- Combine enhanced scientific knowledge with the practical skills to work in applied settings.
- Learn about applied sport and exercise nutrition from leading experts in physiology, psychology, and nutrition.
- Benefit from our state-of-the-art laboratory facilities where you can develop the practical knowledge of advanced laboratory techniques.
- Become part of our Sports and Exercise Science Research Group and access departmental seminars discussing the latest sports and exercise research.
- Critically examine the latest assessment methods and discover their practical applications within physiology, metabolism and biochemistry.
Summary
Nutrition has a profound impact on sport and exercise performance. By completing our Sport and Exercise Nutrition MSc you will discover the science behind sport, exercise, metabolism and nutrition, and how to apply this to the exerciser and the athlete.
Sports nutrition is developing rapidly, as its importance is pivotal to supporting athletic performance. The programme will give you an in-depth understanding of the science in sports and exercise nutrition, allowing you to drive forwards your own interests through research and practice, with an emphasis on applying scientific analysis in clinical settings.
The programme draws upon our excellent postgraduate Sport and Exercise and Clinical Nutrition programmes. Your modules will give you an understanding of topics that are at the cutting edge of sports and exercise nutrition. This includes the psychology of physical activity where you’ll explore the physical and psychological impact of the lack of exercise and how to change these behaviours, advanced laboratory skills, as well as a comprehensive understanding of research methods, for you to apply to your own research project.
You’ll be part of Sport and Exercise Science and Health Sciences research groups where you’ll collaborate with our academic staff, giving you a unique insight into how intensive research guides and informs professional practice in the field. Throughout your studies, you’ll also have an Academic Guidance Tutor, giving you one on one support.
By the end of your postgraduate degree you’ll be able to make informed decisions in the practice of sport and exercise nutrition based upon a sound scientific rationale, to aid you in pursuing a career in both research and applied sport and exercise nutrition.
Content
Sport and Exercise nutrition is a discipline that combines physiology, metabolism, biochemistry and nutrition. This programme balances theory and research with practical applications to help you develop your expertise.
You’ll learn the essential foundations of human metabolism and physiology and how you can alter an athlete’s health and performance through exercise and nutrition interventions. Across a mixture of lectures, seminars and practical laboratory sessions you’ll understand how to implement performance nutrition and ways to treat and prevent injury and disease. You will explore the links between exercise and energy expenditure, the role of supplements on exercise performance, how exercise can improve mental health, and the limitations to exercise performance.
The programme has a strong focus on developing skills to help you in future employment in this field. You’ll learn skills in communication and how to work with groups and individuals in a consultancy setting. You will critically examine and debate current sport and exercise nutrition research and apply this knowledge to assist in performance enhancement. You’ll also complete your own research project, allowing you to further develop your specialism within sport and exercise nutrition.
You can hear from some of our academics on the Human Performance and Health Podcast Series. Here they help to bridge the gap between hard science and its application, discussing how we use new data and literature to improve our knowledge and application in the real word.
Modules
- Principles of Nutrition – Sport & Exercise
- Sport & Exercise Nutrition
- Current Topics in Exercise Physiology
- Advanced Laboratory & Applied Skills – Exercise & Nutritional Sciences
- Psychology of Physical Activity, Health and Wellbeing
- Research Methods
- Research Dissertation
Career Options
The specialist modules and core skills on this course will prepare you for a number of different career pathways.
These include working in elite and professional sport, in sports clubs and gyms, as a specialist in public health nutrition or food and nutrition companies, or working as a self-employed specialist consultant, as well as undertaking further research at doctoral level. The programme also equips graduates with the transferable and analytical skills for a diverse range of careers outside of Sport and Exercise Sciences.
Lectures on Metabolism
A series of lectures discussing some of the latest research and information in metabolism are available to view on YouTube here. These are hosted by Dr Richard Mackenzie, programme convener for Sports and Exercise Nutrition, and feature leading researchers in Human Nutrition & Exercise Physiology from around the world.
Life at Roehampton
At Roehampton, we can offer all new students the opportunity to live in accommodation on our beautiful parkland campus, including affordable and high-end options.
We offer scholarships, provide hardship funding and help you find advice on managing your finances while you study.
We provide plenty of opportunities for you to get involved, through volunteering, playing sport or music, or joining one of our many active student societies.