Program Overview

Human nutrition is the scientific study of the foods we eat, the nutrients in foods, the fate of the nutrients when they are eaten and the effect of diet on health and well-being. Human nutrition, therefore, includes the study of the science of nutrition, the supportive sciences of chemistry, biochemistry, physiology, anatomy, pathology, food science, epidemiology and statistics, together with the newer biosciences such as genetics and immunology. If you successfully complete the programme, you graduate with a BSc Hons Human Nutrition and a Diploma in Professional Practice (DPP) or Diploma in Professional Practice International (DPPI) or a Diploma in International Academic Studies (DIAS) depending on your placement choice. As a graduate nutritionist you will have the skills to elicit, disseminate, and apply knowledge drawn from the relevant sciences to promote an understanding of the effects of diet on human health and well-being.

Associate awards

Diploma in Professional Practice DPP

Diploma in International Academic Studies DIAS

Diploma in Professional Practice International DPPI

Attendance

This is a four year full-time course.

Start dates

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

This is a full time course. Students engage in lectures, seminars and tutorials. These are accompanied by practical sessions to enable the student to gain a deeper understanding of the taught academic materials.

Students are assessed using a range of methods including course work, presentations, group work, project initiation and development through critical appraisal of literature and undertaking research including writing a research dissertation in final year.

Academic profile

The University employs over 1,000 suitably qualified and experienced academic staff - 59% have PhDs in their subject field and many have professional body recognition.

Courses are taught by staff who are Professors (25%), Readers, Senior Lecturers (20%) or Lecturers (55%).

We require most academic staff to be qualified to teach in higher education: 82% hold either Postgraduate Certificates in Higher Education Practice or higher. Most academic staff (81%) are accredited fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) by Advanced HE - the university sector professional body for teaching and learning. Many academic and technical staff hold other professional body designations related to their subject or scholarly practice.

The profiles of many academic staff can be found on the University’s departmental websites and give a detailed insight into the range of staffing and expertise.  The precise staffing for a course will depend on the department(s) involved and the availability and management of staff.  This is subject to change annually and is confirmed in the timetable issued at the start of the course.

Occasionally, teaching may be supplemented by suitably qualified part-time staff (usually qualified researchers) and specialist guest lecturers. In these cases, all staff are inducted, mostly through our staff development programme ‘First Steps to Teaching’. In some cases, usually for provision in one of our out-centres, Recognised University Teachers are involved, supported by the University in suitable professional development for teaching.

Figures correct for academic year 2021-2022.