Our MSc Human Nutrition programme will develop your scientific research skills to an advanced level and fuel your interest in this fascinating and vital discipline.
You will develop a deep understanding of current issues in the field of human nutrition – all taught elements emphasise the evidence-based links between diet, health and disease, and are underpinned by a full appreciation for the nutritional mechanisms involved.
Our excellent links with industry will help you to pursue a successful and rewarding career. The programme also forms an excellent foundation for those who wish to pursue further education via a PhD or research post in industry following graduation.
MSc students may apply for Associate Nutritionist status on the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists.
This programme is studied full-time over one academic year. It consists of eight taught modules and an original research project.
Example module listing
The following modules are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. All modules described are compulsory.
Our MSc programme caters for the following applicants:
The University of Surrey has long been regarded as a UK centre of excellence for teaching in nutrition and dietetics through our long-running and successful undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.
Staff within the Department of Nutritional Sciences have an internationally recognised expertise in areas such as diabetes, lipid metabolism, cardiovascular risk, bone health, Vitamin D, selenium and iodine, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity and energy balance.
As a postgraduate student, you will be taught by a variety of lecturers who are actively researching the topic being covered, or have a wealth of experience in that particular area.
You will also have the opportunity to undertake independent research via a project, guided by a dedicated and experienced supervisor. Projects are available across a range of topics representing the strength and depth of the Department and wider Faculty.
You will be working alongside staff, PhD students and post-doctoral researchers to ensure that you receive the full research experience.
This will form an excellent foundation for those MSc students wishing to pursue further education via a PhD or research post in industry.
The strong scientific element of our teaching will attract students looking for a programme of high academic quality.
The Department has excellent links with industry, which will help you to pursue a successful career in nutrition.
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, skills, qualities and other attributes in the following areas:
Knowledge and understanding
Intellectual / cognitive skills
Professional practical skills
Key / transferable skills
We often give our students the opportunity to acquire international experience during their degrees by taking advantage of our exchange agreements with overseas universities.
In addition to the hugely enjoyable and satisfying experience, time spent abroad adds a distinctive element to your CV.
Study at one of the most renowned international Institutes for health nutrition research which has continued to play an important part in research for over 100 years at Aberdeen and internationally. The Rowett Institute informs policy and continues to join the dots between diet and health. If you are interested in health and dietary factors this programme will provide much theory and research towards answers and questions you want to ask. You look at dietary assessments, macronutrients, energy balance, metabolism, micronutrients, nutrition and body influence, body composition and nutrition throughout life. You also apply statistics to uncover answers to questions.
Understanding the link between diet and health can be the differentiator between good health and issues affecting public health. This major area of interest has grown considerably over the past few years with increasing awareness of disease and its prevention and the growth in population using health services and the service ability to cope in the future. There has also been a steady increase in the amount of professionals providing consultancy and support to people who have realised the link and want to take action to become healthier with books, films and many other supporting communications in what has almost become an industry in itself.
The Rowett Institute in Aberdeen is known UK wide and internationally as a major research contributor to many discoveries within food and nutrition, informing policy, debating health and food security and many other issues relating to the food we eat and its effects on our bodies.
The aim of this innovative programme is to provide training in human nutrition for graduates in biological or other sciences. The main focus of the programme is on the relationship between diet, health and disease, and the nutritional mechanisms involved in disease development and disease with three specialist areas harnessing Aberdeen’s unique range of expertise in Metabolic Nutrition, Molecular Nutrition and Public Health Nutrition. This programme can take in in several directions after graduation. You may want to work as a Nutritionist, within Public Health as a Policy Manger, as a Dietitian, or within private practice as a Fitness and Nutrition Counsellor or teaching and studying for a PhD.
Semester 1
Foundations of Nutrition
Assessment of Nutritional Status
Applied Statistics
Nutrition and Health
Generic Skills
Semester 2
Research Methods and Professional Practice
Optional
Clinical Nutrition
Molecular Nutrition
Public Health Nutrition
Semester 3
Specialist Research Project Human Nutrition
Diploma Literature Review in Human Nutrition
Find out more detail by visiting the programme web page
https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/degree-programmes/118/human-nutrition/
• You can specialise in Clinical Nutrition, Molecular Nutrition or Public Health Nutrition, the MSc is accredited by the Association for
Nutrition
• You are taught by researchers from the Rowett Institute of Health and Nutrition in a new purpose designed building at the health
campus, Foresterhill
• Lord Boyd Orr won a Nobel Peace Prize for contributions to the worldwide fight against hunger at University of Aberdeen and
insulin was first developed at the university
• University of Aberdeen
• 12 or 24 months
• Full Time or Part Time
• September
Find out about fees:
https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/international/tuition-fees-and-living-costs-287.php
*Please be advised that some programmes have different tuition fees from those listed above and that some programmes also have additional costs.
View all funding options on our funding database via the programme page
https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/finance-funding-1599.php
https://www.abdn.ac.uk/funding/
Find out more about:
• Your Accommodation
• Campus Facilities
• Aberdeen City
• Student Support
• Clubs and Societies
Find out more about living in Aberdeen:
https://abdn.ac.uk/study/student-life
Living costs
https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/international/finance.php
Nutrition is a fast-moving discipline that focuses on understanding the role of diet in maintaining a healthy human body and the prevention of disease. This course will give you an in-depth understanding of the scientific, social and ethical considerations that inform the nutrition profession, as set by the professional voluntary register of nutritionists.
