Dietitians make a vital contribution to people's health and wellbeing. On this course, you will learn the theory and practice of nutritional science so that you can register with the Health and Care Professions Council as a qualified dietitian.
You will explore the composition of food, the nature of nutrients and their metabolism in the body, nutritional requirements throughout the lifespan and the dietary effects of food on health. You will also learn how to work alongside service users with acute and chronic disease in hospitals and primary care settings.
You will gain the professional expertise necessary for effective practice, critical evaluation and adaptability when faced with the changing dynamics of working in health and social care. You will also be well prepared for the responsibilities and expectations associated with being a healthcare professional, and consider the ethical and legal boundaries arising from exercising a professional duty of care.
Our course reflects the changing nature of dietetic practice and the demands of the new entry practitioner within health and social care. Academic staff are recognised nationally and internationally for their expertise in dietetics, and the course retains a national profile for postgraduate provision in the UK. You will be able to meet professional competencies through a range of practice learning opportunities provided in the NHS. Many of our graduates go on to permanent positions as a direct result of having been in touch with employers whilst on practice placement. Likewise, students have the opportunity to collaborate with dietitians working in clinical practice on research projects. Our course is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council and you will be eligible to register and practice as a dietitian in the UK once you've successfully completed our course.
The course is strongly vocational, and our postgraduate students are highly successful in gaining employment as dietitians in the NHS. Practice learning is delivered in partnership with local NHS Trusts, enabling you to build relationships with local employers.
This MSc focuses on the problems of over- and under-nutrition, which apply to most developed nations as well as those undergoing rapid transformation. The programme offers specialised training in the clinical and scientific basis of malnutrition and obesity, and therapeutic approaches to correcting this in the hospital, community and educational setting.
The programme focuses on periods of the lifecycle when nutrition is particularly important; these include: acute illness, trauma, surgery or malignancy; and chronic conditions in which disease, nutrition and treatment interact. The aetiology, pathophysiology and epidemiology of obesity will be explored alongside all approaches currently being used in its treatment.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of eight core modules (120 credits) and a research dissertation (60 credits).
A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits) comprising all taught modules is offered.
A Postgraduate Certificate comprising four core modules (60 credits) is offered.
Core modules
Optional modules
There are no optional modules for this programme.
Dissertation/report
All MSc students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of 10,000-15,000 words.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of seminars, lectures, laboratory work, site visits and practicals. Assessment is through examination, presentations, essays, practical reports and the dissertation.
Placement
Students are offered the opportunity to attend related clinics at University College London Hospital.These take place on non-teaching days, ie Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Clinical and Public Health Nutrition MSc
This MSc is particularly suitable for candidates who wish to pursue a lifelong career in the field of cutting-edge translational research and the practice of nutrition therapy in the health services of the UK and other countries, or in the clinical nutrition industry. This programme will provide an ideal foundation for graduates who wish subsequently to undertake a PhD within UCL or elsewhere.
Whilst this MSc does not lead to registration to practice as a dietitian, it provides a firm foundation for an application (via the indirect route) for registration with the Association for Nutrition, a professional body that holds the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists (UKVRN), a competency-based register of nutritionists.
Recent career destinations for this degree
Employability
This programme runs within the School of Life and Medical Sciences; one of the largest and most prestigious aggregations of academics in its field, with a global reputation for teaching informed by cutting-edge research. Our close links with major hospitals and public health organisations allows students to perform significant nutrition projects. Some use the MSc to improve their medical/clinical knowledge-base, or to gain entry to Dietetics courses; one in eight will continue with PhD studies; several are working in the voluntary sector or in industry; one is a leading public health clinician, several teach and research in home universities.
Careers data is taken from the ‘Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education’ survey undertaken by HESA looking at the destinations of UK and EU students in the 2013–2015 graduating cohorts six months after graduation.
UCL delivers a high proportion of nutrition teaching to medical undergraduates because many UCL staff engage in research with a nutritional dimension.
As part of the internationally renowned Institute for Liver and Digestive Health, within the UCL Division of Medicine, we link with clinical services at University College London Hospitals (UCLH) and the Royal Free Hospital. Students benefit from the expertise of the many clinicians and scientists who teach on this MSc.
UCL has a rich and varied research environment. Students can choose projects, which will develop research skills in clinical and public health settings with supervisors from across UCL, the London community or elsewhere.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: Division of Medicine
80% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
This programme is intended for all professionals wishing to work in the eating disorders field at a high level. The qualifications (MSc, Diploma, Certificate) will appeal to clinicians and scientists who wish to provide treatment, develop services and conduct research in this field.
