2025/26 entry
BSc (Hons) Nutrition
Why study Nutrition at Liverpool John Moores University?
- The School of Sport and Exercise Sciences is ranked 6th for Sports Science (QS World University Rankings 2024)
- The degree offers the opportunity for many career paths working as a nutritionist in primary care organisations, clinical nutrition settings and the food industry
- Achieve a degree certified by the Association for Nutrition (AfN), ensuring high-quality education standards which are recognised by industry and the primary care sector
- Gain real-world experience and skills that set you apart in the job market through opportunities to do work placements and an optional sandwich year
- Learn from our teaching staff who have extensive experience and are world leaders in research that impacts nutritional practice from the laboratory to policy
- Our International Foundation Year offers a direct pathway to this degree programme
About your course
BSc (Hons) Nutrition at Liverpool John Moores University is professionally accredited by the Association for Nutrition (AfN). The course is taught by research-active staff and offers excellent employment prospects in a range of fields related to nutrition.
This interesting and engaging degree programme will enable you to understand the rapidly changing challenges facing nutrition for healthcare and promotion, nutrition for health focused food production and nutrition associated research. After graduation, career opportunities include working as a qualified nutritionist promoting healthier eating habits and lifestyles, plus diverse roles within primary care organisations, public health directorates and product development within the multi-billion pound food industry.
Staff have a high level of experience researching chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, obesity and diabetes all influenced by the diet we consume, helping to bring the curriculum to life. There is a need for expert nutritionists to provide well informed and sound scientifically-based advice. This Nutrition programme has been designed to develop essential knowledge and understanding as well as intellectual, practical and transferable skills that a nutritionist would require in order to practice.
The BSc Nutrition curriculum focuses on the delivery of the five core competencies set out by the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists (UKVRN) as set out by the Association for Nutrition (AfN): Nutritional Science; Food Chain; Social and Behavioural Science; Health and Well-being and Professional Conduct.
During this degree, you will explore the principles of human nutrition and metabolism, and how these underpin the relationship between diet and health. You will study nutrition through the life cycle, appetite and eating behaviour, the nutritional considerations of the various socio-cultural factors affecting food choice and nutrition for exercise.
You will examine other food-related areas, such as how nutritional knowledge can be used to help support the development, promotion and regulation of nutrition for health-related food products, functional foods and new food products. You will also gain an understanding of important aspects of food science, politics and policy.
You also have the opportunity to complete an optional full-time paid sandwich year placement, which would enable you to gain valuable experience in an area relevant to your future career, building professional networks and further enhance your professional skills.
"The nutrition teaching staff are immensely welcoming and supportive and have a range of complementary specialisations, each with an impressive depth of knowledge. My training has given me the confidence and expertise to make a real impact in the field"
Professional accreditation/links
The programme is accredited by the Association for Nutrition (AfN), which is the governing body for nutrition in the UK and is recognised globally. On graduation, this will entitle you to apply for direct entry as a Registered Associate Nutritionist on the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists. This registration will help to identify you as a qualified, scientifically-trained nutritionist, ideal if you want to work in a range of roles within primary care organisations; public health directorates; Clinical Nutrition settings; the Food Industry; Academia; Sports and Exercise Science; international public health nutrition and a range of roles in the private sector.
With membership of ASET, the UK’s leading authority on work based and placement learning, LJMU’s School of Sport and Exercise Sciences is committed to providing Work-based and Placement Learning (WBPL) experiences to our students that are quality assured and supported in accordance with best practice guidelines.
Fees and funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students
Fees
The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:
- library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
- access to programme-appropriate software
- library and student IT support
- free on-campus wifi via eduroam
Additional costs
Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:
- accommodation and living expenditure
- books (should you wish to have your own copies)
- printing, photocopying and stationery
- PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
- mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
- field trips (travel and activity costs)
- placements (travel expenses and living costs)
- student visas (international students only)
- study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
- academic conferences (travel costs)
- professional-body membership
- graduation (gown hire etc)
Funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you'll find all of the information you need on our specialist funding pages.
A DBS check is not required for your application, however a DBS may be required for modules where there is a work based learning placement option. Work based learning placements that do not require a DBS check are available.
Employability
The course covers a range of sectors meaning you will be well placed to secure employment in a number of different roles. Successful completion of the programme will enable you to progress onto many career paths, such as becoming a fully-qualified, registered nutritionist in both the public and private sectors, an assistant dietetic practitioner, a specialist food technologist, a health information adviser or research scientist. You may also choose to progress onto further postgraduate study in teaching, MSc Sport Nutrition or a Postgraduate Research Degree (MPhil, PhD) at LJMU.
Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service
A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.
Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website. There are opportunities for flexible, paid and part-time work through Unitemps, LJMU's in-house recruitment service, and we also offer fully funded Discovery Internships.
One-to-one careers and employability advice is available via our campus-based Careers Zones and we offer a year-round programme of events, including themed careers and employability workshops, employer events and recruitment fairs. Our Start-Up Hub can help you to grow your enterprise skills and to research, plan and start your own business or become a freelancer.
A suite of learning experiences, services and opportunities is available to final year students to help ensure you leave with a great onward plan. You can access LJMU's Careers, Employability and Start-up Services after you graduate and return for one-to-one support for life.
Go abroad
LJMU aims to make international opportunities available to every student. You may be able to study abroad as part of your degree at one of our 100+ partner universities across the world. You could also complete a work placement or apply for one of our prestigious worldwide internship programmes. If you wanted to go abroad for a shorter amount of time, you could attend one of our 1-4 week long summer schools.
Our Go Citizen Scheme can help with costs towards volunteering, individual projects or unpaid placements anywhere in the world. With all of these opportunities at your feet, why wouldn’t you take up the chance to go abroad?
Find out more about the opportunities we have available via our Instagram @ljmuglobalopps or email us at: goabroad@ljmu.ac.uk.
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What you will study on this degree
Please see guidance below on core and option modules for further information on what you will study.
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Level 4
Core modules
Professional Practice 1 for Nutrition and Sport Nutrition
20 credits
The aim of this module is to provide the knowledge and practical training in the skills that are required for a career in nutrition and sport nutrition. This will be through the development of a broad tool-kit to support practical work on the subject-specific modules and in the work-based learning module at level 6. Alongside this skill development, the module will also consider issues related to professional attitudes and codes of practice.
Principles of Human Nutrition
20 credits
The module will help you develop knowledge of the importance of nutrition to human health introducing the subject of nutritional recommendations in terms of energy and nutrients. You will gain an overview of the chemistry, function and properties of nutrients and the consequences of inadequate intakes.
Biochemistry and Metabolism
20 credits
This module aims to take you through a journey, from consumption of food and the biochemical/metabolic processes that are necessary to generate energy and synthesise tissue, through to how the body systems deal with waste. It explores how dysregulation of biochemical/metabolic pathways can lead to disease states and how optimisation of nutrition can reduce risk of disease and enhance exercise performance.
Research Methods 1
20 credits
This module will introduce you to the fundamental concepts of research methods, along with covering the basic application and interpretation of various data analysis techniques.
Exercise Physiology 1
20 credits
This module will develop your knowledge and understanding of the basic structure and function of key physiological systems, metabolic processes and discuss how these systems and processes respond to feeding and acute exercise.
Physical Activity and Health 1
20 credits
This module introduces you to the principles underpinning the promotion of physically active, low sedentary, healthy lifestyles. The module also aims to provide an introduction to quantitative and qualitative methodologies in physical activity and sedentary behaviour research, developing your skills of data analyses and interpretation.
Level 5
Core modules
Professional Practice 2 for Nutrition and Sport Nutrition
20 credits
This module aims to develop your skills, knowledge and abilities as a professional practitioner in their area of study and future employment related context. This is achieved through contextualise practical skills and application of theoretical knowledge. Key aspects include: assessment of client needs; development and application of solutions to maximise behavioural change; enhancement of verbal and non-verbal communication skills and practices; and increased awareness of ethical and professional conduct.
Food Chain and Sustainability
20 credits
The aim of this module is to provide knowledge and understanding of the global food supply chain and its impact on food choice, nutrition, health and the environment. The module introduces the main staple foods and food commodities; an overview of the structure of global food supply chain (including primary production, food processing and manufacturing, food distribution and food retail); an understanding of the political and ethical issues of food production and supply; as well as issues associated with food sustainability.
Food Technology and Development
20 credits
This module aims to provide an understanding of the technology, techniques and processes involved in turning raw materials into safe nutritious foods. The module will focus on technological advancements in the industry to help improve the nutritional quality of foods. The module will provide you with an understanding of food production and manufacturing techniques and will discuss selection, production, processing, preservation, packaging, labelling, waste management and quality management of safe nutritious food. Workshop sessions will provide opportunities for the practical exploration of food technologies. The combination of theory and practice will promote the development of both theoretical and practical skills.
