I studied MSc Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Behaviour Change and graduated in 2022. I chose this course because health and wellness are not just about being physically active, it is a trifecta of each of these attributes. The phrase ‘You can’t outrun a bad diet’ exists for a reason, being active is crucial, yes, but so is the food you eat. As a health and wellness professional, it’s important that I am able to help my clients get over any barriers they have during their journey; enter the behaviour change. Finding a course that understood the importance of the role each of these attributes have to individual health made choosing this course a no-brainer.

Getting to meet new people and make such a wide variety of new friends, of course! The others in my course were from varied educational backgrounds, and I would have never known them otherwise. I also love the town the University is in. As a sport sciences student, being in a town that’s so walkable is huge to me!

Between my own ambitions, and the motivations of my lecturers and supervisors, I was able to really figure out what I really wanted to do with the education I was receiving. There are so many places a person can choose to take their education and experience, and I realized I wanted to be on both sides of the curtain. A face on the journey to better health and wellness, but also a researcher working to find out how to get there.

I am currently back at the University of Bedfordshire as a full-time PhD student and working as a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and Certified Nutrition Coach. My degree from Bedfordshire played a huge role in preparing me for both of those roles!

The dissertation I completed for my Masters was the foundational stepping stone to get me to my PhD, and my PhD research is a continuation of that work. The degree held just as much weight in preparing me for my role as a Personal Trainer! The knowledge I gained from my course, especially the behaviour change work, has been crucial in helping me guide my clients around and through their barriers as they work towards their best self.

It’s also helped me in my capacity to communicate with my clients in a way that keeps up their motivation and helps them push past their self-doubt. The metabolic lectures from my course were pivotal in rounding out my Nutrition Coach certification. It gave me the background, knowledge, and confidence to communicate with my clients about their health, and how their body works to process the nutrients they consume.

My advice is to think back to the first thing you wanted you to be when you grew up. The career that sparked your curiosity and excitement, find the course that speaks to that excitement, then go for it! It’ll never be a job when you love what you do, it’ll be an adventure.