What is Human Nutrition?
Human Nutrition is the scientific study of how food and nutrients affect human health, growth and wellbeing throughout life. It explores the relationship between diet, health and disease, helping you understand how nutrition can support healthier individuals and communities.
You’ll develop knowledge of biological and nutritional sciences alongside practical skills in research, data analysis, communication and evidence appraisal. Studying Human Nutrition can prepare you to critically evaluate nutrition information and apply your knowledge across a range of settings, including public health, education, research and the food industry.
Our courses
Careers in Human Nutrition
Graduates from AfN-accredited nutrition programmes are typically eligible to apply for Registered Associate Nutritionist (ANutr) status, which can support progression towards becoming a Registered Nutritionist (RNutr).
Demand for nutrition expertise continues to grow as organisations seek to address challenges relating to public health, obesity, healthy ageing, sustainability and health inequalities. Nutrition graduates can pursue careers across public, private and third-sector organisations.
Where can nutrition graduates work?
Nutrition graduates may work in a range of organisations and settings, including:
- Public health organisations
- Local authorities
- Charities and community organisations
- Research institutions and universities
- Food and beverage companies
- Health promotion services
- Sports, wellbeing and fitness organisations
- Government agencies
- Media and communications
- International development and humanitarian settings
Professional development and career pathways
As your career develops, you can build on your undergraduate knowledge through professional registration, postgraduate study and specialist training. Depending on your interests and career goals, you could:
- Apply for Registered Associate Nutritionist (ANutr) status through the Association for Nutrition after completing an accredited degree, subject to meeting the relevant requirements.
- Explore postgraduate professional training, such as HSU’s MSc Dietetics Integrated Degree Apprenticeship or MSc Dietetics (Pre-registration), which can provide a route towards becoming a registered dietitian, subject to meeting the programme’s entry requirements.
- Undertake postgraduate study in areas such as nutrition, public health, health promotion or research.
- Develop specialist interests in areas including public health nutrition, food industry nutrition, nutrition science, health promotion, sustainability, research, policy, or sports and exercise nutrition.
Skills for a career in nutrition
Studying Human Nutrition develops a range of subject-specific and transferable skills that can be applied across different careers. You can develop skills in:
- Critical appraisal, evaluating scientific evidence and research
- Data analysis and interpretation, using evidence to understand nutrition and health
- Research, designing and evaluating research projects
- Communication, presenting complex information clearly to different audiences
- Strong academic writing skills
- Behaviour change, understanding factors that influence health-related behaviours
- Teamworking and collaboration, working effectively with professionals from different disciplines
- Problem-solving, applying scientific knowledge to real-world health and nutrition challenges
- Project management, planning and delivering projects effectively
- Health promotion, developing approaches that support healthier communities
- Digital literacy and information analysis, finding, evaluating and communicating reliable information.
These skills can support careers across healthcare, public health, education, research, industry, charities and wider graduate employment.
Why study Human Nutrition at HSU?
As a specialist health sciences university, HSU offers a learning environment where you can study alongside students preparing for careers across a range of healthcare professions. As a Human Nutrition student, you’ll have opportunities to learn alongside other disciplines and develop an understanding of multidisciplinary approaches to improving health and wellbeing.
HSU also offers an MSc Dietetics Integrated Degree Apprenticeship or MSc Dietetics (Pre-registration), providing a potential postgraduate progression route for graduates who want to pursue a career in dietetics and meet the relevant entry requirements. This gives you the opportunity to continue your academic and professional development within the same specialist health sciences university.
Facilities for Human Nutrition students
You’ll have access to facilities and resources that support your learning in human nutrition, health sciences and research, including:
- Nutrition and dietary analysis software, supporting the analysis and interpretation of nutritional information
- Anatomy and physiology learning facilities, helping you develop your understanding of the human body
- Health and hospital simulation environments, providing opportunities to explore healthcare practice in realistic settings
- Research and study spaces, supporting independent learning and research
- Library and digital learning resources, providing access to academic literature, journals and other learning materials
- Collaborative teaching and seminar rooms, supporting group learning, discussion and collaboration
FAQs
What is Human Nutrition? 
Human Nutrition is the study of how food and nutrients affect health, growth, development and wellbeing throughout life. It draws on areas including biology, biochemistry, physiology, metabolism and public health to understand the relationship between diet and health.
What is the difference between a Nutritionist and a Dietitian?
Nutritionists typically work with individuals, groups and populations to improve health through nutrition. Their role is different to dietitians, who are regulated healthcare professionals trained to assess, diagnose and treat dietary and nutritional problems, including those linked to medical conditions.
Is Human Nutrition a science degree?
Yes. Human Nutrition is a science-based subject that draws on disciplines including biology, biochemistry, physiology and metabolism. You’ll explore how the body uses nutrients and how diet can influence health and wellbeing.
Can I work in the NHS with a Human Nutrition degree?
A Human Nutrition degree can support careers in areas such as health improvement, public health, research and health promotion, including roles within the NHS and other healthcare organisations. However, a Human Nutrition degree does not qualify you to practise as a dietitian. To become a registered dietitian, you’ll need to complete an approved dietetics programme and meet the relevant registration requirements.
Why study nutrition?
Nutrition plays an important role in addressing major health challenges, including obesity, healthy ageing, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, sustainability and health inequalities. Studying Human Nutrition can give you the scientific knowledge and transferable skills to contribute to health and wellbeing across a range of settings.
