School of Biomedical & Health Sciences. Dietetics. MSc & PG Diploma

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1 School of Biomedical & Health Sciences Dietetics MSc & PG Diploma

2 Welcome to King s King s College London is one of the world s top 25 universities* and has an outstanding reputation for both teaching and research. Contents Welcome to King s 2 Introducing the School of Biomedical & Health Sciences 3 Dietetics at King s 4-5 Dietetics MSc & PG Diploma 6-7 Programme details 8-9 Why choose King s? Find out more 12 Founded in 1829, King s is England s fourth-oldest university institution and one of the two founding colleges of the University of London. We occupy four campuses along the River Thames in the heart of London with a further campus in south east London. King s is a multi-faculty institution, with teaching and research extending across the sciences, humanities, medicine, law, dentistry and social sciences. As a member of the Russell Group (a coalition of the UK s major research universities), King s is in the top group of universities for research earnings. Our status as the leading university in the UK for biomedical research has been boosted by being the only university to host five Medical Research Council (MRC) centres: more than any other university. King s is in the final stages of a 400 million upgrading programme which is transforming our estate. This is the most ambitious and farreaching redevelopment programme recently undertaken by a UK university, and will provide greatly improved libraries, teaching and research rooms, laboratories and social space for students and staff. Our Graduate School coordinates all aspects of graduate provision at King s. It ensures the needs of students are heard at all levels of decision-making and delivers a series of training and skills courses specifically for our graduate community. Our Partner Trusts Guy s and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust King s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust The South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust Join Europe s largest centre for healthcare education King s College London has nine Schools of study, incorporating five Health Schools that together form Europe s largest centre for professional healthcare education. Through the integration of clinical services, research and teaching with our Partner NHS Trusts, we are committed to discovering and sharing knowledge to shape the future of healthcare locally and internationally. As the academic partner for three Department of Health Research Centres of Excellence, King s is uniquely driving progress on innovation and translational research in biomedicine and NHS service quality and safety. 2 *The Times Higher World University Rankings (Fourth Edition)

3 Introducing the School of Biomedical & Health Sciences The School of Biomedical & Health Sciences represents one of the largest concentrations of biomedical research and teaching activity in Europe. We have 200 academic staff, over 500 graduate students and 2,100 undergraduates based on our three campuses. Two campuses sit alongside our partner NHS Trusts: Guy s Campus at London Bridge and St Thomas Campus opposite Westminster. The third campus at Waterloo is home to the Franklin-Wilkins Building, named after King s scientists Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins whose work was fundamental to the discovery of the structure of DNA. The School employs world-leading academics in the fields of biomedical, health and life sciences, with demonstrable strengths in anatomy, biological sciences, nutrition, pharmaceutical science and pre-clinical studies. We host an MRC Centre in Developmental Neurobiology and our Stem Cell Biology Laboratory was the first in the UK to bank a human embryonic stem cell line. Our interdisciplinary research promotes close interaction with industry, enabling the initiation of start-up companies such as Proximagen, winner of the Times Higher 2006 Business Initiative of the Year award. A 4.5 million investment from Tate & Lyle in 2006 was the result of a longstanding partnership and has boosted further our acclaimed research in nutritional sciences. King s is a partner of choice for public sector collaboration. The King s Drug Control Centre is the only UK centre to be accredited by the World Anti-Doping Agency and will be providing services for the 2012 Olympic Games. The School also provides the base for the Environment Research Group of the South East Institute of Public Health, a leading provider of air quality information and research. 3

