MSc Nutrition, Physical Activity and Public Health
- MSc
Overview
This MSc was one of the first to recognise the need for specialisation in the three intertwined disciplines of nutrition, physical activity, and public health to tackle non-communicable diseases. This programme focuses on developing your skills in research, policy, and practice in these connected fields. The development of these skills is vital in addressing genuine issues of concern to policymakers and practitioners nationally and globally.
You will be taught by academics who are at the forefront of real-world research and whose knowledge is grounded in applied situations. Recent collaborations have seen research undertaken with the World Health Organisation (WHO), World Obesity Federation, the National Health Service (Meals on Wheels) and national governments in the West Pacific Region.
You will learn to address questions such as:
- What is the policy implication?
- What research design will answer this question?
- What intervention needs to happen?
- How will it be evaluated?
This will be invaluable in roles where you may be required to pitch your future projects to policymakers, commissioners, and funders. Skills gained in critical thinking, report writing, and evaluation of research and interventions will also be transferable to your future career.
The programme will help you critically examine key interactions at the interface of epidemiology, behaviour change and policy-relevant research in these connected fields and will allow you to gain a deeper understanding of the evidence around the role of nutrition and physical activity in public health; the factors that influence people's physical activity and eating behaviours; and how to develop and evaluate nutrition and physical activity interventions.
It will suit graduates or professionals (with or without directly relevant experience or qualifications) who are interested in pursuing a career in nutrition, physical activity, public health or relevant fields. The complex and inter-disciplinary nature of these issues mean the skills developed during this programme are useful in a wide range of career paths.
The programme is delivered over one year, allowing you to return to work, progress your career and start to bring your knowledge into practice in a short period of time. We also have a part-time option set over 2 years.
This programme is available as an intercalated degree for current undergraduate medicine, dentistry or veterinary students from the University of Bristol or other universities. Find out more about our intercalated degrees and eligibility criteria.
Programme structure
All units are compulsory and there are no formal examinations. Work is assessed through written assignments, presentations, written reports, infographics, or research proposals. During the final term, you will complete an original research investigation and dissertation (up to 5,000 words), in the form of an academic paper for a scientific journal on an approved public health-based topic, which will incorporate nutrition or physical activity or a combination of the two. We encourage our students to publish their dissertation to enhance their employability skills, and we have successfully done so in the past.
Some previous dissertations that have been published as papers in academic journals include:
- “Virtual Surf Booth”: Assessment of a Novel Tool and Data Collection Process to Measure the Impact of a 6-Week Surf Programme on Mental Wellbeing
- Nutritional value of foods sold in vending machines in a UK University: formative research to inform an environmental intervention
- Barriers and facilitators to engaging in a University-based exercise programme delivered to students experiencing mental health difficulties: A pilot study
- Quality and presence of behaviour change techniques in mobile apps for the Mediterranean diet.
- The effect of weight-bearing exercise on the mechanisms of bone health in young females: A systematic review
Part-time students will be given guidance about which units to complete in each year of study.
Visit our programme catalogue for full details of the structure and unit content of our MSc in Nutrition, Physical Activity and Public Health.
Entry requirements
You will typically need an upper second-class honours degree or an international equivalent in any subject.
If you are currently completing a degree, we understand that your final grade may be higher than the interim grades or module/unit grades you have achieved during your studies to date.
We will consider your application if your interim grades are currently slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements and may make you an aspirational offer. This offer would be at the standard level, so you would need to achieve the standard entry requirements by the end of your degree. Specific module requirements would still apply.
We will also consider your application if your final overall achieved grade is slightly lower than the programme's entry requirement.
If your achieved grade is lower than our entry requirements, your application may be more likely to receive an offer if you have additional relevant work experience or qualifications. If you have at least one of the following, please include your CV (curriculum vitae / résumé) when you apply, showing:
- evidence of significant, relevant work experience (minimum of 18 months paid or unpaid work) in the following sectors/areas: Dietician, Nurse, Doctor, Rehabilitation Therapist, Food Scientist, Public Health Clinician, Commissioner of Public Health Services, Policy Maker, Researcher or Analyst in relevant field, Wellbeing Advisor, Yoga Instructor, Physical Activity/Sports Coach. Applicants who can demonstrate that they have supplemented their learning through online courses in the accepted subjects will also be considered.
- a postgraduate qualification in any discipline.
See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.
Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.
If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level E.
Further information about English language requirements and profile levels.
Fees and funding
- Home: full-time
- £18,200 per year
- Home: part-time
- £9,100 per year
- Overseas: full-time
- £32,700 per year
Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.
More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support.
Alumni discount
University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study. Check your eligibility for an alumni discount.
Funding and scholarships
Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.
Career prospects
This programme is designed for students who want to pursue careers in nutrition and physical activity-related research, public health policy, public health consultancy, or public health advocacy and legislation, or in implementing programmes that promote health.
Employers of our graduates include:
- The public sector (including Southeast Asian Regional governing bodies, e.g., ASEAN Secretariat, local authorities, county health departments, Public Health Wales and the National Health Service);
- Charities and non-profit organisations (including Macmillan Cancer Support and public health agencies);
- The private sector (including the food industry and corporate wellness organisations);
- Universities and academia.
The programme also has a professional development focus and can enhance the practice and delivery of working professionals such as dieticians, physiotherapists, nurses, kinesiologists, physical trainers or teachers. Some of our graduates continue their studies towards a PhD degree.
The University of Bristol has a dedicated careers service that is able to support you throughout your time with us to explore your career options. Students can talk to staff at the careers service through live chat or face to face on campus and graduates can access free, professional, and unbiased support for up to three years after leaving University.
Contact us
- Contact
- Enquiries Team
- Phone
- +44 (0) 117 394 1649
- choosebristol-pg@bristol.ac.uk