The foundation year will build your knowledge of health topics, science and research. If you successfully pass the foundation year, you will be guaranteed progression onto our three-year nutrition and dietetics degree.
in the UK for Quality Education
in the UK for sustained employment and/or further study
The course is accredited by the British Dietetic Association (BDA) and is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC).
You can join the British Dietetic Association as a student member whilst studying on the course. Successful completion leads to eligibility to apply for HCPC registration.
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Overview
Our integrated foundation course is your perfect preparation you for the undergraduate degree in nutrition and dietetics. A common misconception is that your previous qualifications must be scientific to become a dietitian. That is not true of this course. If your current qualifications don’t allow you direct entry to degree level, this pathway is for you. Successfully passing the foundation year guarantees your place on the remaining three years of our Nutrition and Dietetics BSc (Hons).
During your Foundation Year, you’ll get a solid grounding in science and healthcare-related topics.
By studying areas of human biology, psychology, sociology, and research, you’ll build the knowledge, skills and confidence you need to take the next step in your education and career. You’ll investigate key debates such as equality and accessibility in the healthcare, whilst being assessed through unique methods like podcasts.
Using lectures, food science hubs, laboratory work, tutorials and small group work, we'll ask you to actively participate to help you get the most from the course.
You will be taught alongside other Foundation Year students with an interest in other Allied Health specialists such as Occupational Therapy, Paramedic Science, Nursing, Radiography and Physiotherapy for the foundation year of the course before joining the other Nutrition and Dietetics BSc students for the remaining three years.
Placement
Once you complete for your first year of this course, you can access a variety of placement opportunities, from promoting public health campaigns to supporting a variety of service users.
You will be well prepared for clinical placements through simulation events within our clinical skills labs, using mock wards, and on-site community house. Therefore, you can begin connecting with expert dietitians in the West Midlands region.
There are no placements during the foundation year.
Course content
You’ll study theories backed up by substantial evidence and will then apply this learning in professional practice.
Throughout the course you’ll gain a broad range of experience in the field, working in our Ability House (a simulated home setting), a large teaching kitchen and science labs.
Careers
Nutritionists and dietitians are in demand in a variety of industries, so there are lots of exciting opportunities.
You could:
- Work in a hospital setting
- Support communities to embrace a healthy lifestyle
- Work for public health and support their campaigns
- Work for a professional sports club
- Become self-employed and set-up your own practice
- Move into research or training
You will also gain a science background and develop people skills during this course, making you employable in a wide range of areas.
Course highlights
Teaching and assessment
Teaching is a mix of interactive seminars, lectures, one-to-one tutorials and practical skills sessions. Your assessments will help prepare you for a career as a nutritionist and dietitian, and include observations of professional skills, writing reflective essays, presenting, group discussions and creating a dietary plan.
Teaching and assessment contents
You will be taught through a combination of interactive workshops, lectures, seminars and e-learning. Throughout the Course, you benefit from an integration of both innovative and traditional teaching methods. Large group lectures and cutting-edge research seminars delivered by academics as well as external speakers will complement your studies. Lectures may contain students from a variety of different courses for which the lecture content is also relevant.
A variety of stimulating, cutting-edge resources are also available to support your learning. Your learning will be supported by the University’s virtual learning environment. You will have individual access to electronic journals, content-rich study guides, and interactive online learning materials covering various science disciplines, formative online assessments and group discussion forums.
In tutor-led seminar groups of 8-12 students you will investigate key concepts and systems that includes case studies. These small group sessions will also develop your critical thinking, problem design and solving, teamwork, presentation and lifelong learning skills which are essential for your career development.
In addition, meetings with personal academic tutors are scheduled on at least four occasions in the first year and three occasions in each of the other years of a course. Throughout your degree you will have the opportunity to apply your developing knowledge and build on the depth of your understanding.
Meet the team
You will be taught by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course.
Catherine Simcox-Bird
Catherine qualified as a HCPC registered dietitian in 2016. Since then, she has worked in several NHS hospitals, gaining experience as a dietitian in a variety of clinical specialities, including neurology, older adults and critical care.
Dr Stacey Jones
Stacey is a HCPC registered dietitian. She has experience in the NHS as a primary care dietitian and has a background in public health. Stacey has presented her research at international and national conferences, and contributes to the profession through membership on specialist committees. She possesses extensive experience in curriculum design and development, having led numerous course developments and worked across multi-professions of AHP, Nursing and Midwifery courses.
Dr Laurence Trueman
Nutrition: Do it well and it can be one of the most powerful ways to maintain your health. Do it badly and it can poison you slowly over the decades.
About 80% of people in the UK die of diseases associated with poor-lifestyle choices. As a registered nutritionist my interests centre on translational education; taking the scientific knowledge on how lifestyle and the modern environment impact on personal wellbeing and disseminating it to the general population through personal projects, but also via a large number of passionate and intelligent students who I have been lucky enough to teach during my time at the University of Worcester.
Catherine Simcox-Bird
Catherine qualified as a HCPC registered dietitian in 2016. Since then, she has worked in several NHS hospitals, gaining experience as a dietitian in a variety of clinical specialities, including neurology, older adults and critical care.
Dr Stacey Jones
Stacey is a HCPC registered dietitian. She has experience in the NHS as a primary care dietitian and has a background in public health. Stacey has presented her research at international and national conferences, and contributes to the profession through membership on specialist committees. She possesses extensive experience in curriculum design and development, having led numerous course developments and worked across multi-professions of AHP, Nursing and Midwifery courses.
Entry requirements
UCAS tariff points required: 32
The UCAS tariff points can come from 1 A-level (grade C or above) or an equivalent qualification. You will also need:
- GCSE English and Mathematics at grade c/4 or above
- Clear commitment to pursuing a career in Nutrition and Dietetics
- To be at least 18 years old
However, all applicants will be judged on their individual merits and we may take other skills, qualifications and life experience into account. We welcome mature students without the usual formal qualifications and will consider your application based on your suitability and preparedness to complete the Foundation Year.
The Nutrition and Dietetics BSc with Foundation Year course is aimed at individuals who may have few or no relevant formal qualifications but who can demonstrate a clear commitment to pursuing a career in nutrition and dietetics. Personal, professional and educational experiences will be considered to determine motivation and ability to progress onto the degree course.
Any questions?
If you have any questions about entry requirements, please call our Admissions Office on 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk.
Fees
Fees contents
UK and EU students
The Government has announced that it will increase tuition fees and maintenance loans by 3.1% from the 2025/26 academic cycle. Subject to approval, the University intends to increase our tuition fees in line with this and as per our terms and conditions. This means that from September 2025 the standard fee for full-time home and EU undergraduate students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees will be £9,535 per year.
For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.
International students
The standard tuition fee for full-time international students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees in the 2025/26 academic year is £16,700 per year.
For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.
How to apply
How to apply contents
Applying through UCAS
UCAS is the central organisation through which applications are processed for full-time undergraduate courses in the UK.
Read our how to apply pages for more information on the application process, or if you’d like to apply for part-time study.
Nutrition and Dietetics BSc (Hons) with Foundation Year - B4D2
Contact
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Admissions Office
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