Dietetics


Dietitians

Dietitians strive to provide the best possible nutritional care for clients with acute and chronic health conditions.

As a dietitian you'll translate the most up-to-date scientific and public health research about nutrition into practical advice to help people make health-conscious decisions about food and lifestyle.

You'll treat complex clinical conditions such as:

  • chronic fatigue

  • diabetes

  • eating disorders

  • food allergies and intolerance

  • irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

  • kidney failure

  • malnutrition.

As well as working in the NHS and private clinics, you can also work in areas such as the community, learning disabilities, mental health, public health and acute settings. You will also advise on food and health policy at a national, local and individual level.

Dietitians are a key part of the healthcare team and are the only nutrition professionals that are statutorily regulated.

Entry Requirements

https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/allied-health-professionals/roles-allied-health-professions/dietitian/entry-requirements-and-training-dietitian

To practise as a dietitian, you must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). In order to register with the HCPC, you must first successfully complete an approved degree in dietetics. This is usually a BSc (Hons) degree, although there are shortened postgraduate programmes if you already have a relevant first degree. A degree apprenticeship standard in dietetics has also been approved.

Courses are three or four years. If you already have a degree in a life science subject, with an acceptable level of human physiology and biochemistry, you can take a postgraduate Diploma or Masters in dietetics.

Courses are a mixture of theory and practical work. They cover biochemistry, psychology, nutrition, physiology and communication skills. Practical training is in hospital and community settings.

For an undergraduate degree, you need

  • two or three A levels, including chemistry, maths or biology, along with five GCSEs (grades A-C), including English language and maths

or

  • BTEC, HND or HNC which includes science subjects

  • relevant NVQ

  • science-based access course

  • equivalent level Scottish or Irish qualifications

To get onto a postgraduate course you will normally be expected to hold an honours degree which contains an acceptable level of human physiology and biochemistry.


Degree apprenticeship

A degree apprenticeship in dietetics has been approved. This will offer an alternative route to registration with the HCPC. There are no nationally set entry requirements for degree apprenticeships - this will be down to the employer offering the apprenticeship - but you will typically need level 3 qualifications as you will be studying at degree level. Apprenticeships will be with employers, with study at university and vacancies will appear on the NHS Jobs website and the Government's Find an Apprenticeship website.

Once you’ve successfully completed a programme approved by the HCPC, you are then eligible to apply for registration with the HCPC. Once registered as a practitioner, you’ll be required to retain your name on the register by keeping your knowledge and skills up to date and paying an annual retention fee.

Application

interview help

Interview Questions

Some questions could include:

  • Why do you want to be a dietician?

  • What do you know of the roles and responsibilities of a dietician?

  • What qualities do you need to be a good dietician? Think about how your talents and skills match the qualities needed.

  • Also consider what you would want from a dietician.

  • Tell us about your work experience. What did you learn from it? Was it a daunting experience?

  • Why have you chosen to apply to this university; what do you know about our course; have you been to an Open Day?

  • What current issues in dietetics interest/are of concern to you?

career videos

Working as a dietitian

Day in the Life of a Dietician

Meet Scott, a dietitian

A career as a dietitian