Overview

This course, run at Manchester Metropolitan University, examines the science linking diet to physical performance and long-term wellbeing, from elite athletic contexts through to broader public health. Students explore how nutritional strategies can be matched to the physiological demands of exercise, developing expertise that spans sport, health and food science.

What You'll Learn

• Professional skills and practical foundations for working in sport and exercise settings

• The physiology of exercise and how the body responds to physical activity

• Core principles of food science and nutrition

• How nutrition strategies are applied specifically within sport and exercise contexts

• Methods for assessing nutritional status and applied physiology

• Design and evaluation of nutritional intervention strategies

• Advanced professional practice within sport and exercise nutrition

• Public health nutrition and the use of exercise prescription

• Performance nutrition tailored to athletic populations

• Planning and delivering an independent research project

Learning Outcomes

By completing the course, students will be able to assess an individual's nutritional and physiological needs and design evidence-based strategies to support performance or health outcomes. They will be able to apply scientific assessment methods to evaluate diet and exercise interactions, and to translate this analysis into practical nutritional interventions for both athletes and the wider public. Graduates will develop strong professional and communication skills suited to working with clients, teams or health organisations, alongside the research skills needed to plan, conduct and report on an independent project. These combined outcomes prepare students to apply nutritional science responsibly across a range of sporting and public health settings.