MSc Dietetics (pre-registration) (February Start)

Degree Classification

Bachelors (Hons) degree - 2.2 classification or equivalent

Degree Subject

should be in a subject with sufficient relevant physiology and biochemistry. Suitable degrees include but not limited to: biomedical sciences, human nutrition, nutritional science, biochemistry, human biology, physiology, health sciences; or from a nutrition background: food science, applied human nutrition, clinical pathology, pharmacology, therapeutic dietetics.

GCSE

Applicants will be required to have a minimum of GCSE Maths, English and Biology or Double Science at Grade 4 / C or equivalent.

English Foreign Language

We welcome applications from students whose first language is not English or those whose degree was not taught in English.

To ensure such students benefit fully from postgraduate study, we require evidence of proficiency in English.

Our minimum entry requirements are as follows:

• IELTS: 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in all components
• Pearson (PTE): 76 overall with a minimum of 67 in all components.

All test scores must be less than two years old.

Other tests, including Cambridge English exams and the Trinity Integrated Skills in English are also accepted by the university. The full list of accepted tests can be found here: Accepted English Language Tests.

INTO UEA also run pre-sessional courses which can be taken prior to the start of your course. For further information please visit:

• Pre-sessional English at INTO UEA
• Academic English at INTO UEA

Interviews

The strongest applicants will be invited to interview. Please note that meeting the minimum academic entry requirements will not guarantee that you will be selected for interview. Interview invitations will be sent by email. Please keep a close eye on all emails from UEA after you submit your application.

Interview format

Our interviews for 2024 will take place online. You will be invited to an appointment by email. These are usually 40 minutes long. The email will include a link to the online interview. This is conducted on Blackboard collaborate.

The interview will be conducted by one or multiple interviewers including academic members of staff from the School of Health Sciences at UEA, clinicians from the profession, service users* and/or current UEA students from the course.

*A ‘service user’ is someone who has access to use health or social care services or could be affected by the services of health and social care professionals.

After an initial introduction, the lead interviewer will conduct an ID check and then explain how the interview will unfold.

The interview will cover three distinct domains which will be introduced to you by the interviewer at the start of your interview. The interview questions will be shared in the chat with you so you can read them.

Interview questions

Each domain will contain questions with a specific focus. The order in which you are asked about these domains will be variable. The domains are:

• Your knowledge of the professional field for which you are applying.
• Your personal qualities and suitability for the profession. To help with discussion around this domain, you may be asked to consider a scenario and asked questions about how you would respond to it. You will be given time to read the scenario before you approach the interview station, and it will also be read to you by the interviewer(s).
• Your understanding of and suitability for the course at UEA.

In each domain, interviewers will also consider your understanding of the values that are required of a healthcare professional. This will include your understanding of moral and ethical values, competence, commitment to improve and personal accountability. You won’t necessarily be asked specific questions about these areas, but the information you include in your answers to all questions will be considered when the interviewer(s) assess you.

Experience of healthcare

We are aware that it is a difficult time to try to gain relevant experience in healthcare. First time applicants to Nursing, Midwifery and the Allied Health Professions will all be in a similar situation.

Clinical work experience will not generally be a requirement for applying to train in healthcare. We will be looking for you to show that you are able to work with people, that you appreciate the health and social care setting, and that you understand what a career in health will involve. While we will expect you to show some understanding of what it is like to be the professional of your choice, part of this involves demonstrating that you know what it is like to work in a responsible role, particularly with the public.

Note that your experiences are only as valuable as the way you talk about them and what understanding you take from them. It is important that you think about how you might be able to demonstrate your understanding of healthcare, that you can relate this to experience or research, and that you can explain what you have learned.

What type of experience or research do you need?

Any activity, life experience or research that helps you to prepare for training to be a healthcare professional will help. This means any activity that allows you to demonstrate that you have:

• Had people-focused experience of providing a service, care, support or help to others, and that you understand the realities of working in a caring profession.
• Developed some of the values, attitudes and behaviours essential to being a Nurse, Midwife or Allied Health professional such as conscientiousness, effective communication and the ability to interact with a wide variety of people. The values that we are looking for are set out in the NHS Constitution.
• A realistic understanding of Health and Social Care and in particular the physical, organisational and emotional demands of the career.

Practical ways to gain experience

Keep a reflective diary on what is happening in the news and online. Listen to what healthcare professionals have to say and reflect on this. All healthcare professionals can be a valuable source of information and experience, not just those that work in the specific profession that you are applying for. Demonstrating that you have a sense of all healthcare professions (and how they work together) will help you in both your personal statement and interview.

Volunteer in your spare time if you can, all forms of voluntary work can provide helpful work experience. If volunteer work in the NHS isn’t something that is available to you, think about what else you could explore i.e. working with other people in a caring or service role. Voluntary commitments to community groups (for example groups related to the work of churches, mosques and temples, or other groups such as Scouts or Guides) and online community support groups may also provide valuable experience of taking on responsibility, dealing with people and communicating effectively.

Remember: what is important is what you learn about yourself and about other people, and what you learn about how effective care is delivered and received. How you learn these things is only a small part of the story; it is how you communicate what you learnt that matters.

Intakes

This course is open to UK, EU and International applicants. The annual intake is in February each year.

Additional Information or Requirements

We welcome applications from students whose first language is not English or those whose degree was not taught in English.

To ensure such students benefit fully from postgraduate study, we require evidence of proficiency in English.

Our minimum entry requirements are as follows:

• IELTS: 7.0 overall with a minimum of 6.5 in all components
• Pearson (PTE): 76 overall with a minimum of 67 in all components.

All test scores must be less than two years old.

Other tests, including Cambridge English exams and the Trinity Integrated Skills in English are also accepted by the university. The full list of accepted tests can be found here: Accepted English Language Tests.

INTO UEA also run pre-sessional courses which can be taken prior to the start of your course. For further information please visit:

• Pre-sessional English at INTO UEA
• Academic English at INTO UEA

After the Course

Careers