Nutrition and Exercise for Health and Sports Performance

Key information

Start date:: 11 May 2026
Attendance dates:: 11, 12, 13 May 2026

View all Food, nutrition and dietetics courses

Overview

This module gathers a range of internal and external speakers to provide specific insights into the role and application of nutrition to sport and exercise. As a foundation for this specific application of nutrition the module starts with a brief overview of exercise physiology and limits to performance, before covering key areas of nutrition in an exercising situation, both in terms of performance and in terms of health.

Module aims

This module aims to:

To provide students with a thorough background knowledge of physiology, biochemistry and nutrition relevant to exercise,
To understand the energy and nutritional demands of exercise and sport
To allow students the opportunity to evaluate practices in exercise and dietary manipulation currently used to enhance performance in a wide range of sports activities.
To reinforce the concept that modification of exercise and dietary habits in the general population can promote improved health and well-being.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

Appreciate the physiological and biochemical processes that cur as a consequence of exercise, exercise capacity and limits to performance.
Relate the energy and fuel demands of exercise and recovery, and how this relates to the periodization of training and exercise performance.
Describe how dietary manipulation can improve sports performance in athletes and social exercisers.
Appraise the rationale behind the development, use and efficacy of ergogenic aids used to enhance sports performance.
Evaluate the factors affecting the nutritional requirements of an athlete, exercise or sport to formulate practical nutritional recommendations.

Course content

Indicative content includes, some or all of the following topics:

Exercise physiology: physiological and biochemical response to exercise & training
Energy, Carbohydrate & Fat – Fuels for exercise
Carbohydrate and protein requirements for exercise
Fluid & electrolytes balance in exercise: use of sports drinks
The Performance Nutritionist
Ergogenic aids
The female athlete / exercise & bone
Nutrition for strength & power
Practical Sports Nutrition
Exercise nutrition for the non-athlete
Nutrition, Exercise & Metabolic Health
Case studies in sports nutrition.

Assessment

Coursework - Short essays (x2) & Case study assignment

Course leader

Dr Sarah Bath

Senior Lecturer in Public Health Nutrition

Fees and funding

£1,300

How to apply

Email admission@surrey.ac.uk to request a CPD application form - please ensure you include the course title in the subject line.

Terms and conditions

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Further details of our terms and conditions will follow.

Disclaimer

This online prospectus has been prepared and published in advance of the commencement of the course. The University of Surrey has used its reasonable efforts to ensure that the information is accurate at the time of publishing, but changes (for example to course content or additional costs) may occur given the interval between publishing and commencement of the course. It is therefore very important to check this website for any updates before you apply for a course with us. Read the full disclaimer.

Course location and contact details

Campus location

Stag Hill

This course is based at Stag Hill campus. Stag Hill is the University's main campus and where the majority of our courses are taught.

Address

University of Surrey
Guildford
Surrey GU2 7XH