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. The course is excellent, although demanding at times, and extremely rewarding.
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. 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. 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.
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.
Our Nutrition/Dietetics programme teaches you to apply nutritional science in order 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.
Modules include:
Year 2 starts to specialise in both nutrition and dietetics, as well as developing the subjects studied in your first year.
Modules include:
The Professional Training placement year is spent on two twelve-week placements and a period of six weeks at the University in February/March when 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.
Modules include:
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.
The Nutrition/Dietetics programme is commissioned by the NHS, which pays student tuition fees and offers a means-tested 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.
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.
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.
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.
Most of our Nutrition/Dietetics graduates start their careers working for the NHS, either in clinical dietetics or health promotion. There are also attractive opportunities in the food industry, such as working for major food and supermarket companies, in research, in education and in the media.
Recent graduates from Nutrition/Dietetics have entered employment in roles such as:
Recent graduates from Nutrition have entered employment in roles such as:
Come to one of our Open Days, when you can tour the campus, speak to students and academic staff, see our student accommodation and ask as many questions as you like. In the meantime, order a personal prospectus – tailored to only include the subjects that interest you.
GCSE English Language and Mathematics at grade C or above (or equivalent). Biology A level required. Additional science A-level (preferably Chemistry) required.
Offers are normally made in terms of grades. Suitable candidates will be invited for an interview; this will include literacy and numeracy tests. Offers are based on satisfactory interviews, and successful completion of the tests. Offers may be conditional upon a satisfactory level of medical fitness, and students are screened by Occupational Health at the beginning of the programme. Please note that all offers are conditional upon clearance from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), or equivalent.
Nutrition/Dietetics (B401): only UK and EU students are eligible for an NHS bursary. Information is available online: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/students
Non-native speakers of English will normally be required to have IELTS 7.0 or above, with a minimum of 7.0 in each sub-skill (or equivalent).
We offer intensive English language pre-sessional courses, designed to take you to the level of English ability and skill required for your studies here.
| Award | Course Length | Professional Training | UCAS code | KIS code |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BSc (Hons) | 4 years | B401 | View KIS data set |
We offer a range of bursaries, scholarships and other financial support.
See course information for students applying to start in September 2013.
Phone: +44 (0)1483 681 681
