Explore UCD

UCD Home >

Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics

MSc (NFQ Level 9)

This course is available through the following application route(s)

Contact Us

Today's clinical nutrition and dietetics experts have an expanding field of career opportunities. For instance, the current rise in lifestyle related conditions and diseases has been identified by international and national government agencies and programmes as requiring nutritional interventions for their prevention and management. The expanding older population requires nutritional care to prevent and manage lifestyle-related conditions such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, frailty, sarcopenia and osteoporosis. The creation of links between nutrition, health and community development provide opportunities for health promotion through nutrition interventions in many community settings, including pre-schools, schools, services for older people and those with disability and mental illness. Within the acute hospital setting, the effective management of chronic and acute medical and surgical conditions and the prevention and treatment of disease-related malnutrition are critical, wherein effective nutritional management is central to reducing the personal and economic costs associated with poor nutrition and health.The importance of nutrition to optimise sports performance is increasingly recognised with many career opportunities in this area.

The MSc in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics is a full-time programme, designed for graduates who wish to develop expertise in areas ranging from the promotion of nutrition and health throughout the lifespan through to the management of clinical nutrition in community, primary care and acute settings. Moreover, practitioners in medicine, nursing, physiotherapy and the other health and social care professions, as well as practitoners in sport and exercise science have a need for evidence-based expertise in nutrition, health promotion and clinical nutrition so that they can manage clients and patients in a manner that permits optimal client/patient outcomes.

At the end of the programme, students will have developed the integrated scientific, clinical, psychological, communication, multidisciplinary team working and professional proficiencies that underpin a career in clinical nutrition and dietetics. The MSc in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics aims to train graduates eligible to apply to the Dietitians Registration Board (CORU) for registration as a dietitian.

About This Course

  1. Meet the standards of proficiency specified by Irish and international regulatory and professional bodies.
  2. Integrate independent, autonomous and problem-solving professional values and skills into daily practice and promote these in a wider societal context.
  3. Act as reflective practitioners and demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning, research and audit within the field of clinical nutrition and dietetics.
  4. Engage with the professional education of students, colleagues and other health professionals to foster an ethos of continuing learning and knowledge sharing.
  5. Acquire the relevant knowledge of underpinning nutrition principles, clinical nutrition and dietetic practice.
  6. Demonstrate professional competence, using an evidence-based approach, in clinical nutrition and dietetic practice within the multidisciplinary healthcare environment.
  7. Competently assess nutritional status, identify the nutrition diagnosis/problem, intervene, monitor and evaluate nutrition and dietetic interventions in patients, clients and groups.
  8. Plan, design, execute and report on a piece of independent research of high scientific merit.

Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of:
Please select all your Year 1 core modules to confirm registration.
DIET40080 Pract Placement (non-acute) Autumn  30
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of:
Please select all your Year 1 core modules to confirm registration.
DIET40050 Dietetics through the Life Cyc Spring  7.5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of:
Please select all your Year 1 core modules to confirm registration.
DIET40060 Dietetics Prof Practice 1 Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 4 of:
Please select all your Year 1 core modules to confirm registration.
DIET40070 Med for Clin Nutr & Dietetics Spring  7.5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 2 of:
You will be registered to your option module(s) by the School. No action needed during online registration for option modules.
DIET40020 Nutrition & Communication Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 2 of:
You will be registered to your option module(s) by the School. No action needed during online registration for option modules.
HNUT40160 Clinical Nutrition (Post Grad) Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 2 of:
You will be registered to your option module(s) by the School. No action needed during online registration for option modules.
PERS30010 Appl Nutr Health Ex & Sp Perf Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - B) Min 2 of:
You will be registered to your option module(s) by the School. No action needed during online registration for option modules.
PHPS40300 Health Promotion Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 4 of:
Please select all your Year 2 core modules to confirm registration.
DIET40120 MSc Clin Nutr & Diet Dissert Autumn  30
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 4 of:
Please select all your Year 2 core modules to confirm registration.
DIET40090 Adv Clin Nutr & Dietetics Spring  15
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 4 of:
Please select all your Year 2 core modules to confirm registration.
DIET40100 Dietetics Professional Pract 2 Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - C) Min 4 of:
Please select all your Year 2 core modules to confirm registration.
DIET40110 Pract Placement (acute) Summer  30
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 1 of:
You will be registered to your option module(s) by the School. No action needed during online registration for option modules.
PERS30010 Appl Nutr Health Ex & Sp Perf Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 1 of:
You will be registered to your option module(s) by the School. No action needed during online registration for option modules.
PHPS40050 Nutritional Epidemiology Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 1 of:
You will be registered to your option module(s) by the School. No action needed during online registration for option modules.
PHPS40300 Health Promotion Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - D) Min 1 of:
You will be registered to your option module(s) by the School. No action needed during online registration for option modules.
PHTY41210 Advancing Healthcare: Exercise Prescription Spring  5

