Program Overview

Introduction to the MSc Dietetics Program

The MSc Dietetics program at Birmingham City University is designed to provide students with the knowledge, skills, and professional approach needed for practice in a contemporary healthcare environment. This postgraduate degree in Dietetics will equip students with the core knowledge and skills to enable them to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and to secure employment as a dietitian in a variety of roles.

Program Overview

The program is delivered full-time over a minimum of two years, with each year comprising 45 weeks of learning. This includes a minimum of 1,000 hours in practice-based learning (PBL) opportunities, ensuring that students have sufficient opportunity to achieve the required practice competencies.

Entry Requirements

Applicants will normally be expected to have a 2:1 honours degree, or equivalent, which includes the study of human physiology and biochemistry. Suitable degrees include biomedical science, human nutrition, nutritional science, biochemistry, human biology, physiology, or health sciences. Applicants will also be expected to have 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.

Fees and Funding

The annual tuition fee for UK students is ｣9,790. Nursing, Midwifery, and Allied Health Profession degree students are eligible to apply for ｣5,000 a year in funding support. The Government is proposing to increase the cap on full-time regulated tuition fees, and the University is planning to increase fees to the maximum level once legislation is enacted.

Course Structure

The program consists of several core modules, including:

• Evidence-Based Professional Practice (20 credits)
• The Foundations of Dietetic Practice (20 credits)
• Nutrition, Metabolism, Pathology, and Pharmacology (20 credits)
• Food Science, Food Skills, and Applied Nutrition (20 credits)
• Prevention and Intervention in Dietetic Practice 1 (20 credits)
• Consolidating Professional Practice (Dietetics) (20 credits)
• Prevention and Intervention in Dietetic Practice 2 (20 credits)
• MSc Healthcare Professional Project Module (40 credits)

Practice-Based Learning

Students will complete a minimum of 1000 practice-based learning (PBL) hours across the program. PBL opportunities will be allocated by the BCU Dietetics PBL Lead and Course Lead, and students will be required to complete a range of tasks and assessments to demonstrate their competence.

Employability

The program will equip students with the core knowledge and skills to enable them to apply for registration with the HCPC and to secure employment as a dietitian in a variety of roles. Integrated practice learning will allow students to build relationships with local employers, both NHS and non-NHS, and the inter-professional learning interspersed in the course will enable students to work effectively as part of a team.

Facilities and Staff

The University has invested over ｣500 million in its facilities, including an upgrade to its Skills and Simulation facilities at City South Campus. The program is led by experienced academics and practitioners, including Lynsey Richards, Senior Lecturer and Course Lead for MSc Dietetics, and Sean McIntosh, Lecturer in Dietetics.

Accreditation

The program is accredited by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), and successful completion of the MSc Dietetics confers eligibility to apply for registration with the HCPC.