Dietetics Placements
Find out about our compulsory placements during the MDiet course.
Why have placements?
Our Dietetics course offers the skills and competencies required for you to qualify as a registered dietitian.
A certain number of placement hours are a mandatory component of all BDA and HCPC accredited courses. The distribution of these hours will vary between different universities.
During our MDiet course, you will undertake over 1000 placement hours, split across three defined placements (A, B and C).
The settings for these provide our students with a wide variety of practice experience from an early stage.
Where and when placements take place
Placement A
Placement A starts in semester 2 of the first year. It consists of a series of half and full day observational/experiential ‘mini placements’. We offer placements in a range of food and care related settings including:
- care settings (care homes)
- community projects and social enterprises
- catering settings
- a 1 week placement in an NHS Dietetics department
Students on placements complete tasks related to communication and professionalism. Project opportunities offer real-life application in improving nutrition and wellbeing.
Placements B and C
Both are 12-week placements in an NHS dietetic department. They focus on helping students develop competency in the nutrition and dietetic care process. They also look at the core care process that registered dietitians follow in practice.
Placement B
These placements are undertaken in semester 2 of the course's third year. It focuses on students building competency. It takes students through each of the steps of the care process.
Placements all you to build these skills in arrange of health specialties with a variety of service users.
Placement C
Placement C is undertaken in the first semester of the 4th and final year of your MDiet studies. Its focus is on students demonstrating competency in the care process.
You'll carry out full consultations, planning, providing and evaluating dietary care plans. These will take place in a range of health specialties and with a range of service users. Students must also manage their own small caseload of patients.
Our Dietetics course offers a smooth transition between Placement B and C. This enables our students to build on their skills without a long break.
Placement support
We help our students get the most from each placement with pre and post-placement activities on campus.
Designated placement tutors support students out in placement settings.
Tutors visit students during B and C placements to review progress and discuss any issues.
All placement supervisors train in supporting student placements.
Supervising dietitians for NHS placements have undertaken specific clinical supervision training.
How placements are assessed
We assess placements on a pass/fail basis. Students produce placement portfolios to satisfy the completion requirements of each placement.
Placement tutors assess Placement A portfolios. Clinical supervisors assess Placement B and C portfolios.
Introduction to Dietetics helps students to become familiar with compiling a professional portfolio. This module ensures students are already familiar with the requirements when out on placement.