Sports Nutrition and Health

Could you inspire and motivate people to pursue healthier lifestyles? This pioneering degree allows you to apply your passion for sport and exercise to make a genuine difference to people's health and wellbeing.

KEY FEATURES OF THE COURSE:

RANKINGS: Our Sport and Exercise subject area was also ranked in the Top 10 for student voice, and assessment and feedback, Top 15 for learning resources and in the Top 25 for student satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2025.

• BREAKING NEW GROUND: Designed in collaboration with Derby City Council and the first course of its kind, this course will equip you with the skills to have a real impact on improving health and wellbeing in today’s society. You’ll explore the importance of physical activity and nutrition in preventing and managing disease as well as promoting optimal health and wellbeing at all stages in life.

• ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS: We have mapped this programme to national standards for the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) so you will have opportunities to gain Level Two (gym instructor) and Level Three (personal trainer) accreditation, strengthening your CV.

• PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE: Work placements with our partner, Derby City Move More Consortium, and many other local organisations as well as practical health promotion and research projects, will allow you to work in different settings with clients of all ages and abilities.

• RESEARCH ACTIVE TEAM: Our teaching team includes accredited professionals who will provide you with high quality teaching and support. They are actively involved in research into a wide-range of themes including, physical activity monitoring of preschool children, nutrition, performance profiling and human balance control.

• FACILITIES: You will hone your skills in our well-equipped sport and exercise facility to measure the parameters of health and fitness. In addition, we use a range of computer software packages for statistical analysis. You’ll also be well catered for if you want to take part in recreational sport – whether as a first-timer or as an elite performer. We have a 44-station fitness facility equipped with the latest Technogym and Wellness system technology.

WHAT YOU'LL COVER:

• In your first year, you'll look at the key principles of sport and exercise physiology, psychology and anatomy. Your second and third years introduce you to modules covering topics such as lifestyle and behaviour change, international public health and the biomedical implications of exercise. There is an applied focus throughout the programme and so you'll have lots of opportunities to experience real-world scenarios through work placements.

HOW YOU'RE ASSESSED:

• Assessments will take place through oral presentations, written assignments, practicals, exams and research projects.

YOUR CAREER:

• The course is designed to make you highly employable. You will graduate with the applied experience, knowledge and professionalism you need for a variety of careers related to community development, nutrition and healthy eating promotion, health improvement, exercise referral and lifestyle management. You could secure employment with a wide range of organisations including the NHS, local councils and public health agencies. With postgraduate teacher training, there are opportunities to go into educational careers too.

STUDY OPTIONS

• This course is available with a Foundation Year option.

• This course is also available with an Industrial Placement Year.