Two students analising different foods

Course Summary

This course is for those who wish to develop practical skills and apply their expertise in exercise and nutrition science; it is aimed at health professionals and graduates who want to extend their knowledge in this popular area of study, and for those who want to make a career switch to work in the field of exercise and nutrition. 

The course was established in 1993, and its content is mapped against the competencies of nationally recognised professional bodies such as the Sport and Exercise Nutrition Register (SENr), Register for Exercise Professionals (REPs) and the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK). It is characterised by its multidisciplinary approach to the study of nutrition in relation to exercise and sport, and is academically stimulating, underpinned by evidence-based practice. 

A key feature of this course is the application of theory to practice and in addition to the lectures, there are practical sessions, workshops, and the opportunity to undertake a placement within a health, sport, or exercise setting. The MSc is delivered by a team of leading academics and both national and international leaders in exercise and nutrition. This enables graduates to leave with the most up-to-date and relevant knowledge in the field. 

Students that do not wish to study the full MSc programme, can choose to study to a PGDip/PGCert level instead.


What you’llStudy

The modules aim to enable you to develop a critical knowledge and understanding of fundamental and contemporary issues in relation to physical activity, and health and nutrition in health and disease, as well as applying these principles to sporting populations. A variety of module options means the course can be tailored to suit your needs. Lectures are complemented by practical sessions in well-equipped physiology (BASES-accredited), biology and food nutrition laboratories.

Module content:

1.  Homeostasis: rest, exercise and recovery integrative responses and control mechanisms.

2. Physiology of anaerobic and aerobic metabolism: energy substrate utilisation; integration of metabolism at molecular, cellular and whole body levels; neuroendocrine control mechanisms; thermoregulation mechanisms and fluid balance.

3.  Physiology of the cardiovascular, respiratory, neuromuscular, neuroendocrine and immune systems during and the recovery from exercise.

4.  Maximum oxygen uptake: measurement and evaluation; physiological limits to maximal aerobic performance.

5.  Relationships between workload and HR/BP/VO2/VCO2/VE.


Module aims:

To critically analyse the physiological and biochemical responses and adaptations to a variety of physical performance situations.

Module content:

1.       Metabolic overview: metabolic requirements of tissues - liver, muscle, heart and brain; bioenergetics and energy transduction in cells; role of creatine phosphate; energy sources and pathways

2.       Carbohydrate metabolism – glucose and glycogen; glycolysis, glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis; TCA cycle; substrate and oxidative phosphorylation

3.       Dietary lipids – saturated, unsaturated and polyunsaturated fats; essential fatty acids; cholesterol.  Lipid metabolism – triglyceride and ketone body metabolism; phospholipid and cholesterol; adipose tissue metabolism; lipoproteins –role and turnover; lipids and health.

4.       Protein metabolism – amino acid catabolism and waste nitrogen; nutrition and protein metabolism; regulation systems.  Metabolic control of lipids and carbohydrates – glucagon and insulin; metabolism in exercise and starvation.


Module aims:

To review and develop critical understanding of those elements of physiology and biochemistry which provide the theoretical basis of human metabolism.

Module content:

1.       Physiological & biochemical principles of energy inputs and outputs.

2.       Measurement of energy inputs; the value and validity of such measurements; use of food tables; valid approximations.

3.       Biochemical and physiological basis of human metabolism and metabolic rate. Measurement of energy expenditure.

4.       Energy balance and the control of body weight.

5.       Definitions and measurement of body composition.

6.       Obesity, causes, problems and treatments (surgery, drugs, diets and lifestyle).

7.       Eating disorders: starvation, bulimia, anorexia nervosa.

8.       Exercise and weight control.

9.   Weight control in sport: body builders, boxers, jockeys, gymnastics

10.  Control systems involved in regulation of food intake; genetic and psychological aspects; drug treatments


Module aims:

The module examines contemporary issues in this topical field of study and provides underpinning knowledge of the biochemical and physiological basis of metabolism. The various methods of dietary and body composition analysis are critically reviewed in theory and practice together with an evidence-based approach to successful weight control through exercise and dietary regimes.   

    AIMS:

1.       To develop a critical understanding of the mechanisms by which body weight and body composition are controlled.

2.       To provide a thorough grounding in the principals of weight control.

3.       To enable students to engage in informed debate about major issues in this area.

4.       To inform students about recent developments and research in this area.

5.       To develop a deeper understanding of the contemporary issues in this area 

Module content:

1.       Role of performance enhancement in current and future sport and exercise context.

2.       Technological Issues.

3.       Training Issues.

4.       Nutrition and Supplementation Issues.

5.       Performance enhancement modalities and health implications.


Module aims:

1.       To develop students critical understanding of factors enhancing physical performance.

2.       To engage students in informed and reflective debate of controversial issues of performance enhancement. 

Module content:

 

1.      Nutrition and health including review of the role of macro and micronutrients and other metabolically active              components of food (e.g. fibre), anti-nutrients, nutrient-nutrient interactions, ‘nutri-ceuticals’ and functional foods.

