Exploring the Basics of Human Nutrition

Programme details

This course begins on the 14 Jan 2026 which is when course materials are made available to students. Students should study these materials in advance of the first live meeting which will be held on 21 Jan 2026, 10:00-11:00am (UK time).

Week 1:  Nutrition: Overview

Week 2:  Exploring the Mechanism to Ingest Nutrients

Week 3:  Macro-nutrients: The Carbohydrates

Week 4:  The Lipids

Week 5:  Proteins: Complete and Incomplete Sources

Week 6:  Micro-Nutrients: Water-soluble Vitamins

Week 7:  Fat-Soluble Vitamins

Week 8:  Minerals 

Week 9:  Recommended Daily Energy Intake in Diet: Concepts of Energy Balance

Week 10: Planning a Healthy Meal and Hydration 

Level and demands

This course is open to all and no prior knowledge is required.

This course is offered at FHEQ Level 4 (i.e. first year undergraduate level), and you will be expected to engage in independent study in preparation for your assignments and for the weekly webinar. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class. Our 10-week Short Online Courses come with an expected total commitment of 100 study hours, including those spent in live webinars.

English Language Requirements

We do not insist that applicants hold an English language certification, but warn that they may be at a disadvantage if their language skills are not of a comparable level to those qualifications listed on our website. If you are confident in your proficiency, please feel free to enrol. For more information regarding English language requirements please follow this link: https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/about/english-language-requirements

Course aims

This course aims to explore the basics of human nutrition and healthy lifestyles. It considers the different nutrients and offers a broader understanding of both the essential and non-essential ones. It also provides a clear context and comprehension of a healthy diet and evaluates the necessary nutritional values.

Course objectives:

• To formulate a broad understanding of the key fundamental points of human nutrition to help sustain daily life activities and promote good health and lifestyle.
• To confidently assess nutritional reading material and read scientific literature with critical thinking focused on understanding and communication.
• To encourage to put into practice the knowledge acquired by making better food choices.

IT requirements

Any standard web browser can be used to access course materials on our virtual learning environment, but we recommend Google Chrome. We also recommend that students join the live webinars on Microsoft Teams using a laptop or desktop computer rather than a phone or tablet due to the limited functionality of the app on these devices.

Programme details

This course begins on the 14 Jan 2026 which is when course materials are made available to students. Students should study these materials in advance of the first live meeting which will be held on 21 Jan 2026, 10:00-11:00am (UK time).

Week 1:  Nutrition: Overview

Week 2:  Exploring the Mechanism to Ingest Nutrients

Week 3:  Macro-nutrients: The Carbohydrates

Week 4:  The Lipids

Week 5:  Proteins: Complete and Incomplete Sources

Week 6:  Micro-Nutrients: Water-soluble Vitamins

Week 7:  Fat-Soluble Vitamins

Week 8:  Minerals 

Week 9:  Recommended Daily Energy Intake in Diet: Concepts of Energy Balance

Week 10: Planning a Healthy Meal and Hydration 

Teaching methods

This course takes place over 10 weeks, with a weekly learning schedule and weekly live webinar held on Microsoft Teams. Shortly before a course commences, students are provided with access to an online virtual learning environment, which houses the course content, including video lectures, complemented by readings or other study materials. Working through these materials over the course of the week will prepare students for a weekly 1-hour live webinar you will share with your expert tutor and fellow students. All courses are structured to amount to 100 study hours, so that on average, you should set aside 10 hours a week for study. Although the course finishes after 10 weeks, all learning materials remain available to all students for 12 months after the course has finished.

All courses are led by an expert tutor. Tutors guide students through the course materials as part of the live interactions during the weekly webinars. Tutors will also provide individualised feedback on your assignments. All online courses are taught in small student cohorts so that you and your peers will form a mutually supportive and vibrant learning community for the duration of the course. You will learn from your fellow students as well as from your tutor, and they will learn from you.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, students will be expected to:

1. Acquire an understanding of the nutrients essential to the human body and their main role;

2. Understand how to analyse the composition and content of a healthy diet, and learn to utilise the components of proven nutrition best practices;

3. Understand relevant research articles and display critical thinking skills.

Assessment methods

You will be set independent formative and summative work for this course. Formative work will be submitted for informal assessment and feedback from your tutor, but has no impact on your final grade. The summative work will be formally assessed as pass or fail.

Mrs Iris Rodriguez

Iris is a registered Nutritionist (AfN), a scholar, and a lecturer in clinical nutrition, diet, and health. She read clinical nutrition among many other degrees in project management and engineering. She is currently working on her doctoral research.

Assessment methods

You will be set independent formative and summative work for this course. Formative work will be submitted for informal assessment and feedback from your tutor, but has no impact on your final grade. The summative work will be formally assessed as pass or fail.

Level and demands

This course is open to all and no prior knowledge is required.

This course is offered at FHEQ Level 4 (i.e. first year undergraduate level), and you will be expected to engage in independent study in preparation for your assignments and for the weekly webinar. This may take the form, for instance, of reading and analysing set texts, responding to questions or tasks, or preparing work to present in class. Our 10-week Short Online Courses come with an expected total commitment of 100 study hours, including those spent in live webinars.

English Language Requirements

We do not insist that applicants hold an English language certification, but warn that they may be at a disadvantage if their language skills are not of a comparable level to those qualifications listed on our website. If you are confident in your proficiency, please feel free to enrol. For more information regarding English language requirements please follow this link: https://www.conted.ox.ac.uk/about/english-language-requirements

Fees

Module code: O25P713BIZ

Please use the ‘Book now’ button on this page. Alternatively, please complete an enrolment form.

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