Sport and Exercise Nutrition - MSc - 2024/25 Entry

Overview

Our MSc in Sport and Exercise Nutrition will allow you to gain the specialist skills and competencies needed to kick-start a successful career as a sport and exercise nutritionist or pursue further research in this subject area.

This course is open to International students.

What's covered in this course?

The course is delivered through a series of taught and practice-based learning sessions delivered by our SENr-registered Sport and Exercise Nutrition academic staff. The practical sessions involve laboratory, field-based and nutrition kitchen-related work to develop the range of practical skills and competencies required of a sport and exercise nutritionist.

Taught sessions cover the key principles of sport and exercise nutrition, exercise metabolism and biochemistry, ensuring that you have a strong scientific knowledge underpinning your applied practice. Throughout the course, we will encourage you to critically evaluate the latest scientific research along with emerging themes in sport and exercise nutrition to develop an evidence-based approach to your work. Aligned to this, you will have the opportunity to engage in a Professional Practice placement which will allow you to apply your skills and knowledge with a range of external clients, including athletes from professional sport (for example football, cricket, rugby etc.), as well as the wider health and exercise community.

Accredited By

Why Choose Us?

Our year-long ‘Professional Practice’ module gives you the opportunity to develop essential practitioner skills and be well placed to secure a job upon graduation.
This course has been accredited by the Sport and Exercise Nutrition Register (SENR), which means that those successfully graduating from these programmes will automatically be eligible to join the SENR Graduate Register.
Learn from registered Sport and Exercise Nutritionists who bring a wealth of experience from applied and research settings to enrich your learning and provide you with key network/contacts in the industry.
You will split your time between our campus in Edgbaston, Birmingham, and the world-class Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr, Birmingham, using industry-leading facilities for contemporary analysis methods (e.g. DEXA Scanner, Specialist Nutrition Kitchen), ensuring you are exposed to equipment you are likely to use in practice.
Our brand new curriculum has been designed in collaboration with employers and is seeking professional body endorsement (SENr), ensuring the content you cover meets current sector demands.
We've embedded additional qualifications as part of the course, such as ISAK Level 1; Food Safety & Hygiene Level 2; and UKAD Introduction to Clean Sport), meaning you could graduate with more than just a degree.

OPEN DAY

Join us on campus where you'll be able to find out more about your course, learn about postgraduate finance and get an insight into studying at BCU. Booking for the next event isn’t open yet. Register your interest below and we’ll email you as soon as booking goes live.

Next Event: 29 June 2024

Register interest

Entry Requirements

Essential requirements

An Honours degree with a 2:2 or above in a relevant discipline (Sport; Exercise; Health; Nutrition; Biochemistry; Dietetics).

A minimum of 5 GCSEs at Grade 4/C or above, with English Language, Mathematics and Science all at Grade 4/C or above.

The University operates a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process that enables all applicants to gain recognition for previous studies and learning that relates to the course being applied for.

EU and International: Candidates who have not received their secondary school education in English will require an overall IELTS score of 7, with no subtest below 6.5.

If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.

Fees & How to Apply

Please select your student status to view fees and apply

UK Student
International Student

UK students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: MSc

Starting: Sep 2024

Full Time
1 Year
£9,710 in 2024/25

Part Time
2 Years
Show fees

£1079 per 20 credits
Year 1 - 80 credits
Year 2 - 100 credits

Fees for Part-time students

This course can be studied on a Part-time study basis. The cost per year of study is based on credit requirements for that year.

International students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: MSc

Starting: Sep 2024

Full Time
1 Year
£17,710 in 2024/25

Access to computer equipment

You will require use of a laptop, and most students do prefer to have their own. However, you can borrow a laptop from the university or use one of our shared computer rooms.

Printing

You will receive £5 print credit in each year of your course, available after enrolment.

Field trips

All essential field trips and associated travel costs will be included in your course fees.

Access to Microsoft Office 365

Every student at the University can download a free copy of Microsoft Office 365 to use whilst at university and for 18 months after graduation.

Key Software

You will be able to download SPSS and Nvivo to your home computer to support with your studies and research.

Key subscriptions

Subscriptions to key journals and websites are available through our library.

Free access to Rosetta Stone

All students can sign up to the online learning language platform for free through the Graduate+ scheme.

Clothing and safety equipment (mandatory)

For practice learning opportunities, you will be expected to adhere to the BCU HELS Faculty Dress Code and/or the dress code for the relevant placement provider(s). This may involve the purchase of new items of clothing and/or shoes.

