Nutrition (Exercise and Health) BSc (Hons)
Why choose this course?
Would you like to promote good health and help to prevent disease? A practical knowledge of the benefits of nutrition and exercise can improve people's wellbeing.
This course studies anatomy, physiology, energy metabolism, nutrition, sport and exercise psychology and other related subjects. You'll examine the promotion of exercise and nutrition to improve people's physical and mental health.
You'll have access to excellent specialist facilities, including a Bodpod machine, bespoke nutrition kitchen and a highly experienced, dedicated team to help you make the most out of your time with us.
Through optional modules in Year 3, you can focus on nutrition, sport and exercise science or a combination, including contemporary issues in food and nutrition, or ergogenic aids and extreme environments, making your degree bespoke to you. The four-year sandwich route has a year's industry-related work experience.
| Attendance | UCAS code/apply | Year of entry |
|---|---|---|
| 3 years full time | BB49 | 2023 |
| 4 years full time including sandwich year | BB4X | 2023 |
| 4 years full time including foundation year | CB64 | 2023 |
| 6 years part time | Apply direct to the University | 2023 |
| Location | Penrhyn Road |
Reasons to choose Kingston University
- This degree is accredited by the Association for Nutrition (AfN).
- Your learning will be supported by co-curricular activities, highly valued by the Association for Nutrition (SfN) and by employers.
- You'll benefit from being part of a friendly, inclusive group and from staff expertise in teaching, research and professional practice.
Nutrition at Kingston University
Nutrition kitchen
Our modern nutrition kitchen has been designed to the latest specifications. It is a flexible and inviting teaching space which we use for food science practicals, research projects and student nutrition society events. We also use it for small group teaching (such as assignments and revision tutorials) and personal tutor meetings. This is a truly dedicated space for all nutrition students. Experience it for yourself via our virtual tour.
What you will study
Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list. Those listed here may also be a mixture of core and optional modules.
Year 1
Year 2
Final year
Year 1 introduces the fundamental concepts of food and nutrition, human anatomy, exercise and physiology, together with sport and exercise psychology. You will also study the essential principles of scientific investigation.
Core modules
Food and Nutrition 1: An Introduction
30 credits
This module is core for students studying BSc (Hons) Nutrition (Human Nutrition)*/BSc (Hons) Nutrition and BSc (Hons) Nutrition (Exercise and Health)*/BSc (Hons) Exercise, Nutrition and Health and introduces students to the study and practice of human nutrition. The module focuses primarily on macronutrients and micronutrients but will also include water and alcohol. Other topics introduced as part of this module include the basic concepts that underpin energy and nitrogen balance, the derivation and application of dietary reference values, the study of food composition and food science. Students will also be introduced to the social functions of food and nutrition in society as well as basic applications of food science in everyday life. This module is a pre-requisite for Food and Nutrition 2: Applied Nutrition (LS5007).
Essentials for Sport, Exercise and Nutrition Sciences
30 credits
This module provides an essential introduction to the skills required for undergraduate study and scientific research. It enables students to understand the principles of qualitative and quantitative experimental research. It will introduce and employ statistical techniques for the analysis of sport science and nutrition data. The skills developed in this module will begin to formulate the foundation to later research methods modules and the final year project or dissertation module.
Sport and Exercise Psychology 1
30 credits
This module introduces fundamental psychological constructs and how they impact upon our understanding of human behaviour and learning in sport and exercise environments. Such constructs include personality, motivation, anxiety, stress as well as the learning and performance process. These topics will be introduced within lectures, further examined within seminar, workshop and practical sessions, and supplemented with additional online material.
Functional Anatomy and Exercise Physiology
30 credits
This module is designed to introduce the student to the fundamentals of functional anatomy and physiology, particularly the skeletal, neural, muscular, metabolic, respiratory and cardiovascular systems. The focus will be on the understanding of the biomechanics of movement and the physiological adjustments in response to the demands of sport and exercise.
