Overview

Dietitians translate the science of nutrition into everyday information about food and advise people on their food and nutrition choices.

They are qualified, regulated health professionals who assess, diagnose and treat dietary and nutritional problems. Their aim is to promote good health and prevent disease in individuals and communities.

This course offers an integrated study of the science of nutrition and dietetics and its application to health, wellbeing and the management of disease. You’ll have access to hands-on simulation experiences within our specialist facilities, including labs, food science kitchens, and our Interprofessional Simulation Centre (ISC).

Simulation-based learning gets you career ready. You’ll practise patient consultations, clinical decision-making and interprofessional communication in a safe, supportive environment.

We combine biological and social sciences to offer a whole-systems understanding of the factors influencing diet and health. You’ll develop the knowledge, skills, and professional competencies required for practice as a Registered Dietitian.

The core subjects include:

human physiology
essentials of nutritional science
immunology and microbiology
food science
therapeutic dietetics
public health nutrition.

The curriculum emphasises evidence-based and research-informed emerging practice. You’ll be able to assess nutritional needs, plan and implement dietary interventions, and evaluate outcomes across individual, group, and community settings.

The course also integrates academic study with professional practice through a series of practice placements in hospitals, community settings, and public health organisations across Scotland. These placements are designed to ensure you develop practical competence, confidence and readiness for professional registration.

Our students are consistently recognised as being among the best prepared for placement, as evidenced by feedback from practice educators and prospective employers. When you graduate, you will be ready to contribute to improving health and wellbeing through nutrition and dietary management within the NHS and across wider public health, research, and international settings.

The BSc (Hons) Human Nutrition and Dietetics also has a strong focus on sustainability, reflecting the growing importance of environmental and societal considerations within dietetics and public health.

Why study Human Nutrition and Dietetics at GCU?

GCU has over 100 years of teaching experience in nutrition and food.
Build real clinical experience through three placements, completing the 1,000 practice hours required for Dietitian registration, with opportunities across NHS settings.
You’ll learn from experienced practitioners and researchers, with guest lecturers in specialised fields.
Benefit from access to specialist facilities and simulated learning environments.

What you will study

Please note that full module information is in the process of being finalised for publication and will be made available here shortly.

In the meantime, you can view and download the Programme Specification at the bottom of this page. This document provides an overview of the course structure, including indicative modules, learning content and further key information. The modules listed on the Programme Specification are for the current academic year and are intended to give you an idea of what you may be able to study on this course.

Careers

Most of our graduates tend to start their career securing roles within the NHS across the UK, typically as Band 5 Registered Dietitians. They may also work in the private sector or in research.

Graduates can also work internationally following application to the host country’s accreditation processes. Previous graduates have gone on to work in Ireland, Greece, Spain and the USA.

Course information

Award	Mode of study	Duration	Start date	Location	UCAS
BSc (Hons)	Full time	4 years	Sep 27	Glasgow	B400	Enquire Apply
Award	Mode of study	Duration	Start date	Location	UCAS
BSc (Hons)	Full Time	4 Years	Sep 26	Glasgow	B400	Enquire Apply

Please note that admission to GCU is considered on a competitive basis, and the academic entry requirements stated here may be the minimum required to be eligible for an offer.

International students can get information on entry requirements specific to their country in our International Study section.

Year 1

Standard entry requirement

UCAS Tariff: 108

Scottish Higher: BBBB or equivalent incl Biology/Human Biology or Chemistry and one other Science

A Level: BCC or equivalent incl Biology or Chemistry and one other Science

Minimum entry requirement

UCAS Tariff: 90

Scottish Higher: BCCC or equivalent including Biology/Human Biology or Chemistry and one other Science

A Level: CCC or equivalent including Biology or Chemistry and one other Science

English language

IELTS score of 7.0 with no element below 6.5 (or equivalent)

Minimum age restrictions

A student shall not normally be admitted unless he or she has attained the age of 17 years prior to commencement of the programme.

Additional requirements

Applicants will be expected to show evidence in the application of their interest in dietetics and any skills and abilities gained from life and work experience that would be advantageous for a future career in dietetics. We do not expect all our applicants to have visited a dietetic department, but if you are fortunate enough to have experience of speaking with a dietician or visiting a dietetic team, then it is appropriate to include this in your personal statement.

Disclosure requirement: Students are required to undergo an enhanced criminal disclosure procedure with Disclosure Scotland prior to placement.

Additional information for international applicants

Entry requirements by country
Application deadlines
English language tests
Knowledge of English - Applicants from a majority English speaking country may not be required to provide further proof of your English language proficiency. Information about this requirement is available on the Student Visa section of the gov.uk website.

Additional information for all applicants

Relevant experience (Recognition of Prior Learning)

GCU's flexible entry policies exist to allow relevant work experience and prior learning to be considered towards standard entry or advanced entry into a course.

