Nutrition and Health PhD

The Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health plays a major role in UK research of nutrition and human health and has made a significant impact on animal nutrition and health. It was formed over 100 years ago, and it is now a global leader in nutritional research to understand the global challenges of obesity, ageing and food security. The Institute contributes to public policy and supports education at school, university and community levels. The Rowett researches some of the most fundamental health questions facing many of us about how we learn and apply knowledge about lifelong wellbeing, gut function, the role of natural bioactive in foods, and the social science of food consumption now and in the future.

There have been and continue to be several spinout companies from research undertaken at the Rowett. The ‘Fuller Longer’ food range was developed at Marks and Spencer with help from the Rowett. The Institute focus on research across all life stages, including the role of diet in areas of deprivation. We research gut health to understand how fatal diseases are formed.

• Medicine is ranked 2nd in the UK (Guarian University Guide 2020)
• The Rowett Institute was founded over 100 years ago to look at the link between diet and health, John Boyd Orr was the first director who started work on the stunning Marischal College building, now in the centre of Aberdeen
• The institute is now located within Foresterhill Campus at the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in state of art facilities
• We support industry in the innovation of new products in the pharmaceutical and food industry and conduct trials to study diets, metabolsim, heart health, infections, and more.

Our Research Centres

Gut Health
Bacteria are not passive passengers but players in metabolism and release of food components which affect our nutritional status, health and regulate our immune system

Metabolic Health
We research the influences of diet on the ageing process

Obesity and Metabolic Health
We research the behaviours associated with food choices, We work with The Aberdeen Cardiovascular and Diabetes Centre to bring patients and researchers together to understand obesity issues.

Life-Course and Population Health
We research different nutrients needed for each stage of development and trans-generational influences

The Rowett Institute sits within The School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition along with the Institute of Applied Sciences, and Institute of Medical Sciences. All discipline areas are collaborative and include work to understand population health, services, economics, human body functions, human health, food inequalities, and food security and obesity. Within biomedical sciences there are a range of programmes across immunology, biotechnology, molecular medicine, genetics, cardiovascular science, diabetes, bio-business and more.

The University of Aberdeen and Kings College is the 5th oldest university in the UK. It was founded by Bishop William Elphinstone in 1495. It is “Open to all and dedicated to the pursuit of truth in the service of others.” It provides progressive, innovative research. Initially aligned to the university models of Paris and Bologna, this progressive vision continues to attract international research staff and international academics.

Aberdeen is one of the leading world energy hubs with over 900 related companies located in the city and over 20 FTSE companies many of whom are internationally recognised brands. The city is compact, architecturally interesting and it offers four shopping centres, restaurants for all tastes and budgets, museums, galleries, a beach, walks and plenty to do

Find out more about entry requirements on programme page View English Language Requirements on the programme page