Best Universities for Nutrition in the UK 2027
University of Worcester ranks first for nutrition in 2027 with a score of 138, four points ahead of Edge Hill University on 134. Wrexham University is third with 132, one point ahead of the University of Reading on 131. The Unifresher ranking compares 42 universities with complete subject-level results across eight measures.
Nutrition degrees study how food and nutrients affect health, from biochemistry and physiology to public health, behaviour change and food science. Some courses train nutritionists, while dietetics degrees lead to registration as a dietitian, so it pays to know which route you want before you compare. Because most courses mix lab work, practical food skills and placements, the city you live in and what it costs shape your experience as much as the timetable.
Why this ranking is student-first: nutrition students spend three or four years in one place, often with lab sessions, placements and part-time work to fit around lectures. A course is only as good as your ability to afford the city, feel safe there and get support when you need it. Unifresher combines those factors with teaching and graduate results in one score.
Top universities for nutrition in 2027
Worcester leads with 138 points, built on 95% academic support and a cost index of 65. Edge Hill is second on 134 with the highest satisfaction in the table at 83%. Wrexham has the lowest cost index of any ranked university at 60, while Reading completes the top four with 97% academic support.
University of Worcester
Worcester
First overall with no weak measure: 92% teaching quality, 79% satisfaction and a cost index of 65.
Edge Hill University
Ormskirk
The highest satisfaction and the top safety index in the table, plus 96% teaching quality.
Wrexham University
Wrexham
The lowest cost index in the ranking and joint-highest graduate earnings at £35,000.
University of Reading
Reading
Fourth, with 96% teaching quality and a sustainability score of 77.1, the highest in the top four.
How the nutrition ranking works
Eight measures make up the final score
Each university is ranked on eight measures, and those ranks are added together to give the overall score. Higher totals rank more strongly. Cost of living is treated as an affordability measure, so a lower cost index earns the stronger position.
Nutrition University Rankings 2027
Search or sort all 42 ranked universities. The wider table also shows the safety, cost, social-life and sustainability measures that feed into the score.
| Rank | University | Graduate earnings | Satisfaction | Teaching | Academic support | Safety index | Cost index | Social life | Sustainability | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Worcester Worcester | £30,000 | 79% | 92% | 95% | 61.79 | 65 | 73 | 72.2 | 138 |
| 2 | Edge Hill University Ormskirk | £30,000 | 83% | 96% | 89% | 100.00 | 62 | 71 | 53.8 | 134 |
| 3 | Wrexham University Wrexham | £35,000 | 74% | 93% | 92% | 67.65 | 60 | 67 | 63.2 | 132 |
| 4 | University of Reading Reading | £31,000 | 74% | 96% | 97% | 55.66 | 72 | 74 | 77.1 | 131 |
| 5 | Northumbria University Newcastle upon Tyne | £22,500 | 74% | 91% | 100% | 60.61 | 69 | 84 | 67.8 | 127 |
| 6 | University of Winchester Winchester | £31,000 | 82% | 96% | 100% | 77.50 | 78 | 72 | 46.4 | 123 |
| 7 | Bath Spa University Bath | £26,500 | 79% | 88% | 93% | 73.47 | 82 | 72 | 80.2 | 122 |
| 8 | Leeds Beckett University Leeds | £28,500 | 70% | 97% | 100% | 54.87 | 68 | 80 | 57.1 | 120 |
| 8 | Newcastle University Newcastle upon Tyne | £30,000 | 75% | 95% | 91% | 60.61 | 69 | 83 | 53.6 | 120 |
