MSc Nutrition & Behaviour

• Advanced Research Methods: This unit will provide an overview on experimental, survey and qualitative research strategies together with the relevant data analysis techniques and statistical analysis software. It will also reflect recent developments in medical research such as the need for effect size, power and sample size calculations.
• Contemporary Nutrition: You’ll develop and broaden your in-depth knowledge of the latest research findings within the context of global nutritional issues, the interaction between nutrients, physiological functions and the health conditions they influence. This unit provides integrated information on nutrition, physiology, health and disease and public health applications.
• Nutrition for Brain & Mental Health: You’ll gain an advanced insight into the interaction between nutrition, the brain and a variety of aspects of mental health. Both physiological and cognitive ways our daily diet can affect mental and brain health will be explored. The unit’s innovative content is designed to discuss the topical issues, such as the role of evidence-based nutrition on brain function and dysfunction and effects on cognitive and mental health.
• Nutrition, Health & Psychology: This unit provides an overview of recent evidence and current thinking on the control of appetite, food intake and the regulation of energy balance. You’ll develop an understanding of the interplay between the physiological and psychological (behavioural) regulatory processes underpinning the control of feeding and energy intake with a view to improve the health and quality of life among individuals and groups in the community.  
• Nutrition in the Prevention and Management of Disease: You’ll examine the foundations of nutrition (macro nutrients and micro nutrients for example), vitamins, methods of assessing dietary intake and nutritional status, energy and nutrient requirements, metabolic pathways related to nutrition, and function of nutrient digestion and absorption. You’ll also evaluate the prevention and management of disease in the community setting (for example gastrointestinal disorders such as celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, and irritable bowel syndrome), food intolerances and allergies, obesity and metabolic disorders, cancer and heart disease.
• Dissertation Project: This is a student-managed piece of work that is undertaken with guidance from academic supervisors. The unit encourages you to draw on prior learning and aims to develop your ability for independent study and project management. It seeks to expand your knowledge and/or practice in a complex professional context. A large and varied range of dissertation projects are offered, including both laboratory and community based. 
• Developing Professional Practice: A unique feature of the MSc is the work-based element embedded within the Developing Professional Practice unit. Typically, you’ll spend a minimum of 10 days engaging in professional practice activities in the healthcare, community or private sector. 

In addition to core units there are some timetabled sessions which increase your contact time with other students and academics, and help you to develop and enhance additional skills outside of lectures. These include research seminars and journal clubs which foster development of critical thinking and communication, grow subject-specific knowledge, and additionally enhance the interaction between students and staff beyond the lecture setting.

You are required to undertake a minimum 10-day placement as part of the unit 'Developing Professional Practice', providing an opportunity to apply your acquired knowledge and skills in the workplace. You are required to find your own placement; however, our Careers & Employability Service and your faculty will support you.

Programme specifications provide definitive records of the University's taught degrees in line with Quality Assurance Agency requirements. Every taught course leading to a BU Award has a programme specification which describes its aims, structure, content and learning outcomes, plus the teaching, learning and assessment methods used.

Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the programme specification, the information is liable to change to take advantage of exciting new approaches to teaching and learning as well as developments in industry. If you have been unable to locate the programme specification for the course you are interested in, it will be available as soon as the latest version is ready. Alternatively, please contact us for assistance.

You will spend a minimum of 10 days engaging in professional practice activities in a healthcare or community role, or in the private sector.

You can also choose to take your placement abroad, giving you the opportunity to develop yourself personally, academically, and professionally and gain skills to help you stand out in the job market.

Some of our students’ previous placements have included:

• London Centre of Intuitive Eating
• LiveWell Dorset
• Age UK
• JP Morgan
• Christchurch Food Education Trust
• Encore Dementia Care
• Sport BU
• Addaction
• Stable Family Home Trust
• Safewise Bournemouth
• Royal Bournemouth Hospital
• Charite Berlin (Germany)
• GoDiets (India)
• Tekin Nutrition & Diet Counselling (Turkey)

This course has been designed for students who have studied an undergraduate degree in life science, nutrition, healthcare and psychology related degrees. We are looking for applicants who have an interest in healthcare, public health promotion, nutrition and psychology.

