Human Nutrition

Human nutrition is the scientific study of the relationship between food, diet and health. It examines how the body processes and uses nutrients, how dietary patterns relate to the development and prevention of disease, and how nutritional science can inform individual, clinical and population-level interventions. As diet-related conditions such as obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and malnutrition remain major global health challenges, the demand for graduates with deep knowledge of nutrition science is growing across healthcare, food industry and public health settings.

At Newcastle, this three-year full-time programme provides a thorough grounding in nutritional biochemistry, human physiology, metabolism and epidemiology. You will study the science of macronutrients and micronutrients, dietary assessment methods, the biology of eating and appetite regulation, clinical nutrition and the nutritional needs of specific populations including children, the elderly and those with chronic conditions. The programme includes a sandwich year, giving you the opportunity to work in a professional environment, whether in a food company, public health team, research laboratory or clinical setting, and work placement experience is embedded throughout.

The typical entry tariff is 136 UCAS points.

Graduates work in dietetics and clinical nutrition, food product development, public health nutrition, health promotion, sports nutrition, nutritional research and policy. Many graduates who wish to practise as registered dietitians continue to postgraduate study leading to professional registration. Others move directly into roles in the food and drink industry, NHS community and hospital settings, research institutes, or international organisations working on food security and nutrition policy.

The combination of scientific rigour and practical placement experience that this programme provides is consistently valued by employers.