| 9 | Nottingham Trent University Nottingham | £29,000 | 76% | 88% | 97% | 47.33 | 69 | 81 | 64.6 | 118 |
| 10 | Cardiff Metropolitan University Cardiff | £24,000 | 75% | 83% | 94% | 60.30 | 66 | 79 | 71.9 | 117 |
| 11 | Oxford Brookes University Oxford | £30,000 | 74% | 90% | 100% | 63.00 | 80 | 75 | 56.8 | 114 |
| 11 | University of Plymouth Plymouth | £30,000 | 75% | 84% | 89% | 59.14 | 67 | 77 | 63.3 | 114 |
| 12 | University of Derby Derby | £30,000 | 74% | 93% | 94% | 56.57 | 66 | 74 | 52.7 | 109 |
| 13 | University of West London London | £31,000 | 72% | 94% | 92% | 44.41 | 91 | 74 | 78.1 | 108 |
| 14 | Sheffield Hallam University Sheffield | £29,000 | 73% | 88% | 92% | 57.09 | 68 | 79 | 55.1 | 107 |
| 15 | University of Surrey Guildford | £31,000 | 78% | 95% | 90% | 74.79 | 78 | 74 | 39.5 | 106 |
| 16 | Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester | £26,500 | 73% | 82% | 89% | 44.11 | 69 | 82 | 82.6 | 105 |
| 17 | Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool | £22,500 | 72% | 87% | 88% | 51.45 | 68 | 83 | 68.6 | 103 |
| 18 | University of Leeds Leeds | £30,000 | 74% | 87% | 81% | 54.87 | 68 | 84 | 55.4 | 102 |
| 19 | University of Wales Trinity Saint David Carmarthen, Lampeter and Swansea | £25,000 | 79% | 89% | 89% | 65.67 | 64 | 71 | 47.4 | 100 |
| 20 | Kingston University Kingston upon Thames | £32,000 | 71% | 89% | 81% | 74.81 | 74 | 75 | 45.1 | 94 |
| 20 | Queen Margaret University Edinburgh | £32,500 | 78% | 91% | 86% | 69.54 | 75 | 73 | 25.7 | 94 |
| 21 | University of Glasgow Glasgow | £30,500 | 75% | 88% | 83% | 54.76 | 69 | 82 | 45.7 | 92 |
| 22 | Teesside University Middlesbrough | £28,500 | 78% | 96% | 96% | 49.78 | 73 | 75 | 33.0 | 90 |
| 23 | University of Hull Hull | £29,000 | 76% | 95% | 93% | 43.77 | 63 | 74 | 25.9 | 88 |
| 24 | University College Birmingham Birmingham | £26,000 | 79% | 99% | 100% | 36.06 | 70 | 79 | 25.3 | 87 |
| 24 | University of Chester Chester | £30,000 | 78% | 84% | 79% | 78.44 | 67 | 73 | 24.0 | 87 |
| 25 | Glasgow Caledonian University Glasgow | £27,500 | 71% | 84% | 70% | 54.76 | 69 | 79 | 60.2 | 85 |
| 25 | St Mary's University, Twickenham Twickenham | £30,000 | 80% | 84% | 82% | 69.08 | 74 | 69 | 43.4 | 85 |
| 25 | University of Nottingham Nottingham | £30,000 | 74% | 80% | 85% | 47.33 | 69 | 82 | 48.3 | 85 |
| 26 | University of Huddersfield Huddersfield | £30,000 | 74% | 53% | 85% | 35.54 | 63 | 75 | 57.0 | 84 |
| 26 | University of Suffolk Ipswich | £28,000 | 76% | 94% | 82% | 60.89 | 63 | 70 | 24.9 | 84 |
| 27 | Abertay University Dundee | £28,000 | 72% | 88% | 95% | 52.13 | 65 | 72 | 33.9 | 82 |
| 27 | University of Lancashire Preston | £20,000 | 71% | 90% | 100% | 30.72 | 64 | 72 | 54.3 | 82 |
| 28 | King's College London London | £35,000 | 67% | 75% | 77% | 44.41 | 91 | 78 | 65.2 | 79 |
| 29 | Coventry University Coventry | £29,500 | 72% | 75% | 72% | 38.29 | 67 | 76 | 62.8 | 78 |
| 30 | University of Roehampton London | £32,000 | 72% | 86% | 97% | 44.41 | 91 | 73 | 37.5 | 73 |
| 31 | University of Westminster London | £24,000 | 68% | 90% | 85% | 44.41 | 91 | 78 | 51.0 | 65 |
| 32 | UCL (University College London) London | £24,500 | 68% | 81% | 72% | 44.41 | 91 | 78 | 61.6 | 62 |
| 33 | Solent University Southampton | £22,000 | 71% | 80% | 86% | 46.71 | 69 | 75 | 47.3 | 61 |
| 34 | London Metropolitan University London | £31,000 | 66% | 87% | 84% | 44.41 | 91 | 75 | 40.5 | 60 |
What the nutrition ranking shows
University of Worcester ranks first
University of Worcester leads with a score of 138, 4 points clear of second place.
Wrexham University and King's College London
Wrexham University and King's College London share the highest graduate-earnings figure at £35,000.
