Nutrition is the science that interprets the relationship between food and its nutritional composition to the functioning of the living organism. It includes study of the intake, digestion, absorption of food, production of energy, elimination of wastes, and all the syntheses that are essential for growth, maintenance and reproduction across the life-cycle. This is a multidisciplinary course focused on human nutrition with a related emphasis on health and prevention of diet related disease. It is suitable if you are interested in following a career in public health, food industry, health promotion and nutrition, education or research. In Years One and Two, you will gain a grounding in the core areas of the biological sciences. You will be introduced to fundamental principles and concepts in nutrition and associated disciplines and start to integrate your acquired knowledge from the different disciplines. You will study a range of modules that will allow you to start to develop core study skills, in addition to laboratory and investigative (information technology and research) skills. In Year Three, you will consider the factors that influence the maintenance and disturbance of health with a focus on nutrition at the individual, community and population level across all stages of the life-span. You will continue to develop a range of skills, including evaluating scientific and lay literature, communication and also specialist skills needed by the nutritionist to practice within the profession. In Year Four, the majority of your time will be spent on your Honours project which will involve you carrying out an individual research project, allowing you to further integrate and develop your skills and knowledge in a particular area. Modules focus on the current issues facing public health within the UK, namely obesity, cardiovascular disease and cancer, and consider the policy, health promotion and education. Elective modules allow you to align your studies to your career goals. Learning and teaching is very much student-centred and focuses on developing knowledge and understanding in the subject area, as well as development of intellectual, practical, transferable and professional skills using a combination of lectures, laboratories, workshops, student-led tutorials, problem-based case studies and directed independent activities.

You can enter a variety of scientific and health-related careers in the public and private sectors, such as: public health nutrition; health promotion; health media; food industry; fitness and leisure industries; research; government advisory posts; pharmaceutical industries; product development; and study for a higher degree (MSc, Mphil or PhD).