Nutrition and Health BSc (Hons)

Study level: Undergraduate
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This exciting degree explores the physiological, biochemical and psychosocial aspects of nutrition, as well as public health and health promotion.

Course option

Year of entry

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Sandwich

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years sandwich

UCAS codes

B400

Start date

September 2024
January 2025 - condensed


Course overview

The field of nutrition is growing in importance and graduates from this course will be able to access a wide range of career opportunities.

Nutritionists are needed to work with individuals, groups and communities, the food industry, regulatory bodies and policy makers to promote healthy diets and appropriate food choice.

  • The course aims to draw on the expertise of academics from biological and analytical sciences and public health nutrition to provide an integrated course, centred on human nutrition and healthy eating, food safety and regulatory processes, food analysis and public health.
  • You’ll have the chance to gain hands-on experience of a wide range of scientific techniques. Assessments are designed to mimic real-life scenarios, such as analysing nutrient intake from a food diary, developing dietary interventions and designing health promotion campaigns.
  • Throughout the course, you will receive insight from researchers and current practitioners who will bring you the latest issues on a wide range of nutritional and health topics.
  • The January start for this course is condensed in Year 1. Please see the ‘How you’ll learn’ section below for more details.
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Joint Top Modern University for Career Prospects

Guardian University Guide 2021 and 2022

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5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

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Top 5 UK Student City (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2023

Why you should study this course

  • No.7 for Food Science in The Complete University Guide 2023.
  • Support applying for placements to gain crucial real-world experience2.
  • Supported and taught by an academic team which includes registered nutritionists, food scientists, microbiologists, and food safety experts (staff may be subject to change).
  • Gain hands-on experience of a wide range of industry techniques in our state-of-the-art laboratories based in the multi-million-pound Alison Gingell Building4.
  • If you choose to start this course in January you will study exactly the same course but over a slightly shorter timescale in Year 1. This is ideal if you missed the September start, want to transfer from a different university or course or just need a bit more time to prepare for life at university.

Accreditation and professional recognition

The degree is accredited1 and recognised by the following bodies:

Association for Nutrition logo

Association for Nutrition

Accredited by the Association for Nutrition. On successful completion of the course you are eligible to apply for direct entry to the UKVRN Register as a Registered Associate Nutritionist (ANutr) (additional costs may apply).


The Nutrition and Health course at Coventry University attracted me because of its focus on nutrition while touching on some food science topics that will help me as a nutritionist. My time at Coventry University equipped me with the required knowledge in Physiology and Biochemistry, Nutrition and Health, and Public Health Nutrition. Moreover, I learned multiple skills that proved to be beneficial when I started working on my dissertation where I am researching techniques that promotes weight loss maintenance.

Alfadhul Almubarak, Nutrition and Health BSc (Hons) current student, 2022.
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What you'll study

This course has a common first year.

The common first year enables you to work alongside students doing similar courses to you, to widen your knowledge and exposure to other subject areas and professions. You will have the opportunity to collaborate with other students, so you can share your insights and experience which will help you to develop and learn.

If you discover an interest in a specific subject you have studied, upon successful completion of your first year, you could swap degrees with another course in your common first year (subject to meeting progression requirements).

Common first year courses 

  • Food Safety, Inspection and Control BSc (Hons) 
  • Food Science BSc (Hons) 
  • Nutrition and Health BSc (Hons)

In the first year, the curriculum is shared across related courses allowing you to gain a broad grounding in the discipline before going on, in the second and third years, to specialist modules in your chosen field.

Modules

In year two, you will develop more advanced knowledge and skills to do with: nutrition throughout the lifespan, food microbiology, public health promotion and policy and food choice and behaviour change, among others.

Modules

There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement2 can often be beneficial. Work placements usually occur between your second and final year of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future.

If you choose to do a work placement year, you will pay a reduced tuition fee3 of £1,250. For more information, please go to the fees and funding section. During this time you will receive guidance from your employer or partner institution, along with your assigned academic mentor who will ensure you have the support you need to complete your placement.

Modules

Your final year aims to bring you to the level to enter the world of work by consolidating your knowledge and skills from year one and two. You could also work on an independent project in an area of your interest, with the support of a mentor.