Edge Hill University
Edge Hill University records the strongest student-satisfaction result at 83%.
University College Birmingham
University College Birmingham is the only ranked university with 99% teaching quality.
Six universities score 100%
Northumbria University, University of Winchester, Leeds Beckett University, Oxford Brookes University, University College Birmingham and University of Lancashire all reach 100% for academic support.
Wrexham University
Wrexham University has the lowest cost-of-living index in the table at 60.
What this ranking tells you about studying nutrition
This ranking covers the nutrition subject area, which includes general nutrition degrees and dietetics degrees that lead to a regulated profession. That matters when you read the top four. Two of the leaders show nutrition and dietetics degrees on their course pages, while the other two offer nutrition science degrees accredited by the Association for Nutrition. The ranking rewards universities that combine good teaching and support with a city students can afford and enjoy, so check which type of course each university offers before you shortlist it.
Worcester leads on balance
Worcester's Nutrition and Dietetics BSc is a three-year course with a September 2027 start. It is accredited by the British Dietetic Association and approved by the Health and Care Professions Council, so graduates can apply to register as dietitians. Students complete at least 1,000 hours of practical work in settings that can include hospitals, community health, public health campaigns and sports clubs. Facilities include Ability House, a simulated home, a large teaching kitchen and clinical skills labs with mock wards.
In the data, Worcester does not top any single measure, but it has no weak one either. It records 95% academic support, 92% teaching quality and 79% satisfaction, with a cost index of 65 and a sustainability score of 72.2. Graduate earnings of £30,000 match the median. That consistency gives it a four-point lead.
Why Unifresher looks beyond graduate earnings: King's College London shares the highest earnings figure at £35,000 but finishes 28th. Wrexham matches it and ranks third because it also has the lowest cost index in the table.
Edge Hill has the happiest students and the safest setting
Edge Hill's Nutrition and Health BSc runs for three years full time or five part time, with a September 2027 start. It is accredited by the Association for Nutrition, subject to reapproval, so graduates can apply for direct entry as a Registered Associate Nutritionist. Modules range from practical food skills in the first year to obesity and public health in the third, and a final-year career module includes a placement in an area of your choice. A sandwich year is also available.
Edge Hill records the highest satisfaction in the table at 83% and the top safety index of 100. Its teaching score of 96% is also strong. A cost index of 62 helps too. Graduate earnings of £30,000 sit at the median, and an 89% support score is lower than the other three leaders, which keeps it four points behind Worcester.
Wrexham pairs the lowest costs with top earnings
Wrexham's Nutrition and Dietetics BSc is a three-year course listed for September 2027 entry. It is accredited by the British Dietetic Association and approved by the HCPC, and includes at least 1,000 hours of practice placement across clinical, industrial and commercial settings in North Wales, Powys and Carmarthenshire. Eligible students can receive an NHS Wales bursary but must agree to work in Wales for two years after qualifying.
Wrexham has the lowest cost index in the ranking at 60 and shares the highest graduate earnings with King's College London at £35,000. Teaching quality of 93% and support of 92% are strong. Satisfaction of 74%, shared with Reading, and a social-life score of 67, the lowest in the top four, hold it back.
Reading completes the top four
Reading's BSc Nutrition is a three-year course for 2027 entry, accredited by the Association for Nutrition and the Institute of Food Science and Technology. Modules include nutritional biochemistry, food microbiology, personalised nutrition and gut microbiota, and the university's Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition carries out research on diet and health. Students who want a placement year can apply for the version with professional training instead.
Reading records 97% academic support, the best in the top four, and 96% teaching quality. Its sustainability score of 77.1 is also the highest of the leading group, and £31,000 graduate earnings sit above the median. A cost index of 72 and a safety index of 55.66 are the main reasons it finishes fourth.
High earnings and perfect scores do not guarantee a high place
King's College London shares the highest graduate earnings with Wrexham at £35,000, but it finishes 28th. London's cost index of 91 is the highest in the table, and King's records 67% satisfaction, 75% teaching quality and 77% academic support.
University College Birmingham shows a different gap. It has the highest teaching score in the ranking at 99% and 100% academic support, yet finishes joint 24th. A safety index of 36.06, a sustainability score of 25.3 and graduate earnings of £26,000 pull it down. Northumbria, which also scores 100% for support and shares the best social-life score at 84, finishes fifth despite £22,500 earnings.
