Bioscience Entry Courses for Postgraduates

Course Overview

The Bioscience Entry course for postgraduates is designed to provide a strong underpinning for joining the MSc/PG Dip in Personalised Nutrition for applicants without a foundation in Human Biology, Chemistry, Physiology and Biochemistry

Part, or all of the Bioscience Entry course for postgraduates may be recommended to applicants who hold:

  1. a first science degree that did not cover any, or a some of the four components of this course
  2. a first science degree in one or more of the four components but might require a refresher
  3. a first science degree that covered only a part of the content and might need a refresher, and/or take the subjects that were not covered by their prior degree studies as complete units.
  4. a first degree but not classified in the sciences
  5. who are nutritional therapy diploma graduates that might require a refresher in one or more of these subjects

Depending on your unique education background each applicant will be advised on the most appropriate way forward during interview.

Please Note: the default route for an applicant who holds a non-science degree is to join the BSc (Hons) Nutritional Science. Each applicant applying for the MSc/Dip Personalised Nutrition course without a first science degree will be considered on an individual application basis. Some graduates of nutritional therapy diploma courses may meet direct entry requirements or offered a bridging route to join the MSc or PGDip programmes.

The four key bioscience modules and their respective levels are:

Applicants may also apply to take our entry modules for other purposes including meeting entry requirements for other health science courses. It is the responsibility of the applicant to confirm with another training provider whether they will accept the modules as entry to their programme. CNELM would provide the applicant with further information to share with another provider.

Bioscience Entry course start dates are:  Following course interview, course offer, acceptance and payment applicants can usually commence bioscience modules within a week.
MSc start dates: January, April and September

Entry modules requires self-directed online learning with tutor support. This enables students to study the entry content at their own pace in time for an entry point to the MSc or PGDip programme in Personalised Nutrition. Students have up to 12 months to complete the modules. Depending on progress and any extenuating circumstance students can apply to join a second year of study to complete the modules at an additional cost to retain student status and continued access to resources.

Allow approximately 120 hours of study time for each of the 4 modules and regularly submit coursework for assessment.

Depending on your background a few applicants may also be required to complete Level 5 (undergraduate) modules Research Methods and/or Applied Pathophysiological Reasoning, either independently or in combination with one or more of the above modules.

Each component of the postgraduate Bioscience Entry course is based on approximately 120 hours of coursework.

To maximise your time it may be possible to start the MSc programme and elements of the Personalised Nutrition Practice Diploma (PNPD) whilst completing Bioscience modules. Students must have submitted at least 50% of the bioscience coursework and achieved grades 65% and over in order for combining completion with starting Personalised Healthcare & Research Paradigms module.

Evidence Based Personalised Healthcare from the MSc programme does not require Biosciences but would require prior undergraduate level Research Methods.

Please Note: Entry courses must be passed in order to continue to progress with the degree programme. Fees paid towards the MSc or PGDip and/or PNPD  in this instance are non refundable if the student does not meet the requirements of the entry modules. We recommend that students complete entry modules first.

A few applicants eligible for the MSc + PNPD wish to start with the BSc Hons Nutritional Science or are recommended to do so, and then switch to the MSc at the end of the first year of the BSc. This is possible and in this instance students would take the Undergraduate Bioscience Entry Course and complete all first year modules of the degree. Biochemistry and Physiology are taught as part of the first year BSc modules. In addition, some elements of the PNPD are covered in the first year undergraduate modules that would then not need to be taken on the PNPD after transferring to the MSc or Dip Personalised Nutrition + PNPD. Fees for this option is based on the Undergraduate Bioscience Entry Course and one third of the price of the BSc Hons Nutritional Science. This option is discussed at interview if requested.

For further information including module content and fees, please review our Prospectus.

You may also contact us via info@cnelm.co.uk to request more detailed course descriptors.


t: 0118 979 8686
f: 0118 979 8786
e: info@cnelm.ac.uk
a: Centre for Nutrition Education & Lifestyle Management (CNELM) | PO Box 3739 | Wokingham | Berkshire | RG40 9UA

CNELM is a collaborative partner of Middlesex University (MDX). The undergraduate and postgraduate courses we teach are validated and  quality  assured by MDX. You will receive an MDX award on successful completion and be invited to attend a graduation ceremony at their campus.

The NTEC accredits courses for nutritional therapy. The BSc (Hons) Nutritional Science and the MSc/PG Dip in Personalised Nutrition combined with CNELM’s Personalised Nutrition Practice Diploma (PNPD) are accredited by NTEC.

The CNHC is the voluntary regulator for complementary therapists including Nutritional Therapists. Following successful completion of one of our accredited routes to nutritional therapy practice you will be eligible to apply to register with CNHC as a Nutritional Therapist.

BANT is a professional body for Nutritional Therapists that have completed NTEC accredited courses, or have demonstrated having met the NTEC Core Curriculum and National Occupational Standards set by Skills for Health for nutritional therapy. Practitioner members of BANT are required to register with the CNHC.


The Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT) has accredited CNELM’s Dietary Educator Certificate. On successful completion of this course you will be eligible to apply to register as a Dietary Educator with the FHT.

Students that meet verification standards for the ‘NLP Practitioner Certificate’ can apply to register with the Association for Neurolinguistic Programming ANLP.

Students registered with Qualifi that meet the outcomes of the Personalised Nutrition Practice Diploma (PNPD) Course assessed up to Level 6 will receive a Qualifi Endorsed Certificate. Qualifi is a recognised UK awarding organisation regulated in England by the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual).