL?

UCL deliver a high proportion of nutrition teaching to medical undergraduates because many UCL staff engage in research with a nutritional dimension.

As part of the internationally renowned Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, within the UCL Division of Medicine, we link with clinical services at University College London Hospitals (UCLH) and Royal Free Hospitals. Students benefit from the expertise of the many clinicians and scientists who teach on this MSc.

UCL has a rich and varied research environment. Students can choose projects, which will develop research skills in clinical and public health settings with supervisors from across UCL, the London community or elsewhere.

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Evolutionary Medicine is a growing and exciting new field that is highly interdisciplinary in nature. We offer the only MSc in Evolutionary Medicine in the world, taught by a unique grouping of world-class researchers specialising in evolutionary approaches to the study of health and disease. A major theme of the course is the mismatch between the environment in which humans evolved and the contemporary environment, and implications for obesity and related metabolic disorders, reproductive health and infant care. Optional courses are offered in palaeopathology and cultural evolution, and in the wider anthropology of health.

Course content

The programme is designed for students preparing for doctoral research in evolutionary medicine, or for those who would like to apply an evolutionary perspective to their work in health. It is a popular intercalated degree for medical students.

The course is suitable for those with an undergraduate degree in anthropology, psychology, biology, health sciences, nutrition or a related discipline, and for health professionals.

Evolutionary Medicine is a growing and exciting new field that is highly interdisciplinary in nature. We currently offer the only MSc in Evolutionary Medicine in the world, taught by a unique grouping of world-class researchers specialising in evolutionary approaches to the study of health and disease. A major theme of the course is the mismatch between the environment in which humans evolved and the contemporary environment, and implications for obesity and related metabolic disorders, reproductive health and infant care. Optional modules previously offered included palaeopathology and cultural evolution, and in the wider anthropology of health.

The full-time course runs for a full year, from October to September. Students attend classes between October and December (Michaelmas Term) and January and March (Epiphany), with further teaching and assessment in April and May (Easter Term), and then work, under the supervision of a specialist supervisor, to complete a dissertation in September. Students take three core taught modules, designed to provide a foundation in evolutionary theory, quantitative methods used in evolutionary medicine, and an introduction to evolutionary medicine. There is also a range of optional modules available to allow students to focus on areas of particular interest.

Each module we offer has a credit value. To obtain a Master’s degree you must register for and pass modules to the value of 180 credits. In recognition of the emphasis we place on independent research skills, the dissertation is a 60 credit module.

Compulsory modules:
-Dissertation
-Evolutionary Theory
-Evolutionary and Ecological Topics in Medicine and Health
-Statistical Analysis in Anthropology

Previous optional modules have included:
-Academic and Professional Skills in Anthropology
-Evolutionary Perspectives on Western Diseases
-Public Health Anthropology
-Anthropology of Global Health
-Cultural Evolution
-Evolutionary Psychology
-Themes in Palaeopathology
-Evolutionary Perspectives on Reproductive and Infant Health
-Foreign language option.

Please see http://www.durham.ac.uk/anthropology/postgraduatestudy/taughtprogrammes/evolutionarymedicine for further information on modules.

Learning and Teaching

Evolutionary Medicine is a growing and exciting new field that is highly interdisciplinary in nature. We offer the only MSc in Evolutionary Medicine in the world, taught by a unique group of world-class researchers specialising in evolutionary approaches to the study of health and disease. A major theme of the course is the mismatch between the environment in which humans evolved and the contemporary environment, and implications for obesity and related metabolic disorders, reproductive health and infant care. Optional courses are offered in palaeopathology and cultural evolution, and in the wider anthropology of health.

The course runs for a full year, from October to September. Students attend classes between October and December (Michaelmas Term) and January and March (Epiphany), with further teaching and assessment in April (Easter Term), and then work, under the supervision of a specialist supervisor, to complete a dissertation in September. Students take three core taught modules, designed to provide a foundation in evolutionary theory, quantitative methods used in evolutionary medicine, and an introduction to evolutionary medicine. There is also a range of optional modules available to allow students to focus on areas of particular interest.

Each module we offer has a credit value. To obtain a Master’s degree you must register for and pass modules to the value of 180 credits. In recognition of the emphasis we place on independent research skills, the dissertation is a 60 credit module.

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Help people and communities lead healthier and happier lives by developing the expertise to promote active lifestyle choices.

With the Government's drive to inspire people to be more active and minimise the impact of unhealthy lifestyle choices, the demand for professionals working within the promotion of physical activity and health has increased.

Studying across the generations, you will examine the physical activity of children and how it helps growth and development, and how you can encourage healthy habits through adolescence and into adulthood.

You will also work with individuals and groups to identify inactive and sedentary behaviours and will design and evaluate interventions which will, ultimately, improve the health of the nation.

