Program Overview

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Global Public Health Nutrition MSc

Overview

Our Global Public Health Nutrition MSc will give you the specialist scientific knowledge and practical skills to take an active role in global public health nutrition in a range of different settings.

Attendance

• Full-time - September 2025
• Part-time day - September 2025
• Full-time - September 2026
• Part-time day - September 2026

Fees

• UK Fees £10,700 *
• International Fees £17,500 *
• Alumni Discount See details

Duration

1 year

Campus

Cavendish, Central London

Course summary

Nutrition has long been recognised as a vitally important determinant of health status within both industrialised and industrialising countries. Significant changes are occurring in the profile of nutritional problems. Many countries continue to face problems of malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, but countries in economic transition also face the public health challenge of rising rates of diet-related chronic disease, such as obesity and coronary heart disease. Also, many industrialised countries now face problems of food insecurity among low-income groups. These challenges have led to growing political resources to address nutrition.

Top reasons to study with us

• Our course takes a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding health and disease as related to food and nutrition, to reflect the changing profile of public health
• We deliver a broad but balanced approach to the understanding of nutritional issues, in which the perspectives of social science are explored as well as the more traditional disciplines of nutrition, epidemiology and statistics
• We offer a unique Essentials of Nutrition access course for those without an undergraduate degree in nutrition or health
• Our modules are linked to global targets such as global nutrition targets and Sustainable Development Goals, including a module on global challenges focusing on climate change and the food system
• Our teaching staff have strong links with employers, in diverse fields such as school feeding programmes, population weight management programmes and addressing food insecurity in all contexts. Many are alumni of the course
• Our course team is research-active, and in previous years have involved students in ongoing research programmes with all assessments supporting employability skills
• In previous years, field research trips have included locations such as Ethiopia and Zanzibar, and students have also undertaken research within London boroughs and UK NGOs

Course structure

Our assessments ensure that you graduate with the skills required by employers, which are transferable to a wide variety of fields and contexts. Assessments may include presentations, critical reviews, policy development and analysis, expressions of interest, programme proposals, data analysis using SPSS, interviews, podcasts, posters, policy briefings, TV newscasts, and health system analysis.

Core modules

• Concepts and Principles of Nutrition
• Diet and disease
• Nutrition Interventions and Programme Planning
• Policy and Governance for Public Health Nutrition
• Research Methods for Health Science I
• Research Methods for Health Sciences II and Research Project

Option modules

• Global Challenges for Food and Health
• Nutritional Assessment
• Nutrition in Emergencies
• Community Engagement in Health, Physical Activity and Nutrition

Professional accreditation

The course is accredited by the Association for Nutrition as part fulfilment of the requirements for registration as an associate Public Health Nutritionist. Students on this course can also apply for membership and certification with the World Public Health Nutrition Association.

Entry Requirements

• A minimum of a lower second class honours degree (2:2) in a relevant discipline including science or a social science subject. Students from a non-nutrition background are welcome to apply but they will be invited to complete our Essentials of Nutrition course, which has four short assessments.
• If your first language is not English, you should have an IELTS 6.5 with at least 6.5 in writing and no element below 6.0.
• Applicants are required to submit one academic reference.

Recognition of prior learning and experience

If you have previously studied at university level, or have equivalent work experience, academic credit may be awarded towards your course at Westminster. For more information, visit our Recognition of Prior Learning page.

Application process

Visit our How to apply page for more information on:

• the application process
• what you need to apply
• deadlines for application

Careers

Employment opportunities for public health nutritionists are growing and there are numerous career paths our graduates follow, from working with Public Health England in writing policies, to acting as nutrition advisers to the Department of Health or other nutrition-focused organisations.

Industry links

We have close links with organisations such as Save the Children, Results, and Action against Hunger.

Graduate success

• Nine of our graduates presented their research at the 2020 World Public Health Nutrition Conference
• We have alumni working with the Henry programme to support health nutrition outcomes in UK families
• We have a number of students working with Children for Health to create child-friendly health promotion material for low-income contexts
• We have alumni working with Save the Children in emergencies to address malnutrition

Job roles

This course will prepare you for a variety of roles, including:

• Global Public Health Nutritionist working with populations in international development
• Public Health Nutritionist working with non-governmental organisations to improve population health and nutrition outcomes such as addressing malnutrition in children or elderly
• Public health nutrition policymaking
• Programme manager for health and nutrition programmes in the UK or globally
• Academic researcher in public health nutrition
• Nutritionist in private sector or industry roles
• Working with humanitarian responses or international agencies such as UNICEF

Graduate employers

Graduates from this course have found employment at organisations including:

• Action Against Hunger
• Concern
• GOAL
• Henry
• Local government public health teams
• Ministry of Health in Somalia
• Obesity think tank
• Public Health England
• Results UK
• Save the Children
• School Food Matters
• Second Nature
• UNICEF
• Urban farming manager

Westminster Employability Award

Employers value graduates who have invested in their personal and professional development – and our Westminster Employability Award gives you the chance to formally document and demonstrate these activities and achievements.

Teaching and Assessment

Our postgraduate courses include a variety of assessments, which typically fall into two broad categories:

• Practical: examples include presentations, podcasts, blogs
• Coursework: examples include essays, in-class tests, portfolios, dissertation

Research groups

Our research achieves real-world impact and we are proud to claim a rich and diverse profile of high-quality research and knowledge exchange in a wide range of disciplines.

As a student on this course, you're encouraged and supported to publish your research through our Food Nutrition and Public Health research group, in journals such as World Nutrition.

Supporting you

Our Student Hub is where you’ll find out about the services and support we offer, helping you get the best out of your time with us.

• Study support – workshops, 1-2-1 support and online resources to help improve your academic and research skills
• Personal tutors – support you in fulfilling your academic and personal potential
• Student advice team – provide specialist advice on a range of issues including funding, benefits and visas
• Extra-curricular activities – volunteering opportunities, sports and fitness activities, student events and more

Course Location

With state-of-the-art science and psychology labs and refurbished computer suites, our Cavendish Campus offers our science and technology students a range of learning spaces that are both dynamic and inspiring.

Located in central London, our Cavendish Campus is just a five-minute walk from Oxford Street and Tottenham Court Road.