The MSc in Human Nutrition and Dietetics is a full-time programme delivered overtwo years. Graduates will be eligible to apply to the Dietitians Registration Board (CORU) for registration as a dietitian.

Applicants must satisfy the following:

1. Candidates will hold a minimum 2H1 honours primary degree (Level 8 NFQ or equivalent) or a postgraduate degree (Level 9 NFQ or equivalent). Applicants must have successfully completed human physiology and biochemistry modules (a minimum of 10 credits for each module are required) as part of the primary or postgraduate degree. Suitable degrees include: nutrition, biochemistry, physiology, biology, food science, medicine, nursing, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy.
2. Where relevant, candidates will have to prove their proficiency in the English language by achieving at least a score of 7.0 overall with no individual component less than 6.5 (International English Language Testing System).
3. Applicants will be required to submit a personal statement (of up to 500 words), indicating their reasons for applying and stating their suitability to the programme.
4. Two referees should be included with the online application, one of which should be academic and one professional.
5. Applicants will be shortlisted for interview on the basis of educational qualifications, CV, referee references and relevant work experience.
6. All applicants accepted onto the programme will need to have evidence of appropriate vaccinations for working in hospital environments.

Garda Vetting
Students, or applicants in receipt of an offer on this programme will be subject to Garda Vetting as relevant. Students will be prohibited from engaging in a relevant work placement unless the vetting process has been cleared. Click here to view UCC's Student Garda Vetting Policy.

Fitness to Practise
This programme will be subject to the University's Fitness to Practise Policy - full details may be found here.

Year 1

Students take 60 credits as follows:

Core Modules:
DT6002 Nutritional Assessment in the Clinical Setting (5 credits)
DT6003 Advanced Medical Nutrition Therapy (10 credits)
DT6004 Food Skills and Food Service Management (5 credits)
DT6006 Professional Practice and Interpersonal Skills (10 credits)
DT6007 Public Health Nutrition (5 credits)
DT6008 Medical Management of Disease (5 credits)
DT6009 Clinical Practice Placement 1 (5 credits)
DT6010 Applied Research for Dietetics (5 credits)
DT6014 Dietetics Through the Lifecycle (5 credits)

Elective modules
Students take 5 credits from the following:
EH6158 Health promotion I (5 credits)
NT6107 Integration and Regulation of Nutrient Metabolism (5 credits) *

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Year 2

Students take 60 credits:
DT6011 Clinical Practice Placement 2 (10 credits)
DT6012 Clinical Practice Placement 3 (15 credits)*
DT6013 Research Dissertation in Dietetics (30 credits)
DT6015 Advanced Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics (5 credits)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2020/2021 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2020/2021.

Exit award: Students who graduate with an Exit award will not be eligible to practise as a Dietitian.

MSc in Human Nutrition
Students who pass each module in Year One and achieve a pass standard in DT6013 but fail to achieve a pass standard in any of DT6011, DT6012 or DT6015 or who opt to exit the programme will be awarded the MSc in Human Nutrition (90 credits in total).

Postgraduate Diploma in Human Nutrition
Students who pass each module in Year One but fail to achieve a minimum aggregate of at least 50% across all modules in Year One or students who do not wish to progress to Year Two and exit the programme will be conferred with the Postgraduate Diploma in Human Nutrition.

Postgraduate Certificate in Human Nutrition
Students who pass modules in Year One to the value of 30 credits and opt to exit the programme will be conferred with the Postgraduate Certificate in Human Nutrition.

See also General Regulations for the Degree of Master.

Programme Learning Outcomes for MSc (Human Nutrition and Dietetics) (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Apply a critical understanding and be proficient in the skills required for safe and effective dietetic practice as specified by the Dietitians Registration Board (CORU) and the Irish Nutrition and Dietetics Institute (INDI);
• Demonstrate the professional attributes, leadership, academic and clinical skills required to undertake evidence based competent practice across a variety of clinical settings;
• Integrate the research evidence, theory and principles from biological, clinical, nutritional and social sciences with practical application; to competently assess and identify nutritional related problems and determine dietetic interventions, including medical nutritional therapy, disease prevention and health promotion;
• Apply in-depth knowledge and critical understanding of key clinical and professional issues in the practice of dietetics;
• Demonstrate the ability to evaluate and identify ways in which clinical dietetic services may be enhanced through critical analysis of audit, clinical and academic evidence;
• Articulate reflective practice in the acquisition of knowledge and skills related to own dietetic practice and career development;
• Evidence a self-reflective approach to professional practice decision making and be responsive to the needs of service users;
• Acquire the relevant skills to engage in research and clinical audit and demonstrate advancement of research skills leading to the completion of a research dissertation.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Diploma in Human Nutrition (NFQ Level 9, Major Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Integrate the research evidence, theory and principles from biological, clinical, nutritional and social sciences with practical application; to competently assess and identify nutritional related problems and determine nutrition interventions, including medical nutritional therapy, disease prevention and health promotion;
• Apply in-depth knowledge and critical understanding of key clinical and professional issues in the practice of clinical nutrition;
• Articulate reflective practice in the acquisition of knowledge and skills related to own career development;
• Critically appraise nutrition-related literature.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Certificate in Human Nutrition (NFQ Level 9, Minor Award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Integrate the research evidence, theory and principles from biological, clinical, nutritional and social sciences with practical application; to competently assess and identify nutritional related problems and determine nutrition interventions, including medical nutritional therapy, disease prevention and health promotion;
• Articulate reflective practice in the acquisition of knowledge and skills related to own career development;
• Critically appraise nutrition-related literature.