Dietetics and Leadership (pre-registration) MSc

Postgraduate

Qualify to assess, diagnose and treat diet and nutrition problems at an individual and wider public health level, in just two years. 

Year of entry

2025-26

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

2 years full-time

Course code

SHCT004

Start date

January 2026

How to apply

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Course overview

This course is aimed at learners with a prior related degree-level qualification, or with equivalent experience, who have a passion for working with people to promote healthy lifestyles, optimise health and wellbeing, prevent diet-related disease and reduce health inequalities.  

On successful completion of this course, you will meet the requirements to apply to the HCPC for registration as a dietitian and apply for roles working in the profession in a variety of settings, including the health service.
Put theory into practice with full-time practice-based placements^2,5, as well as simulation and scenario-based learning, to create an interactive and inspirational learning experience. Our simulation suites and purpose-built small-scale catering facilities help prepare you for the place of work and emulate an authentic working environment.⁴
We use a variety of inclusive case studies to help support you and to prepare you for the workplace using real-life examples. The teaching team also draws on its experience in the field to help direct all teaching to dietetics and how the theory works in action. 
Blended learning allows you to access study materials and attend online classes from home or the workplace. You will be required to come to campus on some occasions throughout the course to use our simulation and teaching facilities.⁴

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

Ranked 9th Modern University in UK by the Times

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Ranked 8th for Overall Satisfaction in PTES

Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2024

Why you should study this course

Learn to collaborate and thrive as a dietitian across and within multidisciplinary teams to coordinate safe, evidenced-based care delivery.
Develop culinary skills in our campus-based kitchens⁴ and apply the theory of dietary recommendations to practice through menu planning, recipe adaptation, and an exploration of cultural and therapeutic foods.
Leadership skills are embedded throughout the course, enabling you to inspire and guide others towards building and achieving a shared vision. This vision aims to help address a range of diet-related conditions and optimise service users’ health and wellbeing through diet and lifestyle change.
All eligible students on this course can apply for a minimum training grant payment from the government of £5,000 per year, with additional payments for students incurring childcare costs.⁶
Included in your course fees is a compulsory food safety course. On successful completion, you will be awarded a Level 2 Food Safety Certificate from the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health.

Studying in the School of Health and Care

Gain the skills and experience to transform lives, communities and the future of healthcare delivery. We aim to empower you to become a stand-out healthcare professional, capable, competent and confident in your field and role within the wider healthcare team.

While continuously developing your sense of professional identity from day one, you'll also collaborate with learners from other School of Health and Care fields, learning in an environment that puts inclusivity, diversity and dignity at its heart.

What you'll study

The course is delivered using enquiry-based learning which allows you to develop an ethical, flexible and creative approach to problem-solving in dietetics.

Modules

Becoming a Professional Practitioner – 15 credits

Explore the intersection of professional values, behaviours and actions within the context of health and social care and evaluate the relevant global factors that influence healthcare. The module is designed to cultivate a culture of professionalism, enabling you to recognise and challenge inequality constructs within yourself, your profession and the broader context of health and social care.

Compulsory

Foundations of Dietetic Practice – 15 credits

The fundamental skills required for effective dietetic practice, including the use of the model and process for nutrition and dietetic practice will be introduced in this module. Theories of communication, health behaviour change and motivational interviewing will be discussed, along with how these support clients in making dietary changes.  This includes practice-based learning hours through simulation workshops.  

Compulsory

Introduction to Diet Therapy for Dietitians – 15 credits

Further develop your knowledge of the intervention and implementation phases within the model and process for nutrition and dietetic practice. Create dietary plans for the treatment of protein and energy malnutrition in adults, and its associated health conditions. Estimate nutritional requirements and then select a range of approaches to food fortification and the use of oral nutritional supplements. The concept of food culture will be introduced, and you should develop knowledge of food hygiene.  

Compulsory

Developing Diet Therapy – 15 credits

Enhance your knowledge of epidemiology, aetiology, diagnosis, treatment and management of obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, renal disease and gastroenterology conditions. Develop your skills and confidence in creating enteral nutrition plans. You’ll be introduced to the legal and ethical aspects of professional practice, ethical decision-making and the role of the dietitian in advising on sustainable diets to manage climate change. You will also complete simulated practice-based learning.  

Compulsory

Placement 1: Developing Dietetic Practice – 30 credits

This practice-based module^2,5 aims to help you:

develop the confidence and skills to translate theory into practice
obtain, record, and interpret relevant information and advise service users accordingly
communicate effectively with service users and multidisciplinary team members
manage your time and workload efficiently
demonstrate professionalism.

Compulsory

Modules

Evaluating Evidence Within Health and Care – 15 credits

Evaluate the evidence bases, knowledge and drivers for practice in health and care, exploring and debating of the context of interdisciplinary and profession-specific evidence-based practice and practice-based evidence. Develop a deep understanding of the methodologies associated with real-world evidence within health and care and apply this to construct a rationale for an evidence based professional project. 

Compulsory

Complex Diet Therapy – 15 credits

Develop your knowledge and skills in diet therapy with more complex settings. You will explore areas such as paediatrics, critical care, surgery, oncology and haematology, and consider how these impact on nutritional status. The nutritional treatment and management of these areas will be planned. The skills required for professional relationships and multidisciplinary team working will be explored, as well as the role of the dietitian in safeguarding.   

Compulsory

Placement 2: Consolidating Dietetic Practice – 30 credits

This practice-based module^2,5 should enable you to:

build confidence, knowledge, and skills to become competent in translating theory into practice
obtain, record, and interpret relevant information and advise service users
justify your decisions
communicate effectively with service users and healthcare professionals
manage your time and workload efficiently
demonstrate professionalism.