Strong cities, smaller margins
Winchester shows how close the middle of the table is. It records 82% satisfaction, the second highest in the ranking, along with 100% academic support, 96% teaching quality and a safety index of 77.5. A cost index of 78 and a sustainability score of 46.4 leave it sixth, eight points behind Reading.
Manchester Metropolitan has the highest sustainability score in the table at 82.6 and a social-life score of 82, but £26,500 graduate earnings and 82% teaching quality hold it to 16th. Bath Spa, seventh, has a sustainability score of 80.2 but a cost index of 82. These results show why it helps to sort the table by the measures you care about most.
Nutritionist or dietitian: choose your route first
Dietitian is a protected title. Only people registered with the HCPC can use it, and the usual route is an approved dietetics degree, often accredited by the British Dietetic Association.
Nutritionist is not protected in law. The Association for Nutrition runs the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists, which lists Registered Associate Nutritionists and Registered Nutritionists. Nutritionists work in settings from hospitals and GP practices to laboratories, and can specialise in areas such as public health or sports nutrition. If you want to work clinically with patients, check that the course is HCPC-approved. If you want a broader science degree, look for Association for Nutrition accreditation.
Why Association for Nutrition accreditation matters
Graduates of currently accredited degrees can apply for direct entry as a Registered Associate Nutritionist within three years of graduating, without a portfolio. The Association for Nutrition has closed its portfolio route for graduates of non-accredited UK degrees, so accreditation now makes a real difference if you want to join the register.
Accreditation applies to a specific course title and graduation year. Edge Hill and Reading both state accreditation on their current pages, but dietetics degrees are not accredited by the Association for Nutrition because they lead to HCPC registration instead. Check the Association for Nutrition's accredited programme list for the exact course.
Entry requirements and science subjects
Offers vary widely. Reading asks for ABB including B grades in two sciences, at least one from Chemistry, Biology, Physics, Maths or Food Science and Nutrition. Wrexham's dietetics course asks for 120 UCAS points with A-levels in Biological Science and Chemistry, or one of those plus Psychology, at grade C or above. Worcester's dietetics course asks for 120 points, typically BBB.
Edge Hill's Nutrition and Health course asks for 104 to 112 points, typically BCC to BBC, with no specific subjects required, but it does ask for GCSE English, Maths and two sciences. Dietetics courses usually also expect you to understand the dietitian's role, and Wrexham asks applicants to show insight into the job.
Placements and practical experience
Dietetics degrees include long compulsory placements, because they lead to a regulated profession. Worcester and Wrexham both require at least 1,000 hours. Expect hospital and community settings, plus DBS and occupational health checks before you start, as Wrexham sets out on its page.
Placements usually build up over the course. At Wrexham, the first placement is 100 hours and the second is 400 hours, and students also work with both children and adults. Wrexham's food science teaching includes a Level 2 award in food safety in catering. Ask each university where its placements are, how far you may need to travel and whether you have to arrange your own accommodation for them.
Nutrition science degrees are more flexible. Edge Hill includes a placement in its final-year career module and offers a sandwich year, while Reading offers a separate route with professional training. A placement year adds time and cost, but it can help you decide between public health, industry and research.
Careers and graduate earnings
The National Careers Service gives the same typical range for dietitians and nutritionists: about £32,000 for a starter, rising to £48,000 with experience. Nutritionists work in hospitals, the community, GP practices, health centres and laboratories, and can move into public health, sports nutrition or freelance consultancy. Dietitians can specialise in areas such as diabetes, cancer care or eating disorders.
The earnings in this ranking come from the Graduate Outcomes survey, taken about 15 months after graduating. They run from £20,000 to £35,000, with a £30,000 median. Some nutrition graduates are still in postgraduate study or early roles at that point, so treat the figures as a snapshot. If public health is your goal, the public health ranking uses the same measures.
Funding and living costs
Dietetics students at universities in England can apply to the NHS Learning Support Fund for a £5,000 training grant each academic year, which Worcester highlights on its course page. In Wales, Wrexham's eligible dietetics students can receive an NHS Wales bursary in return for working in Wales after qualifying. General nutrition degrees are funded through the usual student finance route.
The cost-of-living index runs from 60 in Wrexham to 91 in London, where six ranked universities sit. Three of the top four score 65 or lower. Compare student accommodation costs alongside fees, especially if you plan a placement year.
