Dietetics (pre-registration) - MSc
Currently viewing course to start in 2024/25 Entry. Switch to 2025/26 Entry
As the only qualified health professionals to assess, diagnose and deliver interventions for diet and nutrition-related problems, there has never been a greater demand for qualified, knowledgeable dietitians to contribute to improving the health and wellbeing of individuals and the wider public....
- Level Postgraduate Taught
- Study mode Full Time
- Award MSc
- Start date January 2025
- Fees View course fees
- Subject
- Location City South
This course is:
Open to International Students
Overview
Course is Full for 2024/25 Entry
Applications for this course are now closed. To start in January 2026, applications will open after January 2025.
As the only qualified health professionals to assess, diagnose and deliver interventions for diet and nutrition-related problems, there has never been a greater demand for qualified, knowledgeable dietitians to contribute to improving the health and wellbeing of individuals and the wider public. Our MSc in Dietetics will provide you with the knowledge, skills and professional approach needed for practice in a contemporary healthcare environment.
What's covered in this course?
On this postgraduate degree in Dietetics, you will gain knowledge in food science, applied nutrition, clinical pathology and pharmacology, social science and therapeutic dietetics. Development of key skills, including communication, research and professionalism will enable you to become a compassionate and competent practitioner who can deliver effective, evidence-based and quality-driven care. You'll learn in specially built clinical skills rooms, with specialist space so you can get the best training possible.
Accredited By
This course is accredited by:
Why Choose Us?
- Funding - Allied health profession students will receive at least £5,000 a year in additional funding for maintenance and associated study costs. Download the funding FAQs
- This course is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
- The alignment with our new undergraduate sports, nutrition and biomedical sciences courses offers you a unique opportunity to gain a sound knowledge of the underpinning scientific principles and contemporary research relevant to your practice
- Successful completion of the MSc Dietetics confers eligibility to apply for registration with the HCPC
- You will build your knowledge through a combination of academic and practice based learning (PBL) opportunities. Blocks of PBL - covering both traditional and emerging environments - will enable you to be work ready for a diverse range of dietetic career opportunities
- You will be taught in a small cohort by specialist lecturers who work within the sector and can provide relevant, up-to-date information alongside real life case studies
- We work in partnership with service users and carers to inform the design of the programme as well as involving them in aspects of delivery, enabling you to directly interact with, and learn from, service users and carers
- You will develop effective team working and communication skills through inter-professional learning, projects and practice based learning enabling you to facilitate group education and to work within a multi-disciplinary team
- You will learn about business and innovation alongside clinical and health promotion topics, helping you to become an effective practitioner within the ever-changing healthcare environment
- You will study in our latest development, the £41 million home for the School of Health Sciences, where you’ll have access to state-of-the-art facilities and cutting-edge resources including mock clinical environments and online simulation learning
- Student loan finance - have you already studied an undergraduate degree but would like to do a second one in Dietetics? You may be eligible for funding.
OPEN DAY
Join us for an on-campus Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation.
Next Event: 24 November 2024
Entry Requirements
Essential requirements
UK students
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You must have an Honours degree with a 2:1 or above which includes the study of human physiology and biochemistry (including cell biology, concepts of cell theory, an understanding of the fundamentals of biological chemistry; key biochemical molecules and their role in cellular activities; physiological processes at the organ and systems level) |
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Suitable degrees include; biomedical science, human nutrition, nutritional science, biochemistry, human biology, physiology or health sciences. |
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Please note, we may need to ask to see your undergraduate degree transcript and in some cases, will request further details about the content of individual modules. |
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You must also have GCSEs (or equivalent) in mathematics and English at grade C or above. |
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Any offer of a place is subject to satisfactory performance at interview. |
International students
Essential | ||
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If English is not your first language, you must have an IELTS score of 7.0, with no element below 6.5. |
Other requirements
Essential | ||
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DBS Disclosure: satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Scheme (DBS) report |
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Occupational Health Clearance: satisfactory occupational health clearance |
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A strong interest in working as a registered dietitian, with a demonstrated understanding of the role and the skills required to be a registered practitioner. It may be advantageous to have work experience in a care environment |
If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.
Fees & How to Apply
UK students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: MSc
Starting: Jan 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 2 years
- £9,250 in 2024/25
- Applications Closed
International students
Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.
Award: MSc
Starting: Jan 2025
- Mode
- Duration
- Fees
- Full Time
- 2 years
- £17,710 in 2024/25
- Applications Closed
Applications for this course are now closed. To start in January 2026, applications will open after January 2025.
