Program Overview

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Sport and Exercise Nutrition - PgDip, MSc

Overview

Educating the Sports Nutritionists of the future

Summary

Diet and nutrition significantly affect sport and exercise performance. The food and fluid which an athlete consumes before, during and after exercise affects health and body composition, as well as performance and recovery. Sound knowledge of sport and exercise nutrition can ensure a healthy balance between exercise and diet for a range of athletes, from amateur to elite levels within different sports.

This programme provides a postgraduate pathway for those interested in pursuing a career in the area of sport and exercise nutrition. As an accredited course, graduates are eligible to register with the British Dietetic Association (BDA) Sport and Exercise Nutrition Register (SENr) as a graduate registrant, allowing them to work autonomously post-graduation.

About this course

About

The programme is delivered by distance learning. Students enrolled for the PgDip Sport and Exercise Nutrition course need to undertake modules to a total of 120 credit points and for the MSc undertake an additional research project of 60 credit points. Modules studied will include; nutrition and exercise metabolism, nutritional assessment, recommendations and requirements, sport-specific nutrition issues, research methods and biostatistics for food and nutrition, nutrition for health and disease prevention, evidence-based practice in healthcare sciences, practical sports nutrition and the sport and exercise nutrition research project.

Attendance

The full-time programme (over one calendar year; i.e. three academic semesters) is comprised of taught modules in semester one and two and the research project which is completed in semester three. All modules are delivered by distance-learning.

Start dates

• September 2025

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Attendance and Independent Study

As part of your course induction, you will be provided with details of the organisation and management of the course, including attendance and assessment requirements - usually in the form of a timetable. For full-time courses, the precise timetable for each semester is not confirmed until close to the start date and may be subject to some change in the early weeks as all courses settle into their planned patterns. A course handbook and other course related material is made available on the course support area to guide you through your studies.

Assessment

Assessment methods vary and are defined explicitly in each module. Assessment can be a combination of examination and coursework but may also be only one of these methods. For this course, the majority of assessment is by coursework (and three MCQs for the nutrition and exercise metabolism module). Assessment is designed to assess your achievement of the module’s stated learning outcomes. You can expect to receive timely feedback on all coursework assessment. The precise assessment will depend on the module and may be subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. You will be consulted about any significant changes.

Coursework can take many forms, for example: video cooking demonstration, essay, report, seminar paper, test, presentation, dissertation, discussion board or portfolio. The precise form and combination of assessment will depend on the course you apply for and the module. Details will be made available in advance through induction, the course handbook, the module specification and the assessment timetable. The details are subject to change from year to year for quality or enhancement reasons. You will be consulted about any significant changes.

Normally, a module will have 4 learning outcomes, and no more than 2 items of assessment. An item of assessment can comprise more than one task. The notional workload and the equivalence across types of assessment is standardised.

Modules

Here is a guide to the subjects studied on this course.

Courses are continually reviewed to take advantage of new teaching approaches and developments in research, industry and the professions. Please be aware that modules may change for your year of entry. The exact modules available and their order may vary depending on course updates, staff availability, timetabling and student demand. Please contact the course team for the most up to date module list.

Year one

Evidence-Based Practice in Sports and Exercise Nutrition

Year: 1

Status: C

A work-based module where students review, after consultation with their line manager, an aspect of their professional practice identifying evidence to support their recommendations, initiate the keeping of a professional reflective diary and submit a report of evidence to support their action research plan. Students currently not in employment will be given support and guidance on suitable topics from the e-tutor.

Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism

Year: 1

Status: C

This module will provide an introduction to the biochemical principles of exercise metabolism and will highlight the importance of nutrition in enhancing athletic performance.

Nutritional Assessment

Year: 1

Status: C

This module will introduce the principles of nutritional assessment. It will review the anthropometric, biochemical and dietary assessment methodologies, including the advantages and limitations of each.

Sport-Specific Nutrition Issues

Year: 1

Status: C

This module discusses sport-specific nutrition issues and provides students with an opportunity to study in-depth current issues and challenges facing practitioners working within the area of sports nutrition.

Research Methods and Biostatistics for Food and Nutrition

Year: 1

Status: C

This module will provide a comprehensive understanding of the research methods for food, nutritional and sports sciences. The design of experimental investigations and the use of specialist statistical methods will be discussed. The module requires the completion of a critical evaluation of published literature and development of a novel research project proposal and problem-based assessments; issues relating to research ethics and governance are also included.

Nutrition for Health and Disease Prevention

Year: 1

Status: C

This module considers the relationship between nutrition, health and disease. The module provides the student with the opportunity to further develop an understanding of the human body and how good nutritional practices can be effective for good health and disease prevention.

Practical Sports Nutrition

Year: 1

Status: C

This module considers the practical application of sports nutrition knowledge. In addition, this module considers the relationship between nutrition, health and disease. The module provides the student with the opportunity to further develop their skills when working with a diverse range of athletes and how good nutritional practices can be effective in improving exercise performance and preventing health and disease.

Sport and Exercise Nutrition Research Project

Year: 1

Status: C

Carrying out an original, independent piece of research from the formulation of a research question through to reporting findings in accordance with the conventions of the academic area is an important part of the research training provided by Masters level study. This module provides students with an opportunity for students to carry out an original independent piece of research in the area of sport and exercise nutrition and present findings in the form of a journal manuscript and a conference presentation.

