Nutrition MSc

Course overview

Nutrition is a fast-moving discipline that focuses on understanding the role of diet in maintaining human health and preventing disease. As we move towards a healthier lifestyle globally, understanding nutrition has become paramount, and the demand for qualified specialists in this field is ever-growing.

Our Nutrition MSc course will give you an in-depth understanding of the scientific, social and ethical considerations that inform the nutrition profession, as set by the Association for Nutrition (AfN), the professional voluntary register of nutritionists. Your learning will cover crucial areas in nutrition — from policy and practice to the scientific principles that underpin the relationships between diet, human health and wellbeing.

You'll study in our School of Food Science and Nutrition, which is home to world-leading research that has impacted key areas in food and nutrition and directly informs the course, meaning you’ll be learning emerging innovations and issues in nutrition and the food industry. You’ll also be taught by a programme team made up of academics and researchers from across the School and have access to specialist facilities that will prepare you for working in this field.

This means that, once you graduate, you’ll be fully equipped with topical knowledge and advanced skills sought after by global companies in industry.

Why study at Leeds:

• Learn the latest innovations in food science and nutrition linked directly to the impactful, 'real world' research conducted right here in our School.
• Advance your knowledge and skills in critical areas sought after in industry, including diet and cardiovascular health, obesity, the relationship between diet and cancer, and policy and practice in nutrition.
• Conduct your own individual research project as part of your course and gain industry experience in the handling and analysis of scientific data.
• Experience excellent practical and theoretical teaching delivered by internationally renowned expert academics working at the forefront of their fields with strong industrial links.
• Access specialist facilities, including industry-grade equipment for investigating the colloidal nature of foods, small and wide-angle X-ray scattering equipment (SAXs & WAXS), electron microscopy facilities, texture analysers, tribometers and HPLC and GC analytical equipment.
• Enhance your career prospects and join our successful alumni who have pursued careers in some of the most revered companies in industry worldwide including Tesco PLC., Premier Foods and PepsiCo.
• Master the most up-to-date practices and techniques recognised in industry on a course that has been directly informed and advised by the Industrial Advisory Board.
• Make the most of your time at Leeds by joining our Food Science society, where you can widen your interest in food studies and get to know people on your course outside of lectures through trips and socials such as a Summer BBQ.

Accreditation

The course is accredited by the Association for Nutrition (AfN), which means it delivers all the core competencies required of registered nutritionists. On successful completion of this MSc, you can apply to enter the UK voluntary register of nutritionists, and our excellent links with industry will help you to pursue a successful and rewarding career.

Course details

Throughout our Nutrition MSc, you’ll develop an in-depth understanding of the scientific principles that underpin the relationships between diet, human health and wellbeing. You’ll critically appraise the effects of food processing on the nutritional quality of foods and the role of processed foods in the diet, whilst building an understanding of the functions of food components and nutrients. Alongside, you’ll learn other key areas in nutrition such as the relationship between diet and cancer, the concept of ‘personalised nutrition’, and the policy and practice of nutrition.

During the latter part of the year, you’ll be tasked with a research project based on the areas you’re interested in. Working in one of our fully equipped research laboratories, you’ll critically evaluate the literature and write a research proposal to answer a research question, as identified by you and your supervisor.

Course structure

The list shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

For more information and a full list of typical modules available on this course, please read Nutrition MSc in the course catalogue

Year 1 compulsory modules

Year 1 optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)

Learning and teaching

Teaching is through lectures, practical classes, tutorials, seminars, online materials, and supervised research projects. Extensive use is made of IT and a wide range of materials are available to enable you to study at your own pace and in your own time, to enhance and extend the material taught formally.

Specialist facilities

You’ll have access to excellent teaching and laboratory facilities, supplemented by extensive computing equipment. Our specialist facilities include the latest equipment for investigating the colloidal nature of foods, small and wide-angle X-ray scattering equipment (SAXs & WAXS), cutting-edge electron microscopy facilities, texture analysers, tribometers as well as HPLC and GC analytical equipment.

Our Virtual Learning Environment will help to support your studies: it’s a central place where you can find all the information and resources for the School, your programme and modules.

You can also benefit from support to develop your academic skills, within the curriculum and through online resources, workshops, one-to-one appointments and drop-in sessions.

Online taster course

Food Safety and Nutrition: A Global Approach to Public Health is a free online course, delivered via FutureLearn, exploring the challenges of ensuring food security faced by researchers, policymakers and individuals worldwide.

