MSc Advanced Professional Practice in Paediatric Dietetics

Duration	1 year
Course type	Full-time, Part-time route available
Study location	Plymouth

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Are you a qualified dietitian working in paediatric dietetics? Take your career further with our specialist course delivered in partnership with the Paediatric Group of the British Dietetic Association (BDA). You’ll benefit from the knowledge and experience of leading clinical practitioners from across the UK and develop as an evidence-based practitioner with advanced skills in clinical reasoning, critical appraisal, problem solving and leadership.

Your career as a healthcare professional starts here

The first-class new home for our healthcare teaching and research providing students with skills to meet the needs of 21st century careers.

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A unique new learning space where undergraduate and postgraduate students from the largest breadth of health disciplines in the South-West learn together under one roof, with expert practitioners.

Medical students using the Anatomage table clinical

Plymouth Integrative Health and Social Care Education Centre (PIHC)

Experience an interprofessional learning environment across our health programmes that will prepare you for life as a healthcare professional.

Become a healthcare professional of the future

Collaboration across the schools helps students to learn with, from and about each other, gaining the real-world experience employers seek.

Key features

Learn from clinical dietetics experts at leading children’s hospitals across the UK, including Royal Liverpool Children’s Hospital, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Great Ormond Street Hospital London, Manchester Children’s Hospital and Royal Hospital for Sick Children Glasgow.
Choose to study one-year full time or balance work and caring commitments by studying part-time over a maximum of six years.
Take advantage of the flexibility our programme offers: the BDA pathway specific modules are taught over four days of intensive teaching; most are delivered in a hybrid manner with two days of online content and two days of face to face teaching. Some University of Plymouth modules are taught by distance learning and some by short intensive study blocks.
Become an evidence-based practitioner, equipped to manage and lead in busy and constantly changing settings.
Study core research modules in an inter-professional setting with support from experienced enthusiastic staff who will encourage your personal development.
Find out more details in our programme brochure .

As this programme is designed for qualified HCPC registered dietitians, there is no requirement for a clinical placement component. Neither the programme nor any of its pathways lead to eligibility to apply for registration with a regulatory body.

Unfortunately, we are unable to accept applications from overseas students for this programme as it does not comply with the current Tier 4 visa requirements.

Please note that when you enrol on this programme, you always enrol to study the master degree but we offer three exit awards: PgCert, PgDip and MSc.

Course details

Programme overview
Postgraduate Certificate
To achieve a postgraduate certificate, you will need to obtain 60 credits. This must include the core module and two pathway specific modules of your choice.
Core module
ADV702 Applying Evidence to Practice 20 Credits (online or face to face delivery)
Pathway modules
ADV741 Nutrition and Dietetics in Infancy and Childhood 20 Credits (online delivery)
ADV742 Nutrition and Dietetics in Common Paediatric Disorders 20 Credits (online delivery)
ADV743 Clinical Dietetics for Infants and Children 20 Credits (hybrid delivery)
ADV720 Dietetic Management of Inherited Metabolic Disorders 20 Credits (hybrid delivery)
ADV744 Neonatal Nutrition 20 Credits (hybrid delivery)
Postgraduate Diploma
To achieve a postgraduate diploma, you will have first completed the PgCert and need to obtain an additional 60 credits (to give 120 credits in total). This must include the core module, one pathway module and an optional module of your choice.
Core module
ADV715 Project Design for Research 20 Credits (online or face to face delivery)
Pathway modules
ADV741 Nutrition and Dietetics in Infancy and Childhood 20 Credits
ADV742 Nutrition and Dietetics in Common Paediatric Disorders 20 Credits
ADV743 Clinical Dietetics for Infants and Children 20 Credits
ADV720 Dietetic Management of Inherited Metabolic Disorders 20 Credits
ADV744 Neonatal Nutrition 20 Credits
Optional modules
Optional module 20 Credits
We have a wide range of optional modules available at masters level. In particular, you may wish to consider undertaking a fourth paediatric pathway module, ADV774 Contemporary Leadership or ADV749 Dietetic Practice: Supported Study . Please contact paeddiet@plymouth.ac.uk to discuss your options.
MSc
To achieve a full masters degree, you will have first completed the PgDip and need to obtain an additional 60 credits (to give 180 credits in total). This must include the core module.
Core module
ADV716 Research Dissertation 60 Credits (online or face to face delivery)

The modules shown for this course or programme are those being studied by current students, or expected new modules. Modules are subject to change depending on year of entry.

Every postgraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the programme aims, the programme structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest programme structure and may be subject to change:

MSc Paediatric Dietetics course brochure_4470

Entry requirements

Candidates should normally have a first degree, BSc (Hons) at 2.1 or above or European first cycle equivalent in dietetics.
You should have experience of professional practice in paediatric dietetics.
Note that successful completion of this pathway does not lead to eligibility to apply for registration as a dietician with the Health and Social Care Professions Council.
Unfortunately, we are unable to accept applications from overseas students for this programme as it does not comply with the current Student (formerly Tier 4) visa requirements.

You must also provide evidence of competence in written and spoken English in accordance with the University’s Admissions Code of Practice – IELTS requirement is 6.5 average with a minimum of 5.5 in each category. If you need to improve your English language to get onto a degree programme at the University of Plymouth, you can book a pre-sessional academic English course .

