Course summary

Foundation courses A foundation year can develop your skills and make it easier to get started at university. It is an extra year of study at the start of your course that leads in to a full degree programme. It’s a great option if: You don’t have the grades for a full degree course You have non-traditional qualifications or experience You’re starting university after some time away from education You’re looking for more support during the transition into university study. Life as a foundation year student During a foundation year you’ll learn about your chosen subject, develop your study skills and get used to university life. On successful completion of your foundation year, you’ll be ready to progress to the first year of your degree course. As a foundation year student, you’ll be a full student of the University and part of our community. You’ll have access to all our campus facilities and support. Why choose this course • Access our £12.5 million Innovation for Health Learning Laboratory and use equipment found in NHS research facilities. •Complete three integrated clinical placements in the NHS to acquire a wealth of practical experience, under the supervision of qualified dietitians. •Learn from lecturers who’ve been awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Further and Higher Education, in recognition of their research excellence in the field of food and nutrition. •Get the academic requirements needed to register with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to work as a dietitian once you’ve graduated. What you will study On this course, you’ll learn how food intake and dietary requirements can be altered by illness and how to translate nutritional science and information about food into practical dietary advice. This advice can be aimed at the general public to promote health or in a clinical environment to treat a wide range of medical disorders. In your first two years, you’ll study a variety of topics, ensuring you have a solid foundation upon which to build the rest of your degree. At the end of your first year, you’ll complete your first NHS clinical placement. In your third year, you’ll complete another two placements, each lasting up to 12 weeks. In your fourth year, you’ll have the choice to specialise further in an area of personal interest and you’ll also complete a research project, bringing together all the practical, analytical and presentation skills you’ve developed.