MSc Dietetics, University of Reading

Develop the knowledge and skills required for a career as a dietitian with our MSc Dietetics degree.

What you’ll learn

Our two-year MSc Dietetics programme prepares you to:

work with patients, service users and other professionals within clinical settings such the National Health Service (NHS) and other providers
deliver evidence-based dietetic practice and innovative public health nutrition initiatives
use dietary manipulation and food to treat existing disease and optimise health, both at individual and population level.

Our mission for nutrition and dietetics at Reading is to a create sustainable healthy food system for all.

Skills you’ll gain

Our MSc Dietetics course will place you at the heart of the discussion on nutrition, health and sustainable food systems. You will:

gain a detailed knowledge and understanding of dietetics in the context of improving and sustaining health, as well as treating disease at individual, group and population levels
identify the factors that influence food choice and food behaviour
learn a range of techniques and technologies to communicate sensitive information to a variety of audiences
meet the criteria for the HCPC Standards of Proficiency and be eligible to apply for registration as a dietitian.

Choose MSc Dietetics at The University of Reading

Take advantage of being a member of the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, where:

we have over 40 years' experience of clinical education at The University of Reading
our Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences is the largest of its kind in the UK
our Hugh SInclair Unit of Human Nutrition (HSUHN) has an international reputation for our research into the relationship between diet and the risk of chronic diseases
we are the anchor institution in our region drawing partners from NHS, government and voluntary and community groups.

Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences at The University of Reading

Our Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences offers a welcoming environment, where you’ll benefit from renowned experts in food and health, including:

Professor Orla Kennedy, Director of the MSc Dietetics programme
Professor Julie Lovegrove, Head of the Hugh SInclair Unit of Human Nutrition.

As part of the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, and the wider University of Reading community, you will:

use our state-of-the-art clinical, research and teaching facilities, including the Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, our Clinical Skills Suite and our Test Kitchens
be a part of our interprofessional clinical learning environment with other trainee clinicians, including Pharmacists, Physician Associates and Speech and Language Therapists
take part in placements supported by professional dietetic educators and allied health professionals.

Overview

Develop the knowledge and skills required for a career as a dietitian with our MSc Dietetics degree.

What you’ll learn

Our two-year MSc Dietetics programme prepares you to:

work with patients, service users and other professionals within clinical settings such the National Health Service (NHS) and other providers
deliver evidence-based dietetic practice and innovative public health nutrition initiatives
use dietary manipulation and food to treat existing disease and optimise health, both at individual and population level.

Our mission for nutrition and dietetics at Reading is to a create sustainable healthy food system for all.

Skills you’ll gain

Our MSc Dietetics course will place you at the heart of the discussion on nutrition, health and sustainable food systems. You will:

gain a detailed knowledge and understanding of dietetics in the context of improving and sustaining health, as well as treating disease at individual, group and population levels
identify the factors that influence food choice and food behaviour
learn a range of techniques and technologies to communicate sensitive information to a variety of audiences
meet the criteria for the HCPC Standards of Proficiency and be eligible to apply for registration as a dietitian.

Choose MSc Dietetics at The University of Reading

Take advantage of being a member of the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, where:

we have over 40 years' experience of clinical education at The University of Reading
our Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences is the largest of its kind in the UK
our Hugh SInclair Unit of Human Nutrition (HSUHN) has an international reputation for our research into the relationship between diet and the risk of chronic diseases
we are the anchor institution in our region drawing partners from NHS, government and voluntary and community groups.

Learning

Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences at The University of Reading

Our Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences offers a welcoming environment, where you’ll benefit from renowned experts in food and health, including:

Professor Orla Kennedy, Director of the MSc Dietetics programme
Professor Julie Lovegrove, Head of the Hugh SInclair Unit of Human Nutrition.

As part of the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, and the wider University of Reading community, you will:

use our state-of-the-art clinical, research and teaching facilities, including the Hugh Sinclair Unit of Human Nutrition, our Clinical Skills Suite and our Test Kitchens
be a part of our interprofessional clinical learning environment with other trainee clinicians, including Pharmacists, Physician Associates and Speech and Language Therapists
take part in placements supported by professional dietetic educators and allied health professionals.