This MSc provides a sound programme in human nutrition covering practical approaches, research methods and nutrition in the general population and in disease states. Eating disorders are presented using different teaching methods with an extensive series of seminars, tutorials and clinical attachments at St Ann's, Great Ormond Street and the Maudsley Hospitals. Students will also undertake a significant research project.
Students undertake modules to the value of 180 credits.
The programme consists of eight core modules (120 credits), and a research dissertation (60 credits).
A Postgraduate Diploma (120 credits) is offered.
A Postgraduate Certificate (60 credits) is offered.
Core modules
There are no optional modules for this programme.
Dissertation/report
All MSc students undertake an independent research project which culminates in a dissertation of between 10,000-12,000 words.
Teaching and learning
The programme is delivered through a combination of seminars, lectures, laboratory work, and practicals. Assessment is through examination, presentations, essays, practical reports and the dissertation.
Further information on modules and degree structure is available on the department website: Eating Disorders and Clinical Nutrition MSc
Eating Disorders and Clinical Nutrition is a recently established MSc, therefore no information on graduate destinations is currently available. However, as an indication, graduates of the Clinical and Public Health Nutrition MSc have taken up positions as dieticians, nutritionists, clinicians or undertaken further PhD studies.
Employability
This degree will give graduates a clear advantage when applying for clinical and research positions in units in which children, adolescents or adults with eating disorders are assessed, treated and recruited into research programmes. It is particularly relevant for individuals wishing to apply for senior positions in these units, as well as graduates who aspire to studying for a doctorate in the eating disorders field. Surveys have shown that eating disorder services are continuing to develop in all parts of the country, providing substantial opportunities for employment in this burgeoning field.
The field of eating disorders is rapidly developing in terms of service provision and research. This MSc is the only comprehensive graduate programme available in the field, meeting an important clinical and academic need.
Whether you are a psychiatrist, psychologist, dietitian, nurse or researcher interested in eating disorders affecting adults or children and adolescents, this degree will provide fundamental nutrition education, and an extensive programme on eating disorders delivered in seminars, tutorials, clinical attachments and a major research project.
The programme fulfils criteria for membership of the Association of Nutrition.
The Research Excellence Framework, or REF, is the system for assessing the quality of research in UK higher education institutions. The 2014 REF was carried out by the UK's higher education funding bodies, and the results used to allocate research funding from 2015/16.
The following REF score was awarded to the department: Division of Medicine
80% rated 4* (‘world-leading’) or 3* (‘internationally excellent’)
Learn more about the scope of UCL's research, and browse case studies, on our Research Impact website.
Gain the essential skillsets as a nutritionist to help improve people’s health and well-being in the context of the malnutrition, obesity, metabolic response to injury and chronic disease.
This was the first MSc in Clinical Nutrition to be established in the UK and has gained an international reputation, attracting students from around the world. You will consider the patient’s journey from birth to extreme age in the context of the metabolic response to injury or to chronic disease. The course is designed for all members of nutrition support teams and is also suitable for students who wish to pursue clinically-based nutrition research.
After establishing a firm foundation in physiology and the biochemistry of nutrition, this course will cover the nutritional management for clinical conditions such as gastro-enteral problems, long-term disablement and intensive care. It also includes a focus on nutrition support in paediatric, adult, older adult and critically ill patients.
This course is perfect for nutrition support teams or those who want to pursue a career or a doctorate in clinically-based nutrition. The course will provide an important insight into contemporary developments in clinical nutrition for a wide range of healthcare professionals.
You will have access to our state-of-the art facilities and excellent laboratories including a food lab complete with sensory analysis tasting booths and specialist laboratories for physiology, microbiology and computing.
Please note this programme does not lead to a qualification in the UK as a registered Dietitian. It is an accredited course with the Association for Nutrition, and does enable you to become a registered nutritionist, once you have complete two years in the nutrition field.
This course is accredited by the Association for Nutrition.
We offer a diverse range of modules to build your knowledge and enable you to focus on topics that interest you. Recent examples of these topics have included: macronutrient and micronutrient metabolism in health and disease, nutrient digestion and absorption and gastrointestinal disease, nutritional support in paediatric, adult, older adult and critically ill patients, the effect of disease on nutrition status.
Research areas that are also included in the programme are dietary management strategies in women with polycystic ovary syndrome; the role of brain–gut interaction in obesity, eating disorders, and irritable bowel syndrome; the role of the enteric nervous system in known intestinal diseases; vitamin E status in health and disease; the role of microbiota in food and nutritional systems; food bioactives for a healthy gut, brain and vascular system; the regulation of insulin secretion and glucose metabolism in health and diabetes.
