Dietetics MDiet

Clearing - How to apply

What is Clearing?

Each year, universities may have spaces left on their courses after the application window has closed in June.

UCAS Clearing is your opportunity to snap up one of these places, even if you didn't apply to the university prior to the June deadline.

It also gives you a second chance to go to university if you didn't get the grades you needed for your firm and insurance offers.

How do I get in touch?

Our Clearing entry requirements may differ from those advertised; contacting our friendly advisers is the best way to find out if you’re eligible for a place.

You can get in touch through live chat or our hotlines. Call us on 0800 073 5050, or if you’re an international student calling from outside the UK, call: +44 191 222 5000.

Not available in Clearing

This course is not available in Clearing 2024.

This means there are no spaces available for Clearing 2024. If you can't find vacancies in your original course or subject area, try exploring other subjects in a related field.

Search our courses in Clearing

Course overview

This degree focuses on the effect of nutrition on the functioning of the human body in health and disease. It equips you with specialist knowledge and skills in preventing, treating and managing ill health with food, nutrients and dietary change.

This is the first undergraduate Dietetics programme in the North East of England. You'll benefit from newly built, state-of-the-art facilities and our world-class research. Innovative and exciting teaching practices, including the use of case-based teaching, simulated learning opportunities, and integrated practice placements ensure you're well prepared for your future career.

Dietetics is a broad-based subject and you'll study topics ranging from the natural and clinical sciences through to the social sciences. This degree includes a year of study at master’s level to enhance your leadership skills and ability to influence future dietetic practice, as well as offering significant research experience.

Our Nutrition and Dietetics courses sit in the School of Biomedical, Nutritional and Sports Sciences.

Download information about this course as a PDF

Your course and study experience - disclaimers and terms and conditions  
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.

View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.

See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.

Quality and ranking

Professional accreditation and recognition

All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body.

Modules and learning

Modules

The information below is intended to provide an example of what you will study.

Most degrees are divided into stages. Each stage lasts for one academic year, and you'll complete modules totalling 120 credits by the end of each stage. 

Our teaching is informed by research. Course content may change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.

Optional module availability
Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.

Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.

To find out more please see our terms and conditions

Stage 1 provides an understanding of human biology, physiology and biochemistry, and builds on this through the consideration of microbiology and human metabolism.

You will gain an understanding of food commodities and agri-food systems, and will also be introduced to the structure and properties of nutrients.

In addition, you will begin to consider your professional identity through undertaking observational and experiential visits to food and care setting, and will explore and reflect on ethics and values related to food, health and social care provision.

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Introduction to Dietetics	10
Fundamental Principles of Genetics and Biochemistry for Nutrition	15
Human Physiology and Practical Skills	30
Introduction to Food and Nutrition	15
Sustainable & Secure Food Systems	15
Microbiology and Immunology for Food and Health	15
Bioenergetics	20

Stage 2 develops your knowledge of macro- and micro-nutrients and the evidence base for recommended nutrient intakes through the lifecycle.

Knowledge and skills in measurement and assessment of dietary intake and nutritional status are developed, and you will gain a deeper understanding of sociological and psychological aspects of diet and health. You'll use a case-based approach for developing your knowledge and understanding of therapeutic diets.

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Health and Illness: Professional and Societal Perspectives	10
Health Psychology and Behaviour Change	10
Applied Therapeutic Diets	30
Macro- and Micronutrients	20
Food Science and Technology	20
Nutrition Through the Lifecycle	10
Measurement and Assessment of Dietary Intake and Nutritional Status	20

Using a case-based approach, Stage 3 aims to advance your knowledge of aetiology and pathophysiology of diseases and conditions and integrate this with the clinical, pharmacological and evidence-based dietetic treatments.

Simulated learning and practice placement experiences will facilitate development of dietetic consultation skills and the application of your learning in practice.

You will also gain a detailed understanding of nutritional epidemiology and how it informs public health strategy and practice, and develop your research skills through undertaking a systematic literature review.

 

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Clinical Medicine and Dietetic Practice	30
Dissertation	30
Consultation Skills for Dietetics	20
Personalised Nutrition	10
Nutritional Epidemiology and Public Health	30

In Stage 4, you will complete your practice learning experiences, ensuring that you have the skills necessary for registration as a dietitian.

You will also develop higher-level cognitive and analytical skills through the completion of master's research project, contributing to the evidence base in nutrition, dietetics and public health.

You will engage in quality improvement and service redesign within a dietetic context to develop skills and leadership in shaping the future of dietetic practice, and will undertake a module in clinical education and supervision of students.

 

Modules

Compulsory Modules	Credits
Professional Practice in Dietetics	20
Quality Improvement and Service Redesign in Healthcare	20
Research Project	60

Optional Modules	Credits
Practice-based Learning for Dietitians	20
Exercise Metabolism and Sports Nutrition	20

Information about these graphs

We base these figures and graphs on the most up-to-date information available to us. They are based on the modules chosen by our students in 2023-24.

Teaching time is made up of:

• scheduled learning and teaching activities. These are timetabled activities with a member of staff present.
• structured guided learning. These are activities developed by staff to support engagement with module learning. Students or groups of students undertake these activities without direct staff participation or supervision

Teaching and assessment

Teaching methods

We use innovative teaching methods and models in our academic and clinical teaching. Case-based teaching and problem-based learning accompany lectures, seminars/workshops and blended learning approaches.

You'll benefit from the practical learning experiences in our food-handling laboratory, and through undertaking simulation exercises in the Clinical Skills Unit and work with role-play actors.