If you do not have the typical academic entry qualifications, but can demonstrate relevant work experience and/or credits from recognised professional bodies, you may be eligible to enter this course via the University's Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) scheme.

Minimum entry requirements

Minimum entry requirements are for widening access students only. If you are from a group that is not currently well-represented in higher education you may qualify as a widening access student. This includes living in a target postcode area, attending a target school or college, attending SWAP, are care-experienced or provide care for someone else, have refugee status or are an asylum seeker.

The tuition fees you pay are mostly determined by your fee status. What is my student fee status?

Fees are subject to change and are published here for guidance only.

Annual tuition fees

Please visit our central tuition fees section for details.

Additional costs

As a student at the University, there are additional fees and costs which may or may not apply to you, but that you should be aware of.

View additional costs.

Additional costs for Scottish domiciled students on this programme

Scottish domiciled students, eligible for SAAS, do not need to pay for PVG checks, occupational health checks or uniforms.

You will need to consider costs for accommodation and travel while on placement. However, you may be able to apply to SAAS for additional expense support to help meet these costs.

Check out the SAAS Nursing and Midwifery student placement expenses claim or Allied Health Professions student placement expenses claim forms.

Additional costs for all other students (rest of UK, EU and International) on this programme

During this course, you will be required to cover the cost of:

Accommodation and travel while on placements
Uniforms: approximately £14 each. The number of uniforms you require depends on the duration of your course and can range from two to four.
Occupational health checks and vaccination set fee of £372
Membership of Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme. New applications cost £59. Updates to the existing scheme record cost £18.

All students (including Scottish domiciled) will be required to purchase the Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition Group (PENG) app for use on placement (approximate cost £25).

Invoices will be issued by the University for payment of all (except the PENG) of the above additional costs in Trimester B (March/April) of the first year of your programme.

Teaching methods

Our course has a supportive teaching environment, a research-informed curriculum, and an emphasis on practical learning. Teaching draws on global perspectives in nutrition and dietetics.

You’ll gain an understanding of:

international health challenges
cultural influences on dietary practice
the role of dietitians in global health contexts.

You will also benefit from guest lectures and specialist teaching delivered by experienced Dietitians and Nutritionists. They work across a range of clinical and public health disciplines and provide valuable insight into current professional practice.

We adopt a blended teaching and learning approach, which combines traditional face-to-face classroom methods with online activities across all modules.

Learning is delivered through a mix of:

lectures
practicals
seminar
workshops
simulated learning
skills practise groups.

Lectures provide core theoretical foundations. Our small-group sessions and hands-on practicals reinforce learning through discussion and application.

Assessment methods

Assessment methods vary by module and may include:

unseen examinations
viva exams (structured practical assessments used to evaluate clinical and communication skills)
Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs)
class tests
essays
laboratory reports
case studies
oral presentations
creation of scientific posters
group work.

Practice education placements

The course includes three practice education placements, meeting the 1,000 hours required for registration as a Dietitian.

Practice Education A takes place during Year 2 and includes two weeks of campus-based learning and a two-week placement in a health or social care setting.

Practice Education B and C are each 12-week, full-time placements, usually in NHS settings, starting in the summer between Years 3 and 4.

Placements are allocated across all 16 Health Boards in Scotland via a national process. You may need to temporarily relocate and will be responsible for associated travel and accommodation costs. SAAS-funded learners may be eligible for reimbursement of certain expenses.

Facilities and simulation

On our course, you’ll benefit from access to specialist facilities, including modern laboratories, food science kitchens, and our Interprofessional Simulation Centre (ISC).

Simulation-based learning prepares you for clinical and professional practice using structured scenarios that let you practise patient consultations, clinical decision-making, and interprofessional communication in a safe, supportive environment.

Our food science kitchens provide a teaching and learning space designed to simulate a real-world kitchen environment, so you can safely develop practical skills, experiment, and apply theoretical knowledge in a controlled setting.

Doing good through food

This degree is designed to promote the Common Good by empowering you to improve individual and community health through evidence-based nutrition. Our graduates go on to make meaningful contributions in clinical practice, public health, education, and research — locally, nationally, and globally.

Professional accreditation

This is the only human nutrition and dietetics degree in the West of Scotland approved by both the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the British Dietetic Association (BDA).

Graduates are eligible to register and practise as Dietitians in the UK and many countries overseas.

Visit the Health and Care Professions Council website

Visit the British Dietetic Association website

Download the programme specification

In addition to the core modules that all students must undertake, some courses offer students a choice from a selection of optional modules to shape the focus their degree. Optional modules where available, form part of the overall credit structure of the course.

Download the programme specification for a detailed breakdown of the course structure, including modules, what you'll learn and other useful information.

Terms and Conditions

Details of the University’s terms and conditions are available here.