Modules
Here are examples of the modules:
Nutritionist (public sector, private commercial or independent), public health nutritionist, academia research/teaching, commercial research, NHS (various roles) and local and central government (roles in policy and health promotion). In addition, many students are already health professionals and study the course as part of their career development and specialisation.
Advance your understanding of biomedical and nutrition therapy and gain insight into how nutrition issues affect diverse communities as you prepare for a career in clinical practice, research, or public health. In NYIT’s fully online program, we facilitate an open exchange of cultural and global viewpoints among classmates and professors worldwide. We provide you with elective credit options that include: coursework in nutrition oncology, pharmacology, exercise physiology; independent study in obesity, eating disorders or other current topics; as well as participation in our Center for Global Health. Our faculty members are accomplished nutrition professionals with years of clinical experience, active participation in professional organizations, and publication of cutting-edge research.
Upon completion of the program, you’ll be prepared to:
The Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition is a clinically focused, all online graduate program that integrates biomedical and nutrition sciences to develop an understanding of medical nutrition therapy. The program is offered in a flexible format that can be accessed by students from diverse backgrounds.
Interested in clinical dietetics, private practice, food service management, public health nutrition, sports nutrition and nutrition research? Then the Master of Nutrition and Dietetics is for you. This program allows students interested in health and nutrition to choose their own pathway and area of nutrition they want to specialise in, while focusing on practical placement, communication and international engagement.
Not only will you graduate with these career-ready experiences, you'll be stepping into the next chapter of your nutrition and dietetics career by graduating sooner, as with Bond's accelerated degrees you can finish the Master of Nutrition and Dietetic Practice in just two years.
This postgraduate professional program is designed to develop graduates to be work-ready for careers in nutrition and dietetics across practice areas including clinical dietetics, private practice, food service management, public health nutrition, sports nutrition and nutrition research. This program develops student competencies to exceed the accreditation requirements of the Dietitians Association of Australia, making graduates eligible to apply for accredited practising dietitian (APD) status within the Dietitians Association of Australia. This program is distinctive because of its emphasis on developing evidence-based practitioners that have had intensive preparation in evidence-based dietetic practice, nutrition research and international engagement. All students will be required to participate in an international placement as part of their program.
Graduates of the program will be able to apply their skills and experience across a range of areas including:
The Master of Nutrition and Dietetic Practice is a set program. You must complete all of the following subjects:
Semester 1 (May start)
Semester 2
Semester 3
Semester 4
Semester 5
Semester 6
*Subject names and structure may change
The Bond University Master of Nutrition and Dietetic Practice program uses an education model comprising a combination of lectures, workshops, case studies, field trips, simulations, internships and research. In keeping with the program philosophy of producing dietitians with a difference, the program places an emphasis on real-world experience from the first semester. Students engage in activities such as case-based learning and simulation to develop their competency as nutrition professionals.
Specialist consultant practitioners and dietitians with industry expertise provide students with insight into dietetic practice and career opportunities in the profession. Students also benefit from the extensive professional experience of nutrition and dietetic academic staff in a range of fields, including clinical dietetics, sports nutrition, the food industry, private practice and public health nutrition, as well as their national and international professional networks.
Students will have the opportunity to participate in relevant workshops offered by the Bond University Centre for Research in Evidence-Based Practice (CREBP), providing them access to highly qualified academics with international research track records, some of whom are responsible for developing global evidence-based nutrition guidelines.
The overall aim of this master's programme is to provide science graduates with core knowledge and skills to practice as a dietitian and develop advanced research skills. Registered dietitians are qualified health professionals who assess diagnose and treat diet and nutrition problems both at individual and population level. Dietitians use the most up to date research on diet and health which they translate into practical guidance to enable people to make appropriate lifestyle and food choices.
This course is an intensive 20 Masters taught course designed to provide a scientific base in the study of food and nutrition and the effect of diet and health on wellbeing. On completion of this course graduates will be qualified to work as a dietitian and be eligible to register with HCPC/CORU. Graduates will also have advanced research skills having completed an independent reasearch project as part of this degree.
This course is designed for pre-registration training in Dietetics. It is not aimed at qualified dietitians wishing to take a masters research degree. Qualified dietitians are encouraged to apply for the MSc Human Nutrition.
