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Nutrition

Entry requirements


A level

A,B,B

One core science subject (Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Maths) and one second science subject. Acceptable second science subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Further Maths, Statistics, Psychology, Geography, Environmental Studies, Applied Science, Geology, Food Technology, Home Economics, Computer Science, IT.

Access to HE Diploma

D:30,M:15

including relevant science units.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

D3,M2,M2

One core science subject (Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Maths) and one second science subject. Acceptable second science subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Further Maths, Statistics, Psychology, Geography, Environmental Studies, Applied Science, Geology, Food Technology, Home Economics, Computer Science, IT.

Extended Project

B

In recognition of the excellent preparation that the Extended Project Qualification provides to students for University study, we now include achievement in the EPQ as part of a formal offer.  Eligible applicants would receive two offers,  our usual offer plus an alternative offer of a B in the EPQ and one grade lower in their A level subjects

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

32

At Higher Level, one core science subject (Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Maths) and one second science subject. Acceptable second science subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Further Maths, Statistics, Psychology, Geography, Environmental Studies, Applied Science, Geology, Food Technology, Home Economics, Computer Science, IT.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DDM

including relevant science modules.

Scottish Higher

A,A,B,B,B

One core science subject (Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Maths) and one second science subject. Acceptable second science subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Further Maths, Statistics, Psychology, Geography, Environmental Studies, Applied Science, Geology, Food Technology, Home Economics, Computer Science, IT.

UCAS Tariff

128-147

We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.

About this course


Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Nutrition

Learn about the links between nutrition and health, both on an individual and societal level, with our BSc Nutrition course.

The science of nutrition is vital to our individual and collective wellbeing. As consumers grow more aware of the importance of healthy eating, nutritionists become increasingly important to the food industry and society as a whole.

On our BSc Nutrition course, you will:
- learn how diet can influence health and the likelihood of developing diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and dementia

- discover the impact that nutrients have on cells, tissues and organs

- learn how public health advice is underpinned by clinical evidence

In your first year of study, you will focus on fundamental science modules such as physiology, chemistry and microbiology. These modules will provide the scientific knowledge that underpins your later studies.

In your second year, you’ll develop your understanding of nutritional sciences and key methodologies. Modules will cover a wide range of topics, such as fundamental nutrition, issues in food choice, and links between nutrition and health on an individual and societal level.

Your final year of study will provide the opportunity to work in multi-disciplinary teams – for example, in the development of a new food product or healthy living assessments.

Throughout your degree, you will study an integrated approach to the scientific disciplines related to nutrition and health. You will also:
- undertake research into the science of diet and health

- develop your ability to critically evaluate research into the science of food and health

- learn how scientific knowledge in nutrition, diet and health can be applied to the needs of consumers, industry and food regulators

Professional accreditation
Our BSc Nutrition course has gained accreditation by the Association for Nutrition and Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST).

This accreditation will enable you to become an Associate Nutritionist (ANutr) after graduation, and a Registered Nutritionist (RNutr) with approximately three years of professional experience.

Your learning environment

We offer a supportive environment where you will learn from world-leading experts, through lectures, problem-based learning, group projects, and hands-on practical work in the laboratory.

Our staff are actively engaged in cutting-edge research and will tailor their teaching to reflect changing trends and emerging technologies in nutritional science.

The University of Reading has one of the largest Food and Nutritional Sciences departments in the UK, with extensive facilities that enable us to engage in diverse teaching and research. Our facilities include:
- Laboratory space – including a chemical analysis facility with NMR spectrometers, mass spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction facilities

- The Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition – a leading facility for research into the effect of diet on vascular health and body composition

- Flow Cytometry Suite – a technological suite that enables us to assess the impact of pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements, such as antibiotics, probiotics and prebiotics.

Placement opportunities
If you are interested in undertaking a professional placement before your final year of study, we offer a BSc Nutrition with Professional Training course.

The Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences has well-established links with high profile placement providers, ranging from household names to suppliers of branded and own-label goods.

Modules

The following modules have been approved in principle for delivery in 2024/25. Please note that as part of our current curriculum improvement process, all modules require final University approval and may be subject to change.

Core modules for this course:
- General Chemistry A
- Nutritional Biochemistry and Physiology
- Food and Nutritional Chemistry: A Practical Approach
- Food Microbiology
- Food System Challenges
- Introduction to Sustainable Food Manufacturing
- Composition and Properties of Foods
- Food Choice
- Nutrition Research and Practice
- Exercise and Performance-based Nutrition
- Nutrition Policy and Professional Conduct
- Nutritional Epidemiology and Public Health
- Securing a Job: Recruitability and Employability
- Nutrition in Management and Prevention of Disease
- Lifestyle, Nutrigenetics and Personalised Nutrition
- Gut Microbiota and Health
- New Product Development
- Research Project

The University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them. Further information about the content of final approved modules will be available between May and July 2023. We suggest that you regularly revisit this webpage during this time to ensure you have the most up-to-date information regarding the modules offered on this programme.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
EU
£27,650
per year
International
£27,650
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

University of Reading

Department:

School of Chemistry, Food and Pharmacy

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

84%
Nutrition

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Nutrition and dietetics

Teaching and learning

100%
Staff make the subject interesting
100%
Staff are good at explaining things
65%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
88%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

73%
Library resources
96%
IT resources
92%
Course specific equipment and facilities
67%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

73%
UK students
27%
International students
11%
Male students
89%
Female students
98%
2:1 or above
14%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

C
C
C

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Nutrition and dietetics

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£22,000
med
Average annual salary
96%
med
Employed or in further education

Top job areas of graduates

33%
Therapy professionals
12%
Science, engineering and production technicians
11%
Caring personal services

This is the subject you need to study if you want to become a dietician — an important job in the country’s healthcare sector, and the single most common job for nutrition graduates. We don’t have many graduates in nutrition every year and with the population becoming more aware of health and well-being and with many medical needs being addressed by the application of specific diets, this is likely to be an area of increasing demand in the future.

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Nutrition and dietetics

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£23k

£23k

£28k

£28k

£30k

£30k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here