Year 2 extends your knowledge of the effects of nutrition, sport and exercise on human physiology and exercise prescription. You will examine the principles of energy metabolism and develop your understanding of health and exercise physiology and sport and exercise psychology. A module in research methods will prepare you for your Year 3 research project.
If you choose the four-year sandwich route of this degree, you will have a year's industry-related work experience between Years 2 and 3.
Core modules
Food and Nutrition 2: Applied Nutrition
30 credits
This module is core for students studying BSc (Hons) Nutrition (Human Nutrition)*/BSc (Hons) Nutrition and BSc (Hons) Nutrition (Exercise and Health)*/BSc (Hons) Exercise, Nutrition and Health. The module applies basic nutrition delivered at Level 4 (Food and Nutrition 1: An Introduction - LS4006) to introduce students to dietary assessment methodology and how they are used depending on nutrients, groups and populations, and the role of nutrition across the lifespan and is a pre-requisite for Food and Nutrition 3: Public Health Nutrition (LS6009), which is delivered at Level 6.
Research Methods in Exercise Science
30 credits
This module's focus is on the approaches to research design, data collection techniques and appropriate analyses to make accurate interpretations. It further investigates quantitative and qualitative research methods introduced at Level 4 and introduces students to more advanced techniques. The module provides an essential introduction to research ethics and the ethical approval procedures that are required when using human participants for research. Skills developed in this module will form the foundation of the final year project module. This module also provides an overview of how to recognise and develop key and transferable skills to enhance employability through relevant professional development and research experience.
Sport and Exercise Psychology 2
30 credits
This module seeks to enable students to further understand the psychological influences on human behaviour in sport and exercise environments. These topics will be introduced within lectures, further examined within seminar, workshop and practical sessions, and supplemented with additional online material.
Optional modules
Health and Exercise Physiology
30 credits
This module covers the acute and chronic physiological changes induced by exercise and an understanding of cardio-respiratory health. This module will develop the students' application of exercise physiology to performance. The module will also enable students to apply the role of exercise and physical activity as a prescription therapy to clinical diseases. This module will further develop the student understanding by equipping them with the scientific skills to monitor and assess health, fitness and performance.
In final year, you will apply your knowledge of nutrition and exercise to topics such as the role of nutrition in health and disease, public health promotion, and the psychological issues relating to health and exercise. You may study either contemporary issues of food and nutrition or nutritional ergogenic aids and the extreme environment. You will also undertake an independent project, focused on exercise, nutrition or health science.
Core modules
Food and Nutrition 3: Public Health Nutrition
30 credits
This module is core for students studying BSc (Hons) Nutrition (Human Nutrition)*/BSc (Hons) Nutrition and BSc (Hons) Nutrition (Exercise and Health)*/BSc (Hons) Exercise, Nutrition and Health. This module will develop students' understanding of the concepts, theories and practice of Health Promotion, focusing on diet & physical activity in developing and developed countries. It will examine theories of motivation, behaviour and strategies of health promotion. The role, influence and impact of policies on population and client groups will be examined. This module will also provide students with an understanding of nutritional issues in the developing world.
Exercise and Health Psychology
30 credits
This module covers the adoption and maintenance of physical activity/exercise and health behaviours. The module is intended to develop critical understanding of theories of behaviour prediction and evaluate research surrounding the benefits of physical activity/exercise for psychological health and well-being. In addition, the module develops understanding through the evaluation of interventions to promote physical activity and mental health.
On successful completion of the module, you will be able to:
- Evaluate the benefits of exercise for psychological health and wellbeing.
- Demonstrate an in-depth understanding of determinants of health behaviour.
- Develop an advanced critical understanding of exercise and health behaviour theories and their application.
- Demonstrate key skills of communication (group discussions; making a presentation; reading, selecting, extracting, and collating information from appropriate sources; produce written materials), numeracy (data collection; recording data; evaluating data), ICT (produce a document that incorporates and combines different types of information; search for, retrieve, and store information using ICT resources), teamwork, and develop independent learning skills.