Your personal statement
Your personal statement is a highly important part of your application. It gives you a crucial opportunity to say why you’re applying and why the institution should accept you and also provides evidence of a good command of written English.
Here are the key areas you’ll need to address in order to be considered
Course choice
Why does this course appeal? What areas are of particular interest? Tell us about your commitment to studying dietetics
Career as a dietitian
Demonstrate an awareness of the dietetic role and the skills required of a registered practitioner. Show us that you have an interest in and the ability to work with people in a caring role.
Work experience, dietetic shadowing and employment history
Mention any paid or voluntary work that is relevant, highlighting and reflecting on the skills and experience gained and how this will be useful in your chosen career as a dietitian.
School/college or University experience
Highlight skills gained at school/college/university, eg summer schools, mentoring activities, society roles.
Non-accredited skills or achievement
eg Duke of Edinburgh Award, Young Enterprise scheme.
You should also talk about any subjects you’re studying that don’t have a formal assessment and any sponsorships or placements you’ve applied for. And don't be scared to add in details about your social, sports or leisure interests.
Get more information on writing personal statements.
All students studying this dietetics course will be expected to demonstrate the core values of the NHS Constitution. This will be assessed as part of the interview process (see below).
References
Your application will need to be supported by one reference.
Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) and Occupational health
We expect all health and social care students to act in an honest and trustworthy manner and that your conduct, behaviour and attitudes are compatible at all times with your professional Code of Conduct. The Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) set criminal record checks as a requirement for entry to educational courses leading to an application for professional registration.
If you are offered a place on the programme, you will receive an email inviting you to complete an online DBS application form via our external provider closer to the start date of your course. No convictions or cautions are considered as ‘spent’ under the ‘exceptions’ allowed under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, 1974. There is no time limit to some parts of the record.
if you have lived outside of the UK for six months or more in the past five years, we will need to see a criminal record check from the country you were living in. For applicants living in the Republic of Ireland, we will need to see an Irish Garda clearance.
Please be aware that you are responsible for covering the cost of the DBS application. This cost will vary by country.
For more information on DBS including EU/overseas applications and the associated cost of an application, please read more here.
Once you have fully enrolled on your course you must inform us about any involvement you have had with the Police or Social Services, including motoring offences.
Occupational Health
The Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) set ‘good health’ requirements for entry to educational courses leading to professional registration. Good health is necessary to undertake practice and means that students must be capable of safe and effective practice with supervision throughout their course of study.
Expert advice to confirm good health will be received from the Occupational Health Department at Birmingham City University. If necessary, you will be invited for a medical examination and specialist advice may be requested. When students are required to attend Occupational Health for immunisations and vaccinations they will be asked to sign an agreement which states they will attend all required appointments. Failure to attend one or more appointment will result in additional costs to the student.
The health requirement is not a bar to registering for people with disabilities.
Once you enrol on your course you are required to complete an annual declaration confirming that you continue to be in good health.
The Interview process
Interviews are vital in ensuring your suitability for the programme in terms of your academic ability and understanding, evidence of oral communication skills, and motivation to pursue a career in Dietetics. It is also a way of finding out more about BCU and offers an opportunity to meet some of the programme team.
The recruitment process will consist of two stages:
Stage 1: Written task. You will be required to answer a few questions in a virtual timed written activity. The written tasks will be marked by a member of the academic team. You will have a choice of dates and times to participate in the activity, which will take place in early summer.
Stage 2: In person one to one interview and group activity. The best performing candidates on the written task will then be invited to attend an interview day on campus. This will involve a group activity and a one to one interview with a panel including members of the Dietetics teaching team, an expert by experience and a practice partner. Answers will be marked by the interview team. These interviews will take place in the summer and are subject to change if this is deemed necessary by the university due to Covid 19.
Information about the interviews
The written task and the interview day will consist of a range of questions which may include:
- Profession specific knowledge, skills, behaviours and values
- Understanding and application of NHS core values
- Reflection on your own knowledge and experience
Course in Depth
Level 7
In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 180 credits):
This is one of the two inter-professional modules in the programme, delivered by HCPC registered healthcare professional tutors and other specialists from Birmingham City University. This module will emphasise the underpinning philosophies of inter professional collaboration and communication within health and social care, enabling shared learning across professional boundaries and facilitating the contextualisation of the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed to deliver optimal care within a dynamic healthcare environment.
