MSc - Nutrition and Behaviour

My name is Consuelo and I am a registered Dietitian and recent graduate from MSc Nutrition & Behaviour at BU.

When I decided to expand my knowledge and skills by pursuing a Master’s degree, the programme at BU instantly stood out from the rest by focusing on the complex link between nutrition and psychology and including a work-based learning experience via a short placement.

During the course, I enjoyed the extensive in-class discussions. By constantly discussing topics with peers with diverse backgrounds, and receiving individualised feedback, I was able to build on my critical thinking and reflective skills. On top of that, all lecturers were very approachable, patient, and enthusiastic. They helped me find a great placement with Apetito UK, in Trowbridge, and were always on hand to provide career advice.

Still, heading into a postgraduate course is challenging. Balancing your workload is difficult. Managing assignments, a dissertation, a placement, a part-time job and allowing room for time off can be overwhelming. I started going on walks every time my brain wasn’t cooperating with me, as per a lecturer’s suggestion. Try and figure out a strategy early on that works for you to benefit your mental health.

Overall, completing this Master’s degree at BU has allowed me to showcase my ability to work autonomously. I have also gained more confidence in my ability to critically evaluate and reflect on nutrition related issues and my ability to communicate these as a team member within the workplace.

Towards the end of my masters, I decided that looking for a full-time job and gaining more work experience and specialising as a Dietitian was what I wanted to do next. I found that many qualities you gain through this programme are very sought after when applying for jobs in nutrition. I would definitely recommend checking out these resources and attending their webinars to get a feel for what UK employers want from graduates and how the interview process works here, as it is very different to what I was used to in my home country, Chile.

I was lucky enough to know exactly what kind of role I wanted to go into after uni, and I will be taking on a post as a Specialist Dietitian within a Mental Health Service for Older People, promoting health and independence for people living with dementia or other mental health needs.