Nutrition, Physical Activity and Public Health University of Bristol

Overview

The Nutrition, Physical Activity and Public Health programme from University of Bristol will help you to critically examine key interactions at the interface of epidemiology, behaviour change and policy-relevant research in these connected fields. It will also help you develop important skills in designing and evaluating research and community interventions.

You will be taught by academics who are at the forefront of real-world research and whose knowledge is grounded in applied situations. 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?', and '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 will also be transferable to your future career.

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 disease. It is designed for dieticians; physical activity, food and fitness specialists; and other health professionals. The programme 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.

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.

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 local authorities, county health departments, Public Health England and the National Health Service);
• universities and academia;
• charities and non-profit organisations (including Macmillan Cancer Support and public health agencies);
• the private sector (including the food industry and corporate wellness organisations).

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.