Please see our website for the application deadlines. You should apply as early as possible to be considered for your course of choice. If you require a student visa, apply for the visa as soon as you have an unconditional offer and receive your CAS. There may be delays in visa processing in your country and you need to be in Bournemouth ready to study for the start of term.

Click the green ‘Apply now’ button to submit your application free of charge online through myHub, our application portal. You will create your own myHub account so that you can track the progress of your application. Don’t forget to save your application as you go; you can return to it at as many times as you want before you submit it. For more information visit our How to apply section.

A Bachelors Honours degree with 2:2 in a required subject, or equivalent. Required subjects include; Clinical/life sciences, Nursing, Psychology, Nutrition, Neuroscience, Sport & Exercise Science.

If you lack the formal academic qualifications needed to enter a postgraduate or post-experience degree, there are several alternative routes to follow - some based on experience. Contact the Future Students Enquiry Team for more information.

You can find details of the international qualifications we accept, and what level of study they apply to, on our entry requirements for non-UK students' page.

Please see below some examples of the qualifications for entry:

• India: Bachelor’s degree (four years) from a recognised HE institution with a minimum overall result of 55%  
• Nigeria: Bachelor's degree from a recognised institution with a minimum classification of 2:4  
• China: Chinese Bachelor's (Honours) degree from a recognised higher education institution with 65% or above  
• Turkey: Bachelor’s degree (Lisans Diplomasi - four years) with a minimum overall GPA of 2.3/4.0  
• Ghana: Bachelor's degrees from University of Ghana or Legon with a grade of 2.00 or above, or from Cape Coast with a grade 2.5 or above  
• USA: US Bachelor’s degree (four years), with a 2.5 GPA or above  

All applications will be subject to a minimum grade and your degree may need to be in a relevant subject area.

English language requirements 

If English is not your first language, you will need to provide evidence that you understand English to a satisfactory level. English language requirements for this course are normally:

IELTS (Academic) 6.5 with minimum 6.0 in writing, speaking, listening and reading, or equivalent.

View further information about our English language requirements.

Bournemouth University International College offers a number of pre-sessional English and preparatory programmes to prepare international students for postgraduate study at BU. Admission to the degree is guaranteed on successful completion of your course to the required level. 

Career progression may lead to you taking on a role such as:

• Nutrition Psychologist
• Nutrition Consultant
• Academic Lecturer
• Academic Researcher.

Our graduates can go on to roles in areas such public health, policy development, health promotion, and food development. Sectors you could find yourself working in include: 

• The NHS (hospital and community)
• Private and independent health care sector (nursing homes and private hospitals)
• Education
• Academic research.

As you progress through the course, selecting option units and setting up your placement will help you establish the exact career path you want to follow, and the contexts in which you want to put your studies to use.

If you want to continue your studies after achieving your Master’s, you can look into our range of doctoral programmes.

What's included in your tuition fee?

Your tuition fee covers expenses associated with your course including tuition materials, access to facilities, mandatory field trips and the following:

• Materials for laboratory and mandatory field-based teaching activity.
• Support for finding placements (UK or abroad) and fieldwork, and non-financial support whilst on placement.
• A range of student services – advisors, help desks, counsellors, placement support and careers service.
• Access to Brightspace, our virtual learning environment, which offers a responsive and personalised learning experience with powerful learning analytics capabilities, intregrated social media and advanced video features.
• The Library – access to a wide range of electronic resources (databases, e-journals and e-books), print and multimedia collections, subject librarians and study spaces.
• IT labs (some open 24/7), wireless network, AV equipment to borrow.
• Disability and additional learning support, according to individual circumstances.
• The BU Language Centre to help you develop/improve foreign or English language skills.
• Professional body accreditation of the course.
• 24 hours a day, 365 days a year security team.
• Lab coat and glasses.

