Nutrition

The science of nutrition is vital to our individual and collective wellbeing. As consumers grow more aware of the importance of healthy eating, nutritionists become increasingly important to the food industry and society as a whole.

Explore the links between nutrition and health at the University of Reading.

A world-class institution

The University of Reading is a world authority on human nutrition, food chemistry, chemical engineering, and microbiology.

We are in the top 10 universities for food science in the UK (7th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide, 2025), and we are ranked 1st in the UK and 22nd in the world for Agriculture and Forestry (QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2024).

Our staff across departments are actively engaged in world-class research and will tailor their teaching to reflect changing trends and emerging technologies within the sector.

Facilities and expertise

In the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, you will have access to one of the largest ranges of dedicated food and nutritional sciences facilities in a UK university. These include:

• Laboratory space – including a chemical analysis facility with NMR spectrometers, mass spectroscopy and x-ray diffraction facilities
• The Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition – a leading facility for research into the effect of diet on vascular health and body composition
• Flow Cytometry Suite – a technological suite that enables us to assess the impact of pharmaceuticals and dietary supplements, such as antibiotics, probiotics and prebiotics.

Professional recognition

Overall, 98% of graduates from Food and Nutritional Sciences are in work or further study within 15 months of graduation; of those in full-time employment, 88% are in graduate-level roles. (Based on our analysis of HESA data © HESA 2022, Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019/20; includes first degree Food and Nutritional Sciences responders.)