You'll also take part in inter-professional learning opportunities working alongside students from our dentistry, speech and language therapy and pharmacy and medicine programmes, and gain from the experience of our visiting lecturers who are experts in their field.

Assessment methods

You'll be assessed through a combination of:

• 

  Assessments

• 

  Case studies

• 

  Coursework

• 

  Dissertation or research project

• 

  Examinations – practical or online

• 

  Interviews

• 

  Portfolio submission

• 

  Practical sessions

• 

  Presentations

• 

  Reflective report/journal

Skills and experience

Practical skills

You will be exposed to numerous activities during the programme to enhance your practical skills. This will include practical skills in:

• measurement and assessment of dietary intake and nutritional status/body composition
• menu planning
• recipe modification for therapeutic diets

In addition, you'll undertake pre-practice preparation and simulation training in our on-site clinical skills unit. You'll also benefit from inter-professional learning with other health care students from within the University such as dentists, medics, pharmacists and Speech and Language Therapists.

Opportunities

Work placements (practice placements)

A key component of the course, and preparation for employment as a dietitian, is practice placements. These are integrated through all years of the programme.

In Stages 1 and 2, the placements will include observational and experiential visits to:

• catering and food-related settings
• care settings
• group/population/patient-related activities

These experiences will be within the North East region and provided by NHS trusts, industry and charities. Some of our practice-learning partners for these experiences include:

• Newcastle West End Foodbank
• Simply Food Solutions
• St Anthony’s Community Association
• The People’s Kitchen

In other placements, you'll be given the opportunity to apply theories you've acquired during academic study into the practical work completed by dietitians throughout diverse areas of the health service on a daily basis. Your placements will be based with NHS Trusts in the North East of England, and will be undertaken as follows:

• a one-week placement in a dietetic department during Stage 2
• a 12-week placement in a dietetic department at the end of Stage 3
• a 12-week placement in a dietetic department during Stage 4

These placements fulfil the 1,000 hours practice-based learning requirements of the British Dietetic Association (BDA) curriculum framework and will take place in quality-assured practice settings.

Students will also have the opportunity to complete three weeks as part of B or C placement in non-NHS settings. This will involve a mix of health promotion work including school education, baby clinics, care settings and work with other third sector organisations as well as on campus opportunities with student-led weight management groups and clinics.

Find out more about Placements in Dietetics.

Facilities and environment

Facilities

Our Nutrition and Food courses are based in the School of Biomedical, Nutritional and Sport Sciences at our city-centre campus. Our School is part of the Faculty of Medical Sciences, which is home to Dentistry, Medicine, Psychology and Pharmacy, encouraging inter-professional collaboration. 

You'll have access to our food handling laboratory to help you enhance your practical skills and use of our well-equipped, state-of-the-art laboratories. 

Situated next to Newcastle’s RVI hospital, we’re one of the largest integrated teaching/hospital complexes in the country.

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Support

You'll have the support of an academic member of staff as a personal tutor throughout your degree to help with academic and personal issues.

Peer mentors will help you in your first year. They are fellow students who can help you settle in and answer any questions you have when starting university.

Your future

As registered health care professionals, the practise of dietitians is very broad. A significant proportion of graduates will go on to work in the National Health Service in the UK or similar settings overseas, in both acute and community settings.

They may specialise in working with particular age groups, or clinical conditions, for example paediatrics, gastroenterology, renal, or critical care.

Dietitians also work with populations, through influencing food and public health policy, working with industry and also with the media. Dietitians may also work in education and research, to contribute to the growing evidence base for the practise of dietetics.

Find out more about a career as a dietitian

Make a difference

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Careers support

Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.

Visit our Careers Service website

Recognition of professional qualifications outside of the UK

From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK

Tuition fees and scholarships

Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)

The 2025 home fees have not yet been confirmed (see ‘Home Fee Students’ information below).

Qualification: MDiet
Home students full time 4 years	Tuition fees (per year) Not set
International students full time 4 years	Tuition fees (per year) 30000

Home Fee Students

Home students starting in 2024 entry
£9,250 is the maximum fee that we are currently permitted to charge for home fee-paying students. This is set by the UK government.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Home students starting in 2025 entry

In November 2024 the government increased the maximum fee level to £9,535 for 2025/26. It is expected that Parliament will approve the Government’s proposed increase in January and we intend to confirm our Home fees at this higher level following this.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

 

Read more about fees and funding

International Fee Students

Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.

EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.

If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.

As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.

Read more about fees and funding

Scholarships

We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our undergraduate scholarship page for more information.

Year abroad and additional costs

For programmes where you can spend a year on a work placement or studying abroad, you will receive a significant fee reduction for that year. 

Some of our degrees involve additional costs which are not covered by your tuition fees.

Scholarships

Find out more about:

• scholarships for UK, EU and international students
• Student Loans and Government financial support for UK and EU students

How to apply

Apply through UCAS

To apply for undergraduate study at Newcastle University, you must use the online application system managed by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). All UK schools and colleges, and a small number of EU and international establishments, are registered with UCAS. You will need:

• the UCAS name and institution codes for Newcastle University (NEWC/N21)
• the UCAS code for the course you want to apply for
• the UCAS 'buzzword' for your school or college

If you are applying independently, or are applying from a school or college which is not registered to manage applications, you will still use the Apply system. You will not need a buzzword.

Apply through UCAS

Apply through an agent

International students often apply to us through an agent. Have a look at our recommended agents and get in touch with them.

Visit our International pages