Course Overview
This MSc Dietetics (Pre-registration) equips you with the knowledge and practical experience to become a highly skilled, evidence-based dietician.
This MSc will be awarded by Health Sciences University (HSU) in the UK and HCPC approval is in progress, similar to that in place for fully approved MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-registration) and MSc Speech and Language Therapy (Pre-registration) programmes.
Upon HCPC approval, to practice in Ireland, graduates will be eligible to apply for CORU registration through the Commonly Aligned Standards fast-track pathway.
Following registration with CORU, graduates can apply to become members of the Irish Nutrition and Dietetics Institute (INDI).
The course fosters a strong professional identity, leadership, and reflective practice, preparing graduates to work collaboratively across healthcare teams and to act as ambassadors for the profession. Graduates will be fully prepared for professional registration and lifelong learning in a dynamic and growing field.
This programme is intended for delivery in October 2026 subject to validation.
This two-year, full-time Master’s programme is designed for graduates from a wide range of academic backgrounds who are motivated to pursue a rewarding career as a registered dietitian.
Delivered by Portobello Institute in Dublin and awarded by Health Sciences University, the programme integrates robust academic teaching with extensive, supervised practice placements. This ensures students develop a strong foundation in nutritional science alongside the practical competencies, clinical reasoning, and professional ethics essential to contemporary dietetic practice.
Graduates are prepared to work effectively with individuals, families, and communities across diverse healthcare and community settings, using evidence-based, person-centred nutritional approaches to promote health, manage disease, and improve overall wellbeing.
At Portobello Institute, our teaching philosophy is grounded in person-centred care and real-world application. This programme equips you to support and empower individuals who, due to illness, chronic conditions, disability, or social and environmental factors, face challenges in achieving optimal nutritional health.
The curriculum emphasises the vital role of nutrition in human health and explores the complex relationship between diet, disease prevention, treatment, and quality of life. You will learn how tailored nutritional interventions can positively influence health outcomes and how dietitians play a critical role within multidisciplinary healthcare teams.
Designed to reflect current and emerging practice, the programme prepares you to respond competently and compassionately to the evolving nutritional needs of the populations you serve. Through evidence-based learning and a strong emphasis on understanding lived experience, you will develop safe, effective, and ethical approaches to dietetic care that prioritise dignity, professionalism, and excellence in practice.
The programme integrates the latest learning technology with a curriculum that covers a comprehensive range of areas including food science, food safety, physiological assessment, clinical reasoning, acute and chronic disease management, meal planning, nutritional assessment, public health, and the application of research methods to clinical practice.
Upon successful completion of this programme, you will be awarded an MSc Dietetics (Pre-registration). This is awarded by Health Sciences University and is aligned to level 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).
Provisional Modules Include:
- Dietetic Practice Learning
- Foundations of Dietetic Practice
- Nutrition and Food Science
- Physiology, Pathology and Pharmacology in Dietetics
- Medical Nutrition Therapy
- Concepts in Public Health Nutrition for Dietetics
- Research & Knowledge Exchange Project
- Research and Evaluative Methods
- Essentials of Professional Practice
- Promoting Health and Wellbeing through Collaborative Practice
- Leadership and Innovation
Please note these modules are provisional and subject to change.
This MSc Dietetics (Pre-registration) utilises a mix of learning environments including online lectures, practical work experience, problem-based learning, common and complex case studies.
You are normally expected to attend all elements of the course and will require a minimum of 80% attendance across all modules.
Formal teaching methods will vary depending on the relevant learning outcomes of specific units, but will include the following activity types: Lectures (Scheduled) Seminars (Scheduled) Tutorials (Scheduled) Project Supervision (Scheduled) Practical Classes and Workshops (Scheduled) Guided Independent Study (Independent).
Work Placement
As part of this MSc Dietetics (Pre-registration) programme you will complete a number of mandatory practice placement modules to put your learning into action and gain confidence while building a network in a variety of settings.
Compulsory placements (1000 hrs/minimum 350 hrs clinical setting) are required. Placements will be sourced from clinical settings, public and community settings, industry, government and research organisations.
