Sports Nutrition

This postgraduate programme deepens your understanding of how nutrition science underpins athletic performance, recovery, and body composition. You will study advanced sports physiology, dietary assessment, and the evidence base for ergogenic aids, developing skills to translate research into practical nutritional strategies for athletes at all levels. Specialist modules may cover clinical nutrition for injury, weight-making sports, and para-athlete considerations. A typical week combines lectures, laboratory practicals measuring body composition or metabolic function, journal clubs, and independent research. Most programmes include a substantial research dissertation and, in some cases, supervised professional placement with sports organisations, academies, or national governing bodies. Erasmus partnerships and links to Sport Ireland and the Sport Ireland Institute enrich the learning environment.

Entry to an MSc in Sports Nutrition typically requires a 2.2 Honours Bachelor degree (NFQ Level 8) in a relevant discipline such as Human Nutrition, Sport Science, Dietetics, Biochemistry, or a related health science. Applicants with a Level 8 in Exercise Science or Physiology may be considered where strong nutrition modules are demonstrated on the transcript. Mature applicants with substantial professional experience in a sports or clinical nutrition setting may be considered on a case-by-case basis under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). HEAR and DARE access schemes are available at participating institutions for eligible applicants. Some programmes may require applicants to sit an online aptitude assessment or attend an interview. Prior completion of a PLC or Level 7 qualification alone would not normally meet entry requirements without bridging study to Honours degree level first.

Demand for qualified sports nutrition practitioners in Ireland has grown steadily with increased investment in high-performance sport through Sport Ireland and expanding professional leagues in rugby, GAA, soccer, and athletics. Graduates with SENr registration are well positioned for roles in elite academies, sports science support teams, and private performance clinics. Salaries for performance nutritionists in Ireland typically range from approximately €32,000 at entry level to €55,000 or more in senior roles with national programmes or established private practice. The field remains competitive, and building placement experience and applied research credentials during study significantly improves graduate outcomes.