Start dates: September 2025 / September 2026
Full time: MSc: 12 months
Part time: MSc: 24 months, PGDip: 20 months, PGCert: 8 months
Location: Headington
School(s): School of Sport, Nutrition and Allied Health Professions
Overview
Nutrition is one of the most important factors contributing to human health. It’s an exciting and evolving field where your work could change lives and transform communities.
We’re home to the renowned Oxford Brookes Centre for Nutrition and Health. You’ll have regular contact with top researchers throughout the course where you will hear the latest insights. Get involved in studies – as an assistant or work alongside them to gain key experience for your CV.
You’ll also focus on developing practical skills, working in labs and participating in projects. You’ll cover a range of topics, from nutrition in low-income countries to the impact of diet and physical activity on disease. These reflect the specialisms of our teaching team, which includes registered dietitians, nutritionists and specialists in areas like public health, chronic conditions or nutrition for sports.
If your scientific skills need sharpening before you start the course, you can take a short course with us. It doesn’t matter what your background is, we’re here to help you into the dynamic world of nutrition.
Why Oxford Brookes University?
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Home of cutting-edge research
The Oxford Brookes Centre for Nutrition and Health researches the role of foods in preventing chronic disease. You can volunteer for projects, get involved in research, and hear about breakthroughs.
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Practical and career focused
Whether we’re helping you find a summer placement or organising trips to a factory, we’re always looking for ways to make the course more valuable to your future.
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Immerse yourself
There are many opportunities to get involved beyond the course curriculum, like attending events organised by the student-run Nutrition Society, or volunteering to participate in research studies.
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A valuable first step
As well as looking for work in nutrition, you could use the course as a basis for further study and training, in dietetics for example.
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Ideal location
Oxford is home to many organisations who depend on nutritionists, from private healthcare agencies to food manufacturers. We also have great transport links to other areas of the country.
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Accreditation(s)
The course is accredited by the Association for Nutrition, an organisation respected around the world.
Course details
Course structure
The MSc takes 1 year and you’ll need to complete 180 credits. You can also choose to exit with a PGDip or PGCert if you don’t complete the full MSc. The course is available full time over 1 year, or part time over 2 years.
The 6 taught modules cover a wide breadth of topics relevant to many careers in the food or healthcare sectors. You’ll also complete a research project where you’ll explore a subject in more depth with support from one of our academics. This is your chance to specialise in an area relevant to your career goals or simply find out more about an area that interests you.
Beyond the assessed elements of the course, we provide lots of opportunities for you to develop your CV, gain experience and expand your network. You can get involved in projects with groups like the Healthy Ageing Network and make links with our stakeholders, including food companies or healthcare organisations. Also, don’t forget to attend our popular annual careers event, where you can find out more about careers with many top nutrition employers.
Study modules
The modules listed below are for the master's award. For the PGDip and PGCert awards your module choices may be different. Please contact us for more details.
Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.
Research
Our research areas and clusters include:
- glycaemic control and the development of low glycaemic index foods
- female nutrition and the role of the menstrual cycle in energy regulation
- appetite and satiety
- childhood obesity and the factors influencing it
- sensory testing of foods
- weight management
- management of type two diabetes with nutrition and physical activity
- functional food ingredients and their effect on energy regulation
- antioxidant properties of foods.
Careers
Recent nutrition students have gone on to some exciting and wide-ranging careers with organisations like the NHS, Médecins Sans Frontières, Coca Cola, and many different research labs or independent healthcare agencies.
You might use the course to combine new skills with your existing job. Maybe you’re already working in the food or health industry and want to specialise. Or perhaps you fancy a change of career. With the broad range of skills you’ll develop here, and the international nature of the course, you’ll have plenty of options open to you.
Career destinations you might consider include:
- health promotion as food and health coordinators
- industry with food and drink manufacturers and retailers
- medical food companies
- food service providers
- trade associations
- government and policy to improve the health of the population
- research in universities, food companies or research institutes
- specialised training, in dietetics for example
- further study with a PhD.
Student profiles
Related courses
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
In order to successfully complete a postgraduate course, applicants are usually expected to have (or be about to attain) at least a second class honours degree in a related scientific subject from a recognised institution of higher education. If you do not have these academic qualifications, you could still be offered a place on this course if you can show evidence of the potential to succeed based on professional and/or related experiences.
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
English language requirements
For applicants whose first language is not English, an Academic IELTS score of 6.5 (with 6.5 in Reading and Writing, and 6.0 in Listening and Speaking) is required.
Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.
Pathways courses for international and EU students
We offer a range of courses to help you meet the entry requirements for your postgraduate course and also familiarise you with university life in the UK.
Take a Pre-Master's course to develop your subject knowledge, study skills and academic language level in preparation for your master's course.
If you need to improve your English language, we offer pre-sessional English language courses to help you meet the English language requirements of your chosen master’s course.
English requirements for visas
If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.
Terms and Conditions of Enrolment
When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
International qualifications and equivalences
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year, your fees will increase each year.
The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.
How and when to pay
Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.
- For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
- For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page
Financial support and scholarships
Additional costs
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.
Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been
published on the website. For more information, please visit our
changes to programmes page.