4 Dietetics at King s Dietetics involves the practical application of the principles of nutritional science in the management of disease and promotion of health. Dietitians work with individuals, using diet to treat and manage disease in a range of clinical settings. Dietitians are also active in disease prevention and health promotion in the community, working with groups and contributing to public health programmes. They also work in the media and food industries. The Department of Nutrition & Dietetics has an international reputation for its interdisciplinary research, undertaken in collaboration with other departments within the College and with King s partner NHS Trusts. There is a strong emphasis throughout the MSc programme on evidence-based practice and staff are actively engaged in relevant dietetics research which provides a wide range of opportunities for student projects. There has been a graduate dietetics programme at King s for over 60 years and our alumni include many distinguished figures. Dr Elsie Widdowson, FRS, joint author of the standard reference book, The Chemical Composition of Foods, undertook her postgraduate training at King s College Hospital. More recent graduates from the Dietetics programme include Dr Sheila Bingham (Honorary Director of the MRC Centre for Nutrition and Cancer Prevention and Survival, and Honorary Professor of Nutritional Epidemiology at the University of Cambridge) and the popular writer and broadcaster Amanda Ursell. Research in the Nutritional Sciences Division is supported by research councils, charities and governmental agencies such as the School Food Trust and the Food Standards Agency (FSA). The Nutrition Survey Group at King s, led by Dr Michael Nelson, published the first national study of diet and nutrition in the most deprived households in the UK for the FSA, while the Tommy s Teenage Pregnancy study is looking at the impact of perinatal nutrition on long-term health. Our links with the food industry date back to the 1970s, when collaborative research with Tate & Lyle led to the development of the no-calorie sweetener sucralose (Splenda ). Tate & Lyle is currently contributing 4.5 million towards new nutritional research facilities at King s, including the development of the Clinical Research Facility at the St Thomas Campus. 4

5 Meet the Programme Team The Programme Director, Jane Thomas, Senior Lecturer in Nutrition & Dietetics was awarded a Fellowship of the British Dietetic Association (BDA) in 2007 for services to dietetic education. She leads a core team of innovative and enthusiastic staff including a further six academic staff who are also registered dietitians with a wide range of experience and research interests. The programme team includes Dr Kevin Whelan, Dianne Reidlinger, Dr Katrina Campbell, Christine Baldwin, Sharon Croxford and Dianne Boaden. In addition, joint appointments with Guy s and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust expand the team to include Dr Miranda Lomer (Consultant Gastroenterology Dietitian) and Dr Liz Weekes (Therapies Research Manager). Clinical experts from a number of further London hospitals also contribute to the teaching of dietetics, medicine and clinical science. Jane Thomas, Programme Director 5

6 Dietetics MSc & PG Diploma Students who join the graduate Dietetics programme at King s have already acquired a strong background in nutrition and related sciences. This prior knowledge acts as a strong foundation on which to build the necessary therapeutic knowledge, practical and clinical skills that are essential to successful professional practice. Through an integrated programme, based in College and practical settings, you will develop your knowledge of applied nutrition, medicine and diet therapy, skills in communication, management, dietary modification and a range of professional attributes. Programme overview The programme team believes that it is essential to maintain a strong scientific background to the programme with an emphasis on the development of critical skills. This is consistent with the growing importance of evidence-based practice within the profession and the programme has been structured to reflect this approach. It has been designed to equip graduates with the skills, knowledge and attitudes identified in the Standards of Proficiency required for eligibility for registration with the Health Professions Council. In addition the programme aims to encourage commitment to continuing professional development. The Department of Nutrition & Dietetics at King s has a range of facilities to enable analyses to be carried out on food, blood and other tissues. Gene-nutrient interaction is a developing area of research which is supported by the facilities of the Genomic Centre. There is also a metabolic unit for conducting human research studies. A food preparation laboratory is used for teaching the practical aspects of diet therapy. The College is well equipped with computers and software for nutritional analyses and statistical analyses. 6

7 Distinctive features Successful completion of examinations and placements will make you eligible for registration by the Health Professions Council as a dietitian in the UK. Interprofessional learning with students from other health disciplines. Teaching by research-active dietitians and practitioners who are experts in their fields. A programme of integrated campus and placement learning. Excellent research facilities. Is this the right programme for you? The programme is designed for graduates in nutrition who wish to pursue a career as dietitians. Career prospects As public interest in food and health grows, career opportunities for qualified dietitians are expanding each year. Although the largest employer of graduates is the NHS, either in hospital or community health services, our graduates have also found employment throughout the world within a range of organisations including research institutes, consumer groups, food retailers, government departments and agencies. Others have become successful food and health journalists or developed careers in the food and pharmaceutical industries. 7

