MSc Dietetics ( Pre-Registration )
Dietetic education at Queen Margaret University is well established with strong employability rates . This course is for graduates of biological sciences who want to extend their studies into the professional field of dietetics .
Delivered full-time , the course has a clinical and health promotion focus . It includes three practice placements and on completion you will be able to apply for registration with the Health and Care Professions Council ( HCPC ) to work as a dietitian .
This course provides graduates of biological sciences with a route into a fulfilling career , helping people improve their health and wellbeing and their quality of life .
Dietetics is the management of diseases that are amenable to dietary intervention , and the prevention of nutrition-related disorders . A dietitian influences food selection and eating behaviour of an individual based on specific nutritional or food requirements .
As a dietitian , you will translate scientific information about nutrition into practical advice to help people make healthconscious decisions about food . You will assess , diagnose and treat diet-related problems and aim to raise awareness of the link between food , health and disease to prevent future problems and treat existing nutrition-related problems . Dietitians are a key part of the healthcare team and are the only nutrition professionals to be statutorily regulated .
The course takes you through a clinically and practically focused study of disease , health , food and nutrition . With a clinical and health promotion focus , the course includes three practice-based placements that allow students to apply and consolidate their theoretical learning .
Structure
The course delivers theoretical and practical campus based learning with three integrated periods of practice based learning . To be awarded the post-graduate MSc Dietetics ( preregistration ) you will be required to complete 320 academic credits and pass the competency-based practice placements .
Teaching , learning and assessment
The emphasis is on student-centred learning where your previous knowledge and skills are used to develop your new subject area . Learning activities include lectures , tutorials , workshops and practical classes and are guided using web-based supporting materials . You will also complete three practical placements to enable the integration of theoretical knowledge with practical experience .
A variety of assessment methods are used across the course . A small cohort ensures that individuals receive excellent support and benefit from sharing their experiences with classmates .
Teaching hours and attendance
Each module is equivalent to a notional 200 hours of work ( or multiple thereof ), which is made up of attendance in class , online learning and independent work . The structure of each module is different with different attendance requirements for each timetabled module . Over an average semester the expectation is that during 14 weeks of teaching students will undertake approximately 40 hours per week of student effort , including contact classes , online learning and independent study time . Students will normally complete the course via a full-time route .
All placements are completed on a full-time basis and in line with the requirements of the dietetic service , normally Monday to Friday , 9am – 5pm .
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Industry links , accreditation and professional registration
This course provides eligibility to apply for registration as a dietitian with the HCPC and is accredited by the British Dietetic Association .
Careers
Career prospects on completion of the course are varied . Most graduates normally choose to work within the NHS as dietitians . Others will work in health education , health promotion , general practice , private healthcare and government advisory posts . Opportunities also exist in the food and pharmaceutical industries in , for example : food labelling , nutrient profiling , product and recipe development , product evaluation and special diet foods . Some graduates may apply for the opportunity to study for a higher degree ( ProfDoc or PhD ).
Modules
Introduction to Dietetic Practice ( Placement A ) ( 20 credits ) ( Includes 2 weeks campus based and 2 weeks practice-based learning ), Essentials of the Dietetic Management ( 20 credits ), Nutrition through the Life Course ( 20 credits ), Disease Aetiology and Management ( 20 credits ), Dietetic Management of Long-Term Conditions ( 20 ), Epidemiology in Public Health ( 20 credits ), Developing Dietetic Practice ( Placement B ) ( 60 credits ) ( Includes 12 weeks practice-based learning ), Innovative and Emerging Practice ( 40 credits ), Consolidating Dietetic Practice ( Placement C ) ( 60 credits ) ( Includes 12 weeks practice-based learning ), Applying Skills of Critical Enquiry ( 40 credits ).