Entry requirements

Academic entry requirements

Applicants are typically required to have a good undergraduate honours degree (2.1 or above or international equivalent), in a relevant life science, health science or bioscience subject which contains an acceptable level of human physiology and biochemistry (at level 5). For example, this could include: nutrition, nutritional sciences, biological sciences, biomedical sciences, biochemistry, pharmacy, health sciences, food science, applied nutrition, sports and exercise science or psychology.

Evidence of recent study is normally required if your first degree, or a subsequent postgraduate degree, was completed more than five years ago, such as a relevant undergraduate or master's module, Access course or relevant continuing professional development (CPD) qualifications. In some cases we may ask you to complete an assignment as part of the short-listing process.

More information on our recognition of prior learning which includes prior experiential learning can be found in our Recognition of Prior Learning document.

IELTS

7.0 overall with no individual element lower than 6.5.

Pre-sessional English language Programme

Our Pre-sessional English Programme is for international students who need to meet their degree programme English language requirements.

Our courses equip you with the skills and language needed for academic success, including critical thinking, self-reflection, learner autonomy, research skills and integrating sources. The Pre-sessional English Programme is accredited by the global association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes, which guarantees you will receive a high-quality student experience.

To find out more, visit Pre-sessional English.

Experience

Direct experience of working with people in a clinical health care settings is desirable, although we recognise that can be difficult to obtain such experience, you will need to show a good understanding of the role of dietitians.

Supporting Information

As part of your application, we will also need:

a 500-word personal statement outlining why you want to become a dietitian, your knowledge of the profession, any relevant work or volunteering experience, and provide evidence of skills and behaviours developed through individual and team-based working
two references, one of which should be from an academic setting. If you completed your studies, more than five years ago, then we will accept two professional references.

Interviews

Places on the course are limited and if you are shortlisted, you will be invited to attend an online interview to assess your knowledge of the profession and include scenarios to assess your suitability for the profession and the wider health care sector.

Our interviews will likely take place in late spring/ early summer 2025. More information will be provided at a later stage and if you are invited to attend an interview to study on the programme.

Additional requirements

Demand for places on our professional health courses is high, and all successful applicants will be required to pay a £1,000 deposit to hold their place on the course. In addition, and prior to enrolment, you will need to have a satisfactory enhanced criminal conviction check, known as a Disclosure and Barring service Clearance (DBS) and an Occupational Health Check.

Structure

Modules

Nutrition Concepts

You will be introduced to the fundamental concepts of nutrition, including macro- and micronutrients, water, alcohol, anti-nutrients, bioactives and their metabolism and role in human health. You will explore the development of dietary reference values and recommendations, alongside techniques used in nutrition research.

Dietetic Theory and Practice

The module will enable you to understand what safe and ethical practice is with the remit of working as a dietitian. It will give you the skills to reflect and evaluate your own practice and seek ways to improve it

Clinical Dietetics

You will cover the scientific basis for nutritional support, medical ethics and nutritional counselling. The module will focus on healthy, sick and metabolically compromised patients. It will help you build skills on clinical nutrition with respect physiological systems and learn about how diet can be used to prevent, treat and support human disease.

Applied Nutrition

Learn the skills to evaluate an individual’s food and nutrient intake and provide critical insight into the results. You will develop the ability to conduct anthropometrical assessments. You will have the opportunity to work with practice-based educators to interpret real-life clinical case-studies

Public Health Nutrition and Consumer Food Choice

This module will introduce you to policy, food choice and nutrition behaviour change in the context of public health nutrition. Factors that influence food choice across the lifespan will be explored and debated using a variety of communication tools.

Food Composition and Safety

Gain an understanding of the chemical composition and properties of foods and how major food components/macronutrients and permitted food additives impact on food quality. You will also develop your understanding of the implementation of food quality management systems (e.g., HACCP) within the food industry, catering, organisations and institutions.

Practice-based learning (multiple modules)

You will translate theory into practice in acute/ community clinical settings. Develop your confidence in obtaining information from service users and giving accurate dietary advice. You will also develop skills in collecting, assessing and recording information as well as interpersonal and social skills through communication with service users and health care professionals.

