Dietetics (Pre-Registration)
MSc
Course overview
Registered dietitians are qualified health professionals who assess, diagnose and treat diet and nutrition problems at an individual and public health level.
Student placement experiences
Teesside dietetics student Rachel Howarth shares her placement experience in a learning disabilities setting, and lecturer Steph Sloan outlines the benefits of work placements.
All new and continuing students on this course will receive a £5,000 maintenance grant each year if they’re eligible, and will not need to pay it back.
As a graduate you are eligible to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council and the British Dietetic Association, to practice as a dietitian within the UK. This course provides experiences to ensure you are safe and confident to assess dietary and nutritional needs and able to deliver dietary interventions which meet the needs of individuals, groups and populations. Placements are integral to the course – you undertake a minimum of 1,000 hours of dietetic practice in a variety of settings including NHS, public health, research, social care and the third sector.
You gain the underpinning knowledge and skills to be able to assess and treat individuals, groups and populations with a number of health conditions which impact on their diet and nutrition. In semester one you also undertake 75 hours of practice. In the second semester you undertake 13 weeks of practice placement supervised by qualified dietitians. In the third semester you further develop your dietetic assessment and management, and explore the role of dietitians in promoting health with a focus on public health interventions. You also study research and innovation in dietetic practice, preparing you for your major project in the final semester. In semester four you undertake a further 13 weeks of practice placement. And finally in semester five you undertake your major project.
Supporting information for applicants
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Course details
Course structure
Core modules
This module enables you to develop a systematic and detailed knowledge and understanding of the integrated dietetics management to promote the health and wellbeing of people with long-term or life-limiting conditions. This includes children, older people, people with a learning disability or mental health problem and people requiring end-of-life care.
Clinical Correlations of Food and Nutrition
You further develop your knowledge of food and nutrition and how this applies to your dietetic practice, exploring the relationship between the food, biomedical sciences and dietetic practice.
You develop the underpinning knowledge and skills to be able to assess and safely apply effective dietetics interventions, and evaluate their effectiveness for managing individuals across the lifecycle of nutrition, and with disorders of the major body systems.
Dietetics Practice Placement 1
You undertake 75 hours of practice-based experience alongside the taught modules in your first semester. You also undertake a 13-week placement enabling you to apply and further develop your knowledge and skills.
Dietetics Practice Placement 2
You undertake a further 13 weeks of practice placement to further develop your dietetic assessment and management of individuals, groups and populations across the lifespan in a variety of settings.
Dissertation Preparation for Health Professionals
This module prepares you for your major project. You gain knowledge and skills of qualitative and quantitative design, as well as systematic review.
This module is shared with healthcare students across the Allied Health Professional Department to enable you to develop a knowledge and understanding of healthcare policy, statutory and professional policy and explore the impact of these policies with respect to patient care, professional practice and service delivery.
There is a strong emphasis on personal and professional development with an exploration of the theories and concepts underpinning continuous professional development, leadership, human dimension of change and quality improvement. You provide evidence of your personal and professional development using an e-portfolio, to demonstrate critical reflection and action planning to ensure you are prepared for the demands and expectations for your role as a future ready healthcare professional for a career in both traditional and non- traditional settings.
Major Project for Health Professionals
You undertake a research project relevant to health professionals, such as primary or secondary research, systematic review, service evaluation or audit. You will have written your proposal during the dissertation preparation module.
Promoting Health in Dietetic Practice
You explore a range of concepts and issues relating to public health and health promotion for individuals and groups. You discover the principles underpinning behavioural change and how these apply to dietetic practice. You also design a digital resource aimed at promoting the health and wellbeing of a chosen population.
Modules offered may vary.
How you learn
You learn through a variety of learning and teaching methods including lectures, seminars and lab-based sessions. You may have face-to-face lectures or they may be recorded and uploaded to your virtual learning environment. You also develop an online professional development portfolio to evidence your progress within the course. Your learning is facilitated by lecturers from the School of Health & Life Sciences which means that you benefit from science and health expertise within the University.
Practice placement is integral to the course and you spend 28 weeks in both traditional and non-traditional settings. On placement you apply the knowledge and skills that you have gained in the University setting.
How you are assessed
You are assessed in a variety of ways including case-based clinical assessments, written assignments, poster development, viva voce and exams. Some modules use formative assessment to help you develop your academic writing. We provide electronic feedback from summative assessments.
Practice placement is assessed as pass or fail by a registered dietitian.
Entry requirements
You apply direct to the University. Our minimum academic requirement is a 2.1 honours degree (or above) in a subject with significant elements of biochemistry and human physiology. If English isn’t your first language, we require evidence of IELTS Level 7 (or equivalent). No element should be below 6.5.
Shortlisted applicants are invited to attend an interview at the University. An enhanced criminal history (DBS) check may be required for certain modules or placements which involve working with children and/or adults at risk. Where an enhanced DBS check is required, applicants will cover the cost of these checks which can only be processed through the University.
For general information please see our overview of entry requirements
International applicants can find out what qualifications they need by visiting Your Country
Employability
Work placement
You complete 28 weeks of practice placement within your course primarily in NHS trusts across the North East of England. You are allocated a practice educator who, along with dietitians in the trust, provides opportunities for you to develop your ability to assess and treat individuals in the practice setting. You also work alongside members of the multidisciplinary team, developing an understanding of each role. We cannot guarantee that practice placements are local to you. You are expected to travel and pay for associated travel costs.
Career opportunities
Dietitians work in a number of different settings – these include the NHS, private practice, industry, sport and education. Whilst your practice placements are primarily within the NHS, we explore the role of the dietitian in different environments and provide careers guidance and support towards the latter stages of the course.
Information for international applicants
Qualifications
International applicants - find out what qualifications you need by selecting your country below.
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Useful information
Visit our international pages for useful information for non-UK students and applicants.
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Full-time
2022/23 entry
Fee for UK applicants
£9,250 a year
Fee for international applicants
£14,500 a year
More details about our fees for international applicants
- Length: 2 years; January start
- Start date: January
- Semester dates
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Student and graduate profiles
Edel Moloney
MSc Dietetics (Pre-Registration)
I always wanted to follow this career path as I have had an interest in health and nutrition since I was young.
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