MSc Dietetics

University of Reading

United Kingdom, Reading

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University of Reading

United Kingdom , Reading

Key Facts

Program Level

Master by Course Work

Study Type

Full Time

Delivery

On Campus

Campuses

Main Site

Program Language

English

Start & Deadlines

Next Intake DeadlinesSeptember-2026

Apply to this program

Go to the official application for the university

Duration 2 year(s)

Tuition Fee

GBP 31,650 / year

Next Intake September-2026

MSc Dietetics

About

Develop the knowledge and skills required for a career as a dietitian with our MSc Dietetics degree.

What you’ll learn

Our two-year MSc Dietetics programme prepares you to:

work with patients, service users and other professionals within clinical settings such the National Health Service (NHS) and other providers
deliver evidence-based dietetic practice and innovative public health nutrition initiatives
use dietary manipulation and food to treat existing disease and optimise health, both at individual and population level.

Our mission for nutrition and dietetics at Reading is to a create sustainable healthy food system for all.

Skills you’ll gain

Our MSc Dietetics course will place you at the heart of the discussion on nutrition, health and sustainable food systems. You will:

gain a detailed knowledge and understanding of dietetics in the context of improving and sustaining health, as well as treating disease at individual, group and population levels
identify the factors that influence food choice and food behaviour
learn a range of techniques and technologies to communicate sensitive information to a variety of audiences
meet the criteria for the HCPC Standards of Proficiency and be eligible to apply for registration as a dietitian.

Choose MSc Dietetics at The University of Reading

Take advantage of being a member of the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, where:

we have over 40 years' experience of clinical education at The University of Reading
our Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences is the largest of its kind in the UK
our Hugh SInclair Unit of Human Nutrition (HSUHN) has an international reputation for our research into the relationship between diet and the risk of chronic diseases
we are the anchor institution in our region drawing partners from NHS, government and voluntary and community groups.

Requirements

Entry Requirements

Academic entry requirements

Applicants are typically required to have a good undergraduate honours degree (2.1 or above or international equivalent), in a relevant life science, health science or bioscience subject which contains an acceptable level of human physiology and biochemistry (at level 5). For example, this could include: nutrition, nutritional sciences, biological sciences, biomedical sciences, biochemistry, pharmacy, health sciences, food science, applied nutrition, sports and exercise science or psychology.

Evidence of recent study is normally required if your first degree, or a subsequent postgraduate degree, was completed more than five years ago, such as a relevant undergraduate or master's module, Access course or relevant continuing professional development (CPD) qualifications. In some cases we may ask you to complete an assignment as part of the short-listing process.

More information on our recognition of prior learning which includes prior experiential learning can be found in our Recognition of Prior Learning document.

IELTS

7.0 overall with no individual element lower than 6.5.

Pre-sessional English language Programme

Our Pre-sessional English Programme is for international students who need to meet their degree programme English language requirements.

Our courses equip you with the skills and language needed for academic success, including critical thinking, self-reflection, learner autonomy, research skills and integrating sources. The Pre-sessional English Programme is accredited by the global association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes, which guarantees you will receive a high-quality student experience.

To find out more, visit Pre-sessional English.

Experience

Direct experience of working with people in a clinical health care settings is desirable, although we recognise that can be difficult to obtain such experience, you will need to show a good understanding of the role of dietitians.

Supporting Information

As part of your application, we will also need:

a 500-word personal statement outlining why you want to become a dietitian, your knowledge of the profession, any relevant work or volunteering experience, and provide evidence of skills and behaviours developed through individual and team-based working
two references, one of which should be from an academic setting. If you completed your studies, more than five years ago, then we will accept two professional references.

Interviews

Places on the course are limited and if you are shortlisted, you will be invited to attend an online interview to assess your knowledge of the profession and include scenarios to assess your suitability for the profession and the wider health care sector.

Our interviews will likely take place in late spring/ early summer 2025. More information will be provided at a later stage and if you are invited to attend an interview to study on the programme.

