Dietetics (pre-registration) - MSc

Your personal statement

Your personal statement is a highly important part of your application. It gives you a crucial opportunity to say why you’re applying and why the institution should accept you and also provides evidence of a good command of written English. 

Here are the key areas you’ll need to address in order to be considered

 Course choice

Why does this course appeal? What areas are of particular interest? Tell us about your commitment to studying dietetics

 Career as a dietitian

Demonstrate an awareness of the dietetic role and the skills required of a registered practitioner. Show us that you have an interest in and the ability to work with people in a caring role.

  Work experience, dietetic shadowing and employment history

Mention any paid or voluntary work that is relevant, highlighting and reflecting on the skills and experience gained and how this will be useful in your chosen career as a dietitian.

 School/college or University experience

Highlight skills gained at school/college/university, eg summer schools, mentoring activities, society roles.

 Non-accredited skills or achievement

eg Duke of Edinburgh Award, Young Enterprise scheme.

You should also talk about any subjects you’re studying that don’t have a formal assessment and any sponsorships or placements you’ve applied for. And don't be scared to add in details about your social, sports or leisure interests.

Get more information on writing personal statements.

All students studying this dietetics course will be expected to demonstrate the core values of the NHS Constitution. This will be assessed as part of the interview process (see below). 

References

Your application will need to be supported by one reference.

Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) and Occupational health

We expect all health and social care students to act in an honest and trustworthy manner and that your conduct, behaviour and attitudes are compatible at all times with your professional Code of Conduct. The Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) set criminal record checks as a requirement for entry to educational courses leading to an application for professional registration.

If you are offered a place on the programme, you will receive an email inviting you to complete an online DBS application form via our external provider closer to the start date of your course. No convictions or cautions are considered as ‘spent’ under the ‘exceptions’ allowed under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, 1974. There is no time limit to some parts of the record.

if you have lived outside of the UK for six months or more in the past five years, we will need to see a criminal record check from the country you were living in. For applicants living in the Republic of Ireland, we will need to see an Irish Garda clearance. 

Please be aware that you are responsible for covering the cost of the DBS application. This cost will vary by country. 

For more information on DBS including EU/overseas applications and the associated cost of an application, please read more here. 

Once you have fully enrolled on your course you must inform us about any involvement you have had with the Police or Social Services, including motoring offences.

Occupational Health 

The Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) set ‘good health’ requirements for entry to educational courses leading to professional registration. Good health is necessary to undertake practice and means that students must be capable of safe and effective practice with supervision throughout their course of study.

Expert advice to confirm good health will be received from the Occupational Health Department at Birmingham City University. If necessary, you will be invited for a medical examination and specialist advice may be requested. When students are required to attend Occupational Health for immunisations and vaccinations they will be asked to sign an agreement which states they will attend all required appointments. Failure to attend one or more appointment will result in additional costs to the student.

The health requirement is not a bar to registering for people with disabilities.

Once you enrol on your course you are required to complete an annual declaration confirming that you continue to be in good health. 

The Interview process

Interviews are vital in ensuring your suitability for the programme in terms of your academic ability and understanding, evidence of oral communication skills, and motivation to pursue a career in Dietetics. It is also a way of finding out more about BCU and offers an opportunity to meet some of the programme team.

The recruitment process will consist of two stages:

Stage 1: Written task. You will be required to answer a few questions in a virtual timed written activity. The written tasks will be marked by a member of the academic team. You will have a choice of dates and times to participate in the activity, which will take place in early summer.

Stage 2: In person one to one interview and group activity. The best performing candidates on the written task will then be invited to attend an interview day on campus. This will involve a group activity and a one to one interview with a panel including members of  the Dietetics teaching team, an expert by experience and a practice partner. Answers will be marked by the interview team. These interviews will take place in the summer and are subject to change if this is deemed necessary by the university due to Covid 19.

Information about the interviews

The written task and the interview day will consist of a range of questions which may include:

• Profession specific knowledge, skills, behaviours and values
• Understanding and application of NHS core values
• Reflection on your own knowledge and experience