What can you do with a nutrition, exercise and health degree?

Things to consider when choosing a career or considering further study

Knowledge and skills

This programme will enable you to develop a range of skills valued by graduate employers:

problem-solving and critical thinking skills, through scientific investigation and the exploration of psychological and social aspects of health behaviour
data analysis, evaluation and interpretation through conducting and evaluating experiments
behaviour change and motivation, through the study of the psychology of health and wellbeing
practical laboratory skills, through the collection and interpretation of physiological data
oral and written communication through report writing and presenting
teamworking skills through group activities.

Career options

15 months after graduating*

100% of our nutrition, exercise and health graduates are in work or further study

86% of our nutrition, exercise and health graduates agreed that their current activity is meaningful

Nutrition, Exercise and Health is a versatile degree that will open a wide range of career choices within the nutrition, leisure, food and healthcare industries.

With a degree accredited by the Association of Nutritionist you could work in the private sector or freelance, helping clients to manage their health, weight or improve their sports performance. Some graduates enter the leisure and fitness industries as personal trainers, developing and advising on exercise and nutrition plans for clients. You could also work in the food industry in product development, quality control, advising on nutrition labelling, composition of food products and devising menus for schools, prisons, weight loss companies and hospitals.

In the public sector, there are a variety of graduate opportunities in public health. These include health and wellbeing practitioners delivering community-based health and weight management programmes,. Some graduates may enter public health research and policy development roles.

Further postgraduate study is possible for careers in dietetics, physiotherapy, cardiac rehabilitation, exercise physiology, physician associate studies and other health and sports related careers.

A number of graduates consider self-employment options. The University offers advice and support around self-employment and entrepreneurship through The Cube .

*Data is from the Graduate Outcomes Surveys covering the three years of 2019/20 – 2021/22. Graduates were surveyed 15 months after graduating. Data displayed is for UK-domiciled, first degree, full-time graduates who are working, studying or looking for work.

Researching your career options

Given the diversity of career options open to graduates of the course, it is important to research and explore these fully so that you can make informed decisions about your future.

Take a look at Prospects, TargetJobs and other useful websites for inspiration:

Employment opportunities

Below is a snapshot of what some of University of Plymouth Nutrition, Exercise and Health graduates told us they were doing 15 months after graduation. For some graduates, these jobs serve as ‘stepping stones’ to other roles by providing relevant workplace experience:

Business Owner of Food Business
Deputy Lab Supervisor
Environmental Officer
Fitness Instructor

Health and Wellbeing Coach
Health Coach
Nutrition Coach
Personal Trainer and Nutritionist

Sales Development Representative
Social Prescribing Link Worker
Sports and Exercise Nutritionist

Employers

Blend
Compass House Medical Centres
Environment Agency
Exeter Leisure

Herbal Life
JPPT
NHS – England
Trustmarque

Warman O'Brien
Xyla Health and Wellbeing
Zoe

Things to consider when choosing a career or considering further study after studying a nutrition, exercise and health degree

Discover employment and further study opportunities that you could consider once you graduate with a nutrition, exercise and health degree and learn how you can stand out to graduate employers.

Throughout their degrees, we encourage our graduates to:

undertake career planning and research
build your networks, meet employers and graduates
gain essential work experience during your course
attend career fairs and events
continually develop your skills and knowledge
get involved with relevant clubs and societies
visit the Careers Service for advice.

Further study

Some of the careers chosen by Nutrition, Exercise and Health graduates will require or benefit from further study, so this should be considered carefully. The University of Plymouth offers the following postgraduate study option related to graduates of this course:

MSc Physician Associate Studies

10 ring-fenced competitive places on the MSc Physician Associate programme are available for graduates from the School of Biomedical Sciences.

You should consider the financial implications of further study as well as selecting a programme that suits your interests, learning style and future career direction. The following websites are a good starting point for exploring postgraduate options, but you may also benefit from talking to a Careers Consultant about your particular situation.

Some useful websites to help you find a suitable post-graduate programme;

It is also worth investigating what further study options the University has to offer as you may find the perfect course for yourself in an institution you already know. There are also sometimes financial benefits of staying on such as a fee discount to Alumni – find out your funding options .

Careers Service support

Accessing support from the Careers Service couldn’t be easier, come along to the Careers Service Helpdesk in the Student Hub or access 24/7 online resources .

There is a wide range of support available from accelerate skills workshops to events, placements and internships advice, 1-2-1 appointments and help getting started with LinkedIn.

Our bite-sized Skills Workshops can give your career the boost it needs. Choose from a range of topics:

effective career planning
job hunting techniques
finding part-time work
CVs and interviews
mastering LinkedIn
and more.

Workshops are delivered by the Careers Service; however, they are also an opportunity to learn from your peers, share experiences and ask questions. Visit myCareer to see the full range of activities and to book your place.

Connect with graduates

Build your network and job sector knowledge using LinkedIn alumni’s tool. This will allow you to see the career journeys of graduates from your programme, the qualifications they completed, the skills they developed and employers they worked for. You can then ‘connect’ with people of interest.

search LinkedIn for ‘University of Plymouth’
select ‘Alumni’
filter the results by subject, sector, company or location.

For more information about the alumni tool select the LinkedIn alumni tool guide. If you are looking for help to set up or learn how to make the most of your LinkedIn profile, select the LinkedIn guide for students or come to one of our workshops .

Other advice and guidance

Undertaking work experience in your first and second years will help you stand out from the crowd when the time comes for you to complete applications for graduate employment and further study. Work experience develops valuable skills and qualities that employers are looking for and is essential for many roles. It can also help you to confirm or rule out particular career choices. Furthermore, experience in the workplace can bring you into contact with people who may be able to assist you at the beginning of your career.

You have plenty of options open to you. You could apply for a placement year, work part-time around your studies, undertake volunteering or approach organisations directly to negotiate short periods of work experience. Some organisations offer paid internships over the summer or of one year’s duration.

The University of Plymouth Students’ Union offers a wide range of volunteering opportunities.

Clubs and societies

Engaging in a sport or society shows employers you are engaged and seek out opportunities, it also helps you improve your teamwork, communication and negotiation skills. Committee members can develop leadership, diplomacy and organisational skills and will gain experience of meetings, handling funds, and society promotion.

You may choose to join a society that is specifically linked to your studies or take the opportunity to explore the huge range of clubs, societies and sports, all of which can help you to broaden your horizons and explore new interests.

Tutor and academic support

Your tutor and other academic staff are an excellent source of support for your career development. They will have experience and contacts across industry and academia, so do approach them for advice and insights into careers you are considering. Your tutor will ultimately be writing references for your employment or further study applications, therefore establishing a positive relationship with this person is invaluable.