BSc Nutrition with Foundation

At Reading, you won’t just be learning nutrition from textbooks — you’ll be in the lab, in workshops, and working with research teams from the very start. The foundation year eases you in with practical classes and tutorials, while the later years give you real opportunities to test your skills, work on projects, and even get involved in research that influences public health and the food industry. By the time you graduate, you’ll be confident using scientific equipment, collaborating in groups, and applying knowledge to real-world challenges.

Here’s how that hands-on experience looks in practice:

• Access to specialist laboratories with advanced tools such as NMR spectrometers, mass spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction — giving you the chance to perform real chemical and nutritional analysis.

• The Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, where you can see how diet impacts vascular health and body composition, and even contribute to groundbreaking nutrition research.

• A dedicated Flow Cytometry Suite, used to investigate how cells respond to dietary compounds like probiotics and antibiotics.

• Team-based projects where you’ll design healthy living initiatives or develop new food products — great preparation for careers in nutrition, food science, and public health.

• Ongoing practical classes, workshops, and tutorials, ensuring that every year of study builds your applied and professional skills.

• Full use of Reading’s world-class facilities — including research labs, scientific equipment, and libraries — right from your first year.

Graduating from this programme opens the door to a wide range of careers in the nutrition and food sector. Many students go on to work as nutritionists in public health, food product development specialists, regulatory or quality managers, or in consumer health and marketing roles within major companies. Thanks to the strong science foundation and Reading’s industry links, you’ll be prepared both for immediate employment and further study if you choose to continue.

Here’s how the University supports your future success:

• You’ll have access to a dedicated placement coordinator who connects students with leading food and nutrition employers, helps with applications, and makes sure placements provide real value.

• Around 94% of Food and Nutritional Sciences graduates from Reading are in work or further study within 15 months — a strong signal of employability.

• Reading ranks 1st in the UK for graduate salaries in Agriculture, Food & Related Studies, with average earnings of £36,500 after five years — that’s over £8,500 above the national average.

• Strong industry partnerships with companies like Nestlé, Mars Food, and Marks & Spencer mean opportunities for placements, networking, and career progression.

• Accreditation by the Association for Nutrition and the Institute of Food Science & Technology (IFST) means you can register as an Associate Nutritionist (ANutr) straight after graduation, with the pathway to becoming a Registered Nutritionist (RNutr) later in your career.

• Graduates step into roles across public health, food manufacturing, product innovation, marketing, and even government and regulatory bodies.

Further Academic Progression:
If you’re keen to take your studies further, you could continue into a Master’s in Nutrition, Public Health, Food Science or Food Policy. For those drawn to research, Reading also offers pathways into an MSc, MRes or PhD, giving you the chance to shape the future of nutrition and health through advanced study.