Sports and Exercise Nutrition MSc
Study level: Postgraduate
Over the past decade, the impact of nutrition and exercise in optimising athletic performance and recovery from injury has become increasingly clear and there has been a growing demand for highly trained specialists in this field.
Year of entry
Location
Coventry University (Coventry)
Study mode
Full-time
Part-time
Online/Blended
Duration
1 year full-time
2-3 years part-time (UK only)
Course code
HLST206
Start date
September 2023
Course overview
The impact of nutrition and exercise in optimising athletic performance and recovery from injury has become increasingly clear and there is a growing demand for highly trained specialists.
This exciting master’s aims to foster an evidence-based approach to understanding the science and application of sports nutrition and exercise for a diverse range of individuals to improve their health, fitness or sporting performance.
- Designed to develop your appreciation of the human body and its functions, together with nutrition science and its role in promoting human health.
- You will consider the components of fitness, including nutritional requirements, energy expenditure, body mass and body composition, examining some of the common problems associated with general health and wellbeing, diet and nutrition, exercise and sport performance.
- We will encourage a critical, analytical and flexible approach to problem-solving in sport and exercise nutrition.
Joint Top Modern University for Career Prospects
Guardian University Guide 2021 and 2022
5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities
QS Stars University Ratings
Top 5 UK Student City (Coventry)
QS Best Student Cities Index 2023Why you should study this course
- Opportunity to undertake placements at a range of local professional and amateur sports clubs, as well as the university sports teams (subject to competitive application, availability, meeting visa requirements, and additional costs may apply)2.
- Explore the latest issues relating to the theory and practice of sport and exercise nutrition through case studies and exposure to the applied environment.
- We have experts in sport and exercise psychology, physiology, exercise and health, strength and conditioning, biomechanics, and nutrition, many conducting ongoing research and consultancy (staff may be subject to change).
- Access to industry-standard software, including those for assessing dietary analysis and energy expenditure and specialist equipment, including kitchens, an environmental chamber and a range of ergometers and metabolic carts4.
- Successful completion provides eligibility to apply as a graduate to the Sports and Nutrition Register (SENr), a collaboration between the British Dietetic Association, the British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences and The Nutrition Society (subject to additional costs).
Since graduating, I have worked at Watford FC, Harlequins, Birmingham City FC and Intraperformance who placed me in a Champions League football club. I have also built my own business and worked with a mixture of athletes, from amateur boxers to tennis players in Grand Slam tournaments.
From completing my master’s degree at Coventry University I have attained the knowledge, skills and mentorship to be competent for all of the experiences highlighted above. The support I received from Freddy Brown, Neil Clark and Mike Price has put me ahead of other graduates around the country.
What you'll study
Over the course of this master’s, you will cover three main themes: Exercise Physiology – exploring how the body adapts and responds to exercise and strength training; Nutrition – the exploration of the science of nutrition and the use of dietary strategies to enhance sport and exercise performance; and Research Skills – aiming to provide you with the skills necessary to conduct your own research.
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.
How you'll learn
This course blends a mixture of face-to-face and online teaching, which is designed to maximise your opportunities to balance study with other commitments. Teaching can take the form of the following methods:
- Lectures
- Tutorials
- Practical laboratory/therapy classes
- Problem-based learning
- Directed self-learning
These will be accompanied by associated online delivery methods:
- Online lectures
- Online problem-based learning
- Discussion boards
This course can be offered on a part-time basis across 2-3 years. While we would like to give you all the information about our part-time offering here, it is tailored for each course each year depending on the number of part-time applicants. Therefore, the part-time teaching arrangements vary. Request further information about part-time study.
Teaching contact hours
The number of full-time contact hours may vary from semester to semester, however, on average, it is likely to be around 13 contact hours per week.
Additionally, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study of approximately 20 hours each week, depending on the demands of individual modules.
The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials.
