Dietetics (Pre-Registration)
MSc or PGDip
Start dates: September 2025 / September 2026
Full time: MSc or PGDip (Pre-Reg) - 21 months
Location: Headington, Headington (Marston Road site), Practice-based study
School(s): School of Sport, Nutrition and Allied Health Professions
Overview
Our MSc Dietetics (Pre-Registration) course fully prepares you as a dietician to use food and nutrition science to improve health and wellbeing.
- You’ll study with qualified, experienced, and research-active lecturers and clinical dietitians currently working in the field.
- The small study groups ensure you receive enhanced academic support and tailored training that meets your needs and preferences.
- You’ll be able to consolidate your knowledge with placements in clinical and non-clinical settings and practical sessions in our state-of-the-art labs.
- You can nurture your skills at our Simulation Centre, featuring virtual reality technology (awarded for interprofessional medical education) before your placements with our NHS and industry partners in and around Oxfordshire.
Embrace our healthcare education expertise and equip yourself with knowledge, practical skills, and ethos for a successful dietetics career. Graduates can apply to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and secure employment in healthcare environments, public health, freelance and more.
Why Oxford Brookes University?
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Practical and career focused
Apply what you learn and unlock exciting career prospects with 1,000 hours of work experience in NHS and non-NHS settings reflecting modern dietetic practice.
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Immerse yourself
Put your learning into practice in our £2 million award-winning healthcare simulation centre and our purpose-built nutrition and sports labs.
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Taught by experts
Learn from academic and clinical dietitians with recognised qualifications in Dietetics and teaching with extensive experience in supporting students from diverse backgrounds.
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Home of cutting-edge research
Study the newest developments in nutrition, dietetics, behavioural and food science, and public health by researchers in our Centre for Nutrition and Health.
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Ideal location
Oxford is home to many organisations that rely on dietitians: from NHS and private clinics to food manufacturers and charities.
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Accreditation(s)
This course is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and accredited by the British Dietetic Association (BDA)
Course details
Course structure
Our course offers an accelerated pathway that builds on your existing knowledge and skills to swiftly advance you toward a dietetics career.
Guided by knowledgeable and enthusiastic lecturers including dietitians, nutritionists, epidemiologists, and food scientists, as well as external professionals, you will receive a comprehensive education that fosters a deep and practical understanding of the links between diet, eating behaviour, health, and disease backed by research and enhanced through placement-based learning in a breadth of specialities both at NHS and with other providers.
Opportunities for interprofessional work will elevate your communication and teamwork skills whilst developing an appreciation for the holistic approach to patient care.
Whether you choose a career in healthcare, the industry, or pursue a PhD, we are committed to nurture your critical thinking and encourage you to cultivate your own reflective, innovative, and confident approach in contributing to the advancement of dietetics through high-quality evidence-based practice and/or health and food research.
Study modules
Our 200-credit modules cover various topics essential for becoming a registered dietitian. They will foster your comprehension and critical understanding of the scientific foundations of health and disease while equipping you with the knowledge, mindset, and ability to make evidence-based clinical judgments in dietetics for disease prevention and treatment.
You will learn about therapeutic diet planning, broader aspects of nutrition and population health including food science, health promotion and lifespan nutrition, as well as the underlying principles of physiological regulation and nutritional metabolic pathways in health and disease. In this context, you will explore the research process leading to an independent research project. Modules also cover dietetics’ ethical and professional aspects, preparing students for a well-rounded career.
Over three semesters, three supported placements will help you gain hands-on practical experience in clinical and community settings.
Careers
Join our course and embark on a journey towards a thriving and rewarding career. As the sole statutory experts authorised to assess, diagnose, and consult on diet-related issues, dietitians are in high demand. Plus, with the government's unwavering support through a dedicated Office for Health Promotion, the stage is set for a robust job market with exceptional prospects.
Whether you look to augment your current role in the health or food industry, seek specialisation, or consider an exciting career change, our course equips you with the skill set that paves the way for a world of career destinations:
- Clinical, community or public health dietitian
- Health promotion or education specialist including working in the media
- Scientist or consultant in food manufacturers, retailers, and medical food and pharmaceutical companies
- Nutrition-related roles within charities, trade associations, or the government
- Specialised educator/trainer in advanced dietetic practice
- Researcher within universities, food companies, or research institutes
- Continuation of the academic journey through a PhD.
In order to gain a deeper understanding of what dietitians can do in their career, we recommend reading this article from The British Dietetic Association.
Related courses
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
You should hold an honours degree at 2:1 or higher in a relevant health or life sciences subject with sufficient emphasis on human physiology and biochemistry, and an understanding of the principles of nutritional sciences. Further information is available here. Other degrees, including science degrees of a different classification and master’s qualifications, will be considered via transcripts.
We offer short courses and singular modules to help you meet entry requirements if you need an alternative entry route. We recommend contacting us at dietetics@brookes.ac.uk to discuss your qualifications before applying. Alternatively, our Admissions Lead will suggest any required short courses or singular modules when reviewing your application.
Satisfactory occupational health clearance is required to participate in this course, whilst compliance with standard NHS immunisations is essential for placement attendance.
Applications are dealt with on a first-come, first-served basis.
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
Screening
All applicants will be screened for fitness to practise and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be made.
Selection process
More details on how to complete the above checks will be provided once you hold a firm offer for this course.
The selection process considers the applicant's academic achievements, as well as their ability to demonstrate a range of specific skills, attributes, and aptitudes. This demonstration is expected both in your personal statement and during an interview and should be relevant to healthcare provision, especially in the context of working as a dietitian, including within the NHS.
All Oxford Brookes University Health and Social Care Programmes conduct Value Based Recruitment (VBR). VBR is a way of helping our recruitment teams assess the values, motives and attitudes of those who wish to work with people in health and social care settings. VBR focuses on 'how' and 'why' an applicant makes choices in how they act and seeks to explore reasons for their behaviour.
If you meet our academic criteria, you will be invited for a pre-offer individual interview held virtually. In advance of the interview, you will receive an electronic information package with details about the interview process, assessment criteria, and recommended pre-reading materials.
English language requirements
For applicants whose first language is not English, evidence of English Proficiency to the standard equivalent to level 7 of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), with no component below 6.5 is required.
Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.
Pathways courses for international and EU students
We offer a range of courses to help you meet the entry requirements for your postgraduate course and also familiarise you with university life in the UK.
Take a Pre-Master's course to develop your subject knowledge, study skills and academic language level in preparation for your master's course.
If you need to improve your English language, we offer pre-sessional English language courses to help you meet the English language requirements of your chosen master’s course.
International applications
We are pleased to offer a number of places to international applicants. For advice on eligibility, please contact Admissions: admissions@brookes.ac.uk
Please note that international applicants will:
- need to apply early with enough time to obtain visas if offered a place (see how to apply and key dates)
- be asked to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure a place on the course.
Terms and Conditions of Enrolment
When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
International qualifications and equivalences
Tuition fees
Tuition fees
Please note, tuition fees for Home students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Oxford Brookes University intends to maintain its fees for new and returning Home students at the maximum permitted level.
For further information please see our 2025-26 tuition fees FAQs.
Tuition fees for International students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students.
The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.
How and when to pay
Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.
- For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
- For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page
Financial support and scholarships
All eligible Dietetics students will receive a payment of at least £5,000 a year and will also be reimbursed for any additional travel and temporary accommodation costs incurred as a result of attending practice placements. None of this financial support needs to be paid back. For more information, please visit NHS Learning Support Fund (LSF).
If you do not qualify for the above scheme, you may be able to claim reimbursement of expenses incurred whilst attending placement directly from the university. For more information please visit OBU TDAE Expenses for Healthcare Students.
We also offer a 10% discount on tuition fees to all graduates (those who have completed their undergraduate degree at Oxford Brookes) wanting to stay on or return to study for an additional degree.
Additional costs
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.
Books and Printing
While you can borrow books and access subject-specific scientific journals at the university library for free, the PENG Pocket Guide to Clinical Nutrition must be purchased (£43) through a bulk order placed by us. Campus printing starts at 2.5p/page. The University provides a laptop loan service, or you can choose to purchase your own device.
Fit-to-Practice and Placements
Your tuition fees cover occupational health checks, necessary vaccinations, and mandatory training. There is an initial £8 charge for DBS verification, and we recommend an annual subscription to the DBS update service for £13. Before placements, you will receive 3 sets of uniforms, but you must purchase suitable footwear (£40-50). Students are responsible for additional travel and dual accommodation costs during practice placements (approx. £200/week) which eligible students can claim back through the LSF.
Memberships
Student membership in the British Dietetic Association is mandatory for this course. It's free in the first year and costs £41 in the second year, including professional indemnity insurance.
Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been
published on the website. For more information, please visit our
changes to programmes page.