This is the first dietetic specific module in the programme and will begin by considering the application and interpretation of nutritional science for and within the general population through group exploration of the global concepts of healthy eating, nutritional requirements and dietary assessment.
You will then be introduced to the UK Process for Nutrition and Dietetic Practice, which describes the fundamentals of dietetic intervention; with individuals, groups or populations; in clinical settings, public health or health promotion. This problem-solving model will support you in developing your consultation skills and clinical-reasoning, whilst considering the environmental factors that influence dietetic practice.
In order to work safely and effectively as a dietitian, you are required to develop a detailed knowledge of the basic and applied sciences that underpin nutrition and dietetics, including an understanding of the integrated nature of these disciplines and how they inform clinical practice. The module will begin with some revision of human physiology and biochemistry, before moving on to develop your understanding of immunology, and your knowledge of microbiology applied to human disease. You will critically analyse the changes in metabolism that take place through the life cycle, relating this to nutrition and considering the implications for your practice through evidence-based peer discussion.
This module has been designed to enable you to effectively engage in nutritional planning, whilst developing an appropriate range of essential food skills to support your dietetic practice. Through group exploration of the diet of the UK population you will consider sub group differences in dietary and eating patterns, engage in critical discussion of the factors and constraints that determine food choice and eating behaviours, and explore international and cultural influences. You will develop a critical understanding of ever changing food legislation and labelling regulations and will learn theoretically and practically how food production, preparation and processing affects the nutrient content of food. You will also gain in-depth insight into catering management in the public sector, including the use of nutritional standards and the different methods of food service. In addition, you will develop a growing understanding of relevant new scientific areas affecting perceived acceptance, attractions and aversions to food e.g. Sensory perception and Cross modal effects.
This is the first of two modules focusing on the strategies for health promotion and disease prevention, alongside the dietetic management of a range of conditions, with the aim of developing the required knowledge and skills to enable you to deliver evidence-based dietetic practice with adults and children at an individual, group and community level. This module will link the underpinning science of nutrition developed in the previous semester to the applied practice of dietetics, considering the professional aspects of care, alongside the theory and application of public health nutrition, and the theory behind the dietetic management of disease. This module will support you in preparing for your practice based learning opportunities.
This second inter professional module will consolidate the links between your personal and professional development, whilst encouraging and enhancing a lifelong commitment to the concept of continuous quality improvement in a dynamic and ever-changing health and social care environment.
Through a flexible provision, you are encouraged to reflect critically upon your personal experiences as well and health and social care practice, and to appraise and apply concepts from the literature on best practice to issues of relevance for your profession and the needs of the service user.
This module provides an opportunity for you to further develop the knowledge and skills required to deliver evidence-based dietary management in clinical practice and in public health nutrition, with both adults and children. Within this module you will also learn how to plan and deliver a nutrition education session, and will be provided with opportunities to further develop your skills in undertaking one to one consultations. This module will support you in preparing for your second-year practice based learning opportunities.
This double module forms the final component of your Healthcare Professional MSc. It provides you with the opportunity to complete a piece of work around a topic of interest in order to demonstrate competence in the planning, execution, analysis and evaluation of a Research Project, a Systematic Review, or an Audit or Service Evaluation linked to practice.
Practice Based Learning
You will complete a minimum of 1000 practice based learning (PBL) hours across the programme to meet the requirements of the professional body. This will be divided into weeks of PBL time, with 10 weeks being coordinated across the first year and 21 weeks in the second year.
Four of these opportunities are integrated within the taught course, to enable you to apply your theoretical knowledge within the practical context and to develop the core skills required to be an effective dietetic practitioner. The majority of PBL time will take place outside of the University, offering you insight into a diverse range of dietetic roles and enabling you to gain experience within a variety of settings.
You will be provided with many opportunities to transfer and consolidate your knowledge across client groups and to practice and apply the skills you have learned, including making timely dietetic assessments, verbally communicating to service users, carers and wider members of the team, producing accurate written records, and influencing nutritional care.
One of the blocks will include two weeks within an emerging dietetic practice environment. This has been designed to provide you with access to a range of learning experiences in a variety of dietetic practice environments, to reflect the nature of modern practice and the range of practice settings that you may wish to enter upon completion of this programme.
During the PBL timetabled at University, you will have the opportunity to be involved in peer-assisted learning activities and to practice your skills through simulation; a safe environment in which you can make mistakes, reflect and learn from them. We are also planning to provide you with experience in on-site clinic rooms, where you can carry out mock assessments and interventions in live simulations with actors, and deliver general healthy eating advice to staff and students. Both virtual and live simulations will have been developed with support and input from practice-based dietetic placement educators to ensure that they represent current dietetic practice.
