SE780-7-AU-CO:
Sports Nutrition and Ergogenic Aids
2025/26
Sport, Rehabilitation and Exercise Sciences (School of)
Colchester Campus
Autumn
Postgraduate: Level 7
Current
Thursday 02 October 2025
Friday 12 December 2025
15
19 November 2025
Requisites for this module
(none)
(none)
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This module explores the nutritional requirements of athletes, focusing on macronutrient intake, nutrient timing, and hydration strategies. It delves into the use of legal ergogenic aids, doping controls, and sports supplements, providing a comprehensive understanding of nutrition's role in athletic performance and recovery.
The aim of this module is:
- To provide students with comprehensive knowledge of sports nutrition and ergogenic aids, highlighting their impact on athletic performance and recovery.
By the end of this module, students will be expected to be able to:
- Critically understand nutritional requirements for athletic performance, demonstrating a systematic and reflective approach to the complex interplay between diet and physical activity at the forefront of sports nutrition.
- Analyse the role of different macronutrients in exercise with a comprehensive and critical perspective, applying advanced knowledge to assess their impact on energy production, performance, and recovery within diverse athletic contexts.
- Analyse laboratory data to assess the effects of supplements on exercise performance and biochemical markers, focusing on critical examination, methodological accuracy, and statistical analysis to synthesise findings.
- Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of hydration strategies and doping controls, showcasing the ability to deal with complex issues creatively and effectively, making sound judgments in the absence of complete data, and communicating findings clearly to both specialist and non-specialist audiences.
Syllabus information
- Nutritional requirements for athletes
- Carbohydrate intake and exercise
- Protein needs for muscle growth and repair
- Fat as a fuel for exercise
- Nutrient timing and exercise performance
- Vitamin and mineral supplementation for athletes
- Hydration strategies for athletes
- Banned substances and doping controls
- Use of legal ergogenic aids in sports
Complimentary learning
During the module, students will have the opportunity to complete the UK Anti-doping (UKAD) ‘Introduction to Clean Sport’ course. The course is endorsed by the Chartered Institute for Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMPSA).
The module will be delivered via:
- A combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, laboratory practicals, and support classes, alongside a series of pre-recorded introductory webinars.
The number and duration of sessions may vary each week. Students are expected to complete any assigned reading or webinar content in advance and come prepared to participate actively in discussions and class activities.
This module does not appear to have a published bibliography for this year.
Assessment items, weightings and deadlines
| Coursework / exam |
Description |
Deadline |
Coursework weighting |
| Coursework |
Extended Abstract (1000 words) |
30/01/2026 |
75% |
| Practical |
Vodcast (Group, 20 minutes) |
28/11/2025 |
25% |
Exam format definitions
- Remote, open book: Your exam will take place remotely via an online learning platform. You may refer to any physical or electronic materials during the exam.
- In-person, open book: Your exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer to any physical materials such as paper study notes or a textbook during the exam. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, open book (restricted): The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may refer only to specific physical materials such as a named textbook during the exam. Permitted materials will be specified by your department. Electronic devices may not be used in the exam.
- In-person, closed book: The exam will take place on campus under invigilation. You may not refer to any physical materials or electronic devices during the exam. There may be times when a paper dictionary,
for example, may be permitted in an otherwise closed book exam. Any exceptions will be specified by your department.
Your department will provide further guidance before your exams.
Overall assessment
Reassessment
Module supervisor and teaching staff
Dr Christopher McManus, email: cmcman@essex.ac.uk.
Dr Christopher McManus
SRES Office, email: sres (Non essex users should add @essex.ac.uk to create the full email address)
No
No
No
Dr Philip Daniel Brian Price
St Mary's University
Senior Lecturer
Available via Moodle
Of 54 hours, 26 (48.1%) hours available to students:
28 hours not recorded due to service coverage or fault;
0 hours not recorded due to opt-out by lecturer(s), module, or event type.
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