MSc in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics
Dietetics in UCD
Welcome to the MSc in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Programme. Here you will find more information about studying to become a dietitian in the School of Public Health, Physiotherapy & Sports Science at UCD.
Mission
The MSc in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics programme aims to provide a postgraduate programme in clinical nutrition and dietetics that will develop competent practitioners in clinical nutrition and dietetics eligible to apply for CORU Dietitian Registration Board registration as Dietitians.
Programme Structure, Application Process, Entry Requirements, Fees
MSc Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Staff
Contact Details for Current Students and Prospective Applicants
(opens in a new window)MSc in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Programme: Clinical Education Overview
Dietetics is a health-care discipline that focuses on individual, community and population nutrition. Dietitians are concerned with food and nutrition for the promotion of health, prevention of disease, and in times of illness. In the MSc in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, we equip future dietitians with the skills and confidence to be nutrition experts and advocates of healthy food for all in many settings.
The MSc in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics programme is the first graduate programme in dietetics in the Republic of Ireland. The two-year programme began in January 2016, incorporating taught, practice placement and research components. The programme is CORU-approved and includes 1000 hours of supervised dietetic practice placement within settings that reflect the breadth, diversity and working environments of graduate dietitians, for example, in clinical, community, industry and public health.
Students also complete an MSc dissertation in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, usually in a UCD-affiliated site or within an organisation with which UCD works closely. Placements and the dissertation are spread out over two years and learning is supported by practice tutors, academic supervisors and dietetic/nutrition staff who work in the placement/dissertation site.
Quality, excellence and evidence-based practice are emphasised on the MSc in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Programme. In addition to core lecturers, expert guest lecturers from clinical and research backgrounds are frequently invited to share their knowledge and expertise with our students. The strength of this programme is the opportunities students have to apply nutrition and dietetic knowledge to a variety of clinical, community, industry and research settings in which dietitians practise.
The First MSc in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Graduates with Assoc Prof Corish and Dietetics Special Lecturers/Practice Tutors, June 2018
(opens in a new window)Programme Structure, Application Process, Entry Requirements, Fees
Information relating to the structure and content of the programme, the application processes for EU and non-EU students, entry requirements, fees and programme outcomes can all be found on the Graduate Admissions website: (opens in a new window)MSc Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Programme Information
(opens in a new window)Careers and Employability
Students who have graduated from the programme are eligible to apply to CORU to gain status as a registered dietitian in Ireland. Our graduates are currently employed in a wide-range of workplaces, some of which are listed below.
- Community Dietetics / Primary Care Settings
- Acute Hospitals
- Rehabilitation, Residential and Community Services
- Private Practice Dietitians
- Disability Services
(opens in a new window)Student Testimonials
Cillian O’Shea, RD, MSc in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Graduate
“I’m lucky enough to be working in the hospital where I completed my acute training and I thoroughly enjoy every day at work. I feel I make a difference in the lives of my patients and I’m constantly learning about new conditions and patient types. Within departments there is a great sense of teamwork. There are so many areas you can work in dietetics from clinical, public health, sports, research and private practice and even within those there are very different speciality areas.”
Aisling Dunphy, RD, MSc in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Graduate
"Over the course of my two years in UCD, I received the opportunity to meet and work with many dietitians in a diverse range of fields. As students, we learn a lot in the lecture hall, but our practical experience in the clinical setting is what provides the solid foundation and skill set for our future careers. Our time spent in the clinical setting allows us, not only to apply our clinical knowledge, but to develop key communication and interpersonal skills; competencies which require experience beyond the classroom.”
Sarah Connellan (MSc in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Graduate)
“This was an exceptional learning experience as I had the opportunity to work in a range of specialities and learn directly from dietitians who were experts in their respective fields… Throughout my placement, I was supported by the dietetics staff in SVUH as well as by my UCD placement tutor and academic staff. Weekly meetings with my placement tutor and Fridays spent at UCD where tutorials were held for the entire class were extremely useful as it gave us the opportunity to deepen our learning, discuss patient cases, reflect on our placement experiences and learn from each other”.
(opens in a new window)MSc in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics Staff
(opens in a new window)Prof. Helen Roche
(opens in a new window)Dr Sarah Browne
(opens in a new window)Dr Celine Murrin
(opens in a new window)Ruth Charles, Dietetics Special Lecturer/Practice Tutor
Annelie Shaw, Dietetics Special Lecturer/Practice Tutor
Nicola Dervan, Dietetics Special Lecturer/Practice Tutor
(opens in a new window)Contact Details for Current Students and Prospective Applicants
MSc in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics students and prospective applicants should contact the Dietetics administrator in case of any queries.
Dietetics Administrator
(opens in a new window)dietetics.admin@ucd.ie
01-716 3462