BSc (Hons) Dietetics
Leeds, United Kingdom
BSc
DURATION
3 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
GBP 16,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for international students | for UK students: GBP 9,250 per year
Key Summary
BSc (Hons) Dietetics strive to provide the best possible nutritional care for clients with acute and chronic health conditions.
As part of this course, you’ll:
- Learn to interpret and communicate the science of nutrition
- Understand how to use dietary manipulation and food to treat disease and optimise health
- Gain practical experience in our modern health science, clinical skills and catering laboratories
The Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) regulates dietetics. The title of Dietitian is protected by law. This means that anyone who uses a designated title must be on the HCPC Register. Successful completion of the BSc (Hons) Dietetics course will give you the eligibility to apply for registration with the HCPC after you graduate.
Occupational Health clearance and compliance with standard NHS immunisation requirements are mandatory and essential for placement attendance.
Placements
You’ll undertake practice placements within nutrition and dietetics departments across Yorkshire and the North East of England. Placements will take place:
- At the end of year one (three-week placement)
- At the end of year two (13-week placement)
- During year three (12-week placement)
The placements listed above are a requirement of the British Dietetic Association (BDA) curriculum framework and will take place in quality-assured practice settings.
During your placements, you’ll be allowed to practically apply the theories and evidence you have gained during academic study throughout diverse areas of the health service. You’ll be given time to critically reflect on and enhance your skills and academic knowledge before moving on to the next placement, enabling you to demonstrate continuous development.
Why study Dietetics at Leeds Beckett University...
- 94% of students were positive about the teaching of BSc (Hons) Dietetics*
- Professionally accredited by the British Dietetics Association (BDA) - the only body in the UK representing the whole of the dietetic workforce
- Fantastic placement opportunities - combine your theoretical knowledge with practical experience in real-world settings across Yorkshire and the North East
- Access to specialist facilities - including our food inspection and nutrition labs where you'll enhance your practical research skills
*National Student Survey 2023
There are ways you may be able to fund your course. Sometimes it is possible to get sponsorship from a government body in your country. There are many different options, so have a look through the links carefully to see if they apply to you.
- International Scholarships
- Chevening Scholarships
- US / Canada Direct Loans
Teaching & Learning
Independent study is a crucial part of learning at university and you will be required to undertake many hours of self-directed research and reading, and preparation and writing of assessments. Your course is delivered through several modules, which will help you to plan your time and establish a study routine. Outside of your lectures, workshops and tutorials, a range of support is available to assist with your independent study. Our subject-specific librarians will be on hand to direct you to specialist learning and study-skill resources. You’ll also be assigned an academic advisor to give you tailored feedback and support.
Year 1
What You'll Learn
Human Physiology
Study the mechanisms underpinning normal physiological function in the healthy human body. The role of the nervous system and the endocrine system in the control of homeostasis will be introduced to you before consideration of the operation of key physiological systems in the body including the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, digestive system and renal system.
Personal Development & Communication Skills for Dietitians
Explore the principles upon which the science of nutrition is based including requirements for nutrients and their role in maintaining health. You will also study the nutritional and physiological requirements of identifiable groups throughout the lifespan and consider factors that influence eating habits.
Nutrition
Study the principles upon which the science of nutrition is based including requirements for nutrients and their role in maintaining health. You will also understand the impact of nutrition through the life cycle including cultural, religious and socio-economic influences
Food & Food Science
Gain a foundation for the understanding of microbiology and food science. You will develop your basic laboratory, practical and food skills.
Practice Placement A
During this 3-week work-based awareness placement you will apply knowledge and develop skills to achieve two learning outcomes and associated tasks which are practice-based competencies as agreed with placement providers and in line with HCPC requirements for eligibility for you to apply for registration as a dietitian on successful completion of your course.
Nutritional Biochemistry
Gain an understanding of the chemistry of biological macromolecules and how this relates to function.
Food & Society
Gain an understanding of the sociological and psychological concepts underpinning health and illness. In addition, you will study the concept, theory and practice of health promotion and basic nutrition-related research principles and statistics.