Learn how large-scale change, like industrialisation, globalisation, population growth and climate change, affects food safety and understand the consequences for global health and nutrition.

Programme team

The wider programme team is made up of academics and researchers from across the School of Food Science and Nutrition who work within the School’s research institutes and groups.

On this course you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

Assessment is by course work and written exams, which take place at the end of the semester in which the module is taught.

Applying

Entry requirements

A bachelor's degree with a 2:2 (Hons) in a subject containing chemistry and biology content.

All key modules should also have strong grades (none below 2:2 UK equivalent). Please check your marks using international equivalent qualifications. We will ask for further detailed module information if these are not clear on your transcript.

We expect all applicants to provide a supporting statement indicating their career aim in Nutrition and a description of their interest in Public Health priorities.

For more information, please contact the Admissions Team.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.5 overall, with no less than 6.0 in all components. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our postgraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

This pre-sessional course is designed with a progression route to your degree programme and you’ll learn academic English in the context of your subject area. To find out more, read Language for Science (6 weeks) and Language for Science: General Science (10 weeks). 

We also offer online pre-sessionals alongside our on-campus pre-sessionals. Find out more about our six week online pre-sessional.

You can also study pre-sessionals for longer periods – read about our postgraduate pre-sessional English courses.

How to apply

The ‘Apply’ link at the top of this page takes you to information on applying for taught programmes and to the University's online application system.

If you're unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Taught Admissions Policy 2024

This course is taught by

School of Food Science and Nutrition

Contact us

School of Food Science and Nutrition Admissions Team

Email: mscenquiry@food.leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Fees

UK: £12,750 (total)

International: £29,000 (total)

Read more about paying fees and charges.

For fees information for international taught postgraduate students, read Masters fees.

Additional cost information

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There may be help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government.  Find out more at Masters funding overview.

Career opportunities

The food industry is one of the largest in the world — with a vast amount of career opportunities available to qualified nutritionists.

On graduating from our Nutrition MSc, you’ll have the knowledge and skills relevant to register as a qualified nutritionist, providing personalised advice on healthy eating in food companies and other nutrition/health-related industries. You’ll also have the groundings to follow careers in food manufacturing, nutrition training, health promotion, marketing, scientific research and product development to name a few. This programme also provides a good foundation for students who would like to pursue further studies at the PhD level at Leeds, or elsewhere.

Here at Leeds, we rank in the top 10 in the UK for Nutrition and Food Science and our Food Science MSc has been accredited by the Association for Nutrition, meaning many of our alumni have been sought after by large corporations worldwide and have gone on to hold key positions in the food industry and government agencies.

Plus, University of Leeds students are among the top 10 most targeted by top employers according to The Graduate Market 2023, High Fliers Research, meaning our graduates are highly sought after by some of the most reputable companies in the field.

Our graduates from this course have secured positions at companies such as:

• Food Technical Graduate, Tesco PLC
• Nutrition Advisor and Business Development Executive, I-detox International Limited
• Product Development Officer, Premier Foods
• R&D Technician, Kerry Foods
• Dietetic Assistant, County Durham NHS Trust
• Nutritionist, PepsiCo
• Food Labelling & Nutrition Coordinator, Jordans, Dorset & Ryvita
• Nutrition Technologist, Bakkavor
• Regulatory Advisor, Danone
• Product Development Technician, Mars Petcare

Careers support

At Leeds, we help you to prepare for your future from day one — that’s one of the reasons our graduates are so sought after by employers. The University’s Career Centre is one of the largest in the country, providing a wide range of resources to ensure you are prepared to take your next steps after graduation and get you where you want to be.

• The School of Food Science and Nutrition’s Employability Enhancement Officer — gain quality advice, guidance and information to help you choose a career path. From CV and cover letter writing to supporting you with job applications, our School’s dedicated Employability Enhancement Officer is on hand to help maximise your capabilities through a process of personal development and career planning.
• Employability events — we run a full range of events, including careers fairs in specialist areas and across broader industries, with employers who are actively recruiting for roles. 
• MyCareer system — during your course and after you graduate, you’ll have access to a dedicated careers portal where you can book appointments with our team, get information on careers and see job vacancies and upcoming events.
• Opportunities at Leeds — there are plenty of exciting opportunities offered by our Leeds University Union, including volunteering and over 300 clubs and societies to get involved in.

Find out more at the careers website.

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