Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics

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

How will I learn?

• Academic, placement and research modules offered in the MSc in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics integrate several learning approaches and activities including:
• Lectures
• Tutorials
• Seminars
• Peer and small group work – e.g:problem-based learning, case studies
• Practical workshops
• Experiential learning* 
• Practice-based learning during practice placements* (minimum 1000 hours over 2 years)
• Self-directed and independent study including self-directed assignments, group work assignments, peer assessment and feedback, reflective learning
• Research-based learning (e.g., active data collection, data analysis, systematic literature reviews)

*Experiential learning 

Experiential learning describes a range of learning activities where students learn through active participation, reflection and application to real or realistic professional contexts. For the MSc in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, this includes simulation-based education, peer learning, skills-based practical activities, case-based learning (e.g., in-class, digital and virtual), and practice placements in a variety of settings.

Experiential learning within academic modules:

Experiential learning is used widely across academic modules within the programme and is a core component of preparing students for professional dietetic practice. These approaches provide opportunities to practise skills that reflect the typical work activities of a dietitian, model and cultivate ethical behaviour, understand service user experience, and develop confidence in a comfortable, supportive and appropriately supervised environment. Peer learning also enables students to develop teamwork, communication, feedback and reflective practice skills.

Examples of experiential learning on academic modules include:

• Peer-to-peer simulation activities, where students simulate a dietetic consultation through role play, with students acting as the client, dietitian and observer. The purpose is to develop skills in professional communication, diet history taking,  behaviour change support, and feedback.

• Peer anthropometry activities, where students act as patients or dietitians for each other to learn skills in anthropometry, including the measurement of body composition such as weight, height, waist, hip, calf and mid-upper arm circumferences, and skinfold thickness at anatomical sites. Some measurements require exposing skin on the arm, leg and abdominal areas.

• Peer assessment activities, where students act as peer assessors for each other to develop communication and behaviour change skills. Some activities involve audio-visual recording of a simulated dietetic consultation between students for the purpose of structured self, peer and educator feedback. This allows students to become familiar with key communication and interviewing skills in less formal assessment situations and prepares them for graded module assessments.

• Simulation scenarios, where students participate in simulation-based activities such as working with standardised patients, interprofessional simulation scenarios, or digital and virtual case-based simulation. These activities are designed to replicate complex clinical decision-making in a safe learning environment.

Practice-based learning during practice placement:

Experiential learning and peer-based activities in the university are designed to support and prepare students for similar tasks, interactions and decision-making processes encountered during practice placements.  Practice-based learning, including practice placement, forms a substantial component of the programme (at least 1000 hours) and allows students to apply and further develop their knowledge, skills and professional behaviours in authentic healthcare and service settings. More information on practice-based learning during practice placement can be found here.

The UCD School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science is a broad connected community that is committed to creating a more sustainable and equitable future for all. Staff and students work together in a culture of collaboration to support each other to thrive and achieve our full potential, in service of broader societal goals. We aim to ensure that our students, faculty and staff thrive and contribute to sustainable well-being on our campus, in Ireland and across the wider world. Dietetics at UCD contributes positively to many of today’s complex challenges. Our faculty are globally recognized experts in their fields, advancing nutrition and dietetic practice through high quality education, research, and engaging with policy makers, industry, health services and civil society to enhance people and planetary health.  Values based practice and an ethos of shared responsibility for sustainable development underpins our approach to education, research and practice.  

UCD MSc in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetic graduates will have the skills to:

• Identify inequalities in health, wellbeing and food access, and promote affordable, nutritious, diverse and tasty food for all, key to the prevention of hunger, malnutrition, and non-communicable diseases.
• Create inclusive food and nutrition interventions and messages that are accessible to people of all ages, genders, abilities, and socio-economic backgrounds, promoting equity in health.
• Participate in advocacy and the development of policies aimed at increasing access to affordable, nutritious, diverse, tasty, and sustainably produced food at the population level.
• Promote sustainable food systems and tailor sustainable dietary pattern approaches so they are accessible and appropriate to support health and wellbeing among individuals and diverse population groups.
• Encourage positive lifelong habits, by understanding and implementing food and nutrition programmes that promote healthy eating from a young age.
• Support healthy ageing through programmes designed to maintain nutritional status, physical function, independence, and quality of life in older adults.
• Contribute to the education sector by teaching future generations, colleagues and the public about the importance of food and nutrition to maintain and promote good health and prevent and manage disease.  

The MSc in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetic programme content aligns to several of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the following primary areas being most closely aligned: 

• Zero Hunger (SDG 2)

• Good Health and Wellbeing (SDG 3)

• Quality Education (SDG 4)

• Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (SDG 9)

• Reduced Inequality (SDG 10)

• Responsible Production and Consumption (SDG 12)

• Partnership to achieve SDGs (SDG 17)

MSc Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics (X820) Full Time:
EU              Year 1 -  € 15155 
NON EU     Year 1 -  € 29500 
EU              Year 2 - € 14790 
NON EU     Year 2 -  € 29100 


***Fees are subject to change

• Applicants must hold a second class honours degree (Level 8 NFQ) 2.1 or higher in Science: Human Nutrition, Nutritional Science, Physiology, Medicine, Nursing, Food Science, Sports Performance Science.  (2.2 in exceptional circumstances with extensive prior clinical experience).
• Applicants must meet the prerequisites in Biochemistry and Physiology.  Applicants are required to outline the modules taken that cover biochemistry and physiology in their undergraduate programme.
• If English is not an applicant’s native language, unless the primary degree has been completed successfully through English in an English-speaking country, an English language qualification (IELTS score of 7.0 (or equivalent) with no element below 6.5) is required for admission to the MSc in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics programme.  
• Garda vetting is compulsory prior to commencing practice placements.
• Students are required to attend the UCD Student Health Centre for pre-entry screening and must be compliant with Irish Immunisation Guidelines.  (Student's pay for all the costs associated with health screening). 
• Two official letter references on headed paper (Academic and work related).
• Full official transcript for each year on headed university paper.
• CV
• Personal Statement (Approx 500 words)
• Additional Documents (Relevant work experiences)
• The closing date for applications is the 10th June of each year.
• Deferrals are not granted for this programme (Submit a new application for the year you wish to enter). 

Full Time option suitable for:

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

• Programme Information:


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


• Practice placements are compulsory and take place throughout 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 hospitals, healthcare facilities, catering/nutrition industry environments.


• Full attendance is mandatory for all scheduled classes and placements from Monday to Friday.

Exit routes from this programme: include the Graduate Certificate Health Sciences (minimum 30 ECTS), Graduate Diploma Health Sciences (minimum 60 ECTS) and MSc Health Sciences (Nutrition) (minimum 90 ECTS).  Graduates availing of these exit routes will not be eligible to apply to the Dietitians Registration Board (CORU) for registration as a dietitian.