Practice based learning (PBL) will usually be based with providers in the greater West Midlands region, however, you may occasionally be allocated to other locations throughout the UK, depending on PBL demand and availability and to ensure that you experience the breadth of dietetic practice areas. All PBL opportunities that are external to the university will require travel away from the main site. You are responsible for covering the costs of this travel. Depending on location, you may wish to seek more local accommodation to the site. You are responsible of covering the cost of accommodation.
You will state three preferences prior to each PBL allocation, but no guarantee is given that you will be allocated to one of your preferences. You are encouraged to undertake PBL A2, B and C with three different providers, subject to availability, to widen your experience of dietetic practice. Prior to applying, you will be provided with a list of PBL providers and information about the expected experience. You should not assume that this list will remain the same throughout your training.
Practice based learning opportunities are allocated by the BCU Dietetics PBL Lead and Course Lead. Please note that all PBL allocations are provisional until the start date.
We will aim to inform you of your PBL approximately 4 weeks before starting. You can request a change due to exceptional circumstances.
Practice based learning opportunities are compulsory and if you do not successfully meet the professional capabilities for all four, you will not meet the requirements for successful completion of the programme.
Download course specification
Download nowThis postgraduate dietetics degree course will be delivered full-time over a minimum of two years, with each year comprising 45 weeks of learning – this is required to incorporate your clinical practice based learning (PBL) opportunities.
There will be a minimum of 1,000 hours in PBL, ensuring that you have sufficient opportunity to achieve the required practice competencies.
Student Consent to act as a service user during the programme
Throughout the programme, there are opportunities to participate as service users in practical and clinical teaching sessions and role play. You will be asked for your consent to act as a service user prior to taking part in these sessions. A consent form will be completed during induction and will be kept in your personal record. You are under no obligation to act as a service user and your refusal would not negate your continued eligibility to participate in the practical learning exercises. We appreciate that there is a lot to take in during your initial induction, therefore all of the relevant materials will be available online throughout the year to allow you to view them later if required and information regarding the specific content will be provided in advance of each practical session.
Uniform and Equipment
You may be required to wear a uniform for PBL opportunities. You will be fitted for the required uniform on commencement of your course. Given that your programme involves PBL opportunities with the National Health Service (NHS), we wish to bring standard NHS advice to your attention with respect to dress code. For purposes of minimising the spread of infection and of cross contamination, this (dress) code includes the requirement that a short sleeved uniform is worn in many hospital and clinic contexts. Should you wish to discuss any concerns in connection to this prior to starting the course, please contact the programme lead in the first instance.
Additional costs that students may incur related to their studies are outlined below
Professional Body Membership
It is a requirement that you become a student member of The British Dietetic Association (BDA), the professional body for dietitians during your time as a dietetic student at BCU. It is free of charge during your first year of study and incurs an annual fee for the second year. Membership includes professional indemnity insurance.
Books
Students are instructed to wait until they have started the course before purchasing any books, as individual module co-ordinators may make particular recommendations and students may also be able to borrow books as required from the University library.
You will be required to purchase the PENG Pocket Guide to Clinical Nutrition prior to your A2 PBL opportunity. You will get a better price for the PENG if you are a member of the BDA so we would encourage you to join the BDA after you enrol on the course.
Printing and photocopying costs
In addition to any book purchases, the MSc Dietetics programme utilises a range of bespoke teaching including worksheets, support notes and quizzes. All of this material will be available in electronic format, through Moodle sites. You will also be expected to access additional literature sources (i.e. scientific journals, government publications), as part of your directed and self-directed learning. You may wish to print some of this teaching material and literature and take account of the additional cost of doing so.
Health and Care Professions Council
This course is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council, and will give you eligibility to apply for registration if you successfully complete the course.
Employability
Enhancing your employability skills
As the demand for qualified diet and nutrition professionals grows, there are ever expanding career opportunities for registered dietitians. This highly vocational course will equip you with the core knowledge and skills to enable you to apply for registration with the HCPC and to secure employment as a dietitian in a variety of roles, including acute and community healthcare, health promotion, health education, industry, the media, or in private practice.
Integrated practice learning will allow you to build relationships with local employers, both NHS and non-NHS and the inter-professional learning interspersed in the course will enable you to work effectively as part of a team, in whichever field you choose to pursue.