Eating Behaviour for Sport and Health
20 credits
This module builds upon the Physiological Response to Acute Exercise, Biochemistry and Metabolism and Principles of Human Nutrition modules. The physiological, metabolic and nutritional knowledge gained from these modules will provide you with a good foundation to integrate the biological with new material on the psychosocial aspects of eating behaviour. The aims are to comprehend the interdisciplinary nature of eating and appetite behaviour, incorporating physiological/molecular and psychosocial models to understand how eating behaviour may affect individuals or society relationships with food; to discuss the consequential health implications of dysfunctional eating; to demonstrate a knowledge of how health professionals may treat dysfunctional relationships with food/diet.
Policy and Politics for Nutrition and Health
20 credits
This module aims to foster an understanding of the regulation of the food industry and the dynamics of the health policy processes at both national and international levels. This will include the rationale for government intervention and the impact of policy.
Research Methods 2
20 credits
This module will enhance your understanding of the research process and related methodological approaches, whilst also developing your knowledge, skills and to complete investigations involving data collection, analysis and interpretation.
Optional Modules
Sandwich Year - Nutrition
120 credits
This module will provide you with the chance to carry out extended period of work experience at an approved partner that will complement your programme of study at LJMU. This will give you the opportunity to develop professional skills relevant to your programme of study as well as the attitude and behaviours necessary for employment in a diverse and changing environment.
Study Year Abroad - Nutrition
120 credits
This module will provide you with an additional year of study at an approved overseas partner that will complement your programme at LJMU.
Level 6
Core modules
Nutrition Through the Lifecycle (Special Populations)
20 credits
This module aims to provide an understanding of the nutritional requirements of population groups throughout the life-course, considering the nutritional needs of mothers and infants; children and adolescents; adults and the ageing population; as well as the nutritional concerns and priorities for other groups such as vegetarians/vegans; poverty and different cultures. The module will also discuss the major diet-related diseases and enable students to demonstrate an understanding of the evidence linking diet to disease and health. Students will also have the opportunity to enhance their practical techniques of nutritional assessment and will undertake workshops and assessment involving effective science communication to specialist populations.
Molecular Nutrition and Genetics
20 credits
This module builds upon previous biochemistry and physiology modules, providing an in-depth exploration of the expanding field of molecular nutrition. Contemporary researching is rapidly expanding our knowledge of how various dietary bioactive compounds can modulate biochemical systems and how this can be regulated at the level of the gene. Furthermore, progress in analytical techniques now allow the analysis of myriad molecules from one sample (e.g. plasma) that can provide molecular fingerprints, which are important for advances in precision and personalised nutrition. The module aims to introduce and explore these concepts, with a critical eye, with the use of clinical and preventive health examples.
Current Issues in Nutrition
20 credits
This module builds upon previous nutrition and science based modules, to expand your knowledge of contemporary research. Nutritional science is rapidly advancing in many different areas and is at the forefront of preventive medicine. The module aims to explore these, and other contemporary advancements.
Applied Placement in Nutrition or Sport Nutrition
20 credits
This module aims to provide you with an opportunity to gain insight and to experience selected areas of the programme of study from a work related learning perspective. The module provides you with the opportunity to undertake a 4-week work related learning placement or applied project. This allows you to work within a professional context and will enable you to build on any previous work related learning experiences and to develop the process of making links between experiences and theoretical studies.
Major Project
40 credits
This module will critically extend your understanding and deployment of research processes through the planning, production, analyses and report of a piece of independent research conducted in a responsible, safe and ethical manner.
Teaching and work-related learning
Excellent facilities and learning resources
We adopt an active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU. This enables you to experience a rich and diverse learning experience and engage fully with your studies. Our approach ensures that you can easily access support from your personal tutor, either by meeting them on-campus or via a video call to suit your needs.
Teaching is via a combination of lectures, seminars, online activities and small-group tutorials, as well as field trips, interactive practical sessions and workshops. Many sessions take advantage of LJMU's specialist facilities for nutritional assessment, as well as our nutrition and food science laboratories and sensory evaluation suite.
Work-related learning
Our BSc (Hons) Nutrition programme is designed to build both your academic and practical skills. It provides you with the qualifications and practical skills required by a practising nutritionist, as well as other nutrition and graduate-level positions. There will be opportunities to work alongside practitioners, giving you a real taste of the many careers available within the nutrition sector and providing an opportunity to complete a project based on your experience. This work-related learning is a vital element of your studies as it gives you a chance to practise skills learnt on the course which will add real value to your CV.