Standard entry conditions

We recognise a range of qualifications for admission to our courses. In addition to the specific entry conditions for this course you must also meet the University’s General Entrance Requirements.

Entry Requirements

Applicants must hold a degree (2.2 or above) or equivalent in a related discipline that demonstrates learning of exercise physiology, biochemistry and metabolism up to at least level 6 (for example – BSc Honours in Sport and Exercise Science, Sports Science, Human Nutrition, Physiology, Biochemistry, Dietetics, Food and Nutrition or other relevant degree discipline). Alternatively, applicants may demonstrate their ability to undertake the course through the accreditation of prior experiential learning. Applicants must also demonstrate evidence of competence in written and spoken English (e.g. GCSE grade C or equivalent). Students holding an IOC Diploma in Sports Nutrition are eligible to apply for direct entry to the MSc programme following completion of a short research proposal module (10 credits) prior to completing the sport and exercise nutrition research project (60 credits) following approval of a suitable research project in consultation with the project module co-ordinator.

English Language Requirements

The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.

Careers & opportunities

Career options

Career options within sport and exercise nutrition are expanding and include becoming a freelance sports nutritionist/performance nutritionist or working with sporting/government organisations. Previous graduates have gained employment with leading organisations within the UK and Ireland including IRFU, Ulster Rugby, Dairy Council for Northern Ireland and United Kingdom, Rowing Ireland and Apple. We also have a number of graduates who following mentored experience have set up independent sports nutrition clinics within Ireland and on an international basis.

Professional Recognition

Accreditations reflect the excellence of our teaching, research, and knowledge exchange and ensure our programmes realise the highest expectations. By studying at Ulster University you’ll gain insight and be at the forefront of current industry practices, while our many accredited degree programmes open doors to the world’s top professional organisations, making you more attractive to future employers and giving you a competitive edge in the job market.

British Dietetic Association (BDA)

This programme achieves the competencies required for graduate registration of the British Dietetic Association (BDA) Sport and Exercise Nutrition Register (SENr).

Fees and funding

Tuition Fee Loans Available

Students domiciled in Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and UK students can apply to Student Finance NI for a Tuition Fee loan of up to £6,500 (subject to eligibility).

Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and EU Settlement Status Fees

£7,240.00

International Fees

£17,810.00

Where the postgraduate course selected offers multiple awards (e.g. PG Cert, PG Dip, Masters), please note that the price displayed is for the complete Masters programme.

Postgraduate certificates and diplomas are charged at a pro-rata basis.

Additional mandatory costs

£20 for a Nutritics software licence (annually)

It is important to remember that costs associated with accommodation, travel (including car parking charges) and normal living will need to be covered in addition to tuition fees.

Scholarships, awards and prizes

On an annual basis, the Dairy Council for Northern Ireland sponsors the 'Dairy Council NI Sports Nutrition Award' for the student exiting the course with the highest mark. Please see nutrition-award for details of previous award recipients.

Sustainability at Ulster

Ulster continues to develop and support sustainability initiatives with our staff, students, and external partners across various aspects of teaching, research, professional services operations, and governance.

At Ulster every person, course, research project, and professional service area on every campus either does or can contribute in some way towards the global sustainability and climate change agenda.

We are guided by both our University Strategy People, Place and Partnerships : Delivering Sustainable Futures for All and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Our work in this area is already being recognised globally. Most recently by the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact rating where we were recognised as Joint 5th Globally for Outreach Activities and Joint Top 20 Globally for Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnership for the Goals.

Visit our Sustainability at Ulster destination to learn more about how the University strategy and the activities of Ulster University support each of the Sustainable Development Goals.

• Sustainability at Ulster University (opens in new window)

Faculty of Life and Health Sciences – Sustainability in Focus

Learning and Teaching

Our Faculty is dedicated to integrating sustainability across our curriculum, preparing students to address global environmental challenges.

• The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) have been incorporated throughout each course within the Faculty and each module outlines how and where they meet these SDG’s.
• Subject specific guidance on sustainability has been provided in the QAA benchmarks statements for Biomedical Science and Biomedical Sciences; Biosciences; Chemistry; Optometry; Psychology; Earth Sciences; Veterinary Nursing; Agriculture; Rural –Environmental Sciences; Animal Studies; Consumer Science; Forestry, Food Horticulture –and –Human Nutrition; Health Studies; Earth Sciences and Geography.

Research and Knowledge Exchange

Our Faculty has key centres of research excellence within all Schools and our interdisciplinary approach brings together researchers from diverse fields to develop impactful solutions.

• By advancing knowledge in various fields within the faculty, we aim to identify sustainable approaches to:
  • Health promotion
  • Achieving food security improved nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture
  • Ensuring healthy lives and promote wellbeing
  • Promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all
  • Achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls
  • Ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
  • Taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
  • Conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
  • Promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems
  • Promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development
  • Implementation and revitalisation of the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

External Partnerships

Collaboration is key to driving sustainability. Our Faculty partners with external stakeholders including professional bodies and learned societies to enhance the sustainability journey for all our students and to promote sustainable practices.

External partnerships enable us to apply research and innovation to real-world challenges. We drive meaningful change in local communities, industries, and global ecosystems, fostering a more sustainable society through impactful projects and community engagement.