Whether you are fresh from undergraduate study or a professional wanting to further your career, this course will help you develop the skills to promote healthy lifestyles effectively, reducing the risk of conditions such as obesity, diabetes and improving people's mental health and wellbeing.

Visit the website http://courses.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/physicalactivityandhealth_msc

Mature Applicants

Our University welcomes applications from mature applicants who demonstrate academic potential. We usually require some evidence of recent academic study, for example completion of an access course, however recent relevant work experience may also be considered. Please note that for some of our professional courses all applicants will need to meet the specified entry criteria and in these cases work experience cannot be considered in lieu.

If you wish to apply through this route you should refer to our University Recognition of Prior Learning policy that is available on our website (http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/studenthub/recognition-of-prior-learning.htm).

Please note that all applicants to our University are required to meet our standard English language requirement of GCSE grade C or equivalent, variations to this will be listed on the individual course entry requirements.

Careers

In the drive to encourage people to lead healthier lifestyles, the number of health-related programmes implemented by local authorities, schools, colleges and sports clubs has soared. In turn, this has created a host of career opportunities in private healthcare, the NHS, local government, education and with sports bodies and organisations.

- Intervention & Evaluation Officer
- Health Improvement Officer
- Senior Health Trainer
- Business Development Manager

Careers advice: The dedicated Jobs and Careers team offers expert advice and a host of resources to help you choose and gain employment. Whether you're in your first or final year, you can speak to members of staff from our Careers Office who can offer you advice from writing a CV to searching for jobs.

Visit the careers site - https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/employability/jobs-careers-support.htm

Course Benefits

You will benefit from being taught by a highly skilled and research-active teaching team who are world-leading in their field and have vast experience in sport, physical activity, nutrition, education, and health.

Our team of academics include Professor Jim McKenna, the Head of the Active Lifestyles Centre and Professor Paul Gately, who founded the weight management organisation MoreLife in 1999. Both have contributed to seminal government reports and guidance, including the 2007 Physical Activity Guidelines and the International Obesity Task Force and World Health Organization's report on childhood obesity, and both continue to consult to many government agencies, health organisations and corporations throughout the world.

Other staff members work closely with the likes of Leeds Rhinos, Public Health England, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and the NHS, and you will be able to engage and forge contacts with industry professionals during guest lectures.

You will also gain student membership of the Royal Society for Public Health, giving you access to additional continued professional development, the very latest industry information and links to employers.

Dr Zoe Rutherford

Principal Lecturer

"I am passionate about promoting healthy lifestyles, and helping to produce physical activity and health graduates who are knowledgeable, confident and employable with transferable skills. I help my students by putting theory into practice through my research, collaboratively and individually and through my work with professional networks."

Dr Rutherford is a Principle Lecturer in Physical Activity & Health. She joined Leeds Beckett in 2013, and completed her PhD, 'School day opportunities for promoting Moderate-to-Vigorous physical activity in primary children', at Liverpool John Moores University in 2011. A consultant and researcher in the measurement and promotion of health and physical activity, Dr Rutherford is currently working with colleagues on the impact of sedentary time on health and interventions to reduce it.

Facilities

- Sports Science Labs
Our state-of-the-art facilities include a human performance lab, a cardio-respiratory lab, a blood sampling room for biochemical marker work, a working physiology lab for monitoring athletes, a full body composition scanner and a nutrition laboratory.

Find out how to apply here - http://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/postgraduate/how-to-apply/

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Summary

Gain the essential skillsets as a nutritionist to help improve people’s health and well-being in the context of the malnutrition, obesity, metabolic response to injury and chronic disease.

This was the first MSc in Clinical Nutrition to be established in the UK and has gained an international reputation, attracting students from around the world. You will consider the patient’s journey from birth to extreme age in the context of the metabolic response to injury or to chronic disease. The course is designed for all members of nutrition support teams and is also suitable for students who wish to pursue clinically-based nutrition research.

After establishing a firm foundation in physiology and the biochemistry of nutrition, this course will cover the nutritional management for clinical conditions such as gastro-enteral problems, long-term disablement and intensive care. It also includes a focus on nutrition support in paediatric, adult, older adult and critically ill patients.

This course is perfect for nutrition support teams or those who want to pursue a career or a doctorate in clinically-based nutrition. The course will provide an important insight into contemporary developments in clinical nutrition for a wide range of healthcare professionals.

You will have access to our state-of-the art facilities and excellent laboratories including a food lab complete with sensory analysis tasting booths and specialist laboratories for physiology, microbiology and computing.

Please note this programme does not lead to a qualification in the UK as a registered Dietitian. It is an accredited course with the Association for Nutrition, and does enable you to become a registered nutritionist, once you have complete two years in the nutrition field.

