Key facts of
ION courses
Nutrition courses for you, your life and your career
Explore our complete range of science-backed, online nutrition courses designed to fit seamlessly around your lifestyle and career goals. As the UK’s leading provider of nutritional therapy training since 1984, the Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION) delivers flexible distance-learning programmes validated by the University of Portsmouth. Whether you are stepping into health science for the first time or advancing your existing clinical practice, our quick-glance overview helps you compare key facts—including course duration, entry requirements, validating bodies, and upcoming start dates—so you can choose the right pathway with confidence.
From our foundational Science Access module and Cert HE in Personalised Diet and Health to our flagship BSc (Hons) Nutritional Therapy degree, Level 7 Postgraduate Diploma, and specialist top-up tracks, ION provides accredited education for every stage of your journey. Browse our courses below to compare study modes, review application deadlines, and take the next step toward qualifying as a registered nutritional therapist or expanding your expertise in personalised nutrition and lifestyle medicine.
Information
Why choose ION?
ION has delivered science-informed courses in personalised nutrition since 1984, becoming the UK’s largest training provider in nutritional therapy.
Courses by The Institute for Optimum Nutrition aren’t like other nutrition courses though. Our online courses are validated by the University of Portsmouth, enabling our students to train to the level of expertise that is right for them and their career, with flexible study options.
How are ION’s courses delivered?
We offer all our nutrition courses online, for flexible distance learning. Our courses are offered both full time and part time and are designed to fit around your other commitments. We also offer optional in-person enhancement days.
Our Courses
BSc (Hons) Nutritional Therapy
Our undergraduate degree course, the BSc (Hons) Nutritional Therapy, is developed from our long-standing and well-respected diploma course.
Portsmouth
Postgraduate Diploma Personalised Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine
Our Postgraduate Diploma Personalised Nutrition & Lifestyle Medicine offers a qualification in integrative functional nutrition to qualified medical and healthcare professionals.
Portsmouth (TBC)
Cert HE Personalised Diet and Health
ION’s Cert HE Personalised Diet and Health, validated by the University of Portsmouth, will take you through the principles of personalised, functional nutrition and how they can be used in your professional or personal life.
Portsmouth
Science Access
The Science Access course is designed to give students a solid grounding in the core science subjects that relate to nutrition, and is the first step towards becoming a fully registered nutritional therapy practitioner.
Optimum Nutrition
BSc (Hons) Nutritional Therapy top-up
The top-up is a fast-track pathway to a degree in nutritional therapy using recognised prior learning. It is exclusive to nutritional therapy practitioners who have studied a functional or systems approach.
Portsmouth