This course is a master's course. It is studied on a full-time basis over 20 months where attendance is required on campus most days each week during semester. During placement attendance is required each day. This course cannot be taken part time.
This course provides study of core modules in human nutrition and dietetics and includes two clinical placement blocks. Year 1 semester 1 (60 credits) and 2 (75 credits) are taught modules in core subjects. Year 1 semester 3 students undertake Human Nutrition Masters research project which is an integral part of the programme where students undertake an independent research project. Clinical placement modules are undertaken in year 2 and are generally within a hospital and/or community setting. Placements are predominantly in Northern Ireland with consolidation tutorials at University between placements. Successful students will be eligible to apply to the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) for Registration as a dietitian or apply to CORU for validation of qualification to practice as a dietitian in the Republic of Ireland.
Dietetic placements are an integral part of this course. Placements are generally undertaken within hospital and/or community Trusts in Northern Ireland and must be approved by the University in advance of allocation to students.
This course is a taught full-time course over 20 months including master's research project and clinical placements. Attendance is required during semester most days each week. Placements require daily full time attendance. This course cannot be taken part time.
Dietetic placements are an integral part of this course. Placements are generally undertaken within hospital and/or community Trusts in Northern Ireland and are approved by the University in advance of allocation to students.
Placements are unpaid and full time. Placements are approved by HCPC therefore graduates from this programme are eligible to apply for registration with the Statutory Regulator for Dietitians, the HCPC. The course is also accredited by the British Dietetic Association.
Approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) for the purpose of providing eligibility to apply for registration with the HCPC as a dietitian.
The academic content of the programme together with the experience gained from clinical practice placements leads to excellent employment opportunities. There are excellent opportunities for graduate dietitians in hospitals, community or public health as well as the food industry, research, sports or to pursue a higher research degree (PhD) in the area of human nutrition.
The Dietetics study programme aims to equip graduates who already have a BSc or MSc in Nutrition with the knowledge, skills and professional attitudes required to practise as a Registered Dietitian.
Registered dietitians are qualified health professionals who assess, diagnose and treat diet and nutrition problems in society. They translate public health and scientific research on food, health and disease into practical guidance enabling people to make appropriate lifestyle and food choices.
The MSc pathway is a two-year course that requires modules totalling 285 credits. The Postgraduate Diploma pathway is studied over a shorter period of 17 months and requires completed modules with a total of 225 credits. Part of the course is spent in clinical practice through placements and will provide you with unique opportunities to develop your clinical skills and improve your employability.
Teaching
We use different teaching strategies: lectures, seminars, food service and diet therapy practicals, case study-based learning, observed structured clinical examinations and group tutorials, to deliver the modules on the course. You will also be expected to undertake a significant amount of independent study.
The MSc pathway involves approximately 850 hours of self-directed learning plus 600 hours of project work.
The PG Dip pathway involves approximately 850 hours of self-directed learning.
For both pathways 350 hours of contact time (approximately) will be campus based, additionally a further 28 weeks will be spent on practice placements.
Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.
Assessment
You will be assessed through a combination of coursework, practical assessments and examinations.
The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect.
Course accreditation
This course is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council and is accredited by the British Dietetic Association.
Regulating body
King’s College London is regulated by the Higher Education Funding Council for England.
Most of our graduates go on to work within the NHS, either in hospital or community health services. Former graduates have also found employment in a range of organisations including research institutes, consumer groups, food retailers, and government departments and agencies. Others have become successful food and health journalists or developed careers in the food and pharmaceutical industries.
This diploma program is designed to build on undergraduate studies in the health and related sciences to develop specialist knowledge, skills and attitudes relating to human nutrition and health.
This program is a useful pre-medical program for graduates with ambitions to enter post-graduate medical programs, as a pathway into postgraduate specialisation in nutrition or for internationally-educated dietitians requiring professional updates before applying for Australian qualification recognition.
Successful graduates from this diploma program are well-placed to progress to further studies via the Master of Nutrition and Dietetic Practice to become qualified as a dietitian and receive full credit for subjects studied in this program.
The Graduate Diploma of Nutrition has been designed to upskill graduates and health professionals already working in, or planning to work within areas of nutrition and health.
The Graduate Diploma is a useful pre-medical program for graduates with ambitions to enter post-graduate medical programs, as a pathway into postgraduate specialisation in nutrition or for internationally-educated dietitians requiring professional updates for recognition of their qualifications in Australia. Please refer to the Dietitians Association of Australia for details.
