Sports Nutrition Degrees, Courses and Programs

Sports nutrition applies nutrition science to athletes and active people: energy balance, macro- and micronutrient needs, hydration, supplements and nutrition for competition and recovery. Study options include modules inside sport science degrees, specialist master’s programs, short professional courses and certificates.

The professional landscape is uneven. In many countries the title dietitian is protected and requires specific accredited qualifications and registration, while “nutritionist” or “sports nutrition coach” may be unregulated or regulated differently. A sports nutrition certificate of any length is a different credential from dietitian registration.

Each listing therefore records what the credential is, who it is aimed at, and whether the provider states any relationship with a registering body.

Typical topics: Energy and macronutrients, Hydration and electrolytes, Supplements and evidence, Nutrition for training and competition, Body composition, Behaviour change.

Also called: Sport nutrition, Performance nutrition, Exercise nutrition, Sporternährung. These names lead to this one page.

Qualifying as a dietitian follows national accredited routes and registration. A sports nutrition certificate or diploma does not confer dietitian status.

Each program below states its intended audience, whether prior professional registration is required, and links to current official requirements where we found them.

• MSc Sport and Exercise Nutrition (Leeds Beckett University): Admissions criteria are published in the online prospectus entry (not captured)
• Certified Sports Nutritionist (CISSN) (International Society of Sports Nutrition (ISSN)): A 4-year undergraduate college degree is required; applicants without one can ask for case-by-case review.
• Sport and Exercise Nutrition MSc (University of Westminster): A minimum of a lower second class honours degree (2:2) in a life sciences subject
• Certificate of Graduate Study in Sports Nutrition (Northern Illinois University): Undergraduate or graduate degree in nutrition or related field; introductory anatomy, chemistry, biology and nutrition coursework; accepted into the program with graduate student status at NIU.
• Sport Nutrition Graduate Certificate (East Tennessee State University): Bachelor's degree, ideally in nutrition, dietetics, exercise science or a closely related field; GRE not required.