Throughout the course you’ll develop an in-depth understanding of the scientific principles that underpin the relationship between diet, human health and wellbeing. You’ll develop your ability to critically appraise the effects of food processing on the nutritional quality of foods and the role of processed foods in the diet.
The programme will encourage you to evaluate the current issues and developments related to the nutrition discipline, and propose new insights and solutions to diet-related problems.
The Programme is accredited by the Association for Nutrition which means it delivers all the core competencies required of registered nutritionists. On successful completion of this MSc, you are able to enter the UK voluntary register of nutritionists, and our excellent links with industry will help you to pursue a successful and rewarding career.
Read more about Association for Nutrition accreditation.
Through this course you’ll develop an understanding of the functions of food components and nutrients, as well as a capacity to critically analyse a problem, create an action plan and go through a scientific investigation. You’ll also have opportunities to develop skills such as effective communication and presentation.
The programme aims to develop your understanding of nutrition from an international perspective, and encourages the development of research projects that satisfy both the course requirements and your individual interests.
During the latter part of the year, you will choose a research area relevant to the research grouping of the School (Food Colloids and Processing, Food Chemistry and Biochemistry, Nutrition) and will undertake a critical evaluation of the literature and write a research proposal to answer a research question, as identified by the you and your academic tutor.
You will undertake the project in one of the research laboratories. The emphasis will be on the generation of primary data, and the discussion of research results in the context of current knowledge and opinions in the field.
Compulsory modules
For more information on typical modules, read Nutrition MSc in the course catalogue
Teaching is by lectures, practical classes, tutorials, seminars and supervised research projects. We make extensive use of IT and a wide range of materials is available to enable students to study at their own pace and in their own time to enhance and extend the material taught formally.
Assessment is by course work and written exams which take place at the end of the semester in which the module is taught.
On graduating from the Nutrition MSc you’ll have the knowledge and skills relevant for registration as a qualified nutritionist, in food companies and other nutrition and health-related industries, providing personalised advice on healthy eating.
Many of our graduates go on to work as Food Nutritionists or Public Health Nutritionists.
Food Nutritionists usually work in the food manufacturing industry and look at the science, ingredients, policy, legislation and regulations involved in the consumption or marketing of a food item. As a Food Nutritionist your role will vary between nutrition training or education, health promotion and assessing, setting, implementing and communicating nutritional standards and information, marketing, product development, regulatory support and scientific research.
Public Health Nutritionists develop, implement and evaluate nutrition policies and programmes. As a Public Health Nutritionist you’ll undertake research and apply scientific knowledge to ensure the government, people and communities have a good understanding of the impact of food and diet on health and well-being. You’ll also be in a position to advise on how to improve the diet, nutrition and health of people and communities.
Further study
A Masters in food science will also serve you well in progression to research-led projects. Many of our students go on to undertake PhD research here at the University of Leeds in one of the School’s research groups. Read about postgraduate research in the School of Food Science and Nutrition.
The School of Food Science and Nutrition has its own dedicated Employability Enhancement Officer who can offer quality advice and support with regards to careers, CV and cover letter writing, job applications etc. The Employability Enhancement Officer promotes a range of opportunities available to students to ensure they maximise their capabilities through a process of personal development and career planning.
We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.
The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.
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.
This course is accredited by the Association for Nutrition.
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.
Modules
Here are examples of the modules:
Nutritionist (public sector, private commercial or independent), public health nutritionist, academia research/teaching, commercial research, NHS (various roles) and local and central government (roles in policy and health promotion). In addition, many students are already health professionals and study the course as part of their career development and specialisation.
Public health nutrition is a new and interesting subject area that concentrates on achieving a sound knowledge in nutrition and public health, providing participants with the expertise to work in a variety of settings to promote nutrition for the benefit of public health. A public health nutritionist influences food selection and eating behaviour of a population, based on research and national dietary guidelines. Public health nutritionists can expect to find themselves in advisory and policy/advocacy roles as well as engaged in research in the UK and internationally.
This course will allow graduates of biological sciences to build on their knowledge, and aims to promote the critical appraisal of the theory and application of public health nutrition, and nutrition policy planning and practice, to improve the health of the population through nutrition.
The emphasis is on independent problem-based learning where your previous knowledge and skills are used to develop an understanding in the new subject areas you will be studying. The course is taught using a variety of interactive learning methods including lectures, tutorials, seminars, workshops, laboratories, group work, role-play and interactive computer sessions. Development of interpersonal skills and professional skills and attitudes are also a major focus of the learning and teaching programme. Learning activities are guided using web based programmes. The course is modular and each module is assessed mainly by course work, except for one examination in Food and Nutrition. Normally, there are approximately 12 students on this course but some modules are shared with the MSc Dietetics which can result in a class of no more than 24 students. These small class sizes ensure that students receive excellent support and benefit from sharing their experiences with classmates.
Each module which you study on campus will require you to attend classes and carry out independent work. It is estimated that each module will require 150 hours of your time. Your attendance requirements at QMU will depend on which module you are studying and whether you are studying full or part-time.
The course is accredited by the Association for Nutrition. This enables graduates to register with the Association for Nutrition as an Associate Nutritionist.
15 credits: Food and Nutrition/ Principles of Nutrition Science/ Food Policy and Planning/ Public Health Nutrition/Epidemiology/ Clinical Sciences/ Research Methods/ Detriments for Health If studying for an MSc, you will also complete a dissertation (60 credits)
Opportunities exist for public health nutritionists in the following areas: public health; health promotion (specialising in nutrition); government advisory posts; food companies; research; health media and pharmaceutical industry.
