MSc top-up - Institute of Performance Nutrition MSc top-up - Institute of Performance Nutrition

NEW! MSc in Sports Nutrition — now available as a top-up or full MSc

NEW!
100% online
Part time

MSc Sports Nutrition (Top-Up)

Advance your career with the IOPN’s MSc (top-up) degree that builds on prior postgraduate study in sport and exercise nutrition.

 

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Accelerate your career

From expert guest lecturers to fellow students and alumni, you’ll be part of a high-impact community that get results.

About this course

Designed with flexibility and applied practice at its core, the part-time IOPN MSc top-up degree is the new gold standard for the next generation of sport and exercise nutritionists.

Validated by the University of Portsmouth, you will earn a globally respected MSc from the industry leading Institute of Performance Nutrition.

You’ll have the flexibility to study part-time, enabling you to balance personal and professional commitments.

You’ll immerse yourself in a rich, applied learning environment, supported by a team of PhD-level practitioners and researchers and guided by the IOPN’s Founder Dr Laurent Bannock. Plus, you’ll be part of an impressive network, drawing on the expertise of over 40 guest experts, more than any undergraduate and postgraduate programme globally, to ensure your success during and after the programme.

 

Why choose the IOPN MSc (top-up)?

  • Achieve a globally recognised Master’s degree from the IOPN, a global leader in applied sport and exercise nutrition.
  • Study 100% online with the flexibility to fit your learning around work, life, and other commitments.
  • Experience over 45 case-based scenarios to develop transferrable skills that you can apply in practice.
  • Access to academic support and research supervision throughout your journey.
  • Join a global network of evidence-based practitioners and thought leaders in sport and exercise nutrition.
  • Undertake an independent research project to deepen your specialism and enhance your career impact.

 

Key points

Modules you'll cover

  • Module 5: Research methods for evidence-based practitioners
  • Module 6: Case study final project

Entry requirements

  • Direct entry: Subject to a successful CV and cover letter, graduates of the the following IOPN programmes will be eligible to enrol:
    • IOPN PGDip in Sports Nutrition (University of Portsmouth)
    • IOPN Diploma in Sports Nutrition (CFI, Ofqual)
    • IOPN Diploma in Sports Nutrition
  • Other entry pathways:
    • Graduates of the IOPN Diploma in Performance Nutrition who can demonstrate having obtained at least 120 academic credits at EQF Level 7 (or international equivalent) will be required to complete one IOPN 30-credit short course to be eligible for progression to the MSc in Sports Nutrition (top-up). Please contact enrol@theiopn.com for more information.
    • Graduates of the IOPN Diploma in Performance Nutrition who do not hold additional qualifications at EQF Level 7 (or international equivalent) will be required to complete two IOPN 30-credit short courses prior to commencing the MSc in Sports Nutrition (top-up). Please contact enrol@theiopn.com for more information.
  • English language: All applicants must satisfy an IELTS 6.5 level (CEFR: C1) of English comprehension. Alternatively, if applicants can demonstrate that they have completed an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in English in the last five years, then this will also be accepted as having met the standard without demonstrating IELTS certification.

 

Modules explained

This 60-credit “top-up” empowers students to become autonomous, evidence-based practitioners equipped with the skills to continually develop and evolve their practice throughout their sports nutrition careers.

Module 5: Research methods for evidence-based practitioners
30 credits
This module allows students to formulate critical and focused research questions, conduct systematic searches of scientific literature, and critically appraise evidence for its methodological quality, statistical reliability and validity, and practical relevance. Students will gain hands-on experience in data interpretation, statistical analysis, and evidence synthesis, with a focus on applying these skills to inform their nutrition strategies and monitor the outcomes of their interventions. By the end of the module, students will have produced a short-form research review using critical appraisal frameworks, a long-form literature review, and a research proposal that will underpin their applied case study project in Module 6.
Module 6: Case study final project
30 credits
This module provides students with the opportunity to design, implement, and perform a longitudinal analysis of a real-world case subject. Drawing on critical theoretical knowledge and professionally orientated practical skills developed across the previous modules, students will apply evidence-based strategies to support the performance of an athlete. The project requires students to justify their case study plan using current research, interpret outcome data, and reflect on their decision-making process, challenges encountered, and areas for professional development. This module emphasises the integration of research, applied practice, and reflective learning to provide students with the competence and confidence to work critically as an evidence-based practitioner in the field of sport and exercise.

MSc in Sports Nutrition (top-up)

Delivered by the IOPN, validated by the University of Portsmouth

DurationPart time
(10 – 12 months)
StartSeptember 2025
AwardMSc in Sports Nutrition
EQFLevel 7
Credits60 (180 total)
Format100% Online Distance Learning
LanguageEnglish
Tuition Fee£3,100 + VAT**
Registration Fee£500
FinancingFlexible plans available

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** VAT calculated based on the country you reside in.

Fees

Fair, transparent pricing for all, whether you're in the UK or overseas.
We're proud to lead the way in delivering world leading world leading training and education in sports nutrition globally.

United KingdomInternational

Registration Fee

£500

Tuition Fee

£3,100 + applicable VAT

Financing

Tuition Fee can be paid in full or through a bespoke repayment plan

Advance your career

Apply to join our August 2025 intake

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The MSc that prepares you for professional practice

From private practice to professional sport, IOPN graduates are shaping the future of applied nutrition and raising standards worldwide.

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Career paths explained

Graduate as a confident and competent practitioner
The IOPN MSc in Sports Nutrition (top-up) delivers advanced, industry-leading education that prepares you to work effectively with clients and athletes from a wide range of backgrounds. While the IOPN PGDip equips you with essential applied knowledge and skills for practice, the MSc (top-up) takes your development further, enhancing your ability to become a research-literate, reflective, and self-directed practitioner.
 
Further academia
Graduating with the MSc (top-up) also positions you for continued academic progression, providing a solid foundation for further postgraduate research, including doctoral-level study such as a PhD.

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Programme validation

As industry leaders in the field of sports nutrition, we’re proud of the accreditation and global recognition our programmes have achieved — a reflection of our ongoing commitment to achieving excellence in academia, research and applied practice. The University of Portsmouth is our new validating partner for the IOPN PGDip in Sports Nutrition.

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