Global Public Health Nutrition MSc

Our Global Public Health Nutrition MSc will give you the specialist scientific knowledge and practical skills to take an active role in global public health nutrition in a range of different settings.

Nutrition has long been recognised as a vitally important determinant of health status within both industrialised and industrialising countries. Significant changes are occurring in the profile of nutritional problems. Many countries continue to face problems of malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, but countries in economic transition also face the public health challenge of rising rates of diet-related chronic diseases, such as obesity and coronary heart disease. Also, many industrialised countries now face problems of food insecurity among low-income groups. These challenges have led to growing political resources to address nutrition.

There is now an increased need for trained public health nutritionists to work in a range of contexts to control and prevent diet-related problems. The United Nations Secretary-General has declared 2016–2025 the Decade of Nutrition. What better time to develop your skills in this crucial area?

As over 800 million people still go to bed hungry while one in three suffers from hidden hunger and one in nine are overweight or obese, there is still a long way to go to achieve these targets. The targets are also essential for achieving many of the Sustainable Development Goals, and you'll explore the role of health and nutrition in addressing these global targets by 2030.

You'll be introduced to policy-making, leadership and governance frameworks. You'll be encouraged to explore and debate the political and social influences underpinning policy implementation and impact and to create innovative solutions to address global challenges in our food system, such as the impact of climate change and food waste.

Your modules will explore the relationship between diet and disease, the nutrition science underpinning these factors, public health nutrition epidemiology, research methods for health science, nutritional assessment tools and how to develop and manage nutrition programmes.

The course will introduce you to stakeholders and skills that can enhance your professional competency, employability and development as a public health reflective professional.

Top reasons to study with us

• Our course takes a multi-disciplinary approach to understanding health and disease as related to food and nutrition to reflect the changing profile of public health
• We deliver a broad but balanced approach to the understanding of nutritional issues, in which the perspectives of social science are explored as well as the more traditional disciplines of nutrition, epidemiology and statistics
• We offer a unique Essentials of Nutrition access course for those without an undergraduate degree in nutrition or health
• Our modules are linked to global targets such as global nutrition targets and Sustainable Development Goals, including a module on global challenges focusing on climate change and the food system
• Our teaching staff have strong links with employers in diverse fields such as school feeding programmes, population weight management programmes and addressing food insecurity in all contexts. Many are alumni of the course
• Our course team is research-active and in previous years has involved students in ongoing research programmes with all assessments supporting employability skills
• In previous years, field research trips have included locations such as Ethiopia and Zanzibar, and students have also undertaken research within London boroughs and UK NGOs

Why study this course?

There is a present need for increased nutrition and health capacity in the post-COVID recovery phase. Public health nutritionists are needed to apply population solutions with a clear understanding of the science, as well as the skills to implement them.

• Prepare for your career in global public health nutrition
  On our course, you'll be equipped with the specialist knowledge and practical skills to be a globally skilled public health nutritionist and prepared to work in a range of workplace contexts.
• Develop key transferable skills
  You'll be supported to develop essential skills in group work, problem-solving and organisation, using and managing information, self-motivation and reflection and effective communication.
• Fantastic central London location
  You'll be based at our Cavendish Campus in the heart of multicultural central London, with easy access to London's huge range of scientific, library and cultural resources.

Professional accreditation

The course is accredited by the Association for Nutrition as part fulfilment of the requirements for registration as an associate Public Health Nutritionist. Students on this course can also apply for membership and certification with the World Public Health Nutrition Association.

Employment opportunities for public health nutritionists are growing and there are numerous career paths our graduates follow, from working with Public Health England in writing policies to act as nutrition advisers to the Department of Health or other nutrition-focused organisations.

As well as developing the specialist skills to become an effective public health nutritionist, you'll be supported in developing key transferable skills for your career, including communication, problem-solving, group work and organisation.

• Graduate success
  Many of our graduates have gone on to work in international development with organisations such as Save the Children, Action against Hunger, UNICEF, GAIN, FAO, WFP and WHO. Other graduates have continued their academic studies by moving on to a PhD or becoming a lecturer.
• Industry links
  We have close links with organisations such as Save the Children, Results, and Action against Hunger.
• Employers around the world
  The University’s Careers and Employability Service has built up a network of over 3,000 employers around the world, helping all our students explore and connect with exciting opportunities and careers.

Graduate success

• Nine of our graduates presented their research at the 2020 World Public Health Nutrition Conference.
• We have alumni working with the Henry programme to support healthy nutrition outcomes in UK families.
• We have a number of students working with Children for Health to create child-friendly health promotion material for low-income contexts.
• We have alumni working with Save the Children in emergencies to address malnutrition.

Student awards

In previous years, we've awarded two prizes each year: a prize for the most outstanding student and a unique award for students who work or focus their research on the right to food and health, the Saunders Alma Ata Right to Food and Health Award.

Job roles

This course will prepare you for a variety of roles, including:

• Global Public Health Nutritionist working with populations in international development
• Public Health Nutritionists working with non-governmental organisations to improve population health and nutrition outcomes, such as addressing malnutrition in children or elderly
• Public health nutrition policymaking
• Programme manager for health and nutrition programmes in the UK or globally
• Academic researcher in public health nutrition
• Nutritionists in the private sector or industry roles
• Working with humanitarian responses or international agencies such as UNICEF

Graduate employers

Graduates from this course have found employment at organisations including:

• Action Against Hunger
• Concern
• GOAL
• Henry
• Local government public health teams
• Ministry of Health in Somalia
• Obesity think tank
• Public Health England
• Results UK
• Save the Children
• School Food Matters
• Second Nature
• Urban farming manager

Westminster Employability Award

Employers value graduates who have invested in their personal and professional development – and our Westminster Employability Award gives you the chance to formally document and demonstrate these activities and achievements.

The award is flexible and can be completed in your own time, comprising a set of core and optional extracurricular activities.

Activities might include gaining experience through a part-time job or placement, signing up to a University-run scheme – such as mentoring or teaching in a school – or completing online exercises.

Our assessments ensure that you graduate with the skills required by employers, which are transferable to a wide variety of fields and contexts. Assessments may include presentations, critical reviews, policy development and analysis, expressions of interest, programme proposals, data analysis using SPSS, interviews, podcasts, posters, policy briefings, TV newscasts, and health system analysis.

The following modules are indicative of what you study in this course.

Core modules

• Concepts and Principles of Nutrition
• Diet and disease
• Global Challenges for Food and Health
• Nutrition Interventions and Programme Planning
• Nutritional assessment
• Policy and Governance for Public Health Nutrition
• Research Methods for Health Science I
• Research Methods for Health Sciences II and Research Project