Project or Dissertation (Nutrition) OR Sport and Exercise Science Project
30 credits
Choose between the following:
Optional modules
Food and Nutrition 4: Contemporary Issues in Food and Nutrition OR Extreme Environments and Ergogenic Aids
30 credits
Choose between the following:
Please note
Optional modules only run if there is enough demand. If we have an insufficient number of students interested in an optional module, that module will not be offered for this course.
Foundation year
If you would like to study one of our science degrees at Kingston University but are not yet ready to join the first year of a BSc (Hons) course, you can include an extra foundation year within your chosen degree. Please see the Science Foundation Year course page for details of modules.
Future Skills
Embedded within every course curriculum and throughout the whole Kingston experience, Future Skills will play a role in shaping you to become a future-proof graduate, providing you with the skills most valued by employers such as problem-solving, digital competency, and adaptability.
As you progress through your degree, you'll learn to navigate, explore and apply these graduate skills, learning to demonstrate and articulate to employers how future skills give you the edge.
At Kingston University, we're not just keeping up with change, we're creating it.
Entry requirements
Teaching and assessment
Your teaching will include lectures, seminars, tutorials and practical laboratory experience, with access to high-specification physiology and biomechanics laboratories.
Each module will be assessed using assessment methods best suited to the module and the material. Examples of assessment include short answer or multiple choice tests, essays, laboratory reports, presentations, production of a final year thesis and examinations.
Who teaches this course
This course is delivered by the School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry.
The School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry offers an outstanding and diverse portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in biological and biomedical sciences, chemistry, forensic science, pharmacy, pharmacological and pharmaceutical sciences, and sport science and nutrition.
We've invested heavily in the development of new facilities including laboratories for teaching and research to provide students with access to ultra-modern equipment in a wide range of teaching facilities.
Postgraduate students may run or assist in lab sessions and may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader.
Facilities
There is a wide range of facilities for practical work at our Penrhyn Road campus, where this course is based. You will have access to a modern environment with the latest equipment, including:
- the £9.8 million Eadweard Muybridge building with state-of the art laboratories;
- an exercise physiology and biomechanics lab;
- modern applied biology and chemistry laboratories
- specialist equipment, such as electron microscopes and spectrometers;
- computing laboratories and a team of IT technicians to offer assistance; and
- a newly refurbished state-of-the-art nutrition kitchen.
The Learning Resource Centre offers:
- subject libraries, plus a free inter-library loan scheme to other libraries in the Greater London area;
- online database subscriptions; and
- a growing selection of resource material.
Our newly refurbished nutrition kitchen
Course fees and funding
Additional costs
Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs that are not covered by tuition fees which students will need to consider when planning their studies. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, access to shared IT equipment and other support services. Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees.
Where a course has additional expenses, we make every effort to highlight them. These may include optional field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering), security checks such as DBS, uniforms, specialist clothing or professional memberships.
After you graduate
There are many opportunities in nutrition, exercise and health-related research, the sport and leisure industries, lifestyle management, health promotion, the NHS, public health and teaching.
Accreditation
All nutrition lecturers are either:
- members of the Association for Nutrition (AfN, our professional body); and
- registered nutritionists with the Association for Nutrition with specialisms in nutrition science or public health or registered public health nutritionists.
or
- registered dietitians with the British Dietetic Association and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
Nutrition lecturers are also members of the Nutrition Society.
Such links help them to keep up with the latest developments and research ideas.
The course is accredited for 2018 entry by the Association for Nutrition. Accreditation means that Kingston University Nutrition BSc(Hons) graduates can apply to become associate registered nutritionists without having to prove competence. The course was first accredited in 2017. Find out more about the benefits of studying an accredited course.