MSc Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics (X820) Full Time
EU          Year 1 - € 14500 zsg
nonEU    Year 1 - € 29100 zsg
EU          Year 2 - € 14500 aa
nonEU    Year 2 - € 29110 aa

aaSecond Year Fee applies to Students in 2nd Year in 2024 and who were a 1st Year Student on the programme in 2023/24
zsgAll students entering X820 or X723, MSc in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, are required to pay a Healthcare Screening Charge on registration €310
***Fees are subject to change

Fees include tuition and examination fees. The fee schedule for all programmes is shown on the UCD Fees website (http://www.ucd.ie/fees/) and refers to the fee for a single academic year, including the fee schedule for non-EU nationals and the annual fee for the outgoing year.

  • Applicants should hold a second class honours degree (2.1 or 2.2 in exceptional circumstances e.g. extensive prior clinical experience) or higher in science e.g. biochemistry, food science, human biology, human nutrition, nutritional science, pharmacology, physiology, in health sciences e.g. medicine, nursing or a health and social care profession or in sports performance science.
  • Prior qualifications should include evidence of study of human biochemistry and physiology or other relevant degree discipline from a recognised university.
  • Good communication skills are essential. Candidates may be interviewed.
  • Two references should be included with the online application, one of which should be an academic reference and one an employment-related reference.
  • Garda vetting is required, prior to undertaking practice placements.
  • All students must attend UCD Student Health Services for pre-entry screening and must be compliant with Irish Immunisation Guidelines. All costs associated with health screening and vaccination must be met by the student. 
  • In exceptional circumstances, where an individual has substantial and significant experiential learning, a portfolio of written evidence demonstrating the meeting of graduate qualities (including subject-specific outcomes, as determined by the Course Committee) may be considered as an alternative entrance route.  Evidence used to demonstrate graduate qualities may not be used for exemption against modules within the programme.

  • Please note, the closing date for applications is June 10th

  • If English is not the applicant’s first language, or the primary degree was obtained in a country where English is not the official language, then proof of English language proficiency must be provided with the application. This can be done through IELTS or accepted equivalent test. An overall IELTS score of 7.0 is required with no component score below 6.5. The test must be no more than two years old

You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EU) applicants: Yes


Attendance




  • This full time programme is designed to be completed over two academic years.

  • Lectures and placements normally occur from Monday-Friday.

  • UCD expects that students who register for its programmes are in a position to commit to attendance and being available on scheduled programme, placement and assessment dates.



Practice Placement Education




  • UCD expects that students undertaking the programme are aware of the following:

    • Practice placements are compulsory and may take place throughout the Republic of Ireland.

    • Placements are unpaid and may require temporary relocation.

    • Students are responsible for their upkeep, lodging and travel during placements.

    • Practice placements take place in a variety of different learning environments including community and GP clinics, hospitals, healthcare facilities, large scale catering and nutrition industry environments.





Assessments




  • Assessment strategies include continuous assessment, assignments, projects, and examinations.



Exit Routes




  • Exit routes from this programme include: Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nutrition, Graduate Diploma in Clinical Nutrition, and MSc Health Sciences (Nutrition).

  • Graduates availing of these exit routes will not be eligible to apply to the Dietitians Registration Board (CORU) for registration as a dietitian. 



English Language Requirements



If English is not your first language, or your primary degree was obtained in a country where English is not the official language, then proof of English language proficiency must be provided with your application. This can be done through IELTS or equivalent. An overall IELTS score of 7.0 is required with no component score below 6.5. The test must be no more than two years old.



 



 



 



 


General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics:

ROWCLASS Apply to
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt
X820
Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics
Master of Science

Full-Time
Commencing January 2025
Graduate Taught
Closed
* you can change options at the top of the page