Support and guidance
Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support
From the moment you begin your studies at LJMU, you will be assigned a personal tutor who will be available to discuss course-related issues with you on a one-to-one basis. Tutorials and group seminars also offer a supportive environment in which to discuss ideas, issues and forthcoming assessments with your tutors and fellow students.
The school is fully committed to promoting a learning environment that supports a culture of equality, diversity and inclusivity (EDI) and has a Disability Support Coordinator, an EDI Coordinator and a School EDI Working Group. Personal Tutors also play a vital role in promoting awareness of support services for students.
Assessment
Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.
We realise that all students perform differently according to how they are assessed, which is why we use a combination of assessment methods. These include: exams (seen and unseen), written work (essays, reports, learning logs, dissertation, lab reports, posters, review writing and blog writing), presentations (group or individual) and practical assessments. In some modules you can even write your own exam question.
Your tutors will provide formal feedback on your coursework and exams, but constructive verbal comments from both your tutors and fellow students will also really help you to identify your successes as well as the areas where you may need to put in more work.
Course tutors
Our staff are committed to the highest standards of teaching and learning
Lucy Richardson
Senior Lecturer
Dr Lane completed a nutrition and food science PhD in 2013 and is a Registered Nutritionist (Public Health) with the Association for Nutrition. Her teaching interests focus on all aspects of food and nutritional sciences and she is also interested in public health nutrition and how diet influences the health of different groups within the wider population. Katies overall research specialism is food solutions for nutrition problems, with a focus on vegetarian omega-3 fatty acids. She has a long-standing interest in how vegans and vegetarians adapt their diets to remove animal products and this forms the basis of several past and present research projects shes involved in.
I am committed to developing and nurturing talented students and particularly enjoy seeing how our students develop and shine during their time with us
Facilities
What you can expect from your School
You will study in Liverpool city centre at our City Campus. Our sport and exercise sciences facilities are world-leading and feature state-of-the-art laboratory facilities for our current and future sport scientists. The Avril Robarts library is within easy walking distance and here you'll find all the information you need to support your studies.
Entry requirements
Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements
Grades/points required from qualifications: BBB-ABB (120-128)
Qualification requirements
GCSEs and equivalents
Grade 4 or grade C or above in English Language and Mathematics/ Numeracy. We also require a minimum of two related science GCSE's at Grade C or Grade 4 or above or a science double-award.
GCSE Equivalences accepted:
• Key Skills Level 2 in English/Maths
• NVQ Level 2 Functional skills in Maths and English Writing and or Reading
• Skills for Life Level 2 in Numeracy/English
• Higher Diploma in Maths/English
• Northern Ireland Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
• Wales Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
A levels
BBB-ABB
Minimum Number of A Levels: 2
Maximum AS UCAS Points: 20
One Science related subject
BTECs
Extended Diploma: DDM
Access awards
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications
Pass overall with a minimum of 120 points including relevant subjects
International Baccalaureate
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications From a relevant subject
OCR Cambridge Technical
Extended Diploma: DDM
Irish awards
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications From a relevant subject
T levels
Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications.
You need to obtain the required UCAS points from a related subject area.
International requirements
-
IELTS
6.0 overall with no component below 5.5, taken within two years of the course start date.
https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/courses/international-entry-requirements
Please Note: All international qualifications are subject to a qualification equivalency check.
Application and selection
Securing your place at LJMU
UCAS is the official application route for our full-time undergraduate courses. Further information on the UCAS application process can be found here https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/undergraduate-students/how-to-apply.
We are looking for applicants who are considering a successful future career in the commercial food industry, food journalism, teaching, appliance development or health promotion. Potential students should be able to demonstrate experience, enthusiasm, commitment and motivation related to the subject. Applicants should be able to evidence academic and professional entry requirements appropriate to an AfN accredited programme, which must include sound underpinning knowledge in the biosciences.
In addition, applicants must be able to manage and organise their own time in order to complete coursework, revise for examinations, attend lectures punctually and complete appropriate work placements. Students will be expected to work both independently and in groups for various pieces of work, and evidence of occasions when applicants have worked in groups (academically or otherwise) would be useful when considering your application form.
The university reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the university. Where this does happen, the university operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.
Further information on the terms and conditions of any offer made, our admissions policy and the complaints and appeals process.