Additional costs

We are committed to offering you value for money and ensuring there are no hidden costs while you are studying with us, therefore we have listed below any additional costs you may incur that are not covered by your tuition fee:

• Laptops, tablets and mobile devices and any software used on personal devices. Access to a personal computer is strongly recommended for your study. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, visit our website for information regarding hardship funds.
• Textbooks, general stationery and other supplies. Our award-winning library is stocked with a large range of text books and online resources, free of charge. The Students’ Union shops stock a wide range of stationery supplies on both campusesIf required by your placement, you will need to meet the cost of an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check as a condition of enrolment, including any Post Office verification charges
• Accommodation and living costs. Please visit our website for more information.
• Travel costs, for optional field trips, outdoor wear and footwear for mandatory and optional field trips (if applicable).
• Travel costs to and from the University campus. An annual bus pass is included in your rent if you are living in halls of residence/Unilet accommodation or may be purchases separately.
• Travel costs to and from your placement (both in the UK and overseas) if this is part of your course of study. Placement year funding can be found on our website.
•  Professional Body membership and registration post qualification. Association for Nutrition membership fee.
• SportsBU membership.

While all aspects of the programme, including required field trips, are included in the fee, additional, optional or extra curricula activities may be available for which a student contribution is required.

If you need to repeat one or more units during the course of your studies (with or without attendance) the pricing will be pro-rata of the full time fee.

We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries to eligible students who are beginning their studies at BU. Please visit www.bournemouth.ac.uk/funding for details on living costs, budgeting and paying your tuition fees.

International (not Rep. of Ireland) students need to pay a non-refundable deposit to secure their place on a postgraduate course. For September 2024 and January 2025 entry, a £5,000 deposit is required. You will need to pay your deposit by the date stated in your offer letter. The remainder of your fee will be payable on registration/enrolment. There are two exceptions to the non-refundable rule on the deposit:

• You fail to meet the academic or English requirements of your offer
• You are refused a visa to enter the UK, provided the reason for the refusal is not a fraudulent application.

Joanne is an experienced Food Scientist and nutritionist and has worked with several large multinational organisations developing new food and beverage products for the European market.

Joanne is also a company director and partner in 1000 cow dairy farm business supplying to an international focused farmer owned co-operative processor. Joanne's research is focused towards improving food, fluid and general nutrition delivery for elderly receiving social care in its broadest context. 

Jane is an Associate Professor, Registered Nutritionist and Dietitian and Head of Education (Health Sciences) in the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences. Jane's research is committed to key nutritional problems faced by older people that impact on health and wellbeing especially the complex problems faced by people living with dementia. 

She co-leads the Bournemouth University Dementia Institute (BUDI) and has led key research to understand nutrition and delivering dignity in dementia care funded by the Burdett Trust for Nursing (www.bournemouth.ac.uk/nutrition-dementia). Jane has a seconded role as Clinical Lead for the Nutrition in Older People Programme – Wessex Academic Health Sciences Network to advise and support funded research and implementation projects working with NHS and across social care.

She has secured European Commission funded research (Horizon 2020) to understand the contribution of local sustainable food systems to nutritional health and wellbeing that will identify new competencies for training in public health nutrition. Jane is committed to advancing the professional practice of nutritionists and has been an elected Council member and Trustee for the UK Association for Nutrition (AfN) that defines and advances standards of evidence-based practice across the field of nutrition and currently sits on the AfN course accreditation and certification committees.

Jaqueline’s main interests are applied nutrition involving cohort studies of nutrition in infancy and in pregnancy, working on the first guide to the treatment of severe malnutrition, food and nutrition of school aged children. She researched the food choices of South Asians in Scotland and evaluated the Scottish Health Award Scheme to enable better nutrition health promotion there. Jacqueline commissioned research to inform the development of the nutrition profession as Nutrition Society until 2009 and is an assessor for the AfN and UK Public Health Register.

Jaqueline has taught at and been an examiner at universities in Jamaica, England and Scotland and undertaken international consultancies in professional development, clinical nutrition and nutrition policy. She is currently a Visiting Fellow at Bournemouth University.