You should be able to competently and independently carry a dietetic caseload comparable to that of a newly qualified registered dietitian.
You will also plan and undertake an additional practice-based learning experience in a setting that may be tailored to your career aspirations and interests.

Compulsory

Leading for the Future as a Health and Care Professional – 15 credits

Our health and care workforce is required to lead the delivery of high-quality care whilst navigating a complex health and care ecosystem. You will engage in inter-professional learning, drawing upon contemporary theory, practice and evidence to analyse and reframe your understanding of what accountable leadership means, and critically reflect upon your own experiences. Apply your understanding of the interrelated themes of leading self, teams, organisations and systems to develop confident and creative approaches to lead complex sustainable change.

Compulsory

The Evidence-based Practitioner: Professional Project – 15 credits

This is your opportunity to critically reflect on the evidence, apply knowledge, concepts and research techniques to a professional question or problem, and then make recommendations to improve practice for a range of stakeholders across health and care. You will identify an area of current or emerging practice to design and implement, using recognised techniques in an evidence-based project (i.e. audit or evaluation, primary research or systematic review). Where relevant, this project can be tailored to address service or employer priorities.

Compulsory

All placement modules must be passed in order to be eligible to apply for registration with the HCPC.

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.

How you'll learn

Teaching and learning methods may include:

lectures
seminars
tutorials
presentations
group projects
workshops
practical laboratory sessions.
practical work in a practice setting.^2,5

Teaching contact hours

As a full-time student on this course, you will study modules totalling 180 credits across two academic years. A typical 30-credit module requires a total of 300 hours of study. Study hours are made up of teaching contact hours, and guided and independent study.

Teaching hours

Teaching hours may vary, depending on where you are in your studies, but on average you will have between 4 and 8 teaching and learning hours each week. You will also have the opportunity to attend optional sessions, including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback.

Practice-based learning

Practice-based learning forms an essential and significant part of your learning experience. Practice hours will differ between placements and different health and care courses. You will have access to university staff, but should expect to spend the majority of your contact time with practice collaborators undertaking placement activity. Overall, the hours you undertake in practice-based learning will need to satisfy the eligibility requirements set by the professional body regulating the profession, the HCPC. A minimum of 1,000 practice-based hours gained from a combination of placement and simulated learning will need to be completed over the course of your degree.

Guided and independent study

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You will be digging deeper into topics, reviewing what you’ve learnt and completing assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress to the end of your studies, you’ll spend more time on independent learning.

Online learning

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.

Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending on the module. Assessment methods may include:

reports
tests
essays
exams
practical coursework
assignments
vivas
presentations.

The Coventry University assessment strategy aims to ensure that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.

Entry requirements

An honours degree 2:1 or above (or international equivalent) in a health or science-related discipline, or an equivalent qualification alongside relevant work experience at a professional level.

Satisfactory health clearance, confirmation of vaccination status and enhanced criminal record disclosure. Please refer to the full requirements in the disclaimer section.⁵

In line with the National Health Service Constitution we use a values-based recruitment approach in seeking candidates with the appropriate values to support effective team working in delivering excellent patient care.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications; speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

Fees and funding

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	£9,250 per year	Not available

All eligible students on this course may qualify for a minimum payment from the Government of £5,000 per year, with additional payments for students incurring childcare costs.⁶

For advice and guidance on tuition fees³and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page.

We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

Any optional overseas ﬁeld trips or visits: £400+ per trip.
Any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

Our simulation suites help prepare you for the workplace and emulate an authentic working environment.

Develop culinary skills at our purpose-built small-scale catering facilities, and apply the theories of dietary recommendations to practice through menu planning, recipe adaptation, and an exploration of cultural and therapeutic foods.

People walking in front of a building which has a big library sign

Lanchester Library

The library is usually open 24/7, in term-time. It’s where you can access your course’s specialist Academic Liaison Librarian. It’s also home to specialist teams which can support you with your academic writing and maths and statistics questions.

Glass modern building with a spire in the background

The Hub

The Hub is the centre of student life on campus. Facilities include a food court, convenience store, multi-faith centre, medical centre, hairdresser, coffee shops and the Your SU offices. It has fully licensed function spaces and a bar.

Two people working together with a laptop in front of them

Careers and employability

Get one-on-one career and employability guidance lasting up to 36 months from the end of your course. We’ll help you find placements and graduate roles, offer CV and application checks, mentoring, skills workshops, employer events and more.

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.

Careers and opportunities

On successful completion of this course, you should be professionally competent and eligible to apply for registration with the HCPC and membership of the British Dietetic Association.

You should be prepared for a range of rewarding careers in a variety of clinical and non-clinical settings including acute hospital settings, community settings, public health, industry, media, research and non-governmental organisations. You could also undertake further study both nationally and potentially abroad to further enhance your career.

How to apply

UK students

To apply to study for a postgraduate course at Coventry University, you can apply online. Please read the entry criteria page before applying.

Full-time applications

For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

+44 (0)24 7765 2222

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

⁴Facilities

⁵Placements

Satisfactory health clearance and enhanced criminal record disclosure is also required. As part of the health clearance checks, you will be required to provide information about your immunity and vaccination status. The information you provide will be used to determine your eligibility to go on placement(s). Placements are provided at the placement provider’s discretion. The University is, therefore, unable to guarantee the provision of placements or the location and type of placement offered.

⁶NHS payment

The rules may be subject to review by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in the future and as a result may change. Please, therefore, check the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) website for up-to-date information before applying.

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2024/2025 contract is available on the website for information purposes however the 2025/2026 contract will apply for the 2025/2026 intake. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.