Explore the science and application of dietetics in simulated and real environments, developing the skills for a career in the fast-moving healthcare and industry sectors.
Explore dietetic connections with biomedical, food and nutritional sciences.
Enhance your dietetic skills with academic study, simulated practice and placements.
Apply diet therapy to promote health and manage various conditions.
Learn from internationally and nationally renowned, award-winning dietitians.
Gain eligibility for HCPC registration – compulsory for UK Dietitians.

Personalising dietetic care for diverse users and training in cutting-edge simulation suites, you’ll graduate from a course with high employment rates. You’ll gain advanced skills on a Master's degree that supports your career progression and enables you to excel professionally. Follow us on Instagram and TikTok (@SHUDietetics) to see what our students are engaging in on the course.

Work placements

You’ll apply the theory you study to practice-based learning experiences. Here you’ll develop critical and ethical approaches to your practice – preparing you to become a life-long, competent professional. The experiences you’re provided with are compulsory to achieve the course’s practice-based learning outcomes.

These experiences will help you build your skills, confidence, creativity, resilience, integrity, and curiosity. They’ll take place in different practice-based learning environments – reflecting the range of ways services are currently delivered. This might include simulated learning and virtual placements, alongside real-world experience of services delivered face to face to service users. 

We’ll ensure the practice-based learning element of your course complies with the requirements of the Professional and Statutory Regulatory Body (PSRB) – which governs the dietetics profession. So by the end of your course, you’ll have the opportunity to show that you meet the requirements to register as a dietitian.

All our courses are designed around a set of key principles based on engaging you with the world, collaborating with others, challenging you to think in new ways, and providing you with a supportive environment in which you can thrive.

Throughout the course you’ll reinforce your learning with group discussion and directed study. You’ll apply theory to practice in simulated and practical learning experiences. You’ll graduate as a skilled, autonomous professional – ready for employment in a range of health and social care settings.

You learn through

• practice placements (three part-time and one full-time) in a variety of health and social care settings
• academic study and coursework
• group discussion
• a substantial final year project or dissertation focusing on researching practice

You’ll develop a critical approach to the evidence that underpins dietetics – gaining a deeper understanding of current issues at the forefront of clinical practice. This will prepare you for conducting your own research in the field.

This course prepares you for a dietetics career in

• health and social care settings
• NHS acute, primary care and mental health settings
• public health
• wellbeing and health promotion
• service user organisations
• the food industry
• media
• research
• higher education
• independent practice

 

First degree, normally at level 2:1 or above in a relevant science subject, such as biological or health sciences, nutrition, sport and exercise science.

Human physiology and biochemistry should be studied to level 5 or equivalent in first degree.

Experience of research or knowledge of research methods.

GCSE English and Maths C (Grade 4) or equivalent.

For international applicants IELTS 7.0 with no components below 6.0. Applicants must have a good command of written and spoken English on entry to the course. Please note, upon successful completion of the course graduates are eligible for registration with the Health Care and Professions Council. At point of registration, for international applicants IELTS must reveal no components below 6.5.

Helping your application succeed

Experience

Experience of interacting with members of the public from a range of backgrounds in different settings is essential when applying to a health or social care course. This is so you will have an understanding of the diversity of the population who access health and social care.  It is important to be able to understand and explain how your experiences relate to the activities and qualities which are required for the profession at your interview.

Reference

You must provide a reference from a current or recent employer or educational institution.

Interview

If you are shortlisted, we will invite you to an online interview. To confirm your identity on the day please bring a valid form of photo ID with you, preferably a passport or photo driving licence.

View our interview guidance to ensure you understand the interviews process and how you can prepare for this.   

Course enrolment - professional requirements

Before enrolling you must fully declare the following information on the pre-admission declaration form provided during the admissions process:

• unfiltered criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings. For further information on unfiltered offences please see the Disclosure and Barring Service website.
• involvement in disciplinary proceedings during paid or voluntary employment or education establishments
• involvement with safeguarding proceedings, social services or related organisations
• enrolment on a health or social work professional course at another University

In addition

Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service Criminal Record Check

• you will be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) criminal record check prior to or during the enrolment week of your course. This will be provided by the University free of charge.
• you will need to present valid identity documents (PDF) as part of the application process
• if you have lived outside of the UK for more than six consecutive months in the last five years you must provide an overseas criminal record check. Further information on obtaining an overseas criminal record check.
• where your DBS Enhanced Disclosure certificate contains any recorded information you must present this to the Professional Issues Team within ten working days of receipt of the certificate.

Occupational Health Screening

You will need to undertake occupational health screening to determine your suitability to undertake the course. This will be provided by the University free of charge. As part of this assessment you are expected to provide all relevant, truthful and accurate information to ensure a safe environment for yourself and service users.

Immunisations

You must undertake a programme of immunisations as required by the Department of Health and meet the immunisation and immunity requirements of placement providers. This will be provided by the University free of charge. Please obtain details of your immunisation history from your doctor so you can submit this during your Occupational Health Screening.

Pre-course Day

After completing the above professional checks, if you reside in the UK it is important for you to make every reasonable attempt to attend a Pre-Course Day event to undertake the next stage of the professional requirements for your course. The pre-course day is also a good opportunity to meet fellow applicants on the health & social care courses who will be starting their studies at the same time as you, as well as some current students and teaching staff. We will look forward to welcoming you on the day.

Other professional suitability information

Your full enrolment on your course will be confirmed when the Professional Issues Team have verified that your Enhanced DBS Disclosure (and overseas criminal record check where relevant) indicates that you are suitable to work with vulnerable groups including children and clearance from your health screening has been received. 

If your personal circumstances change in relation to any of the professional requirements, from when you apply to the end of your course, please tell the Professional Issues team immediately by calling 0114 225 5637 or emailing HWB-Professional-Issues@shu.ac.uk.

Disability support

We strongly recommend that you tell us about any long term health conditions, learning difficulty or disability you may have. This is so we can assess whether we can deliver the course in such a way that you can meet the Health and Care Professions Council standards of proficiency and take part without disadvantage both in University and on placement.

You can contact our disability coordinator on 0114 225 2588 to explore any issues you may have, or you can contact our university disabled student support team on 0114 225 3964 (voice and Minicom).

The Disability Disclosure booklet provides information for students on health and social care courses and will help you understand the importance of disclosing your disability at the earliest possible stage. This is so you can be assessed for the support you may require to succeed on the course.

Open day

Our online open days give you an opportunity to chat live to our teaching staff and current students. You can explore the campus and view our facilities virtually as well as asking any questions you may have. To book your place at one of our online open days please follow this link: University open days.

Important notice:

 

The structure of this course is periodically reviewed and enhanced to provide the best possible learning experience for our students and ensure ongoing compliance with any professional, statutory and regulatory body standards. Module structure, content, delivery and assessment may change, but we expect the focus of the course and the learning outcomes to remain as described above. Following any changes, updated module information will be published on this page.

Year 1 Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Developing And Applying Dietetic Practice	20	Practical
Evaluating Research Methodologies	20	Coursework
Practice Experience A
Practice Experience B1
Principles In Dietetic Practice	40	Coursework

 

 

 

Final Year Compulsory modules
Module	Credits	Assessment
Advancing Dietetic Practice	40	Coursework
Creating Original Practice	40	Coursework
Evaluating Complexity In Practice	20	Practical
Practice Experience B2
Practice Experience C