Programme summary

1. Programme Aims

• To provide students with detailed knowledge of the metabolism of nutrients and of nutritional requirements in man.
• To promote understanding of current theories of the relationships between diet and performance in sport, and between diet, exercise and health.
• To make students aware of the practical issues involved in setting nutritional goals and transferring these into eating strategies.
• To train students in research methods relevant to the study of nutrition.
• To develop skills in written and oral communication of original scientific material.

The programme will provide students with the background in sport and exercise nutrition that will allow them to apply to the Nutrition Society for registration, as a sport and exercise nutrition professional.

2. Relevant subject benchmark statements and other external reference points used to inform programme outcomes:

Subject benchmarks for Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism Group;Learned Societies’ Standards e.g. Nutrition Society; British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences Accreditation Recommendations.

The programme content has taken into account the draft guidelines prepared by the Nutrition Society’s working party on postgraduate programmes in sport and exercise nutrition.

3. Programme Learning Outcomes

3.1 Knowledge and Understanding

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of: 

• the links between human nutrition, metabolism and fatigue during exercise.
• the links between human nutrition and performance in sport and exercise.
• the links between exercise, nutrition and health.
• appropriate research procedures applied to the acquisition of knowledge and solution of problems in sport and exercise nutrition in particular and in sports science in general.
• methodologies used in the analysis and interpretation of data obtained in sport and exercise nutrition.
• the moral, ethical and legal issues that underpin best practice in dealing with human participants in research studies. 

3.2 Skills and other attributes

a. Subject-specific cognitive skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to: 

• Apply theoretical principles to sport and exercise.
• Conduct research into the relationship between nutrition, exercise and sport.
• Advise healthy people about the strategies for improving exercise performance through nutritional interventions.
• Critically evalsuate the research evidence on the links between nutrition, exercise, sport performance and health.

b. Subject-specific practical skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to: 

• Undertake dietary analysis to determine the energy and nutrient intake of healthy people.
• Recommend diets for healthy people to help enhance health and exercise performance.
• Recommend diets for healthy people to gain or lose body mass.
• Design and carry out research to test hypotheses on the links between nutrition and exercise performance.
• evalsuate research results from studies on human exercise metabolism.

c. Key transferable skills:

On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to: 

• Communicate effectively orally, electronically and in writing.
• Manage personal learning efficiently and effectively.
• Use IT effectively as a learning and communication tool.
• Develop and utilise qualitative and quantitative research skills.
• Work confidently both as an individual and as part of a small team.
• Work independently and use available support strategically and effectively.
• Present research concept and evidence using effective communication methods.

4. Programme structure

In the following table, ‘C’ indicates a compulsory module and ‘O’ indicates an optional module:

* Candidates undertaking a Project need formal approval of a research proposal by the Programme Director and an agreed Supervisor. 

5. Criteria for Progression and Degree Award

In order to be eligible for the award, candidates must satisfy the requirements of Regulation XXI.

6. Relative Weighting of Parts of the Programme for the Purposes of Final Degree Classification