An MSc in Dietetics offers excellent and diverse career opportunities, with strong demand across healthcare, public health, education, and community services in Ireland, the UK, and internationally.
Graduates typically work as registered dietitians (subject to CORU/HCPC or relevant professional registration), supporting individuals and populations to improve health outcomes through evidence-based nutrition and dietary intervention.
Common Employment Settings Include:
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Public healthcare services (e.g. HSE, NHS)
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Acute and specialist hospitals
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Private clinics and healthcare practices
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Primary care and community health teams
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Public health and health promotion services
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Mental health services
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Older persons’ services and residential care
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Paediatric services (hospitals, schools, disability and early intervention services)
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Specialist services such as diabetes, oncology, renal, gastroenterology, and eating disorder services
Specialist & Advanced Practice Roles
With experience, dietitians can progress into specialist and advanced areas, including:
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Clinical nutrition and complex case management
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Paediatrics and maternal nutrition
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Diabetes care and metabolic disorders
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Gastrointestinal and gut health
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Renal, oncology, and critical care nutrition
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Eating disorder services
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Sports and performance nutrition
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Public health nutrition and population health
Non-Traditional & Emerging Career Opportunities
Dietetic expertise is highly transferable, enabling careers beyond traditional clinical roles:
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Health promotion and lifestyle medicine
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Nutrition policy and advocacy
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Food industry and product development
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Media, communications, and nutrition education
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Corporate wellbeing and occupational health
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Digital health, telehealth, and nutrition technology
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NGO, community development, and global health roles
Leadership, Education & Research
An MSc in Dietetics also provides a strong foundation for career progression into:
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Senior and specialist dietitian roles
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Clinical leadership and service management
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Teaching and practice education
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Research roles and PhD pathways
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Policy development, service design, and quality improvement
International Mobility & Job Security
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Dietetics is a regulated and internationally recognised profession
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Strong opportunities to work in Ireland, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and beyond
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Ongoing demand driven by:
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Ageing populations
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Rising prevalence of chronic disease
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Increased focus on preventative healthcare
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Greater recognition of nutrition’s role in health and wellbeing
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Career Outlook
An MSc in Dietetics leads to a rewarding, people-centred career offering:
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Strong employability
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A wide range of practice settings
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Clear pathways for progression and specialisation
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Opportunities to lead, innovate, and influence health outcomes
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The ability to make a meaningful and lasting difference to individuals and communities
Industry Partners
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1Applications for the 2026 courses is now open.
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2Complete the online application form.
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3An interview will be conducted via MS Teams to verify suitability for this programme.
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4Confirmation of the interview outcome will be given within 7 – 10 working days. To confirm acceptance of offer, successful applicants will be required to formally accept their offer and pay the required deposit – there will be a 14 day time allowance to complete this part of the process.
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5Please note places on this course are only confirmed once tuition fees have been received. We are unable to hold places open for applicants unable to complete the final stage of the process.
*Please note that additional costs will apply to students who undertake this course including but not limited to costs associated with equipment, placement, clothing requirements and health checks. More information is available from the course advisor upon request.
Course: €16,896
*Please note that additional costs will apply to students who undertake this course including but not limited to costs associated with equipment, placement, clothing requirements and health checks. More information is available from the course advisor upon request.
Option 1
33% deposit payment (€5,706.03), followed by 4 scheduled payments on the first of each month, commencing the 1st of the month after the start date of the course. Includes one off instalment fee of €395.
- €2,896.24 due in month 1
- €2,896.24 due in month 2
- €2,896.24 due in month 3
- €2,896.24 due in month 4
Option 2
40% deposit payment (€6,758.40) due on application of your course. Final balance (€10,137.60) due before the course start date.
Option 3
30% deposit payment (€5,307.30), followed by 10 scheduled payments on the first of each month, commencing the 1st of the month after the start date of the course. Includes one off instalment fee of €795.
- €1,238.37 due in month 1
- €1,238.37 due in month 2
- €1,238.37 due in month 3
- €1,238.37 due in month 4
- €1,238.37 due in month 5
- €1,238.37 due in month 6
- €1,238.37 due in month 7
- €1,238.37 due in month 8
- €1,238.37 due in month 9
- €1,238.37 due in month 10
