Nutrition and Dietetics Degrees 2013
If you are interested in food, how it affects the health of the individual and the nation, and how diet can be used in the treatment of disease, these subject areas will provide you with an exciting challenge. Studying to become a nutritionist or dietitian at Surrey will provide you with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the scientific basis of nutrient requirements and healthy eating. Dietitians will also learn how food intake and dietary requirements can be altered by illness, and about the use of therapeutic diets to treat disease.
Degree programmes
Entry requirements
Minimum entry requirements
- Nutrition/Dietetics: A level grades ABB
- Nutrition: A level grades ABB
We do not include General Studies or Critical Thinking in our offers.
Conditional offers from Surrey will be made in grades or marks, and not listed in points from the UCAS tariff.
Required subjects
GCSE English Language and Mathematics at grade C or above (or equivalent).
Biology required. Additional science A-level (preferably Chemistry) required.
English language requirements
Non-native speakers of English will normally be required to have IELTS 6.5 or above, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component (or equivalent).
Please note that the University of Surrey offers English language programmes and is also an IELTS Test Centre.
Other entry requirements
Admission to the Nutrition/Dietetics programme is subject to eligibility for an NHS bursary. Only UK and EU students are eligible for an NHS bursary.
Other suitable qualifications
Cambridge Pre-U
M1, M1, M2
European Baccalaureate
74%
International Baccalaureate
34 points
BTEC (QCF Level 3) Extended Diploma
DDM
In addition, we accept a wide range of qualifications, including other Level 3 QCF Level 3 qualifications, Scottish qualifications, the Irish Leaving Certificate, Access Diplomas and foundation courses. Other qualifications will be considered on an individual basis.
It is important to check whether the qualifications you are taking are suitable for your chosen degree. If you are uncertain whether your qualification meets our entry requirements, please contact us.
If you are an international student and you don’t meet the entry requirements to this degree, we offer the International Foundation Year.
Selection process
Offers are made in terms of grades. Suitable candidates will be invited for an interview. Nutrition/Dietetics offers are based on satisfactory interviews.
Offers may be conditional upon a satisfactory level of medical fitness, and students are screened by Occupational Health at the beginning of the programme.
Nutrition/Dietetics students are also required to have a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check.
Tuition fees
UK/EU students
Tuition fees are currently set at £9,000 per year for UK/EU undergraduates starting in 2012.
The tuition charge will be accompanied by a generous financial support package, underlining our continued commitment to widening access for those students who come from low income households.
Overseas students
Please note, the information below applies to BSc (Hons) Nutrition (B400) only.
Fees for students classed as overseas for fees purposes are as follows:
- Nutrition : £15,160
The University will assess your fee status. If you are unsure whether you are likely to be considered a home, EU or overseas student for fees purposes, the UKCISA website offers more information.
Professional Training Year Fees
Programmes marked with an asterisk (*) in the table above include a professional training year.
Currently fees of £1,050 (based on an inflation assumption of 2.5%) are charged for the Professional Training Year. Fees will not have to be paid up front for those students who decide to take up the Government’s loan for higher education fees. The Professional Training year is a key factor in the high employability rates achieved by students with Surrey degrees.
NHS-related programmes
The BSc (Hons) Nutrition/Dietetics (B401) programme is NHS funded and therefore not subject to the £9,000 tuition fee.
Applicants must meet NHS funding requirements.For further details about the NHS Student Bursary Scheme or to obtain a bursary estimate please visit www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/students
Our degrees
Our programmes have an active application across a range of health and professional industries and you will acquire knowledge, skills and expertise that will enable you to excel in your chosen career.
Dietetics involves translating nutritional science and information about food into practical dietary advice. This may be aimed at the general public to promote health, or in a clinical environment to treat a wide range of medical disorders.
The Nutrition/Dietetics programme has been specifically designed for students with a strong interest in food, people, science and medicine who wish to use their knowledge to help prevent and treat disease. As a dietitian you will work with people to help them modify their food intake. This programme has been approved by the Health Professions Council, which means that you will be eligible to apply to become a registered dietitian upon graduation.
As a student on our Nutrition programme you will learn about food and the nutrients it contains, how the body uses them and how they relate to health and disease. This degree is designed for those who wish to pursue either a commercial, medical, public health or research-orientated career. The degree is accredited by the Association for Nutrition, whereby students automatically become an Associate Registered Nutritionist upon graduation.
