The LICQual Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Nutrition (PgD Sports Nutrition) is a specialist, advanced qualification designed for healthcare, fitness, and nutrition professionals who wish to deepen their expertise in sports and performance nutrition. This postgraduate diploma provides learners with comprehensive knowledge of the science of exercise, metabolism, dietary strategies, and evidence-based nutritional interventions, enabling them to optimise athletic performance, recovery, and overall health.
This qualification is not intended for beginners. It is specifically tailored for learners with prior professional experience in nutrition, dietetics, healthcare, sports science, or related disciplines who are seeking to enhance their knowledge, improve professional practice, and advance their Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Learners will develop the skills to assess athletes’ nutritional needs, design personalised nutrition plans, and critically evaluate current research and performance guidelines to inform practical applications.
Centres delivering the LICQual Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Nutrition must maintain the highest standards of teaching and learning. This includes employing competent and qualified staff, providing access to comprehensive and up-to-date learning resources, and ensuring a structured and supportive learning environment. By meeting these standards, centres enable learners to achieve their professional goals and gain the advanced skills required to excel in sports nutrition and performance optimisation roles.
Ideal for experienced practitioners aiming to specialize or take on leadership positions, this diploma equips learners with the knowledge, analytical skills, and confidence to deliver evidence-based, high-quality nutritional support to athletes and active populations across a range of sporting and performance contexts.
Course Overview
Qualification Title
LICQual Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Nutrition (PgD Sports Nutrition)
Total Units
6
Total Credits
120
GLH
600
Qualification #
LICQ2201095
Qualification Specification
To enroll in the LICQual Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Nutrition (PgD Sports Nutrition), applicants must meet the following criteria:
|
Qualification# |
Unit Title |
Credits |
GLH |
|---|---|---|---|
|
LICQ2201095-1 |
Advanced Exercise Physiology and Metabolism |
20 |
100 |
|
LICQ2201095-2 |
Nutritional Assessment and Performance Diagnostics |
20 |
100 |
|
LICQ2201095-3 |
Sports Nutrition and Dietary Interventions |
20 |
100 |
|
LICQ2201095-4 |
Nutrition for Special Populations and Clinical Considerations |
20 |
100 |
|
LICQ2201095-5 |
Research, Evidence-Based Practice, and Policy in Sports Nutrition |
20 |
100 |
|
LICQ2201095-6 |
Leadership, Management, and Professional Development in Sports Nutrition |
20 |
100 |
By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
Unit 1: Advanced Exercise Physiology and Metabolism
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Critically evaluate physiological and metabolic responses to different types of exercise and training.
- Analyse energy systems and nutrient utilisation in relation to performance and recovery.
- Assess the impact of exercise intensity, duration, and frequency on physical performance.
- Apply advanced exercise physiology principles to inform evidence-based nutritional strategies.
Unit 2: Nutritional Assessment and Performance Diagnostics
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Conduct comprehensive nutritional assessments for athletes and active populations.
- Use anthropometric, biochemical, and clinical indicators to evaluate nutritional status.
- Identify risk factors affecting performance, recovery, and overall health.
- Develop personalised, evidence-based nutrition plans to optimise athletic outcomes.
Unit 3: Sports Nutrition and Dietary Interventions
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Design tailored dietary strategies to enhance performance, endurance, strength, and recovery.
- Apply evidence-based principles of nutrient timing, supplementation, and hydration.
- Manage nutrition for specific training phases, competition periods, and off-season cycles.
- Evaluate the effectiveness and safety of sports nutrition interventions.
Unit 4: Nutrition for Special Populations and Clinical Considerations
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Analyse the nutritional needs of different athlete populations, including youth, female, master, and para-athletes.
- Develop and implement nutrition plans for athletes with medical conditions, allergies, or metabolic disorders.
- Evaluate ethical and professional responsibilities in sports nutrition practice.
- Collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams to optimise health and performance outcomes.
Unit 5: Research, Evidence-Based Practice, and Policy in Sports Nutrition
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Critically appraise current research, guidelines, and best practices in sports nutrition.
- Apply evidence-based practice to improve athlete care and performance outcomes.
- Evaluate national and international nutrition policies and regulations relevant to sports performance.
- Conduct research to support innovation and continuous improvement in sports nutrition.
Unit 6: Leadership, Management, and Professional Development in Sports Nutrition
By the end of this unit, learners will be able to:
- Demonstrate leadership and management skills within sports nutrition services.
- Implement quality assurance, risk management, and service improvement strategies.
- Engage in reflective practice and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to enhance professional competence.
- Lead initiatives that ensure safe, effective, and high-quality nutritional support for athletes and active populations.
The LICQual Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Nutrition is designed for experienced professionals seeking advanced expertise in sports and performance nutrition. This course is ideal for:
- Healthcare and nutrition practitioners, including dietitians, nutritionists, and allied health professionals, aiming to specialise in sports nutrition.
- Fitness and exercise professionals responsible for designing, implementing, or managing nutrition plans for athletes and active populations.
- Practitioners seeking to enhance evidence-based practice and apply advanced nutrition strategies to optimise performance and recovery.
- Specialists looking to manage the nutritional needs of athletes with chronic conditions, allergies, or metabolic challenges.
- Individuals committed to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and lifelong learning in sports nutrition and healthcare.
- Professionals aspiring to take leadership, advisory, or consultancy roles within sports nutrition or performance services.
This course is not intended for beginners. It is tailored for learners who already have professional experience in nutrition, dietetics, healthcare, sports science, or related sectors and who wish to advance their knowledge, leadership skills, and ability to improve performance and wellbeing outcomes for athletes and active individuals.
Centres delivering the LICQual Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Nutrition must meet the following standards to ensure high-quality training and learner success:
- Qualified and Competent Staff: Trainers and assessors must hold advanced professional qualifications and have substantial experience in sports nutrition, dietetics, healthcare, or exercise science.
- Comprehensive Learning Resources: Centres should provide access to up-to-date textbooks, research articles, case studies, and digital learning materials relevant to sports nutrition and performance optimisation.
- Suitable Learning Environment: Classrooms, laboratories, or online platforms must be safe, accessible, and conducive to effective learning.
- Practical Facilities: Learners should have access to sports facilities, clinical settings, or simulated environments to apply practical skills in sports nutrition.
- Assessment and Monitoring: Centres must implement structured assessment procedures, regular progress monitoring, and timely feedback to support learner achievement.
- Compliance and Safeguarding: Centres must adhere to all relevant health, safety, and safeguarding regulations to ensure a secure learning environment.
- Support for CPD: Centres should facilitate Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities to enhance learners’ professional growth.
- Technology and IT Access: Reliable access to computers, internet, and relevant software is essential to support research, assignments, and digital learning activities.
By meeting these centre requirements, learners are guaranteed a high-quality, internationally standardized training experience, equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and confidence required to excel in sports nutrition and performance optimization roles.
Assessment and Verification
All units within this qualification are subject to internal assessment by the approved centre and external verification by LICQual. The qualification follows a criterion-referenced assessment approach, ensuring that learners meet all specified learning outcomes.
To achieve a ‘Pass’ in any unit, learners must provide valid, sufficient, and authentic evidence demonstrating their attainment of all learning outcomes and compliance with the prescribed assessment criteria. The Assessor is responsible for evaluating the evidence and determining whether the learner has successfully met the required standards.
Assessors must maintain a clear and comprehensive audit trail, documenting the basis for their assessment decisions to ensure transparency, consistency, and compliance with quality assurance requirements.
