Course Summary
The Master's degree in Sport and Exercise Nutrition at the Atlantic Technological University Sligo Campus offers the chance to upskill in the area of sports nutrition. This programme is delivered part-time and online allowing you the freedom of gaining a qualification while continuing in your current employment.
The aim of the course is to produce sports nutritionists who are strongly focused on the science behind the subject, and who also have experience of the practicalities of delivering the latest evidence based guidance to individuals and teams who are looking to maximise the sports performance benefits of nutrition to complement their training programmes.
This course covers the key principles of exercise physiology and sports nutrition and aims to develop critical awareness of topics across these areas of study. It also explores important issues within sports nutrition such as the use of supplements and ergogenic aids and critically analyses the key evidence for and against their use and reported implications for exercise performance.
Nutrition plays a key role in an athletes training and preparation for competition and most sports now recognise the integral role that nutrition plays in achieving success. This online programme provides graduates with the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and competencies required to work in this exciting and evolving area at an advanced level. The course is ideally suited to exercise professionals wishing to complement their exercise practice with applied nutrition skills, as well as those interested in using exercise nutrition to improve the health of the general public.
Key Course Information
For online courses, it is very important that you allocate enough study time to your online course to stay focused, reduce stress and achieve your goals. For part-time online or blended learning, it is recommended that you should try to allow for 5-6 hours per week per 5 credit module to your studies.
Our online courses have about 2-3 hours of live lectures per week (but this can vary per programme). The rest of your study time consists of independent learning, communicating with your lecturers and classmates and carrying out assignments.
Live lectures normally take place between 6pm and 10pm, Monday to Thursday but this may vary depending on the availability of specific lecturers. If the Live Classroom scheduled times for the live online lectures do not suit you, recordings will be made available through Moodle.
Application Closing Date : 15th August 2025
Entry Requirements
Applications with a 2.2 Honours award in a relevant discipline (Nutrition, Dietetics, Sport Science, Health, Public Health, Allied Health or a cognate area as deemed suitable by the programme committee) may apply.
Applicants who do not meet this entry criterion may be considered through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). RPL is a process that may allow you to gain admission to a programme or to receive exemptions / credit from some parts of a programme based on demonstrated learning that you may have achieved through another programme of study or through your work and career. Further information is available through www.myexperience.ie which is our dedicated RPL portal or by contacting our admissions team at admissions@itsligo.ie.
Career Opportunities
The aim of this course is to enable students to develop an advanced level of subject knowledge and research experience, as well as a comprehensive range of transferable academic and practical skills. Career choices for qualified Sport and Exercise Nutritionists can include leading sports nutrition programmes for individual athletes, sports teams and recreational athletes, providing nutritional support for physical activity or weight management initiatives, working with local, national or international sporting bodies or nutrition companies, leading research into specific areas which utilise nutrition to improve performance, food product development as well as nutritional support to national governing bodies and sports organisations.
Accreditation
This MSc in Sport and Exercise Nutrition has been developed to fulfil requirements for Sports and Exercise Nutrition Register (SENr) accreditation.
This MSc in Sport and Exercise Nutrition will also provide students the opportunity to fulfil the initial requirements for Association for Nutrition (AfN) Accreditation as an Associate/Registered Nutritionist.
Further Study
Graduates will be well placed to pursue doctorates in the area of Sports and Exercise Nutrition. Graduates will be supported in pursuit of PhD programmes of relevant research.
Did you know?
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This is a specialised course where students learn about how Nutrition affects Sports and Exercise Performance in addition to Health.
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The online teaching environment allows a flexible approach to learning.
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The course is delivered by experts who have a vast array of experience of working with elite athletes in a performance capacity and the general population in a health capacity.
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Our students come from very varied backgrounds which creates a positive learning environment where students with different skill sets help one another, through the sharing of strengths and weaknesses.
Programme Fees
Course Format
Semester 1
| Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Nutrition, Health and Fitness Assessment | 10 |
| Exercise Physiology and Metabolism [E] | 10 |
| Essentials in Human Nutrition [E] | 10 |
| Human Nutrition and Exercise Physiology and Metabolism [E] | 10 |
Semester 2
| Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Nutrition and Performance | 10 |
| Professional Skills for Sports Nutritionists | 10 |
Semester 3
| Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Advanced Performance Nutrition | 10 |
| Research Methods for Sports Nutrition | 05 |
| Statistical Analysis for Nutritional Research | 05 |
Semester 4
| Title | Credits |
|---|---|
| Sports and Exercise Nutrition Thesis | 30 |
[E] = Elective Module. Modules subject to availability.