Sport & Exercise Nutrition - Online

Overview

Educating the Sports Nutritionists of the future



Summary

Diet and nutrition significantly affect sport and exercise performance. The food and fluid which an athlete consumes before, during and after exercise affects health and body composition, as well as performance and recovery. Sound knowledge of sport and exercise nutrition can ensure a healthy balance between exercise and diet for a range of athletes, from amateur to elite levels within different sports.



This programme provides a postgraduate pathway for those interested in pursuing a career in the area of sport and exercise nutrition. As an accredited course, graduates are eligible to register with the British Dietetic Association (BDA) Sport and Exercise Nutrition Register (SENr) as a graduate registrant, allowing them to work autonomously post-graduation.



About

The programme is delivered by distance learning. Students enrolled for the PgDip Sport and Exercise Nutrition course need to undertake modules to a total of 120 credit points and for the MSc undertake an additional research project of 60 credit points. Modules studied will include: nutrition and exercise metabolism, nutritional assessment, recommendations and requirements, sport-specific nutrition issues, research methods and and biostatistics for food and nutrition, nutrition for health and disease prevention, evidence-based practice in healthcare sciences, practical sports nutrition and the sport and exercise nutrition research project.

Year One

Evidence-Based Practice in Sports and Exercise Nutrition

Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism

Nutritional Assessment

Sport-Specific Nutrition Issues

Research Methods and Biostatistics for Food and Nutrition

Nutrition for Health and Disease Prevention

Practical Sports Nutrition

Sport and Exercise Nutrition Research Project

Applicants must hold a degree (2.2 or above) or equivalent in a related discipline (for example – BSc Honours in Biochemistry, Dietetics, Food and Nutrition, Human Nutrition, Physiology, Sport and Exercise Science, Sports Science or other relevant degree discipline) or demonstrate their ability to undertake the course through the accreditation of prior experiential learning. Applicants must also demonstrate evidence of competence in written and spoken English (e.g. GCSE grade C or equivalent). Students holding an IOC Diploma in Sports Nutrition are eligible to apply for direct entry to the MSc programme following completion of a short research proposal module (10 credits) prior to completing the sport and exercise nutrition research project (60 credits) following approval of a suitable research project in consultation with the project module co-ordinator.



English Language Requirements

The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.



Ulster recognises a number of other English language tests and comparable IELTS equivalent scores.

Attendance

The full-time programme (over 1 calendar year; i.e. three academic semesters) is comprised of taught modules in semester one and two and the research project which is completed in semester three. All modules are delivered by distance-learning.

Start Date: September 2025.

Career options

Career options within sport and exercise nutrition are expanding and include becoming a freelance sports nutritionist/performance nutritionist or working with sporting/government organisations. Previous graduates have gained employment with leading organisations within the UK and Ireland including IRFU, Ulster Rugby, Dairy Council for Northern Ireland and United Kingdom, Rowing Ireland and Apple. We also have a number of graduates who following mentored experience have set up independent sports nutrition clinics within Ireland and on an international basis.