Content

We offer a diverse range of modules to build your knowledge and enable you to focus on topics that interest you. Recent examples of these topics have included: macronutrient and micronutrient metabolism in health and disease, nutrient digestion and absorption and gastrointestinal disease, nutritional support in paediatric, adult, older adult and critically ill patients, the effect of disease on nutrition status.

Research areas that are also included in the programme are dietary management strategies in women with polycystic ovary syndrome; the role of brain–gut interaction in obesity, eating disorders, and irritable bowel syndrome; the role of the enteric nervous system in known intestinal diseases; vitamin E status in health and disease; the role of microbiota in food and nutritional systems; food bioactives for a healthy gut, brain and vascular system; the regulation of insulin secretion and glucose metabolism in health and diabetes.

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Applied Human Nutrition is a practical, research driven masters course detailing the science behind the nutritional requirements of humans from pre-conception to old age.

Recently there has been a significant rise in diet-related illnesses around the globe, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers and cardiovascular disease. Poor nutrition is causing increasing public health problems in all sectors and ages, especially among the young and the elderly. On the other hand, in some areas of the world deficiency diseases and malnutrition are common.

A key focus of this course is examining the provision of food and nutrients to the body to facilitate optimum physical and mental development and maintenance of health throughout a lifetime. It also emphasises the specific problems of global nutrition and the public health implications.

The course is suited to graduates with a background in the biological sciences. Applications are encouraged from UK, EU and international students with an interest in acquiring expertise in nutrition, and from graduates who wish to pursue careers as nutritionists.

See the website http://www.brookes.ac.uk/courses/postgraduate/applied-human-nutrition/

Why choose this course?

- High profile speakers from the food industry, government and research bodies regularly present at our nutrition seminar series, keeping students up-to-date with current thinking on nutrition, food and policy topics.

- You have opportunities to work with our Functional Food Centre, the UK's first research centre dedicated to functional foods, in undertaking your research project - involving you in some of the cutting edge research that helps the government and food industry develop new products with specific health and nutritional benefits.

- Our Functional Food Centre has excellent links with the food industry, giving students an opportunity to undertake their research project externally or to develop contacts for career progression.

- Our course is accredited by the Association for Nutrition (AfN), the largest learned society for nutrition in Europe. There is increasing recognition among employers, in industry and in the public sectors that registration with the AfN is a sign of quality, which could enhance graduate career prospects.

Teaching and learning

Teaching is organised on a module-credit basis, with each module involving approximately 200 hours of student input and approximately 36 hours of staff contact, normally delivered through three hours' teaching each week for 12 weeks. Learning methods include lectures, directed reading, workshops, seminars, practical and project work. The research project will be supervised on a one-to-one basis.

Each module is assessed individually, generally on the quality of written or design work, and to some extent on verbal presentations. Assessment methods may include essays, seminar papers, formal written examinations, in-class tests, project work, design and verbal presentations, workshops, simulations, and practical exercises.

Teaching staff are drawn primarily from the Department of Sport and Health Sciences, but will include visiting speakers from business and industry, local government, consultancies, research bodies and other universities.

The Functional Food Centre is an internationally-renowned research group consisting of visiting professors, fellows, research assistants and PhD students, who are all researching nutrition and food topics.

Specialist facilities

As one of the biggest European Centres for Glycaemic Index testing, the Functional Food Centre boasts impressive facilities including a dedicated product development kitchen and fully equipped sensory booths

How this course helps you develop

There are a number of networking opportunities with people from the nutrition profession through the Functional Food Centre's links with the food industry, public health bodies and other research institutes. In addition, students will benefit from the experience of meeting and listening to high-profile speakers from food companies, government and other universities who give key-note lectures.

Careers

Graduates pursue a range of nutrition-related careers, particularly in health promotion as food and health co-ordinators: in industry with food and drink manufacturers and retailers, medical food companies, food service providers and trade associations; in government and policy to improve the health of the population; and in research in universities, food companies or research institutes.

Free language courses for students - the Open Module

Free language courses are available to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students on many of our courses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.

Please note that the free language courses are not available if you are:
- studying at a Brookes partner college
- studying on any of our teacher education courses or postgraduate education courses.

Research areas and clusters

We have a number of research strengths and exciting projects currently underway that you can can get involved in during your research projects.Some of the areas of interest include:
- Glycaemic control and the development of low glycaemic index foods
- Female nutrition and the role of the menstrual cycle in energy regulation
- Appetite and satiety
- Childhood obesity and the factors influencing it
- Sensory testing of foods
- Weight management
- Management of type 2 diabetes with nutrition and physical activity
- Functional food ingredients and their effect on energy regulation
- Antioxidant properties of foods

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