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.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are prepared for courses due to start in or after the 2023/2024 academic year to be delivered in a variety of forms. The form of delivery will be determined in accordance with Government and Public Health guidance. 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:
- Coursework
- Oral presentations
- Video presentations
- A practical portfolio
- Dissertation
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
Throughout the world, there have been tremendous advances over the last decade in the knowledge of sport and exercise nutrition and its application. Athletes at all levels are looking at the role nutrition plays in optimising training, recovery and performance. Similarly, international health organisations and governments are becoming increasingly aware of the positive effects exercise and nutrition can have on general health and wellbeing – anything from cancer and cardiovascular health to obesity and psychological health.
Connections and collaborations are being sought with institutions overseas through staff contacts and the Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) programme (which may be subject to application and availability)2.
Entry requirements
Typical offer for 2023/24 entry.
Fees and funding
2023/24 tuition fees.
| Student | Full-time | Part-time |
|---|---|---|
| UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man | £11,200 | Request fee information |
| EU | £11,200 per year with EU support bursary** £18,600 per year without EU support bursary** |
Not available |
| International | £18,600 | Not available |
For advice and guidance on tuition fees3 and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page.
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.
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).
*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.
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How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?
We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the government's Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.
If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.
Facilities
As part of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, this course will take place at our Coventry University main campus and has access to the state-of-the-art Alison Gingell Building which features a number of innovative classrooms and facilities4.
The state-of-the-art Alison Gingell building sports labs, analytical labs, research labs, and sports science labs, all equipped with top-of-the-range equipment you’ll need to succeed in this course.
Sports Therapy Clinic
The Sports Therapy Clinic is run by final-year Sports Therapy students under the supervision of qualified staff, with second-year students providing a supervised massage clinic twice a week.
Strength and conditioning suite
Our multi-purpose suite is equipped with multiple Olympic lifting platforms, a 20m gait analysis track, an anti-gravity treadmill and a 3D motion capture system.
Environmental chamber
Our environmental chamber helps us to test the effects of a wide range of environmental conditions, such as temperature and barometric pressure, on the human body.
Careers and opportunities
On successful completion of this course, you should have knowledge of:
- The underpinning principal conceptual and theoretical issues in sport and exercise nutrition.
- Key anthropometric, physiological and nutritional assessments.
- The physiology of exercise and principles used to construct training programmes, physical activity, nutrition and obesity, and research skills.
- The structure, regulation and organisation of sporting agencies.
You will be able to:
- Critically analyse, evaluate and interpret knowledge and practice in sport and exercise nutrition.
- Formulate and present a critical argument using a variety of methods (eg presentations, essays) that would stand up to critical review and scrutiny in academic and professional settings.
- Exhibit the skills of critical reasoning in relation to application of sports nutrition.
- Analyse key nutritional, anthropometric and physiological assessments.
- Interpret training programmes.
- Carry out appropriate anthropometrical, nutritional and physiological assessments.
- Devise suitable nutritional goals for sports men and women.
As a qualified sport and exercise nutritionist upon successful completion of the course, you should be able to find employment in range of different areas – within academia, the sport and fitness industry or public health nutrition.
Increasingly professional in their approach, many sports clubs are now seeking the advice of nutrition consultants to assist with their performance training and rehabilitation. You could find yourself developing nutrition programmes for professional teams and elite athletes.
However, sports nutrition is a rapidly developing area in personal training and community based physical activity interventions. With public health high on the government’s agenda, there is also a growing demand for graduates who can provide guidance on exercise and lifestyle within doctor’s surgeries, hospitals and private practice, as well as research roles within governing bodies.
How to apply
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UK students
To apply to study for a postgraduate course at Coventry University, you can apply online.
For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.
Chat with our admissions team
Complete our contact form.
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International students
Full-time international students applying to start in September should apply directly to the university. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.
How to applyFor further support for international applicants applying for postgraduate 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.
Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.
Chat with our admissions team.
Complete our contact form.
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Disclaimers
Coventry University together with Coventry University London Campus, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the “University”) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.
1Accreditations
The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.
2UK and international opportunities
Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or International opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel COVID and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the visa requirements, please contact the International Office.
3Tuition fees
The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.
For International Students, we may increase fees each year but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.
4Facilities
Due to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.
Student Contract
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2023/24 contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.
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