Nutrition and Health BSc (Hons)

Study level: Undergraduate
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Explore the science of nutrition and its impact on health and wellbeing. Gain practical skills to support healthy lifestyles and prepare for a career in public health, nutrition or the food industry.

Course option

Year of entry

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Sandwich

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years sandwich
Condensed first year available

UCAS codes

B400

Start date

September 2026

How to apply
Book an Open Day
Download a prospectus
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The information on this page is for 2025-26 entry and should be used as guidance for 2026-27 entry. Please keep checking back on this course page to see our latest updates.

Course overview

Nutritionists play a vital role in improving lives. They work with individuals, communities, the food industry and policymakers to promote healthier diets, influence food choices and support positive change in public health.

  • This course is designed to equip you with a thorough understanding of the scientific basis of nutrition with an emphasis on human health and disease. This course also embraces an international perspective, while recognising the key underpinning principles of UK-based nutritional guidance.
  • This course provides a high-quality nutrition education by offering you access to modern laboratories, kitchen facilities and nutritional analysis software, such as Nutritics 4.
  • 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.
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Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023
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5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings
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Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2026

Why you should study this course

  • Supported by a teaching team comprising registered nutritionists, food scientists, microbiologists, and food safety experts, ensuring that students are supported by highly qualified professionals who will bring you the latest issues on a wide range of nutritional and health topics (staff subject to change).
  • Gain hands-on experience of a wide range of industry techniques in our modern laboratories based in the Alison Gingell Building.4
  • The course uses educational technologies, such as Kahoot!, Padlet and Mentimeter, to enhance your learning experience and make the course interactive and engaging.
  • Undertake an independent research-based project in a related area of your interest.
  • Gain a comprehensive understanding of nutrition’s role in human health and disease prevention, as well as modules such as food product design, enabling you to specialise and embark on a range of careers in nutrition, public health or the food industry.
  • Develop key transferable skills in independent research, data analysis and statistical analysis to give you a competitive career advantage.

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 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 years 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.

Modules

In the final year, you will apply your knowledge gained from years one and two.

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.

How you'll learn

Teaching and learning methods may include:

  • lectures 
  • seminars 
  • tutorials 
  • presentations 
  • group projects 
  • workshops 
  • case studies
  • practical lab sessions.

Teaching contact hours

As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. You will normally study one 30-credit module at a time. A typical 30-credit module requires a total of 300 hours of study made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.

Teaching hours

Teaching hours may vary depending on your year of study and selected modules. During your first year, you can expect 12-15 teaching hours each week. You will also have the option to attend additional sessions, including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress through your studies, teaching hours may reduce.

Guided and independent study

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You’ll be digging deeper into topics, review what you’ve learned and complete assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress through your studies, you’ll spend more time in independent study.

Online learning

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.

Assessment

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

  • tests
  • essays
  • group work
  • presentations
  • reports
  • 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.

Please note that all international experience opportunities may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability, and meeting applicable visa and travel requirements, and are therefore not guaranteed2.

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

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 GCSE maths, English and two sciences at grade 4 / C or Functional Skills Level 2, or other equivalent Level 2 awards.
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.

Other qualifications and experience

Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, each with a unique story. We recognise a breadth of qualifications. If your qualifications differ from the above, contact our Admissions Team who will be happy to discuss your qualifications and routes into your chosen course.

Contextual offers and Fair Access Scheme

If you meet the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme, you could automatically receive a contextual offer that may be up to 24 UCAS points lower than our standard entry requirements. View the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:

Africa

Americas

Central Asia

East Asia

Europe

Middle East

South Asia

South East Asia


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

If you do not have the typical entry requirements, you may want to consider studying this course with an international foundation course. Upon successful completion this should provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to progress onto this undergraduate degree.

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

  • Applicants must possess a minimum IELTS of 6.5 overall (with no component part 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.

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

Fees and funding

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man 2026/27 fees TBC
2025/26 fees: £9,535 per year		 Not available
EU 2026/27 fees TBC
2025/26 fees: £9,535 per year with EU Support Bursary**
2026/27 fees TBC
2025/26 fees: £18,300 per year without EU Support Bursary**		 Not available
International 2026/27 fees TBC
2025/26 fees: £18,300 per year		 Not available

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement2 or study abroad year, you will need to pay a tuition fee3 to cover your academic support throughout your placement year. Students commencing their professional placement in the academic year 2027/28 will pay £1,500 if they are paying UK fees, or £1,800 if they are paying international fees.

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.

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 permits 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.

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement, the University will charge the tuition fees stated above for those on a placement during Academic Year 2027/28. The University will review professional placement tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study, but such that it will be no more than 5% above 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.

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 course 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 course 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.

Student in white lab coat in the SuperLab using a syringe and test tube.

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.

sStudents using chemistry equipment.

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.

A student chopping a tomato.

Teaching kitchen

You will enhance your cooking skills, design meals to meet different requirements and develop new food or drink products through sessions in our teaching kitchen.

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

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 careers team can help you 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
  • Healthy Lifestyles Coventry.

Further study

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

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