BSc (Hons) Nutritional Therapy

Program Overview

The BSc (Hons) Nutritional Therapy degree equips students with the knowledge and skills to become qualified Nutritional Therapists. It emphasizes the role of diet and nutrition in health and incorporates clinical skills, business management, and research methods. The program is accredited by NTEC and prepares graduates for careers in nutritional therapy practice, public health, and other related fields.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The BSc (Hons) Nutritional Therapy course is designed to equip students with the necessary knowledge and skills to become qualified Nutritional Therapists. It focuses on the role of diet and nutrition in maintaining health and wellbeing, underpinned by biochemical sciences and the functional medicine approach.

Objectives:

• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the role of diet and nutrition in maintaining health and wellbeing.
• Gain theoretical and practical knowledge of nutritional therapy.
• Develop clinical skills in nutritional therapy.
• Explore aspects of developing, managing, and promoting a professional nutrition practice/business.
• Prepare students for a career as a Nutritional Therapist.

Outline:

The course is delivered over five years and is divided into three levels:

Level 4 (Two years):

• Compulsory Modules:
• Human Anatomy and Physiology
• Macro and Micronutrients
• Classification and Composition of Foods
• Biochemical Imbalances in Disease

Level 5 (Two years):

• Compulsory Modules:
• Communication Skills in the Therapeutic Relationship
• Pathophysiology of Named Conditions
• Clinical Data Collection and Case Interpretation
• Developing Nutritional Programmes
• Case Progression Strategies
• Research Methods for Clinical Practice

Level 6 (One year):

• Compulsory Modules:
• Preparing for Clinical Practice
• Achieving Clinical Practice
• Clinical Case Evaluation

Course Delivery:

• Levels 4 and 5 are delivered via supported distance learning.
• Level 6 requires 12 full days of study and clinical practice delivered over typical UK working hours in four blocks:
• October/November - three-day teaching block
• January/February - three-day teaching block
• March - three-day clinic
• May - three-day clinic

Teaching:

• The course is taught by a team of experienced nutritional therapists.
• Clinical practice skills are developed through supervised cases.
• The course utilizes the University's Virtual Learning Environment for distance learning.

Careers:

Graduates of the BSc (Hons) Nutritional Therapy course can pursue a career in:

• Nutritional therapy practice (in their own clinic or within a complementary health clinic)
• Public health
• Clinical nutrition
• Food industry (including new product development)
• Academia, research, and lecturing
• Teaching
• Sports and exercise nutrition (including personal training)
• Health/food journalism
• Health and wellbeing group work

Other:

• The course is accredited by the Nutritional Therapy Education Commission (NTEC).
• Students can register with the Complementary and Natural Health Care Council (CNHC) as a registered Nutritional Therapist upon completion of the course.
• Students can become full members of the British Association of Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT).
• International students are welcome to apply, but practicing outside of the UK may be subject to country-specific legal and professional requirements.
• Students will have the opportunity to develop professional communication skills and learn about the legal, professional, financial, ethical and audit requirements of setting up their own nutrition practice/business.
• The course encourages self-reflection to build and sustain a successful practice/business.

In years 1-4, the fee is £3000 per year. In year 5 the fee increases to £6000.