Modules

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

I found the curriculum arrangement and teaching resources of Coventry University are excellent.  Staff are very responsible and friendly and give me a lot of support. I also like the atmosphere of class, which involves lots of discussion. Overall, the experience of studying this course is amazing.

Nikki Li, Nutrition and Health BSc (Hons) current student, quoted in 2022.
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How you'll learn

The course utilises a variety of teaching methods, including lectures, seminars, tutorials, group work and practical skills sessions in the maintenance and improvement of food quality and safety, for example, food microbiology laboratory sessions and cooking sessions.

These will be taught in our SuperLab and in the kitchen, where you can work with a range of ingredients and use food processing equipment. We also incorporate the use of specific nutrition-based software, such as Nutritics4.

Formative and summative assessments provide you with feedback to ensure that you are supported in your learning. A blended teaching and learning approach including asynchronous materials, online synchronous and face to face sessions will delivered via the virtual learning environment.

If you choose to start this course in January it will be run as a condensed programme. You’ll start your course in January and finish your first year in August. Upon successful completion of Year 1, you will progress onto Year 2 in September and then continue to start subsequent years of your course in September, completing your degree at the same time as the September starters unless you opt to do a placement year.


Teaching contact hours

Depending on the year of study you will typically have between 9-18 hours of structured weekly teaching and learning hours which may include activities such as workshops, laboratories, online tutorials, seminars and lectures. This will be supported by a weekly course programme hour with your tutors. In addition, you will be expected to undertake around 18 hours of self-directed study each week.

As an innovative and enterprising institution, the university may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the university may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.

Since COVID-19, we have delivered our courses in a variety of forms, in line with public authority guidance, decisions, or orders and we will continue to adapt our delivery as appropriate. Whether on campus or online, our key priority is staff and student safety.


Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods include:

  • Tests
  • Essays
  • Group work
  • Presentations
  • Reports
  • Oral consultation
  • Projects
  • Coursework
  • Individual assignments

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.


International experience opportunities

Coventry University is committed to developing global graduates. Throughout the course, we will aim to explore international, national and local food and nutrition practices and policies. This course attracts many international students, providing a diverse learning experience. This aims to enhance the discussion of issues such as globalisation of foods and is designed to provide all students with a global perspective of developments in food, health and nutrition.

The university runs several schemes to allow students periods of overseas study or work experience2. Past students in our department have been successful in securing places to study in Spain, France, Canada and the US.

Staff from different professional backgrounds have integrated research and expertise to provide the students with an ever-engaging teaching and learning experience on product design, nutrition, and public health.

Dr Isabella Nyambayo, Assistant Professor, 2022.
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I found the curriculum arrangement and teaching resources of Coventry University are excellent. Staff are very responsible and friendly and give me a lot of support. I also like the atmosphere of class, which involves lots of discussion. Overall, the experience of studying this course is amazing.  

Nikki Li, Nutrition and Health BSc (Hons) current student, quoted in 2022.
Outside view looking up at the Alison Gingell building

Entry requirements

Typical offer for 2024/25 entry.

Requirement What we're looking for
UCAS points 120
A Level BBB to include Biology or Chemistry. Excludes General Studies.
BTEC DDM in the BTEC Level 3 Extended National Diploma in a Biological or Chemical Science related subject. Excludes Health and Social Care.
IB Diploma 32 points to include 5 points in Biology or Chemistry at Higher Level.
GCSE requirement 5 GCSEs at grade 4 / C or above to include English, Mathematics and two Sciences.
Access to HE The Access to HE Diploma to include 30 Level 3 credits above Merit of which 15 must be at Distinction in Biology or Chemistry units. Plus GCSE English and Mathematics at grade 4 / C or above.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications, speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

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Are you eligible for the Fair Access Scheme?

We believe every student should have the opportunity to dream big, reach their potential and succeed, regardless of their background. Find out more about our Fair Access Scheme.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:


You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no component lower than 6.0

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

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Not got the required grades? We offer this degree with an integrated foundation year.


Fees and funding

2024/25 tuition fees.

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man £9,250 per year Not available
EU £9,250 per year with EU Support Bursary**
£18,300 per year without EU Support Bursary**
Not available
International £18,300 per year Not available

If you choose to do a work placement2, you should consider travel and living costs to cover this. There is also a tuition fee3 of £1,250 that will cover your academic support throughout your placement year.

