What is Nutrition with Professional Practice?
Nutrition with Professional Practice is a uniquely designed BSc (Hons) degree programme combining evidence-based nutrition science with extensive training and practical experience in our busy teaching clinic.
If you are passionate about the impact of food and diet on health and wellbeing, this three year course could be the beginning of a rewarding career.
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There are lots of nutrition degrees around. What makes the UCO's unique?
The UCO is a specialist heathcare education provider with expertise in providing clinical and professional training to produce high-calibre, client-facing heathcare professionals. We are now bringing this expertise to the field of nutrition.
While their are a wealth of nutrition degrees offering a thorough grounding in evidence-based nutrition-science, the BSC (Hons) Nutrition with Professional Practice degree at the UCO combines this with integrated professional practice training running throughout the three years of the course.
Some of the professional skills you will develop include: client care, communication, mentoring, psychological approaches and media training, as well as how to prepare and advise on food preparation to maximise its nutritional content.
Unlike courses where professional skills may be limited to the lecture theatre or a work placement, at the UCO you'll have the opportunity to develop yours within the real-word environment of our teaching clinic, observing qualified nutritionists in your second year of study, before working with clients under supervision in your third year.
This approach will create a new generation of nutrition professionals who are uniquely placed to apply their scientific knowledge to help others achieve their health and performance goals.
Of course, not all of our students may be interested in working with individual clients, and the course content is equally suitable for those who may be interested in affecting change at organisation or population level, whether it be a career in public health and education, advising on policy, working within the food industry or research. The course is also well placed for students interested in further study within sports science.
To launch this unique course we are offering all applicants enrolling for September 2022 a cashback amount of £1,500 upon successful completion of the first year and progression onto Year 2. See below for details*.
Is the course accredited by any professional bodies?
This course has been awarded Association for Nutrition (AfN) Programme Accreditation (Accreditation no: AC326). This accreditation was awarded on 16 December 2021 and is due for renewal on 15 December 2026.
The Association for Nutrition (AfN) protects and benefits the public by defining and advancing standards of evidence-based practice across the field of nutrition and at all levels within the workforce.
AfN Programme Accreditation is a quality mark awarded to degree programmes which meet the high standards required by the AfN. Graduates of an AfN Accredited Programmes are eligible to apply via Direct Entry for UKVRN registration as a Registered Associate Nutritionist (ANutr). Inclusion on the UKVRN demonstrates your ability to meet rigorous professional standards and is the only register of nutritionists currently recognised by Public Health England, NHS Choices and NHS Careers.
Why is nutrition so important?
Recent research suggests that 11 million deaths were attributed to poor dietary choices (Afshin et al, 2019). The high prevalence of obesity is also a risk factor for many non-communicable diseases such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. With substantial evidence suggesting a direct link between poor dietary choices and global disease, nutrition science could be described as a form of preventative medicine, with nutritionists playing an important role in enabling people to manage their own health and wellbeing.
As a society we are increasingly aware of the importance of making good dietary choices, but are bombarded with information that is difficult interpret or to critically assess, from the tables of numbers on food packaging to the multitude of 'fad diets'. Nutritionists are ideally placed to help sort the fact from the fiction and to help educate others at individual and population level, so that positive choices can be made.
What does a career in nutrition involve?
With a BSc (Hons) Nutrition with Professional Practice you will be equipped with the skills and valuable real-life experience to take your career in a a number of different directions, from private practice working with clients, to roles within public health and education, the food industry or as an advisor influencing policy at government level.
Find out more about nutrition as a career.
What qualification will I gain?
On successful completion of the course you will have a BSc (Hons) in Nutrition with Professional Practice.
You will also have met the core capabilities required to enable you to join the voluntary register of nutritionists held by the Association for Nutrition, which is the only register recognised by Public Health England and NHS choices, so is particularly important if you are interested in a career in public health.
On graduation you will be able to apply to join the register as a Registered Associate Nutritionist but can progress to full Registered Nutritionist (RNutr) status after an appropriate period of professional experience in nutrition.
Where can I find out more?
The Association for Nutrition holds the UK voluntary register of Register Nutritionists and is a great source of information about the career. Visit the AfN website.
Apply now! www.uco.ac.uk/nutrition
Got a question? Contact us on 020 7089 5316 or admissions@uco.ac.uk.
* We are offering all applicants enrolling for September 2022 a cashback amount of £1,500 upon successful completion of the first year and progression onto Year 2. The cash back payment will be made to all students who successfully meet the academic standards required to pass the first year of the BSc (Hons) Nutrition with Professional Practice course and who register for the second year by December 2023. Students are also expected to have adhered to the UCO’s Student Terms & Conditions and other policies which can be found here. Failure to meet any of these requirements may jeopardise the cashback offer and payment will not be made during any ongoing investigation into student conduct.