You might also choose to stay in education, progressing on to studying a PhD, which could enable you to pursue a career within research.
International
Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.
The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.
Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:
- Details of the entry requirements for our courses
- Some of the good reasons why you should study here
- How to improve your language skills before starting your studies
- Information relevant to applicants from your country
- Where to find financial support for your studies.
Facilities & Staff
We have invested over £400 million in our facilities, including an upgrade to our Skills and Simulation facilities at City South Campus. We boast up-to-date, innovative facilities that simulate the real situations that you may come across in the workplace. These resources are essential in offering you a hands-on introduction to health and social care practice.
Mock Wards
These are set up to look like typical hospital wards, with four-six bays. Depending on the topic in hand, different manikins can be used as patients and relevant equipment is provided to practise clinical skills. Some of the manikins are interactive and can simulate different scenarios e.g. some allow you to cannulate, check pulses, intubate etc, and some can talk to you. One ward is often used as an adult ward, and the other as a child ward.
These rooms also allow for scenarios to be set up for other professions such as dietetics, paramedic science and social work.
The Operating Theatre and Recovery Suites
The operating theatre and recovery suite gives you the sense of what it would be like in a real surgical environment.
These spaces emulate the full surgical journey from anaesthetics, through surgery and into recovery. ODP students can practice a range of skills including gowning, hand washing, preparing instrument trays, and working with a patient. Nurses and midwives may experience a surgical placement and need to go to theatre or be part of the midwifery team involved with caesarean sections. Many other Allied Health Professionals may also see patients in recovery if necessary.
Home Environment Room
This space is used to simulate non-clinical settings, as not everything health professionals deal with is hospital based. This is used for simulations of home visits and home births. It also houses soft matting and a bubble machine that are used by the Learning Disability Nursing team.
Assisted Living Space
This space replicates a flat and is used for scenarios such as home visits. The sitting room area provides a different space to practise skills and simulations and work with service users and other students.
Assisted Kitchen
This specially designed kitchen has different areas where you can practice cooking, cleaning, boiling the kettle etc., with someone who has actual or simulated visual impairments. There are adapted devices to help, and simulation glasses for you to wear to experience visual impairments.
Physiotherapy Room
This is a space for physiotherapy students to use, with various equipment to practise client meetings.
Radiotherapy Planning Computer Suite
Our computers allow you to plan hypothetical treatments, in terms of angles and directions, ensuring that radiotherapy reaches where it is needed on a patient’s body.
Radiography Image Interpretation and Reporting Stations Computer Suite
These facilities allow you to view and analyse x-rays.
VERT - Virtual Environment for Radiotherapy Training
This room contains 3D technology to view virtual patients and look at trajectories for treatment.
Radiotherapy
This room contains the same bed/couch used when patients are given radiotherapy treatment. While students of course do not administer radiotherapy in this room, it does allow them to practise adjusting the equipment to make sure both it and a patient would be in the correct position to receive treatment.
Telehealth Room
This room allows for small group teaching in a central area (large boardroom type table) with five small telehealth booths down either side. These are to allow all our health professions students to practise delivering healthcare and advice remotely, either over the phone or on a video call. This addition to our teaching reflects moves in the sector to offer more flexible access to healthcare services, particularly as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Imaging Academy
This new facility is a larger version of our existing image interpretation computer facilities and forms part of the Midlands Imaging Academy Hub, funded by Health Education England. These expanded facilities will mean we can further develop our courses and expertise in radiography and imaging.
Speech and Language Therapy Resource Room
Our Speech and Language Therapy Team have developed a collection of tools, books and resources to help you learn and understand the implications of a speech or swallowing limitation. You can practise one to one client meetings and clinics and use the video recording equipment to review role play scenarios.
Ultrasound simulation suite
You have access to a wide range of Ultrasound simulation equipment to develop your clinical skills and aid in training. The equipment includes two ultrasound machines with a range of phantoms, scan training stations and eve body works.
Our staff
Lynsey Richards
Senior Lecturer and Course Lead for MSc Dietetics
Lynsey qualified as a Registered Dietitian in 2010 at the University of Nottingham, and has over a decade of experience in the NHS in a range of clinical areas, including home enteral tube feeding, nutrition support, weight management, renal and diabetes.
More about LynseySean McIntosh
Lecturer in Dietetics
Sean has had an extensive and varied career as a clinical dietitian with a career spanning 10 years in multiple specialties ahead of starting a lecture position here at Birmingham City University.
More about Sean