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our undergraduate finance page and see the University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

We offer a range of international scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our international scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

  • Any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
  • Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

Condensed course – January start date

If you choose to start this degree in January please make sure you check the Fees and Finance page for more information. Although starting this course in January does not prohibit you from being eligible for student finance, the way it is paid in your first year differs from those who start their course in September.

If you start the degree in January, your tuition fees will be paid in accordance with the university’s Tuition Fees, Refund and Withdrawal Terms and Conditions for January starters and for any further years of study, your fees will be paid in accordance with the terms for September starters.

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.


Facilities

The course is taught at the Coventry University campus, primarily in the Alison Gingell building4.

  • SuperLab
    Our state-of-the-art SuperLab can hold up to 250 students at one time and has facilities for cell culture and equipment for microscopy and growing microorganisms aerobically and anaerobically, DNA, RNA and protein extraction and analysis.
  • Analytical Chemistry Suite
    You will develop your laboratory skills and will have the opportunity to use analytical techniques for example in the proximate analysis of food e.g. fat or protein content, and using analytical techniques such as UV spectroscopy and chromatography.
  • Teaching kitchen
    You will also enhance your cooking skills, design meals to meet different requirements and develop new food or drink products through sessions in our teaching kitchen.

Careers and opportunities

You will be taught in a variety of settings, including laboratories and a purpose-built kitchen, so that you have the chance to develop the analytical and practical skills required by employers – working with accuracy and precision to obtain data and results.

Where possible, coursework uses applied tasks that mimic the skills needed in jobs to help ensure you are attractive to potential future employers, such as collection and interpretation of nutritional data to assess nutrient intake from a food diary, or critically appraising evidence to inform the public of current nutrition and health topics. We also offer the opportunity for industry visits and fieldtrips2, which have previously included trips to a local food bank and conferences such as Food Matters Live.

You will also have support with applying for short and long-term placements to gain the experience employers desire. Past students have undertaken one-year placements in the food industry with organisations such as Coventry City Council and Public Health England2.

The Talent Team can help you to find suitable work placements and give you advice on how to get the most out of them. 

The need for nutritionists is growing with the increasing incidence of diet-related health conditions such as obesity, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer.

Consequently, graduates from this course should be well equipped for a wide range of roles in the field of nutrition and health – from working on emergency relief projects in low income countries to devising health initiatives to target dietary intakes of specific groups, such as pregnant women, school children and the elderly.

Opportunities may exist within local authorities, charitable organisations, the NHS, parenting organisations, health promotion, and the food and leisure industries. You could also find yourself advising policy makers, regulatory bodies or working in education or the media.

You will be strongly encouraged to take a year out by applying for a work placement or completing a summer internship2.  

Where our graduates work

Our graduates have secured roles in companies including the Health Security Agency, NHS, Mondelēz International, PURE International and Healthy Lifestyles Coventry, among others. 

Further study

The course is an excellent foundation for further postgraduate studies leading to an MSc or PhD.

The prospect of becoming a nutritionist has long been a career goal of mine, with a particular interest in the relationship between food, healthy lifestyle, and personal wellbeing. I chose to study Nutrition and Health at Coventry University because the university has the most modern facilities (including high-tech laboratories and experiential learning areas), which help you to excel in your studies. Additionally, the staff and the university offer outstanding support. I have never felt alone!  My academic tutors were extremely approachable and keen to engage with their students.

Margherita Porro, Nutrition and Health BSc (Hons) graduate, quoted in 2022.
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Graduate Immigration Route visa

Based on current information from the UK Government, international students whose study extends beyond summer 2021 may be eligible for a visa under the UK Government’s Graduate Immigration Route, which will enable students to stay and work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for up to two (2) years. Check the most up to date guidance available to check your eligibility and any updates from the UK Government before making an application or enrolment decision.


How to apply

Full-time students applying to start in September 2024 can apply for this course through UCAS. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.

Part-time students should apply directly to the university.


If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

International codes:
HLSU254

How to apply

For further support for international applicants applying for an undergraduate degree view our International hub.

You can also download our International guide which contains lots of useful information about our courses, accommodation and tips for travel.

This course with foundation year is not currently available to international students. If you do not meet the entry requirements to directly join year 1 of the degree, please take a look at our International Pathways Programme for additional options.


Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.

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