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Dietetics MDiet

  • UCAS code: B401
  • Full time
  • 4 years

This integrated master's dietetics degree will equip you with the specialist knowledge and skills needed to become a competent and effective dietitian.

You are currently viewing course information for entry year: 2024-25


Next start date:

  • September 2024

Fees (per year)

  • Home: £9250
  • International: £25800

Entry requirements and offers

  • A-Level: AAA-AAB
  • IB: 34-36 points

UCAS Institution name and code:

  • NEWC / N21

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.

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 2023-24.

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
Microbiology and Immunology 15
Food Studies 20
Introduction to Dietetics 10
Fundamental Principles of Genetics and Biochemistry for Nutrition 15
Human Physiology and Practical Skills 30
Introduction to Nutrition 10
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

Professional Practice in Dietetics (20 credits)

Quality Improvement and Service Redesign (20 credits)

Masters Research Project (60 credits)

Practice-based Learning for Dietitians (20 credits)

 

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 and pharmacists.

Chat with a Dietetics student

Sophie

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.

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.

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

Entry requirements

All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements and offers below apply to 2024 entry.

A-Level
International Baccalaureate

Other UK and the Republic of Ireland qualifications

Contextual Offers

Through one of our contextual routes, you could receive an offer of up to three grades lower than the typical requirements.

What is a contextual offer? Find out more and if you’re eligible for this or our PARTNERS Programme supported entry route.

Qualifications from outside the UK

English Language requirements

Entrance courses (INTO)

International Pathway Courses are specialist programmes designed for international students who want to study in the UK. We provide a range of study options for international students in partnership with INTO. 

Find out more about International Pathway Courses

Admissions policy

This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.

Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course.

Interviews

Applicants we feel may be suitable for the course will be invited to an interview. The interview aims to find out more about the applicants' experiences, views, compatibility with our programme and potential as a dietitian. All interviews will take place online

Fitness to Practise

Applicants must satisfy Fitness to Practise requirements on admission to the course. This includes:

  • completing an Occupational Health Questionnaire on entry
  • complying with the Department of Health’s guidance on health clearance for healthcare workers

Students should provide proof of their immunisation status or undergo vaccination as appropriate. Students will need to submit an acceptable disclosure and barring service (DBS) clearance.

Students coming direct to the course from a country outside of the UK must:

  • provide a letter of good conduct from their home country
  • submit an acceptable DBS at the end of the first year

Tuition fees and scholarships

Tuition fees for 2024 entry (per year)

Qualification: MDiet

Home students

full time 4 years

Tuition fees (per year)

9250

International students

full time 4 years

Tuition fees (per year)

25800

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.

Find out more about:

Scholarships

Find out more about:

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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

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