Semester 1 (May start)
Semester 2
*Subject names and structure may change
Successful graduates from the Graduate Diploma are well-placed to progress to further studies in the Master of Nutrition and Dietetic Practice to become qualified as a dietitian. Subjects completed in the Graduate Diploma are credited to the Master program.
The Bond University Graduate Diploma of Nutrition is designed to expose and engage students with professional, industry and workplace activities from the first semester. In addition to case-based learning, small group projects, team work and simulated learning environments, students participate in, and are assessed on, practice-related activities outside the university environment to develop competency as nutrition professionals.
Students also benefit from the extensive professional experience of nutrition and dietetic academic staff in a range of fields, including clinical dietetics, sports nutrition, the food industry, private practice and public health nutrition, as well as their national and international professional networks.
This course is for graduates of biological sciences who want to extend their studies into the professional field of dietetics. Dietetics is the management of diseases that are amenable to dietary intervention and the prevention of nutrition related disorders. A dietitian influences food selection and eating behaviour of an individual based on specific nutritional or food requirements.
With a clinical and health promotion focus, this course includes three blocks of integrated practice placements of 4, 12 and 12 weeks duration within a hospital and/or primary care setting.
The emphasis is on student-centred learning where your previous knowledge and skills are used to develop your new subject area. Learning activities include lectures, tutorials, workshops and practical classes and are guided using web-based supported materials.
You will also attend three practical placements to enable the integration of theoretical knowledge with practical experience. A variety of assessment methods are used across the course. Normally, there are 12 – 15 students on this course. This ensures that individuals receive excellent support and benefit from sharing their experiences with classmates.
Each module is equivalent to a notional 150 hours of work which is made up of attendance in class and independent work. The structure of each module is different with different attendance requirement for each timetabled module. Over an average semester the expectation is that during 14 weeks of teaching this will equate to approx. 40 hours per week of student effort (contact classes plus independent study time). Students normally complete the course via a full time route but part-time routes are available and can be discussed with the Programme Leader.
All placements are completed on a full-time basis, normally Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm.
This course provides eligibility to apply for registration as a dietitian with the Health and Care Professions Council. It is also accredited by the British Dietetic Association.
15 credits: Food and Nutrition/ Principles of Nutrition Science/ Clinical Sciences/ Therapeutic Interventions/ Professional Studies/ Professional Practice/ Evaluation of Practice/ Pharmacology and Pharmacogenetics. You will also carry out practice placements, which you must pass but which do not carry any credit. If studying for an MSc, you will also complete a dissertation (60 credits).
Career prospects on completion of the course are varied. Most graduates normally choose to work within the NHS as dietitians. Others will work in health education, health promotion, general practice, private healthcare and government advisory posts. Opportunities also exist in the food and pharmaceutical industries in, for example: food labelling; nutrient profiling; product and recipe development; product evaluation and special diet foods. Some graduates may apply for the opportunity to study for a higher degree (MPhil or PhD).
If you are already a practitioner working in a health or mental health role, this course will deepen your knowledge of supporting people with complex mental health issues that involve eating disorders. You will explore contemporary nutritional, physiological and psychological perspectives and learn cognitive behavioural approaches to therapeutic treatment in this area.
By studying alongside fellow professionals from the fields of occupational therapy, counselling, psychology, nursing and dietetics, you will appreciate how a multi-professional team can work together to provide effective care. Your classes will be taught by academics from across these disciplines, and you will be encouraged to critically reflect on your practice, ensuring you have a solid understanding and appreciation of the benefits of holistic treatment.
You will graduate with a recognised qualification and an increased confidence in delivering best-practice care for those living with an eating disorder.
Research Excellence Framework 2014
Research Excellence Framework 2014: 20% of our research in the Public Health, Health Services and Primary Care unit is world leading or internationally excellent.
You will be taught by experts who practice in the field, including course leader Ursula Philpot, former Chair of The British Dietetic Association's Mental Health Group and who has appeared as the on-screen dietitian for the Channel 4 series Supersize vs Superskinny.
We provide you with a great environment for networking - an opportunity to talk with your peers in healthcare, share ideas and learn. You'll also have access to our Communications Suite, allowing you to try out and get feedback on your developing practical skills.
Because you'll be studying at the same time as working, you'll be able to go back to your workplace and apply your learning straight away.
Your enhanced knowledge and skills will ensure you have the confidence to make a significant contribution in your role and in the field of eating disorders. Whether working in the public sector, in private practice or for charitable organisations, you will have studied a range of topics alongside a variety of fellow health professionals, giving you an astute understanding of what it takes to holistically treat service users.
