Applied Sport and Exercise Nutrition - PgDip/MSc

Our MSc/PGDip in Applied Sport and Exercise Nutrition is designed for students who want to work with a range of people to improve their health, fitness or sporting performance. We encourage applications from graduates with a background in sport and exercise science or human nutrition. 

Nutrition has profound effects on both human health and athletic performance. So we have based this course on the latest scientific research and contemporary practice. 

Our staff come from a wide range of sporting and nutrition backgrounds. They conduct first-class research and bring it to the classroom and some are actively involved in coaching. 

To provide you with subject specialist knowledge we also invite guest speakers from:

• industry
• other universities
• research organisations.

Our research groups and consultancies have strong links with Oxfordshire hospitals, elite athletes and food organisations. This gives you opportunities to conduct internal and external research projects. As well as develop potential career opportunities.

Learning and teaching

You will learn using a variety of methods. These reflect the wide variety of topics associated with applied sport and exercise nutrition, including:

• lectures
• directed reading
• workshops
• seminars
• practical exercises 
• laboratory sessions
• project work.

You will develop the skills to understand and communicate advanced theoretical and research-based knowledge of nutrition to people who participate in sport and exercise. 

Each module requires 200 hours of student input in each twelve week semester. There are approximately 36 hours of staff contact time. 

Assessment

Your performance in each module is assessed by:

• evaluation of your written or design work
• verbal presentations.

We use a range of assessment methods, including:

• essays
• seminar papers
• formal written examinations
• in-class tests
• project case work
• design and verbal presentations
• workshops
• simulations
• practical exercises.

Field trips

We encourage you to attend relevant industry and academic conferences. This will help to further your subject knowledge and take advantage of networking opportunities.

Research

Our research areas and clusters include:

• immediate physiological and psychophysical exercise performed at different intensities
• effects of restricted fluid intake in people with MS on temperature control, energy levels, balance and cognitive and physical performance
• feasibility of supporting people with long-term neurological conditions to exercise in the community
• exploring exercise responses in children with physical disabilities with plans to explore delivery of community exercise and sports programmes
• exploring novel exercise delivery techniques for people who find it hard to move, including the use of mental imagery
• effect of fluid and carbohydrate intake on rowing skill and performance
• relationship between levels of physical activity and blood levels of neuroactive proteins induced by exercise
• effect of green tea on competitive cycling performance
• effective nutritional strategies for enhancing post-exercise rehydration.

Career prospects

Many sports are becoming increasingly professional in their approach to training and nutrition. For example, many sports clubs now employ full-time nutrition consultants. Career prospects outside sport are also exciting.

The NHS offers an increasing number of opportunities for students with specialist training in exercise nutrition to support GP referral schemes and other healthy living programmes. The growing awareness of health within society, coupled with misconceptions of the relationship between physical activity, nutrition and health has led to an increasing demand for graduates who can deliver evidence-based solutions and advice at all levels.

Research or teaching within further or higher education also provide potential career opportunities.

Our graduates progress to a diverse range of careers including exercise and lifestyle consultants based within hospitals and private practice. Various graduates have secured full time and part time work with professional sports teams as well as the Institutes of Sport in the UK.

Some of our graduates have also gone on to work in major international companies such as GlaxoSmithKline or are employed as industry consultants, dieticians and nutrition counsellors. Graduates have also successfully gained funded PhD positions.

Visit the Applied Sport and Exercise Nutrition - PgDip/MSc page on the Oxford Brookes University website for more details!