The Association for Nutrition was launched in March 2010 as a wholly independent not-for-profit professional association registered as a company limited by guarantee. It is the professional body for the regulation and registration of nutritionists, including animal nutritionists, food nutritionists, nutrition scientists, public health nutritionists and sports/exercise nutritionists. The Association aims to protect the public and promote wellbeing by admitting to the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists (UKVRN) only those who demonstrate high ethical and quality standards, founded on evidence-based science. It sets proficiency and competence criteria, promotes continuing professional development and safe conduct, and accredits university undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
Studying on an accredited course is a 'mark of quality' and ensures that your course is well structured, organised and relevant to the profession and that it satisfies the demanding requirements and benchmarks of a respected quality assurance framework. It also provides employers with an assurance that graduates have covered set competencies, making them more employable and more likely to stand out to future employers. Accreditation and registration with the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists (UKVRN) also shows a strong commitment to continuous professional development and asserts to the public your overall commitment to the nutrition profession and the science that underpins it.
The Nutrition Society was established in 1941 to advance the scientific study of nutrition and its application to the maintenance of human and animal health. The Society is highly regarded by the scientific community and is Europe's largest learned society for nutrition.
What our students say
Links with business and industry
Our staff are actively engaged in research, presenting at international conferences and publishing in high-quality scientific journals. This means that you can be sure your course is being kept up-to-date and delivered by experts in the field.
Staff consultancy services can also give you the chance to observe sport science laboratory assessments of world-class athletes. We provide physiological, biomechanical and psychological support to a variety of athletes and squads including:
- the Great Britain Olympic Canoe and Kayak Team;
- Fulham Football Club; and
- Thames Turbo Triathlon Club.
How you can work in industry during your course
Why take a placement? Work placements:
-
provide work experience that is relevant to your course and future career;
-
improve your chances of graduating with a higher grade degree;
-
enhance your CV;
-
lead to a graduate job;
-
enable you to earn a year's salary whilst studying (the vast majority of placements are paid); and
-
help you to select your final-year project.
Watch nutrition student Michael Garcia talk about his experience studying at Kingston University whilst doing his placement at St. George's Hospital with The Marfan Trust.
Work placement year
"To be successful, tomorrow's leaders will need to be far more rounded individuals than ever before. They will collaborate in pursuit of shared goals. They will guide, challenge and support...They will have an appetite for change and a hunger for continuous improvement, and they will have an ethos of learning and development..."
Jeremy Darroch, Former Chief Executive, Sky
"Doing a placement year effectively gives you one foot in the door of a future job and to stand out from the crowd... as well as enhancing my CV... and future interviews. It's a great motivator to be successful in my studies as it only serves to open even more doors and gain more skills."
Placement student at Jagex Games Studios Ltd
-
81% placement students and 34% non-placement students got a first or 2.1 (Faculty of Computing, Information Systems and Mathematics, 2008).
-
100% of placement students during 2008 recommend doing a placement (Faculty of Computing, Information Systems and Mathematics, 2008).
-
Many employers offer a graduate job to their successful placement students.
There is a lot of support available for students looking to secure a placement (eg a jobs board with placement vacancies, help with writing CVs and mock interviews). Getting a placement and passing the placement year are ultimately the student's responsibility.
For further information please contact the Placements Team by telephone 020 8417 2969 or email secplace@kingston.ac.uk.
Examples of placements
Placements can be with large multinational companies, international companies, local companies and small start ups; offering a diverse range of posts. Here are some examples of employers and roles:
|
Construction-based placement employers |
Construction-based placement roles |
|---|---|
|
RG Group |
Assistant site manager |
|
Science-based placement employers |
Science-based placement roles |
|
Reckitt and Benckiser |
Bioanalytical sciences |
|
Engineering-based placement employers |
Engineering-based placement roles |
|
Airbus |
Analysis of aircraft structure |
|
Computing and IS based placement employers |
Computing and IS based placement roles |
|
Disney |
Database co-ordinator |
|
Mathematics-based placement employers |
Mathematics-based placement roles |
|
Lloyds Banking Group |
Analyst |
Key information set
The scrolling banner(s) below display some key factual data about this course (including different course combinations or delivery modes of this course where relevant).
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Course changes explained.
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
