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Welcome to our new website! To provide a stable and secure experience we are turning on services and departments gradually. Some pages will be unavailable or the content incorrect. This site is currently best viewed on desktop. Please bear with us and continue to check back regularly. If you require immediate assistance please call us on 020 8614 7800 or email info@ion.ac.uk.

Graduate Diploma
Integrative Functional Nutrition

EARLY BIRD ENDS:

11 November
2025

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

15 January
2026

START DATE:

2 February

2026

DURATION:

1 year full-time /
2 years part-time

VALIDATING INSTITUTION:

University of
Portsmouth

Integrate personalised nutrition into your current practice

This case-focused course is designed for medical professionals, allied healthcare practitioners and CAM practitioners who want to integrate personalised nutrition and lifestyle advice within their non-clinical work or clinical practice.

You’ll enhance your current practice by adding personalized nutrition and lifestyle advice, identifying root causes sooner with functional testing, and speeding client recovery with targeted supplementation. Broaden your practice reach and expand your patients’ options. Additionally, all modules can be taken as short, non-credit-bearing courses without assessment.

You’ll explore dietary, nutraceutical and lifestyle approaches to optimise health, and learn how to appraise available tools to collect and interpret client data and elicit behaviour change.

What you'll study

You’ll explore functional nutrition and behaviour change in nutrition and lifestyle practice. You’ll advance your expertise in modulating neuroendocrine, immune, detoxification, gastrointestinal, and cardiometabolic function. An optional clinical practice module further refines your skills for professional application.

Level
Level 6 modules

Assessments

There are no exams on this course. Students are set case history and theoretical practice-focused module assessments that require evidence-informed critical thinking. You are also asked to reflect on how personalised nutrition and lifestyle medicine applies within your own profession’s boundaries of practice.

Lecturer's view

Kelly Hopley
“’The Graduate Diploma in Integrative Functional Nutrition offers a comprehensive understanding of Nutritional Therapy theory and practice equipping students with knowledge and skills to assess, manage and support clients with various health conditions. This flexible programme combines academic rigour and in-depth case studies ensuring graduates make a meaningful impact in the field of nutrition.”

Kelly Hopley

BA Hons BANT CNHC IFM QTS

Graduate Diploma Lead

Your benefits

At ION, we are dedicated to supporting your success throughout your studies and beyond. As a student with us, you’ll gain access to a range of benefits designed to enhance your learning experience, support your wellbeing, and prepare you for a rewarding career in personalised nutrition.

Your benefits include:

University of Portsmouth Student Union membership

Job notifications and graduate placements

Discounts at health food shops, supplement and testing companies

Academic prizes

University of Portsmouth Alumni discounts on further study

Dedicated Academic Support

University of Portsmouth library access

Pastoral Support and Guidance from level leaders

Exclusive discounts on select ION offerings and products

Training Clinic

As a nutritional therapist you’ll face complex cases, varied personalities, and the weight of clients’ expectations.

ION provides you with everything needed to prepare for a client, otherwise known as a clinical setting.

Training clinics are the final part of a student’s journey – the chance to consolidate knowledge and develop strong people skills. It sets the foundation to becoming an effective therapist, making real, positive changes in people’s lives.

What can you expect in training clinic?

Diverse cases: Real clients and real skills.
Remote consultations: Practice from home with peer and supervisor support.
Courage and confidence: Work with UK clients and recommend tests and supplements.

Training clinic
“ION was an essential part of my training for my career; it taught me fundamental clinical skills and I left feeling prepared to set up my own clinic in Chelsea.”

Lily Soutter BSc, MSc, ANutr

Course Image 1
Course Image 2

Course information

Entry requirements

Requirements for this course are:

UK applicant

Level 6 (or equivalent) qualifications

  • First degree in health sciences or similar with practice (for those doing the clinical practice option)
  • First degree in health sciences or similar (for those doing this course without the clinical practice)

Overseas applicant


(in addition to above)

English qualification

  • English IELTS Level 7 qualification

OR

  • C1 Advanced – Cambridge English

Other requirements

  • Competent IT skills
  • Microsoft Office software package and proficiency in its use
  • Computer (Mac or PC) with reliable internet connection
  • Clinical attendance (for those doing the clinical practice option)
  • Time management skills
    Approximately 20 (part-time) to 30 (full-time) hours a week to study
  • Be fit to study and committed to succeed!

Study pathway

This course provides you the following pathway

Level 6 (or equivalent) degree in health sciences or similar

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Choose to study (A) with or (B) without Clinical Practice component

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Graduate Diploma Integrative Functional Nutrition

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(A) BANT registration as associate member (B) Nutritional Therapist

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Masters degree

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Doctor of Philosophy

Entry requirement for this course
This course
Outcome on course completion
Further study option at external learning provider

Fees

Fees for this course are listed below. Fees for subsequent years may increase in line with inflation. Fees do not include BANT student membership.

Full-time option
Year 1, annual
£9,535
Optional Clinical Practice module
£1,710

Part-time option
Years 1-2, annual
£5,130
Optional Clinical Practice module
£1,710

Other charges
Registration fee
£475
Repeat fee
£1,710 per 20 credits

Course facts

Award

Graduate Diploma Integrative Functional Nutrition

Credits

120 + 20 credits for Clinical Practice module

Study mode

Online

Entry dates

Part-time option

February

Credit stacking (conditions apply)

May or September

Full-time option

February

Duration

Part-time option

2 years
2 ½ years with Clinical Practice module

Full-time option

1 year
1 ½ years with Clinical Practice module

Course code

Part-time option

C0502PTD

Full-time option

C0502FTD

Course bodies

Awarded & Validated by

University of Portsmouth

Accredited by

Nutritional Therapy Education Commission (NTEC)

British Accreditation Council (BAC)

Registered with

Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC)

British Association for Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine (BANT)

Good to know

Credit Stacking – each module can be taken as a Credit Bearing Short Course and stacked over a maximum of four years. The accumulated credits can be converted to the final award, Graduate Diploma Integrative Functional Nutrition.

Next steps

Ready to apply or need help? Use the links below or get in touch with our friendly recruitment team.