The taught element of the programme involves lectures, tutorials and practical work. Tutorials are mainly case study based where students apply the theoretical knowledge gained in lectures to problem solve case scenarios. Practical sessions are either food based, involve giving presentations or practice in consultation skills. The practicals take place in the specialist food facilities and the clinical simulation suite.
Contact hours for the course are high.
It is expected that students undertake independent reading and self-study; this is aided by the use of Moodle, the Virtual Learning Environment in use at the University.
In addition students undertake 3 periods of practical training in NHS Dietetics departments in Wales. Full preparation is given prior to the placements and students are supported and visited during the placements by Dietetic Academic staff.
All students are allocated a personal tutor who offers pastoral support and guides the student through personal development planning.
For the PG Diploma in Dietetics:
Applicants should have an honours degree (1st class or 2:1) in human nutrition, or a degree that includes nutrition in the awards title, with sufficient emphasis on physiology and biochemistry (40 credits in total required, with at least 20 credits in human physiology and 20 credits in human biochemistry). It is also preferable for candidates to have 10 credits in sociology and 10 credits in psychology, however this can be taken alongside other modules on the programme if successful. Students should have completed their degree not more than five years before their proposed entry to this PG Diploma. Applicants who have a first or upper second-class honours degree in nutrition, which does not contain either sufficient biochemistry or physiology (but not both), can undertake further relevant modules at undergraduate level, prior to applying for the programme. Applicants who do not have a degree award in nutrition (1st or 2:1) but meet the requirements for biochemistry and physiology, will need to undertake a further relevant taught course of study to at least to postgraduate diploma level prior to applying for the course.
Gaining experience within a relevant setting is strongly advised due to the high calibre and volume of applications submitted each year. To enhance your application we recommend gaining as much experience as possible, for example, working as a Dietetic Support Worker, volunteering/working within a dietetic department, volunteering for related charities, or working as a Healthcare Assistant.
For the MSc Dietetics:
Eligibility for the course is a PG Diploma in Dietetics qualification and also current registration with the HCPC.
Experience Days:
Health Boards in Wales are currently working together to provide Experience Days for prospective students who frequently enquire about work experience days. As this is a requirement in applying for the BSc (Hons) Human Nutrition and Dietetics and MSc/Postgraduate Diploma in Dietetics programmes, Experience Days have been set up to accommodate this.
You won't need to attend an Experience Day in Wales if you have already received Dietetic experience elsewhere as the same information will be covered.
The Health Boards aim to provide two/three every year.
The next Dietetic Experience Days are:
12th October 2022 – Cardiff and Vale UHB
To apply to attend one of the days listed above please complete the application form and return it via email to
csshsllandaff@cardiffmet.ac.uk. On the form you will need to specify which Experience Day you are applying to attend.
Dietetic Experience Day Application Form
Please only book a place if you definitely intend to attend. If you book a place but cannot attend please let us know as soon as possible so that we can give your place to someone else. A list of those who do not attend without cancelling their place will be provided to the Programme Director to be considered in the allocation of places on the programme. Many thanks for your co-operation.
Please note, these are not university open days. Details on open days run by the university which cover course and university information can be found on
our Open Day pages.
Selection Procedure
Applications are scored on the basis of the personal statement, work experience, references and credits. Successful applications are invited to an interview in March each year.
Criminal Records Checks
For successful applicants, entry is subject to a satisfactory Disclosure & Barring Service check. More details about these procedures can be found at www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/dbs.
Occupational Health Screening
In addition students must undergo occupational health screening; this is arranged by the University in induction week. For further information click here. Conditional offers of a place need to be fulfilled by the end of August of the year of entry.
International Applicants
Applicants who speak English as a second language must have adequate command of English, with an IELTS score of 7, with at least 6.5 in all elements. For full details about how to apply and English Language qualifications please visit the
International pages on the website.
How to Apply:
Please contact the Course Director between May and August of the year of entry. A 500 word summary of the proposed research will need to be submitted to the Course Director by September 1st of the year of entry.
For further information please visit our How to Apply pages at
www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/howtoapply.
Additionally, please note the mandatory document requirements that must be uploaded with your online application. Please visit our
Compulsory Documents page for further information.
If you are interesting in using credit from another institution or that obtained from qualifications or experience to study for a course at Cardiff Met, you can find further information on this as well as information on how to apply on the
RPL page.