2.      Nutrition needs of different groups including eating behaviour and food choice.

3       Healthy eating recommendations for the general public.

4.      Malnutrition: including protein, energy and micronutrient deficiencies. 

5.      Dietary factors in causation and prevention of chronic diseases.

6.      Nutritional epidemiology and public health.

7.      Emerging concerns in nutrition and health.

8.      Effects of disease processes on 1) diet and nutrition, and 2) exercise and sport performance,

9.      Review of methods investigating the dietary and nutrient patterns of the general population.

 

 

 

 

 

 


Module aims:

   1.        To ensure that students have an understanding of the scientific principles that underpin nutritional requirements for health and of the scientific basis for current nutrition guidelines.

2.         To provide students with an understanding of the nature of the diet and its relationship to the health of different groups within the population.     

3.        To develop practical and critical analytical skills in nutritional assessment.

Module content:

1.      The building blocks of scientific research: types of research (analytical, descriptive, experimental, and qualitative), scientific parlance (hypothesis, concepts, operational definitions, and dependent/independent variables), sampling procedures, and measurement issues (reliability and validity).

2.      Research and data collection methods: experimental research (developing hypotheses, independent/dependent variables, controls, sample selection, study designs, and experimental validity); descriptive research (questionnaires and interviews, case studies); qualitative research (characteristics, procedures, methods of data collection, data analysis, and internal/external validity).

3.      The nature of research; scientific methods of enquiry, pure versus applied ways of problem solving. Developing the research problem; identifying a topic area, devising specific questions, discovering what is already known (reviewing the literature), determining feasible ways to answer the questions.

4.      Ethics in research.

5.      Introduction to data analysis software (SPSS for Windows). Establishing an SPSS database. Defining and transforming variables; data storage and retrieval.

6.      Data analysis for descriptive and experimental research; descriptive statistics. Describing data; measures of variability, correlation and scatter plots. inferential statistics. Selecting an appropriate statistical test (parametric or non-parametric), and types of statistical tests (chi-square; t-tests; one-way ANOVA & post-hoc tests; Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney U). Worked examples in SPSS. Repeated Measures ANOVA; Factorial ANOVA, Limits of agreement analysis for method comparison and test retest reliability. Worked examples in SPSS.


Module aims:

1.      To expose students to the essential elements in the process of conducting sound scientific research.

2.      To develop students’ skills in the key aspects of data handling and statistical analysis.

Module content:

1.       Energy for exercise: an overview of energy systems and fuels

.2.       High intensity versus low intensity exercise.

3.       Review of literature related to the role of carbohydrate, fat and protein during different exercise intensities.

4.       Fluid balance:  related research

.5.       Nutritional ergogenic aids

.6.       Sports nutrition in practice: working with elite and club level athletes.

7.       Methods of dietary analysis in research and field situations

8.       Professional and ethical issues in Sports Nutrition

9.       Determinants of eating behaviour; related research. 


Module aims:

1.       To develop appropriate knowledge and understanding of Sports Nutrition by reviewing theoretical, research and practice-based work.

2.       To develop skills in critical analysis, particularly in relation to published research in this area.

3.       To enhance students’ perception of professional and ethical issues related to research and practice in Sports Nutrition. 

Module content:

Exercise & Health:

      1. Exercise, fitness and health; physiology of exercise;  overview of exercise in prevention and treatment
      2. Exercise in cardiovascular health and disease; metabolic syndrome, diabetes management,
        etc.
      3. Exercise and the immune system, cancer, bone health & stress management
      4. Assessment of health-related fitness: strength, body fat%, flexibility, aerobic capacity
      5. Exercise prescription – principles & practices
      6. Exercise in occupational and community health & fitness 

Module aims:

    1. To develop a thorough knowledge and understanding of the risks and benefits to health of physical activity.
    2. To enable students to engage in informed debate about major themes in exercise and health inter-relationships
    3. To develop skills for the measurement and evaluation of health-related physical fitness.

Module content:

The module will focus on individual student research into the agreed exercise-related topic.


Module aims:

The module is designed to allow students to study an exercise-related topic of their choice.  The study will be subject to individual negotiation and agreement between the student and the module tutor.

Module content:

The module will focus on individual student research into the agreed nutrition-related topic.


Module aims:

The module is designed to allow students to study a nutrition-related topic of their choice.  The study will be subject to individual negotiation and agreement between the student and the module tutor.

Module content:

The research will be agreed with an appropriate supervisor and the Research Co-ordinator.  The subject matter must be related to exercise and nutrition science.