Prevention and intervention in Dietetic practice

Further develop the knowledge and skills to enable you to deliver evidence-based dietetic practice with adults and children at an individual, group and community level. You will have the opportunity to consolidate your understanding of the dietetic management of long-term conditions in different population groups. It will also further develop your skills around planning and delivering nutrition education sessions, undertaking one to one consultations.

Advanced Clinical Dietetics

Consolidate your understanding of the impact of clinical conditions on nutritional status. You will explore the principles, strengths and limitations of nutritional assessment, nutritional diagnosis, nutritional interventions, patient/client monitoring and outcome evaluation in a range of clinical conditions requiring dietetic management in the acute care setting.

Professional Practice for Dietitians

Professional expectations and regulations for working within dietetics, including professional competency and safeguarding; focus on the legal and ethical issues and responsibilities within the profession. Aspects such as the use of communications technology, structure of electronic health records and appropriate record keeping will be also covered.

Research Project in Dietetics

You will have the opportunity to undertake a detailed research project on an individual topic. This may be linked to the current research activities in the department or with one of our practice learning providers. Projects involve the collection and analysis of data and this can be undertaken in a laboratory, at a desk or in industry/ clinical/professional settings. Throughout the project you will work as an independent research scientist, helping to design the project, undertake the research and write up the analysis.

Please note that our modules may be subject to change as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Please note that the University cannot guarantee that all optional modules will be available to all students who may wish to take them.

You can also register your details with us to receive information about your course of interest and study and life at the University of Reading.

Fees

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £12,800 per academic year

New international students: £30,950 per academic year.

Tuition fee information

The fees listed are for full-time study, unless otherwise stated. Fee information will be confirmed in offer letters sent out to successful applicants. You can find further information, including information for part-time study, through our dedicated fees and funding page.

EU student fees

With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government’s guidance for EU students.

Additional costs

During your programme of study, you will incur some additional costs:

Books:

For textbooks and similar learning resources, we recommend that you budget between £50 to £150 a year. Some books may be available second-hand, which will reduce costs.

A range of resources to support your curriculum, including textbooks and electronic resources, are available through the library. Reading lists and module specific costs will be listed on the individual module descriptions.

Practice-based learning:

There will be costs associated with travel and accommodation for practice placements for providers that are located geographically further away. Support with these costs may be available from the NHS Learning Support Fund.

Professional Dress:

The NHS National Healthcare Uniform project is being rolled out at an individual trust level. The base colour for smart scrub tunic style tops for all Allied Health professionals (AHP’s) has been agreed as either white or dark magenta. We will work with practice-based learning providers to ensure that you are in suitable professional attire/dress code in line with their policies.

DBS Check:

As part of ensuring the safety of students, patients and the public, you will have to undergo police (Disclosure & Barring Service) and health checks.

Professional Fees:

BDA student membership is free for the first year of study and discounted for later years. Benefits of student membership can be found on the British DIetitian Association website.

Scholarships and financial support

For information about the University of Reading’s master’s scholarships, please visit our master’s scholarships page.

You can apply for a scholarship once you hold an offer of admission for your course. If you are eligible for a scholarship, we will contact you to guide you through the process.

Careers

Careers for MSc Dietitics graduates

As health services in the United Kingdom continue to evolve and change at a fast pace, we expect the majority of our graduates will go on to work in the National Health Service (NHS). This could be:

working in an NHS hospital as a dietitian
working in a community setting as a dietitian.

In addition, an MSc Dietetics graduate could use their knowledge to work:

in research
in a government setting
within the food industry.

Further information on working in the NHS can be found on the NHS Careers website. The British Dietetic Association (BDA) has also developed a suite of resources to support those wishing to enter the field of dietetics.

MSc Dietetics

What you’ll learn

Skills you’ll gain

Choose MSc Dietetics at The University of Reading

Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences at The University of Reading

Tuition fee information

EU student fees

Additional costs

Books:

Practice-based learning:

Professional Dress:

DBS Check:

Professional Fees:

Scholarships and financial support

Careers for MSc Dietitics graduates

Ready for more?