Placement expenses (mandatory)

There may be some costs for travel or temporary accommodation associated with placements. The NHS Learning Support Fund can help with these costs. Information about what the fund covers and eligibility criteria can be found online: https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-learning-support-fund

Excess printing (optional)

Once you have spent your £5 credit, additional printing on campus costs from 5p per sheet.

Books (optional)

All module key texts will be in the University library, but in limited numbers. You may choose to purchase a copy.

Subscriptions (optional)

You may wish to purchase subscriptions to additional journals and websites.

Memberships (optional)

You may wish to join a union or professional body related to this course.

Accommodation and living costs

The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.

Personal statement

You’ll need to submit a personal statement as part of your application for this course. This will need to highlight your passion for postgraduate study – and your chosen course – as well as your personal skills and experience, academic success, and any other factors that will support your application for further study.

Not sure what to include? We’re here to help – take a look at our top tips for writing personal statements and download our free postgraduate personal statement guide for further advice and examples from real students.

Course in Depth

Modules

To complete this course, you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 180 credits):

Download course specification

Download now

The course will utilise a variety of learning and teaching methods to encourage reflective and critical thinking skills, enabling you to become confident and autonomous learners. You will develop sound academic and practical competencies, so you are readily employable and well-equipped for lifelong learning.

The course will be delivered through a series of taught and practice-based learning sessions delivered by our SENr registered Sport and Exercise Nutrition academic staff. Practical sessions will involve laboratory, field-based and nutrition kitchen-related work to develop the range of practical skills and competencies required of a sport and exercise nutritionist. The theory sessions will cover the key principles of sport and exercise nutrition, exercise metabolism and biochemistry, ensuring that students have a strong scientific knowledge underpinning their applied practice.

You will be assessed using a range of methods including examinations, coursework assignments, presentations, case studies and practical assessments. There are formative assessment opportunities within all modules to help you prepare for summative assessments. Following completion of any summative assessment, you will receive written feedback on your performance, as well as guidance on how could improve for future assessments.

The Sport and Exercise Nutrition Register (SENR)

The Sport and Exercise Nutrition Register (SENR) is a voluntary register designed to accredit suitably qualified and experienced practitioners, who have the competency to work autonomously as a Sport and Exercise Nutritionist with performance oriented athletes, as well as those participating in physical activity, sport and exercise for health.

Those successfully graduating from these programmes will automatically be eligible to join the SENR Graduate Register.

Employability

You will learn a range of skills which will be key to enhancing your future employability.

Specifically, you will:

Develop effective communication skills
Learn to think critically and reflect on your own practice
Apply your knowledge and skills within a professional setting, following a practice-led, knowledge-applied approach
Learn to work independently and collaboratively.
Become a self-motivated, organised, effective learner
Develop interview and self-promotion skills
Learn about business development.

Links to Industry

We have a wide array of links with partner organisations regionally, and nationally. These partnerships will provide work experience opportunities for you and contribute to your learning and teaching activities. We have links with numerous professional sports clubs (including football, rugby, cricket etc.) in addition to clients within the health sector.

Crucially, the opportunities for placement and links with external industry in this region are substantial, with the 2nd largest population in the UK on our doorstep. There are many professional sporting clubs, private organisations, recreational exercise groups and millions of people with whom our students can have a positive impact within their communities.

Placements

You will undertake a year-long Professional Practice placement module which will give you an invaluable opportunity to develop essential practitioner skills and experience. The placement aims to provide you with the skills required to work in a sport and exercise nutrition setting. The placement is designed to bring together all the skills, knowledge, and experiences that you will obtain throughout your degree course and attest to whether you are ready to become an applied sport and exercise nutrition practitioner. We have several placement opportunities available in both health- and sport-related settings.

More about our placement opportunities

International

Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.

The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.

Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:

Explore some of the good reasons why you should study here.
Find out how to improve your language skills before starting your studies.
Find all the information relevant to applicants from your country.
Learn where to find financial support for your studies.

Facilities & Staff

Teaching for our Sports courses is split between our £71 million campus in Edgbaston, Birmingham, and the world-class Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr, Birmingham. Our cutting-edge facilities for sports students include a state-of-the-art sport and exercise lab, sports therapy suite, biomechanics lab and physiology labs.

The Stadium was home to the Commonwealth Games in summer 2022, and the University is investing an additional £5m to develop space in the East and West stands as a home for our students.

Our new home at Alexander Stadium

Our staff

Jennie Carter

Leader BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Nutrition

With over 10 years' experience, Jennie is passionate about supporting athletes through the implementation of nutritional intervention to enhance health and sports performance. She currently works with Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club and Warwickshire County Cricket Club, alongside lecturing and has previously worked...

More about Jennie