Program Overview

Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine PGDip / MSc

Overview

This innovative, evidence-based, flexible online programme has full and part-time options with one block of mandatory face-to-face attendance in each of the three semesters over 15 months (September - December). The exact number of attendance days is dependent on whether you are on the full-time or part-time route. For each module, you will also have mandatory live online teaching days, the number of which will vary according to the module.

Studying this course full-time enables you to qualify in just 15 months and part-time from 27 months up to 39 months depending on your chosen pathway. You will develop your knowledge and skills to work with clients as a registered Nutritional Therapy Practitioner (Nutritional Therapist) in the UK and to employ your skills in other related activities such as group work as a Registered Nutritionist (mBANT).

The course is accredited by NTEC. The next standard reaccreditation date is 2026.

Key Features

• This exciting and innovative course gives you the opportunity to pursue a rewarding career in Nutritional Therapy, where you can support people in making changes to their lives through personalised nutrition and lifestyle modifications.
• The new full-time route is suited to those who wish to complete in 15 months. The part-time is a more flexible option for those who want to fit study around other commitments.
• Clinical skills are embedded throughout the course culminating in supervised clinical practice in our student nutritional therapy clinic (online or in person), where you will acquire valuable hands-on experience working with clients.
• The teaching for this course will be online, with the exception of 0-5 mandatory attendance days at the start of each semester, dependent on whether you are full or part-time, at the University of Worcester.

Entry Requirements

• Successful completion of an Honours Degree/Level 6 (2:2 level and above) in a related science subject. This should include knowledge of fundamental human anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry. Typical examples are Human Nutrition or a related bioscience course such as Health Science or Sport and Exercise Science.
• If you have a Level 6 qualification (equivalent of an honours degree with a 2:2 or above) that does not meet our requirements, then on application, we have a ‘bridging’ access course based on resources from “Preparation for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine” that we will provide. This is equivalent to 30 hours' study and the final assessment must be passed by 70% or above.
• Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) applications will be considered and will be assessed using the University of Worcester RPL guidance for postgraduate courses.
• Applicants whose first language is not English are required to provide a language test certificate as evidence of their proficiency, which must be comparable to IELTS of 7.0 or above, with no component below 6.5.

Additional Selection Criteria

• Evidence of successful academic study at level 6
• Ability to define nutritional therapy and have an awareness of British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine and the Complementary and Natural Health Care Council
• Satisfactory academic reference (or satisfactory reference from a current employer)
• Demonstrate interest and motivation for successful study at this level in personal statement or interview
• Evidence of basic competence in IT skills such as Microsoft Office in the application or personal statement or interview
• Occupational Health clearance

Course Content

• NUTH4041 Approaches to Nutrition and Lifestyle Practice
• NUTH4042 Applications of Nutrition and Lifestyle Practice
• NUTH4043 Nutrition and Lifestyle Practice: Early Years and Reproduction
• NUTH4044 Nutrition and Lifestyle Practice: Adults
• NUTH4045 Clinical Practice and Business Development
• NUTH4046 Research Methods
• NUTH4047 Dissertation
• NUTH4048 Negotiated Learning in Advancing Practice*

Teaching and Assessment

• Teaching includes in-person lectures (one block per semester) and synchronous (scheduled ‘live’, tutor-facilitated) online lectures.
• Online learning activities are delivered through the Virtual Learning Environment (Blackboard).
• Seminars and workshops are an integral part of most modules and may be based around exploring dietary analysis, drug-nutrient interactions or exploring case studies using a systematic and functional approach.
• Teaching is further supported by a managed learning environment of asynchronous eLearning activities.

Contact Time

• The MSc Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine will include 60 weeks of learning, which is required to include the clinic and dissertation modules in 15 months for students who wish to study full-time.
• You are taught through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous online lectures, workshops, seminars, role plays and other online activities.
• Face-to-face teaching, workshops, seminars, and group activities (e.g., role plays) will comprise the attendance days.

Independent Self-Study

• In addition to the contact time, you are expected to undertake independent self-study, the time for which will vary depending on whether the module is 15 credit or 30 credits.
• Typically, this will involve preparing for lectures and seminars, reading set texts and papers, watching and writing a written commentary of recordings of consultation videos, and preparing for assessments.

Duration

• 15 months full-time
• 27 months, 36 months or 39 months part-time (may vary, flexible according to module choice)

Timetables

• Example timetables for full-time and part-time students are available.

Teaching Staff

• You will be taught by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules.
• The five current permanent staff all work part-time and are Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council registered practitioners; this is a full-time equivalent of 3.2.

Assessment

• The course provides opportunities to test understanding and learning informally through the completion of practice or ‘formative’ assignments.
• Each module has one or more formal or ‘summative’ assessments which are graded and count towards the overall module grade.
• Assessment methods include written assignments and a range of coursework assessments such as essays, reports, portfolios, presentations, and for MSc students, an independent study project.

Careers

• On successful completion of the course, students are eligible to apply to register with the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CHNC) and apply to become a full member of the British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT).
• Graduates often go into private Nutritional Therapy practice often developing specialist areas of expertise.
• They may choose to work in the industry, either for supplement or testing companies, they may lecture, go into health journalism, and some may add Nutritional Therapy to an existing profession.

Fees and Funding

• Full-time tuition fees for UK and EU students are £9,450 per year.
• Full-time tuition fees for international students are £17,900 per year.
• Part-time tuition fees for UK and EU students are £788 per 15-credit module, £1,575 per 30-credit module, £2,363 per 45-credit module, and £3,150 per 60 credit module.
• Part-time tuition fees for international students are £1,492 per 15-credit module, £2,983 per 30-credit module, £4,475 per 45-credit module, and £5,967 per 60 credit module.
• Postgraduate loans are available for eligible students.