Program Overview

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Clinical Nutrition PhD

Research Overview

Internationally renowned for research on nutrition and metabolism, healthy aging, public health dietetics, and the prevention of chronic disease and global food security.

Our core research themes are:

• Obesity and diabetes
• Nutritional health across the lifespan
• Sustainable nutrition
• Medical nutritional intervention studies

External collaboration with academic institutes and industrial partners promotes knowledge transfer and use of our research in clinical or commercial environments.

Our research comprises a multidisciplinary team with skills in modern molecular techniques, biochemistry, physiology, dietetics, and health psychology.

Research Areas

• Maternal and child nutrition
• The fetal origins of obesity and diabetes
• Micronutrient deficiencies across the lifespan
• The use of alternative nutrient sources for both good health and for the management of disease
• Dietary intervention studies across a range of disease states

Course Content

PhD

A PhD is an independent in-depth research project. You will be able to develop additional skills through training programmes to help you complete your PhD.

In each year, you will have regular meetings with your supervisor and an annual review.

Entry Requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis, and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.

Home / UK Students

• Degree: 2:1 (or international equivalent) in a relevant subject or 2:2 (or international equivalent) in a relevant subject with a merit at masters. Other qualifications may also be accepted.

EU / International Students

• Degree: 2:1 (or international equivalent) in a relevant subject or 2:2 (or international equivalent) in a relevant subject with a merit at masters. Other qualifications may also be accepted.
• International and EU equivalents: We accept a wide range of qualifications from all over the world. For information on entry requirements from your country, see our country pages.
• IELTS: 6.5 (6.0 in each element)
• English language requirements: As well as IELTS (listed above), we also accept other English language qualifications. This includes TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE, GCSE, IB, and O level English.

Meeting Our English Language Requirements

If you need support to meet the required level, you may be able to attend a presessional English course. Presessional courses teach you academic skills in addition to English language. Our Centre for English Language Education is accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English in the UK.

If you successfully complete your presessional course to the required level, you can then progress to your degree course. This means that you won't need to retake IELTS or equivalent.

For on-campus presessional English courses, you must take IELTS for UKVI to meet visa regulations. For online presessional courses, see our CELE webpages for guidance.

Visa Restrictions

International students must have valid UK immigration permissions for any courses or study period where teaching takes place in the UK. Student route visas can be issued for eligible students studying full-time courses. The University of Nottingham does not sponsor a student visa for students studying part-time courses. The Standard Visitor visa route is not appropriate in all cases. Please contact the university’s Visa and Immigration team if you need advice about your visa options.

Applying

For all of our research degrees, the first step is to identify one or more supervisors you would like to work with.

To do this, look through our academic staff research interests. We strongly encourage contacting supervisors before making a formal application, to discuss potential research projects and to ensure the best application possible.

Our step-by-step guide contains everything you need to know about applying for postgraduate research.

Fees

Home / UK

• £5,006

International

• £32,400 for low-cost projects
• £35,750 for high-cost lab-based projects
• £44,000 for technically intensive or specialised projects with high consumable costs
• £56,400 for exceptional technically intensive or specialised projects with high consumable costs

An assessment will be made on receipt of your project proposal and confirmed in your offer letter.

Additional Information for International Students

If you are a student from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland, you may be asked to complete a fee status questionnaire, and your answers will be assessed using guidance issued by the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA).

These fees are for full-time study. If you are studying part-time, you will be charged a proportion of this fee each year (subject to inflation).

Additional Costs

All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.

As a student on this course, we do not anticipate any extra significant costs, alongside your tuition fees and living expenses. You should be able to access most of the books and journals you’ll need through our libraries.

Funding

There are many ways to fund your research degree, from scholarships to government loans.

Check our guide to find out more about funding your postgraduate degree.

Support

The school believes that formal training and guidance are critical components of the postgraduate experience and have developed specific and generic training which are available for all postgraduates.

Project-related training is provided by the supervisors and other staff within the school. You will have frequent contact with your supervisor, often on a weekly or even daily basis, and there is a formal requirement for at least 10 recorded meetings per year.

Teaching is typically delivered by professors, associate and assistant professors. Some practical laboratory sessions and research projects may be supported by postdoctoral research fellows.

Researcher Training and Development

The Researcher Academy is the network for researchers, and staff who support them. We work together to promote a healthy research culture, to cultivate researcher excellence, and develop creative partnerships that enable researchers to flourish.

Postgraduate researchers at Nottingham have access to our online Members’ area, which includes a wealth of resources, access to training courses, and award-winning postgraduate placements.

Student Support

You will have access to a range of support services, including:

• Academic and disability support
• Childcare services
• Counselling service
• Faith support
• Financial support
• Mental health and wellbeing support
• Visa and immigration advice
• Welfare support

Students' Union

Our Students' Union represents all students. You can join the Postgraduate Students’ Network or contact the dedicated Postgraduate Officer.

There are also a range of support networks, including groups for:

• International students
• Black and minority ethnic students
• Students who identify as women
• Students with disabilities
• LGBT+ students

SU Advice provides free, independent, and confidential advice on issues such as accommodation, financial, and academic difficulties.

Careers

Careers advice

Whether you are considering a career in academia, industry, or haven't yet decided, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Expert staff will work with you to explore PhD career options and apply for vacancies, develop your interview skills, and meet employers. You can book a one-to-one appointment, take an online course, or attend a workshop.

International students who complete an eligible degree programme in the UK on a student visa can apply to stay and work in the UK after their course under the Graduate immigration route. Eligible courses at the University of Nottingham include bachelors, masters, and research degrees, and PGCE courses.

Where You Will Learn

Sutton Bonington Campus

Sutton Bonington Campus combines world-leading laboratories with a countryside location, just a few miles from the city of Nottingham. The campus is home to over 2,500 biosciences and veterinary medicine students.

You will have access to student services, a library, sports centre, and places to eat. Specialist facilities include the super lab, food processing pilot plant, glasshouses, and University farm.

You can travel to University Park Campus in around 25 minutes on our free hopper bus.

Food, Nutrition & Dietetics

The division contains a range of modern facilities, including:

• A fully equipped dietetics laboratory for the preparation of modified diets
• Clinical consulting rooms for taking anthropometric assessments and blood samples
• An extensive array of rheological techniques for the physio-chemical analysis of food
• Cell culture facilities
• Controlled growth incubators
• New liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy and gas chromatography mass spectroscopy

Research Excellence Framework

The University of Nottingham is ranked 7th in the UK for research power, according to analysis by Times Higher Education. The Research Excellence Framework (REF) is a national assessment of the quality of research in UK higher education institutions.

• 90% of our research is classed as 'world-leading' (4) or 'internationally excellent' (3)
• 100% of our research is recognised internationally
• 51% of our research is assessed as 'world-leading' (4*) for its impact

This content was last updated on 26 February 2025. Every effort has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, but changes are likely to occur between the date of publishing and course start date. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply.