MSc Dietetics (pre-registration)

Course Title MSc Dietetics (pre-registration)

Qualification MSc

Study Mode Full-time

Accreditation Health and Care professions Council (HCPC) and British Dietetic Association (BDA) approved.

Duration 2 years

Start Date January entry

Location Bournemouth

Dietitians are key members of the healthcare workforce, applying their knowledge of food, nutrition, human science and research to help their patients make good choices. This intensive two-year pre-registration degree will equip you with the skills and knowledge you’ll need as a qualified dietitian. It’s the only Level 7 Dietetics course in Bournemouth that blends teaching, experiential learning at our on-site pro-section lab, in-house and external placements, and hands-on experience.

Using the latest learning technology, you’ll cover food science, food safety, patient assessment, clinical reasoning, acute and chronic disease, meal planning, nutritional assessment, public health, physiology, team working, research methods and the application of research to practice.

During your two years you’ll learn how to translate complex scientific information about nutrition into everyday patient care, ready to embark on a career working with patients including people with chronic illness, children, athletes and those wishing to make better choices about their health.

This course follows the standards of proficiency of the regulator of the profession, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the curriculum framework of the professional body, The British Dietetic Association (BDA).

 

To register your interest for the course or ask any questions about the course, please complete the form at the bottom of the page.

As part of the programme’s accreditation requirements, and in line with British Dietetic Association (BDA) standards, all students must successfully complete a minimum of 1,000 hours of supervised practice placement experience. These placements enable students to apply classroom learning in real-world settings, working with patients, service users, and multidisciplinary teams.

Placements take place across a variety of clinical, community, and food industry settings and are provided through our extensive network of placement partners across Dorset, Hampshire, London, the Isle of Wight, and Wiltshire. Students should be prepared for full-time attendance during placement periods and may be required to travel or relocate to placement locations.

Year 1: Food Service (4 weeks) 

Settings: NHS trusts, schools, and industry environments.

Aim: Introduces students to food service operations while developing key transferable skills in communication, teamwork, audit and evidence-based decision-making.

Year 1: Professional Practice Placement (4 Weeks)

Settings: GP practices, public health services, nursing homes, charities, diabetes education, frailty and other community-based environments.

Aim: Prepares students for dietetic practice by supporting the application and reflection of safe, person-centred care principles using the BDA Model and Process framework.

Year 2: Final (12 week) – Block Placement

Aim: Students consolidate skills through supervised dietetic practice in NHS clinical and community settings.

2027 External Placement Block Dates

Years 1 & 2: 10 – 14 May 2027 Mandatory Preplacement week at HSU

Year 1	Food service  (4 weeks) 17 May – 11 June 2027 *no placement Monday 31 May due to Bank Holiday 14 – 18 June Post placement consolidation, feedback week at HSU Professional placement (4 weeks) 21 June – 16 July 2027 19 – 23 July Post placement consolidation and feedback week at HSU
Year 2	Clinical placement (12 weeks) Group split into Summer of Autumn block Summer 17 May – 6 August OR 6 September – 26 November 2027

Tuition Fees 2025/26

UK/ROI/Channel Islands

£9,535 per annum

International

£19,294 per annum

Please note that these fees are for the 2025-26 academic year only and may be subject to increase in subsequent years of study. Any increase will be in line with our Tuition Fees Policy but will not be more than 5%.

Tuition Fees 2026/27

UK/ROI/Channel Islands

£9,790

International

£17,684

These fees are for the 2026/27 academic year only and may be subject to an increase in subsequent years of study. Any future increase will be in line with our Tuition Fees Policy which can be accessed on our Study Money Matters page.

Additional Course Costs

For more information see Additional Costs page.

• Students will be required to attend placements which will take place in NHS settings. Whilst we aim to keep student placements close to the University College campus, it may be necessary for some travel to be required. The costs associated with attending placements are the student’s responsibility and should be factored into their annual budgeting for the course.
• Students will be expected to have an electronic device on which they can access course materials. They will need a secure internet connection with enough bandwidth to stream videos and online content. Students will also be expected to purchase copies of any required textbooks and may wish to purchase their own copies of some recommended textbooks. Books are estimated to cost between £50 and £200. There are no direct printing costs, but some students may prefer to print out materials. Students may have to bear the costs of accessing articles not already accessible through our learning services, all access to articles held by our learning services is included in the yearly fee.

More information

The Funding Clinic (Funding information for studying the allied health professions)

Should you have any questions on course fees please see our Fees and Payment Information page or contact our admissions team on the form below.