As well as providing you with a solid core of knowledge about nutrition, this programme offers you the opportunity to study a wide range of related subjects. We also provide you with the opportunity to undertake a Professional Training year on one of our excellent range of placements, to develop your skills, experience and employability.
Programme content
Programme overview
BSc Nutrition/Dietetics
Our Nutrition/Dietetics programme teaches you to apply nutritional science to promote health and to treat medical conditions. You will then be able to provide practical advice to enable people to make dietary change.
In year 1 you will cover core sciences and be introduced to food skills and nutrition. After this grounding in the key knowledge and skills, you will undertake a four-week placement before the start of year 2.
Year 2 starts to specialise in both nutrition and dietetics, as well as developing the subjects studied in your first year.
The Professional Training year is spent on two 12-week placements and a period of six weeks at the University in February/ March where you will take part in problem-solving exercises. You will also have the opportunity to share and consolidate your placement learning with other students, benefiting from their experiences.
During year 3 you will take modules from a range of options which reflect our key areas of strength, allowing you to benefit from our research expertise. You will also undertake an extended research project, exploring in more depth an area of interest to you.
This programme is funded by the National Health Service (NHS), making UK students eligible for a means-tested bursary. Tuition fees are paid by the NHS for both UK and EU students. Although the placement is not salaried, UK students may apply to the NHS for financial assistance with travel and accommodation costs.
BSc Nutrition
Our Nutrition programme is extremely relevant to the needs of today’s professionals. It offers a range of optional modules and is structured to provide you with the knowledge and skills required to excel in your chosen field.
Year 1 includes modules in Nutrition and Food Science, as well as a range of other sciences.
During year 2, core Nutrition modules are combined with Physiology, Pathology and Medicine, and Food Science to ensure an appropriate background knowledge.
In year 3 you will undertake a final-year dissertation on a subject of your choice. Taught modules allow a more in-depth understanding of all aspects of human nutrition.
Programme structure
Nutrition/Dietetics
Year 1 (FHEQ Level 4)
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology and Genetics
- Cell Biology
- Physiology
- Microbiology
- Key Skills for Nutrition and Dietetics
- Food Science and Nutrition
- Chemistry and Maths for Biosciences
Year 2 (FHEQ Level 5)
- Pathology: A Metabolic Perspective
- Applied Dietetics
- Applied Nutrition
- Human Nutrition
- Key Skills for Nutrition and Dietetics 2
- Food Science 2
- Physiology 2
- Nutrition: Health and Behaviour
Professional Training year
- Twelve-week clinical placement
- Six weeks of academic study
- Twelve-week clinical placement
Year 3 (FHEQ Level 6)
- Advances in Nutrition: Energy and Lipid Metabolism
- Nutrition Research Methodology
- Research Project
- Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics
- Optional modules from a wide selection
Nutrition
Year 1 (FHEQ Level 4)
Modules include:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology and Genetics
- Cell Biology
- Physiology
- Key Skills for Nutrition and Dietetics
- Microbiology
- Chemistry and Maths for Biosciences
Year 2 (FHEQ Level 5)
Modules include:
- Nutrition: Health and Behaviour
- Human Nutrition
- Physiology 2
- Food Science 2
- Key Skills for Nutrition and Dietetics 2
- Applied Nutrition
- Pathology: A Metabolic Perspective
Professional Training year
- Optional Professional Training placement year
Year 3 (FHEQ Level 6)
Modules include
- Research Project
- Advances in Nutrition: Energy and Lipid Metabolism
- Nutrition Research Methodology
- International and Public Health Nutrition
- Advances in Nutrition: Nutrition in Health and Disease
- Optional modules from a wide selection
Professional training
As a student on our Nutrition/Dietetics programme you will undertake three placements. They are all within the NHS and could be in either an acute hospital or a community setting. During a four-week placement at the end of year 1, you will find out more about the working environment experienced by a dietitian, the way they work and the other health professionals they work with. You will start practising some of the skills required. You will also undertake two twelve-week placements during the Professional Training year, at the end of which you will be managing your own small workload.
The first placement will give you the chance to apply the theoretical knowledge gained through your studies. The second placement is designed to consolidate your knowledge, skills and attitudes, as well as to further develop them with more complex patients and situations. The placements are fully integrated with the academic part of your programme, allowing you to gain practical experience that enhances your learning. During your placements, trained supervisors will help you to develop and learn. You will normally be placed with one of our placement provider partners throughout the South East.
Our Nutrition placements are usually paid and may be in the food industry, government research establishments or the NHS. Our Professional Training tutor will help organise your choice of placement and you will be visited by academic staff, normally three times, during your placement. Companies and institutes offering placements include Nestle and Nutricia. Students who do not wish to take a Professional Training year follow the three-year programme.