You will be assessed individually for your ability to study at this level and therefore an interview may be necessary. You will normally be required to submit a short piece of writing as part of the admissions process.

AP(E)L:
Claims for credit for prior learning, whether certificated or experiential are accepted and will be assessed following university regulations and faculty procedures.

European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS):
This programme is equivalent to 90 ECTS credits (second cycle) with 30 ECTS credits at postgraduate certificate, 60 credits at postgraduate diploma and 90 credits at masters degree. Each 20 credit module has the equivalent of 10 ECTS credits and assumes a notional student effort of between 200-300 hours.

Successful completion of this pathway does not lead to eligibility to apply for registration as a dietician with the Health and Social Care Professions Council.

We welcome applicants with international qualifications. To view other accepted qualifications please refer to our tariff glossary .

Fees, costs and funding

Student	2024-25	2025-26
Home	£11,000	£11,350
International	NA	£19,550
Part time (Home)	£1,220 per 20 credit module	£1,260 per 20 credit module

Full time fees shown are per annum. Part time fees shown are per a number of credits. Please note that fees are reviewed on an annual basis. Fees and the conditions that apply to them shown in the prospectus are correct at the time of going to print. Fees shown on the web are the most up to date but are still subject to change in exceptional circumstances. More information about fees and funding .

Additional costs
Please be aware that there may be additional costs to undertaking your studies relating to printing of course materials, and requirement for an initial outlay for travel and accommodation in respect of practice placement. If you have any questions regarding these costs please contact pduadmissions@plymouth.ac.uk.

International
If you are studying on a programme where placements are integral to your study there are costs associated with travel and accommodation. Please speak with the programme admissions tutor to find out more.

In order to cater for the needs of the NHS workforce, this full-time programme is also available as a part-time programme, which is flexible in nature and allows up to five years for students to complete the full MSc. For this reason, students on the programme are unable to claim support via the Student Loans Company Postgraduate Loan. The SLC stipulates that only full-time programmes without a part time equivalent can be funded. If you think that you will have trouble funding your place on the programme, we would recommend a discussion with your employer to see whether any financial support can be granted.

Tuition fee discount for University of Plymouth graduates

If you studied your undergraduate degree at Plymouth, you may be eligible for a fee discount if you complete your postgraduate studies here as well.

10% or 20% discount on tuition fees for home students
For 2024/2025 entry, a 20% discount on tuition fees for international students (International alumni who have applied to the University through an agent are not eligible to receive the discount)

Learn more about the tuition fee discount

How to apply

Applying for this programme
Applications for this programme are to be submitted online. Please select either part-time or full-time above and then click on the blue ‘Apply’ button.
In addition, applicants will also be required to submit:

Personal Statement supporting your application.
References from two referees – ideally one academic and one work.
Curriculum Vitae.
A copy of your degree certificate or equivalent.

Any questions please contact:
Email: pduadmissions@plymouth.ac.uk
Professional Development Unit
Intercity Place
University of Plymouth
Drake Circus
Plymouth, PL4 8AA

Tel: +44 1752 586951

What happens after I apply?

After your application is received, it will be processed and reviewed by the Programme Lead for a decision to be made on your suitability to study. You may be asked to provide additional information or to take part in an interview. Once a decision has been made, you will be notified through your Applicant Portal.

Please note that you will be enrolled on the full MSc programme. You may choose to exit with the qualification of PgCert upon completion of an appropriate 60 credits, or a PgDip upon completion of an appropriate 120 credits. More information is contained within the Programme Specification in the Course Details section.

For applicants with disabilities

If you have a disability and would like further information about the support provided by the University of Plymouth, please visit our Disability Services webpage.

Kim Novell – BSc (Hons) Dietetics and MSc Advanced Professional Practice in Paediatric Dietetics graduate

Kim Novell – graduate profile

“Plymouth offers a great dietetic degree with a range of learning experiences presented by a dynamic and innovative lecturing team, in modern and well-equipped facilities... It has a great mix of learning methods, including theory based lectures and practical workshops to help put your new knowledge into practice and prepare you for real life experiences of working as a dietitian.”

Kim Novell talks to us about the excellent facilities available at Plymouth, placements, working for the NHS, and setting up her own consultancy.

Find out more about Kim's experience

Teaching and learning

This programme benefits from the teaching of the core programme modules at the University of Plymouth with the specialist paediatric modules being delivered at locations across the UK by the British Dietetic Association (BDA).

Delivery of the specialist modules takes place over four consecutive days – for further information on the delivery of these modules please visit the BDA website or contact the course administrator: SGevents@bda.uk.com.

Delivery of the core modules is mostly via a blended learning approach based at InterCity Place .

For further information on both specialist and core modules please visit the module webpages .

Studying for a masters – module choice, research and career prospects

Find out more about the modules associated with this programme

Find out more about our dedicated Dietetics and Health Research Group

Enhance your career prospects

MSc Advanced Professional Practice pathways

Both the School of Health Professions and the School of Nursing and Midwifery offer the MSc Advanced Professional Practice programme; together we offer a wide range of specialist and generic pathways to meet the educational needs of all health and social care professionals.

MSc Advanced Professional Practice pathways