Nutrition MSci

Good nutrition is needed to maintain health at any age. So how do nutritional requirements change as we get older? In this module, you’ll explore nutrition throughout the life course. You'll identify the nutritional needs of different age groups. Starting with pre-conception, to pregnancy, infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and into old age. You'll understand the role of optimal nutrition in preventing disease and promote healthy diets.

You’ll study:

• developmental origins of health and disease
• risk factors for nutritional disease at different stages of life
• epidemiological methods used to identify public health challenges
• nutrition in human physiological development across the life course

In this third year of study, you will do a major piece of research, supervised by one of our expert scientists. This is a year-long investigation. You'll develop a suitable research question and use appropriate methodology to answer it. In this module, you’ll work one-to-one with an experienced researcher in your specialist field. They will offer support through individual tutorials. We offer a diverse range of topical research projects using a variety of methodologies.

You’ll learn:

• how to develop research questions, aims and hypotheses
• how to select an appropriate research methodology
• specialist skills relevant to your area of research
• how to present scientific research to a non-specialist audience

Healthy diets are vital for healthy lives. But how do nutritionists change health behaviours to achieve optimal nutrition? In this module, you'll study the psychological origins of dietary behaviour. You will learn the behaviour change techniques nutritionists use to modify food choice. You'll look at how to promote healthy diets using community, legislative, persuasive and empowerment tools. You'll work as an intervention team to achieve improved dietary health. Working together, you'll design an evidence-based behaviour change programme.

You’ll study:

• psychodynamic, behaviourist, cognitive and humanistic explanations of food choice
• social influences on consumer behaviour and the social determinants of health
• behaviour change techniques used in professional practice
• health promotion tools used to achieve dietary health across populations

Cellular signalling and gene expression influence metabolism and growth but how does nutrient supply regulate these processes? In this module, you’ll explore nutrition from a molecular perspective. You'll investigate the regulatory effects of nutrients on eukaryotic systems. You'll look at the potential for manipulating metabolic processes through nutrition. You'll use experimental methodologies to assess how nutrients influence gene expression. You will learn how to analyse molecular data to draw conclusions about regulatory processes.

You’ll study:

• molecular mechanisms controlling gene expression
• opportunities for modification of metabolic processes using nutrition
• direct and indirect regulatory effects of nutrition
• variations in genomic sequences and the impact of nutrition on gene expression

The module aims to develop your skills in analysis and writing of research proposals. Specific areas covered include:

• communicating with awarding bodies
• how to develop a research idea
• writing a grant application
• peer review of research proposals

Food production is the greatest source of greenhouse gas emissions. So how do we create a more sustainable food system which feeds a growing population? In this module, you'll examine the future of the food system. Specialist researchers will present the latest advances in sustainability science. They'll explain how this science is used to make the food system more efficient. You'll look at the impact of nutritional practices on health, survival and human development. You’ll explore how nutritionists are using food to create a healthy planet.

You’ll study:

• global warming influencing change in the food system
• sustainable agricultural, consumption and waste management
• nutrition practices around the world
• impact of infectious disease on food and nutrition