Year 2
What You'll Learn
Nutrition Support
Apply the principles of dietetic practice and nutrition support to patient/client situations. You will build on your understanding of malnutrition and its effects in clinical settings and demonstrate communication skills
Genetics and Lifestyle-Related Conditions
Apply the principles of nutrition practice to a range of lifestyle-related conditions and explore the underpinning genetics.
Professional Development for Dietitians
Develop personal and professional skills and attitudes for successful integration into the workplace appreciating clinical governance initiatives and how they are employed within health and social care.
Research Methodology, Statistics and Evaluation
Further enhance your research knowledge and application, data handling and data manipulation skills. You will also study the concept of critical evaluation and its importance when evaluating scientific research papers about nutrition and dietetics.
Human Metabolism
Gain an understanding of the biochemical processes involved in the extraction of energy from food in humans and how that energy may be utilised to maintain and promote health.
Social Sciences
Understand, integrate and apply the principles of psychology and sociology in long-term disease management.
Applied Clinical Dietetics
Apply the principles of dietetic practice and nutrition intervention to patient/client situations to a range of medical and surgical conditions and acute/chronic disease states.
Practice Placement B
During this 13-week work-based practice placement, you will apply knowledge and develop skills to achieve seven learning outcomes which are practice-based competencies as agreed with Placement providers and in line with HCPC requirements for eligibility to apply for registration as a dietitian on successful completion of the course.
Year 3
What You'll Learn
Clinical Effectiveness and Outcomes
Reflect on your clinical placement experience in several subject and professional areas and measure dietetic practice against current standards and clinical guidelines, while developing an ability to focus on dietetic outcomes and innovative solutions for practice.
Research Project
Develop practical and theoretical research skills through the planning, conducting and presentation of findings of a research project (Primary research or Systematic-type review) with minimum supervision.
Competent Practitioner
Develop yourself in terms of professional autonomy, accountability and proficiency in practice. You will gain a critical appreciation of professional practice and its integration within ethical and legal frameworks underpinned by current health and social care policy.
Mental Health in Practice
Enhance your expertise in the principles of management strategies and facilitation with groups who are affected by mental health and associated impacts on clinical and nutritional intervention.
Paediatrics in Practice
Develop your skills and understanding of the principles of management strategies and facilitation within paediatric groups and associated clinical and nutritional interventions.
Practice Placement C
During this 12-week work-based practice placement, you will continue to apply knowledge and develop skills to achieve four learning outcomes which are practice-based competencies as agreed with Practice Placement providers and in line with HCPC requirements for eligibility to apply for registration as a dietitian on successful completion of the course.
Nutrition Strategies
Further develop your facilitation and enterprise skills, as you utilise your nutrition, dietetic and management skills to select key performance indicators, appropriate resources and evaluation strategies. During this, you will identify and reflect on their leadership skills and development.
At the end of the course, learners will be able to:
- Integrate theoretical concepts from biological, clinical, nutritional, and social sciences with practical application to moderate food and nutritional habits, applying the science of nutrition to individuals and groups by translating theoretical concepts and principles into relevant nutritional advice.
- Develop strong interpersonal skills to enable effective communication through varying media, including the use of information technology, to a wide diversity of individuals and groups while adhering to the HCPC Standards of Performance, Conduct, and Ethics, and practice within legal and ethical boundaries.
- Demonstrate a scientific and critical approach to the application of diet therapy in practice to maintain and enhance health through both the treatment of disease by diet and the promotion of good nutrition.
- Critically reflect, self-evaluate, and commit to the use of research in the evaluation and improvement of practice while recognizing the potential and limitations of nutritional sciences as a practice-based discipline.
- Understand the educational skills and qualities that enable the practitioner to empower individuals to take control of their food choices about their health while appreciating their diverse backgrounds.
- Use enterprising skills to assess, advise, and enable individuals and groups to make appropriate and safe food provision.
This course is highly vocational and will give you the expertise to work as a dietitian. Professional development modules will refine your employability and will give you several transferable skills. Excellent career options will be available to you - around 70 per cent of our recent graduates started their professional careers working for the NHS, while the remainder secured nutrition-related roles or entered further education within six months of graduation. You could also use your expertise to work in the media, within the food industry or in education.