Module aims:

1.      To provide the student with an opportunity to investigate systematically and in depth a topic of direct relevance to the programme of study and his/her personal interests.

2.      To enable the student to draw on and contribute to the development of the growing body of knowledge in the field of nutrition.

3.     To require the student to present a research proposal in the form of a poster and oral presentation.

4.     To require the student to present the outcomes of personal research in the form of a substantive research article.

MSc Exercise and Nutrition Science at the University of Chester YouTube video

MSc Exercise and Nutrition Science at the University of Chester

Who you’ll Learn from

Dr Mike Morris

Head of Division
Dr Mike Morris

Dr Sohail Mushtaq

Associate Professor in Nutritional Biochemistry, Deputy Head of Department, Programme Leader - MSc Human Nutrition
Dr Sohail Mushtaq

Dr James O'Reilly

Senior Lecturer
Dr James O'Reilly

Dr Tanja Harrison

Senior Lecturer
Dr Tanja Harrison

Dr Emily Jevons

Lecturer
Dr Emily Jevons

How you'll Learn

Teaching is mainly delivered through lectures interspersed with laboratory practicals, group discussions, seminars and interactive computer-based sessions. Each module requires 200 hours of study and is assessed via a 4,000-word written assignment or its equivalent (for example, a poster presentation). There are no examinations.

Following the completion of six taught modules, if you are an MSc student you will be required to undertake a personal research project.

Beyond the Classroom

On this course, you’ll spend time out on placement where you’ll apply what you have learnt to real scenarios in the workplace, giving you genuine experience and insight that will prepare you for your future career. 

Entry Requirements

2:2 honours degree

The course is open to applicants with a minimum of a 2:2 honours degree in a related subject area, or equivalent professional qualifications. Consideration will also be given to applicants with relevant work experience, background knowledge and skills.

2:2 honours degree

The course is open to applicants with a minimum of a 2:2 honours degree in a related subject area, or equivalent professional qualifications. Consideration will also be given to applicants with relevant work experience, background knowledge and skills. 

Please note, some programmes have special entry requirements.

English Language Requirements

For those who do not have IELTS or an acceptable in-country English language qualification, the University of Chester has developed its own online English language test which applicants can take for just £50.

For more information on our English Language requirements, please visit International Entry Requirements.

Where you'll Study Exton Park

Fees and Funding

£8,505 per year (2024/25)

Guides to the fees for students who wish to commence postgraduate courses in the academic year 2024/25 are available to view on our Postgraduate Taught Programmes Fees page.

£14,750 per year (2024/25)

The tuition fees for international students studying Postgraduate programmes in 2024/25 are £14,750.

The University of Chester offers generous international and merit-based scholarships for postgraduate study, providing a significant reduction to the published headline tuition fee. You will automatically be considered for these scholarships when your application is reviewed, and any award given will be stated on your offer letter.

For more information, go to our International Fees, Scholarship and Finance section.

Irish Nationals living in the UK or ROI are treated as Home students for Tuition Fee Purposes.

Your course will involve additional costs not covered by your tuition fees. This may include books, printing, photocopying, educational stationery and related materials, specialist clothing, travel to placements, optional field trips and software. Compulsory field trips are covered by your tuition fees.

If you are living away from home during your time at university, you will need to cover costs such as accommodation, food, travel and bills.

The University of Chester supports fair access for students who may need additional support through a range of bursaries and scholarships.

Full details, as well as terms and conditions for all bursaries and scholarships can be found on the Fees & Finance section of our website.

Your future Career

Job prospects

As a qualified sport and exercise nutritionist you will be able to pursue employment in a range of different areas including the sports and fitness industry, in public health nutrition, and in academia (taught and/ or research). You will also be able to apply for graduate registration on the Sport and Exercise Nutrition Register as a stepping stone to becoming a registered sports nutritionist. 

Here are just some of the areas our students have gone on to work in: 

  • Corporate health, fitness and nutrition 
  • Sports nutritionists 
  • Exercise physiology 
  • Occupational physiology 
  • Research 
  • Lecturing 
  • Teaching 
  • Weight management 
  • Health promotion 
  • Cardiac rehabilitation

Careers service

The University has an award-winning Careers and Employability service which provides a variety of employability-enhancing experiences; through the curriculum, through employer contact, tailored group sessions, individual information, advice and guidance.

Careers and Employability aims to deliver a service which is inclusive, impartial, welcoming, informed and tailored to your personal goals and aspirations, to enable you to develop as an individual and contribute to the business and community in which you will live and work.

We are here to help you plan your future, make the most of your time at University and to enhance your employability. We provide access to part-time jobs, extra-curricular employability-enhancing workshops and offer practical one-to-one help with career planning, including help with CVs, applications and mock interviews. We also deliver group sessions on career planning within each course and we have a wide range of extensive information covering graduate jobs .