Sport & Exercise Nutrition

Sport and exercise nutrition is the science of how food and fuel choices affect physical performance, body composition, recovery, and overall health in physically active people. It draws on physiology, biochemistry, dietetics, and exercise science to understand how the body uses energy during different types of activity, how dietary strategies can be optimised for performance or recovery, and how nutritional needs vary across different sports, populations, and goals. As awareness of nutrition's role in performance has grown across elite and recreational sport, the demand for specialists in this area has expanded considerably.

At Liverpool Hope University, this three-year full-time degree gives you a solid foundation in the anatomy, physiology, and movement science that underpin both exercise and nutrition, as well as the specific knowledge needed to advise on nutrition for sport and exercise. You will study topics including energy systems, macronutrient metabolism, hydration, supplementation, weight management in sport, and nutritional strategies for different training phases, using a systems-based approach that connects laboratory understanding to practical sporting contexts. The programme includes a sandwich year placement, giving you professional experience in a relevant sport or nutrition setting, and a year abroad, allowing you to engage with sport and exercise nutrition in an international context.

Work placement activity is integrated throughout. A typical entry tariff of 120 points applies.

You will develop both the theoretical knowledge and the practical skills needed to support athletes and physically active people with evidence-based nutritional guidance, and you will learn to interpret and apply research in this rapidly evolving field.

Graduates go on to work as sport and exercise nutritionists, performance nutritionists, strength and conditioning support staff, health coaches, and in related roles in professional sport, elite academies, fitness, and public health. Postgraduate study and registration with the Sport and Exercise Nutrition Register are common next steps for those seeking recognised professional status.