Additional requirements

Demand for places on our professional health courses is high, and all successful applicants will be required to pay a £1,000 deposit to hold their place on the course. In addition, and prior to enrolment, you will need to have a satisfactory enhanced criminal conviction check, known as a Disclosure and Barring service Clearance (DBS) and an Occupational Health Check.

English Program Requirements

IELTS 7.0 overall with no individual element lower than 6.5.

Career

Careers for MSc Dietitics graduates

As health services in the United Kingdom continue to evolve and change at a fast pace, we expect the majority of our graduates will go on to work in the National Health Service (NHS). This could be:

working in an NHS hospital as a dietitian
working in a community setting as a dietitian.

In addition, an MSc Dietetics graduate could use their knowledge to work:

in research
in a government setting
within the food industry.

Further information on working in the NHS can be found on the NHS Careers website. The British Dietetic Association (BDA) has also developed a suite of resources to support those wishing to enter the field of dietetics.

Fee Information

Tuition Fee

GBP 31,650

Application Fee

GBP

How to Apply

1. Check our entry requirements

Please see our postgraduate subject finder for minimum entry requirements for the programme you are interested in; entry requirements can vary from one programme to another. International students can consult our country-specific pages for information and guidance on alternative qualification equivalencies for master’s study.

If English is not your first language, you will also need to meet our English language requirements. You can find the IELTS requirements on each course page. We also accept a range of alternative English language qualifications.

If your English ability is not at the required standard, you can choose to apply for one of our Pre-sessional English programmes. The programmes will equip you with the study skills and preparation needed for academic study in English. The length of your Pre-sessional English programme is determined by your current level of English against the English language requirements of your chosen master’s programme.

2. Application and funding deadlines

Although most master’s programmes do not formally close for applications, some programmes do have application deadlines; if your programme has a deadline it will be specified on the course page under the ‘Entry requirements’ section. For programmes that do not have a specific application deadline, places may be limited and programmes may become full. We recommend that you apply as early as possible (particularly if you are an international student) to allow time not only for us to process your application, but for you to ensure that you can meet any offer conditions, arrange your accommodation and, importantly, funding for your studies. For admission in September, we do recommend that you apply by 1 August (if you are a UK applicant) and 1 July (if you are an international applicant requiring a visa to come to the UK) however, we are happy to still consider applications after these dates.

International applicants should also see our advice and guidance on visas and immigration.

Funding deadlines

We require an offer of study for many of our master’s scholarships and bursaries. You should check deadlines for applications carefully, and each scholarship or bursary will have specific application instructions. We may add scholarships throughout the year, so it is a good idea to re-visit our scholarships and bursaries page.

3. Submit your application

You can apply for master’s programmes directly through our online application system, RISIS. For our PGCE/Teacher Training programmes, applications must be made via the Department of Education's Find Postgraduate Teacher Training portal. Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an automatic confirmation.

Various documents are needed to make your application. You should electronically upload:

full transcripts of all degree programmes taken. If these are not in English, a certified translation into English is required. Please do not mail original copies; we only require PDF copies via electronic upload,
an English language certificate (for example IELTS or TOEFL), if English is not your first language (this can also be provided after you submit your application),
contact details for two academic/professional references. Your references will automatically be invited via email to upload their reference directly once you have submitted your application. Please remind your references to check their junk/spam filters for the email and let them know that the link to the form is only valid for 20 days,
statement of purpose. Your personal statement should outline your academic performance, interest in applying to master’s study, any relevant work experience and skills gained,
a copy of your passport (for international students).

Application fee

We do not charge an application fee to apply for our master’s programmes.

4. Track your application

You can track the progress of your application using our applicant portal, Me@Reading, a personalised resource including information about your programme of study, student stories and what's happening here at Reading. It has everything you need to know, all in one place. When we have made a decision on your application, we will contact you via email. If we are able to make you an offer for a place to study, your offer will contain information about what to do next, including how to accept your offer, pay a deposit (if applicable), and any conditions you must meet to study with us.