How to use the ranking when choosing a nutrition degree
Decide between nutrition and dietetics
Choose an HCPC-approved dietetics degree to become a dietitian, or an accredited nutrition degree for public health, industry and research.
Check the exact course title
Confirm Association for Nutrition accreditation or HCPC approval for the course and year you will graduate.
Match your science subjects
Some courses ask for two sciences, including Chemistry or Biology, while others accept any A-level subjects.
Budget for placements
Compare rent, placement travel and funding such as the NHS Learning Support Fund or NHS Wales bursary.
Related Unifresher rankings and student guides
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best university for nutrition in the UK in 2027?
University of Worcester ranks first in the 2027 Unifresher nutrition ranking with an overall score of 138. Edge Hill University is second with 134. Wrexham University is third with 132.
How many universities are included in the nutrition ranking?
The published 2027 ranking compares 42 universities with complete subject-level results. Several universities share positions, so the ranking runs from first to 34th while containing 42 institutions.
What graduate earnings are shown for nutrition?
The graduate-earnings figures range from £20,000 to £35,000, with a median of £30,000 across the 42 ranked universities. Wrexham University and King's College London share the highest figure. These are comparative graduate outcomes, not guaranteed starting salaries.
When are graduate outcomes measured?
The Graduate Outcomes survey collects data about 15 months after students finish their course, so the earnings figures describe that point in a career rather than long-term pay.
What is the difference between a nutritionist and a dietitian?
Dietitian is a protected title, so only people registered with the Health and Care Professions Council can use it. Dietitians train on HCPC-approved dietetics degrees or apprenticeships. Nutritionist is not protected in law, but the Association for Nutrition runs a voluntary register for qualified nutritionists. Nutritionists can specialise in areas such as public health, sports nutrition or allergies.
What A-levels do you need for a nutrition degree?
It depends on the course. Reading's BSc Nutrition asks for ABB including two sciences. Wrexham's dietetics course asks for 120 UCAS points with Biological Science and Chemistry, or one of those plus Psychology. Edge Hill's Nutrition and Health asks for BCC to BBC with no specific subjects. Biology and Chemistry keep the most options open. Always check the current course page.
Is a nutrition degree accredited?
Many are, but not all. The Association for Nutrition accredits nutrition science degrees, and graduates of currently accredited courses can apply for direct entry as a Registered Associate Nutritionist within three years. Edge Hill and Reading show this accreditation on their course pages. Dietetics degrees are approved by the HCPC instead and often accredited by the British Dietetic Association.
Can I become a dietitian with a nutrition degree?
Not directly. To work as a dietitian you must be registered with the HCPC, which normally means completing an approved dietetics degree, postgraduate course or degree apprenticeship. If you take a nutrition degree first, a postgraduate dietetics qualification is one way to qualify later, so check entry rules for those courses early.
Do nutrition degrees include placements?
Dietetics degrees include compulsory placements: Worcester and Wrexham both require at least 1,000 hours. Nutrition science degrees vary. Edge Hill includes a placement in a final-year module and offers a sandwich year, while Reading runs a separate version of its BSc Nutrition with professional training for students who want a placement year.
What jobs can you get with a nutrition degree?
Edge Hill lists careers in the NHS, local authorities, charities, schools, the food industry and sports nutrition, and Reading adds government public health roles and teaching. Many graduates also take postgraduate courses. The National Careers Service gives a typical salary of about £32,000 for a starting nutritionist, rising to £48,000 with experience.
Nutrition course and careers information
- Unifresher university rankings methodology for wider ranking context.
- Graduate Outcomes survey (HESA) for the 15-month graduate survey point.
- HCPC: the professions we regulate for dietitian as a protected title.
- Association for Nutrition registration FAQs for the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists and how nutritionists differ from dietitians.
- Association for Nutrition: apply for ANutr for direct entry from accredited degrees and the closed portfolio route for UK graduates.
- National Careers Service nutritionist profile for routes in, salaries and where nutritionists work.
- University of Worcester Nutrition and Dietetics BSc for accreditation, placement hours, facilities and funding.
- Edge Hill University Nutrition and Health BSc for accreditation, modules, placements and entry requirements.
- University of Reading BSc Nutrition for 2027 entry, accreditation, modules and science requirements.
- Wrexham University Nutrition and Dietetics BSc for accreditation, placement hours, entry requirements and the NHS Wales bursary.