Career opportunities
Graduate prospects
Recent graduates from Nutrition/Dietetics have entered employment in roles such as:
- NHS – Band 5 Dietitian
- NHS – Health Promotion Officer
Recent graduates from Nutrition have entered employment in roles such as:
- Food Standards Agency – Development Technologist
- NHS – Public Health Information Officer
Career opportunities
Most of our Nutrition/Dietetics graduates start their careers working for the NHS, either in clinical dietetics or in health promotion. There are also attractive opportunities in the food industry, such as working for major food and supermarket companies, in research, and in education and the media.
Our Nutrition graduates have attractive career prospects in the food industry, health service, research, and in education and the media. A considerable number return to their professional placement company/organisation.
Additional information
Teaching
On average you will have 24 hours of contact time each week. A variety of teaching methods is used including lectures, role play and practicals. You will also be expected to undertake private study (such as coursework and additional reading). Your studies will be enlivened by problem-based learning activities and a range of supporting e-learning materials.
Assessment
Each module is assessed individually and credits are awarded for the successful completion of each one. Assessment is by a combination of examination and/or coursework, which may include individual projects and group work.
Why Surrey?
Nutrition and Dietetics degrees 2013 at Surrey
- You will undertake projects using state-of-the-art facilities such as our recently refurbished Clinical Investigations Unit (CIU)
- Our established and renowned Nutrition/Dietetics programme has been approved by the Health Professions Council; you will be eligible to apply to become a registered dietitian upon graduation
- You will be taught by nutritionists and dietitians at the national and international forefront of their fields
- If studying on our Nutrition programme, you can choose to complete one of our prestigious Professional Training placements with companies such as Nutricia and Nestlé
- Graduates from this programme have a superb employment record in the NHS and in the commercial, charity and public sectors
I chose to come to the University of Surrey as the course has been running for a number of years, and is one of the best places to study dietetics in the country.
Emma Collins
BSc Nutrition/ Dietetics Level 3
I chose to come to the University of Surrey as the course has been running for a number of years, and is one of the best places to study dietetics in the country. Coming from a small island, I didn’t wish to be lost in a big city, and Guildford is ideal, with many bars, shops and London a short train ride away when you feel like getting away!
The course is excellent at Surrey, although demanding at times, and extremely rewarding. Lectures are quite intense; however, as the subjects are directly related to the degree, it is definitely worth all the hard work.
For my placement year I went to Southampton General Hospital, followed by the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford which I thoroughly enjoyed. It made me realise how much I want to become a dietitian. From the beginning of placement to when you are finally passing at the end, you realise how much you have grown, from a dietetics student to having the knowledge and capabilities of a newly qualified dietitian – rather scary but also very rewarding!
As a Surrey student, I get involved with the University both academically and socially. Although the programme means that some days you will be spending your afternoon in the Library, I still manage to find time for the swimming and water polo teams, exercise in the gym and work in the Union, all of which takes my mind off work!
The professional training year gives you a great advantage when looking for a job post-graduation.
Amy Taylor
BSc Nutrition Level 3
My main reason for choosing Surrey was that it offers a placement year as part of the course, which I knew would give me a better insight into the nutrition industry in the UK.
During my Professional Training year I worked for a company called Nutricia, who own the infant milk and food brands Cow & Gate and Aptamil. I was working for the nutrition team, supporting them in their work and also taking on small projects of my own for certain food products.
I also developed my ability to translate my scientific knowledge into an understandable context for nonnutritionists/ scientists, which is an important skill when promoting food products. The thing I most enjoyed was having the opportunity to develop my interest in infant nutrition and improve my knowledge around this area.
The Professional Training year gives you a great advantage when looking for a job post-graduation as you gain basic skills that others may not have been able to develop yet, which employers find desirable.
Once I graduate I would like to pursue a career in infant nutrition, and perhaps in the future further my education by taking a Masters course.
I’m part of the University surf club, and this year will be events co-ordinator again (after having taken on this role in my second year), which means I organise the weekend and day trips away. Being part of a club is a great way to meet new people and socialise.
Professional recognition
The Nutrition/Dietetics programme is commissioned by the NHS, which pays student tuition fees and offers a meanstested bursary. The programme is approved by the Health Professions Council and successful completion leads to eligibility to apply for registration as a dietitian. The Nutrition programme is accredited by the Association for Nutrition.