Program Overview

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Physiology and Nutrition of Sport and Exercise

The MSc programme in Physiology and Nutrition of Sport and Exercise is designed to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the physiological, nutritional, and metabolic demands of exercise and training, as well as their implications for optimizing sport performance and maintaining good health.

Qualification(s) available: MSc

• Fees: Dependent on start date. See below.
• Scholarships available
• Entry requirements: 2:1
• Full-time: 1 year
• Part-time: Typically 2 years
• Location: Loughborough
• Start date: October 2025 or October 2026
• Department: Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences

What you'll study

The programme offers in-depth study across a range of areas within exercise physiology and sport and exercise nutrition. Practical sessions are taught in specialist teaching laboratories, and students will also use these facilities, as well as research laboratories, while undertaking their research project.

Semester 1

• Compulsory modules:
  • Quantitative Research (15 credits)
  • Sport and Exercise Nutrition (30 credits)
  • Physiology of Sport and Exercise (30 credits)

Semester 2

• Compulsory modules:
  • Research Project in Sport, Health and Rehabilitation (60 credits)
  • Sport and Exercise Nutrition (30 credits)
  • Laboratory Techniques in Exercise Physiology and Nutrition (30 credits)
• Optional modules:
  • Applied Sport and Exercise Nutrition (15 credits)
  • Applied Sport and Exercise Physiology (15 credits)

Summer

• Compulsory modules:
  • Research Project in Sport, Health and Rehabilitation (60 credits)

How you'll be assessed

A variety of assessment methods are used to cater to different learning styles. Students will be assessed by a combination of examinations, coursework, and group work.

How you'll study

Our MSc programme is designed to provide students with laboratory and field-based research experience within relevant areas of exercise physiology and nutrition.

• Lectures
• Tutorials
• Independent study
• Group work
• Laboratory work
• Practical sessions

Where you'll study

Laboratory facilities are provided in the £8 million Clyde Williams building, which houses physiology, molecular biology, and nutrition research laboratories and teaching rooms. These laboratories are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to assess physiological and molecular responses to exercise and nutritional interventions, as well as two environmental chambers and apparatus to assess speed, strength, and endurance.

Entry requirements

Our entry requirements are listed using standard UK undergraduate degree classifications i.e. first-class honours, upper second-class honours, and lower second-class honours. To learn the equivalent for your country, please choose it from the drop-down below.

Entry requirements for United Kingdom

• A 2:1 honours degree or equivalent overseas qualification in sports science, human physiology, nutrition, or dietetics or other relevant biological science that contains a substantial element of exercise physiology and/or nutrition.

Country / region equivalent

• Choose a country / region
  • Afghanistan
  • Albania
  • Algeria
  • Argentina
  • Armenia
  • Australia
  • Austria
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahamas
  • Bahrain
  • Bangladesh
  • Barbados
  • Belarus
  • Belgium
  • Belize
  • Benin
  • Bermuda
  • Bolivia
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Botswana
  • Brazil
  • Brunei
  • Bulgaria
  • Burundi
  • Cambodia
  • Cameroon
  • Canada
  • Chile
  • China
  • Colombia
  • Costa Rica
  • Croatia
  • Cuba
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Dominican Republic
  • Ecuador
  • Egypt
  • El Salvador
  • Estonia
  • Ethiopia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Georgia
  • Germany
  • Ghana
  • Greece
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala
  • Guyana
  • Honduras
  • Hong Kong
  • Hungary
  • Iceland
  • India
  • Indonesia
  • Iran
  • Iraq
  • Ireland
  • Israel
  • Italy
  • Ivory Coast
  • Jamaica
  • Japan
  • Jordan
  • Kazakhstan
  • Kenya
  • Kosovo
  • Kuwait
  • Latvia
  • Lebanon
  • Liberia
  • Libya
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Macau
  • Macedonia
  • Malawi
  • Malaysia
  • Malta
  • Mauritius
  • Mexico
  • Moldova
  • Mongolia
  • Montenegro
  • Morocco
  • Mozambique
  • Myanmar (Burma)
  • Namibia
  • Nepal
  • Netherlands
  • New Zealand
  • Nicaragua
  • Nigeria
  • Norway
  • Oman
  • Pakistan
  • Palestine
  • Panama
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Philippines
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Qatar
  • Romania
  • Russia
  • Rwanda
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Senegal
  • Serbia
  • Sierra Leone
  • Singapore
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • South Africa
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • Sri Lanka
  • Sudan
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Syria
  • Taiwan
  • Tajikistan
  • Tanzania
  • Thailand
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tunisia
  • Turkey
  • Turkmenistan
  • Uganda
  • Ukraine
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United States of America
  • Uruguay
  • Uzbekistan
  • Venezuela
  • Vietnam
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Fees and funding

Fees for the academic year

• UK fee: £13,250 Full-time degree per annum
• International fee: £30,950 Full-time degree per annum

Fees for the academic year

• UK fee: £13,700 Full-time degree per annum
• International fee: £31,900 Full-time degree per annum

Fees for the academic year apply to courses starting in October 2025 or January 2026. Fees for the academic year apply to courses starting in October 2026.

Scholarships and bursaries

There are scholarships and bursaries available to help with funding your study.

• Up to 20% off tuition fees: Creating Better Futures Masters Scholarship for African Students
• Up to £5,000 per year: Loughborough Sports Scholarship
• 10% off tuition fees: Loughborough University Alumni Bursary

Your development

The School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences is committed to helping you develop the skills and attributes you need to progress successfully in your chosen career.

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Critically analyse and utilise a range of formal techniques and procedures to address current questions, problems or generate new insights in the disciplines of exercise physiology and nutrition.
• Undertake safe and effective laboratory and field work in physiology and nutrition.
• Demonstrate a range of fundamental and advanced applied physiology or nutrition skills (depending on student choice) appropriate for practice in exercise settings.
• Plan, design and execute research in exercise physiology and nutrition, and communicate the results through a variety of contemporary methods.

Our academics

• Emma O'Donnell: Lecturer, Exercise Physiology
• Dr Mark Burnley: Senior Lecturer
• Dr Stephen Bailey: Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Nutrition
• Professor Lettie Bishop: Professor of Exercise Immunology
• Dr Tom Clifford: Lecturer in Physiology and Nutrition
• Prof Jonathan Folland: Professor of Neuromuscular Performance
• Dr Lewis James: Senior Lecturer in Nutrition
• Dr Stephen Mears: Senior Lecturer in Sports & Exercise Nutrition

Your future career

This programme will equip you for future careers in research (PhD or research positions in the higher education sector), applied sports physiology
utrition, exercise physiology and sport nutrition support, teaching in higher education or employment in industry. Employability and applied skills teaching are embedded within the programme.

Our graduates have been employed by the English, Scottish and Welsh Institutes of Sport, National Governing Bodies including UK Athletics, British Swimming, and British Cycling, as well as professional bodies such as the Football Association, Rugby Football Union, and Lawn Tennis Association.

Graduates have also gone into industry with companies including Nestle, GlaxoSmithKline, and Yakult, as well as into health settings with the NHS, BUPA, and Nuffield Health. Furthermore, graduates have gone on to undertake PhD study at various universities in the UK and abroad.

Related master's degrees

• Musculoskeletal Sport Science and Health MSc
• Sport Biomechanics MSc
• Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences PhD
• Strength and Conditioning MSc
• Clinical Exercise Physiology MSc