8 Programme details Mode & duration MSc: 22 months full-time, September to July. PG Diploma: 17 months full-time, September to January. Entry requirements Minimum 2:1 first degree in Nutrition or an MSc in Nutrition. Applicants must be eligible for home fees status. Enrolment is dependent on satisfactory enhanced level CRB clearance and an Occupational Health check. English language requirements IELTS 7.0 TOEFL 250/600/100 (computer/paper/internet) King s Pre-sessional Summer Course for overseas students B Band To follow our programmes successfully, you must have a good command of English and be able to apply this in an academic environment. For more information on our requirements and King s English Language Centre, please visit Applications Students who think they may be eligible for the programme should submit a brief synopsis of their previous degree with their application form. Visiting a department of Nutrition and Dietetics We strongly recommend that all applicants for the programme have visited a Nutrition and Dietetics department within a hospital or community setting. Applications in the London area Applicants who live in London who wish to shadow a dietitian are requested not to contact clinical departments directly, due to current constraints on NHS resources. Applicants should instead attend a Careers in Dietetics open day, organised by local dietitians. Find out more at Once you have attended such an open day you will be provided with a certificate of attendance. You must bring a copy of this certificate with you to your interview at King s. Applications outside of London Some Nutrition and Dietetics departments outside of the London area may be happy for you to contact them directly to arrange a visit or they may also organise open days. 8

9 If you are visiting a department outside of the London area, please ask them to complete a form to certify your attendance. If you are invited to interview at King s, you must bring a copy of this signed and stamped form with you to your interview. Funding Tuition fees for students are paid by the NHS. UK students may also apply for a means-tested bursary to cover living expenses. Programme structure There are seven taught modules and three practical placements, followed by a period of consolidation to help students integrate placement and campus learning. Students on the MSc programme complete a research project between January and July. Taught modules Diet Therapy This module provides an insight into the principles and practice of diet therapy, preparing you for clinical placement. It equips you with an understanding of the rationale behind the modification of dietary intake in the prevention, investigation and treatment of disease. You will learn how to undertake the assessments which underpin the nutritional diagnosis, prepare nutrition care plans and plan their implementation. Practicals are based on patient case studies and may involve the use of special dietary products and modification of menus and recipes. Principles of Clinical Science & Therapeutics Students develop an understanding of how disease is caused, investigated and managed, the health/disease continuum and the difference between aetiology and risk factors. Health Promotion & Communication Studies This module develops your practical skills in communicating with individuals, groups and other health professionals. Ideas from educational and communication theory are integrated into the specific context of health promotion. Food Service & Catering Management This module covers basic food preparation methods, meal planning and food service systems and the principles of catering management within the NHS. 9

10 Advanced Diet Therapy & Medicine This module deals with more complex clinical conditions affecting the GI tract, renal and hepato-biliary systems and with multiple pathologies. It covers the medical and dietary management of patients who have undergone surgery and trauma or are in special care conditions as well as paediatric disorders requiring enteral and parenteral feeding. Management, Health & Social Policy In this module, we consider the social factors that shape an individual s lifestyle and related health and social policy issues, and provide an introduction to management theories and the organisation and management of the NHS. Professional Practice for Dietitians This module comprises lectures and three clinical placements designed to introduce students to the attitudes, skills and behaviour required of healthcare professionals. In addition to discipline-specific material, this includes Inter-Professional Education with graduate students from other disciplines including medicine, nursing, physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Placements Students are most likely to undertake placements within the area covered by NHS London (within the M25), but it is sometimes necessary to make use of placement opportunities outside this area. Arrangements are in place to assist with additional associated expenses. Research Project This module introduces students to the design, execution and analysis of individual research. The project is presented as a written research report. Research usually begins in January of the second year (after the written exams), and the report is submitted in July. Assessment Assessment is by a combination of coursework, presentations and written examinations, a portfolio-based placement assessment and, for MSc students only, a research dissertation. 10

11 Why choose King s? Enhancing the student experience King s is committed to enhancing all aspects of the student experience and we offer a full range of student services. You will receive help and advice at every stage of the application process in areas including accommodation, finance and, for international students, entry clearance. We regularly review our services and act on feedback from our Students Union and a range of satisfaction surveys. What others say King s College London enjoys by some distance the highest levels of student satisfaction with teaching quality and learning resources of any institution in the capital. Sunday Times University Guide

12 Find out more MSc Dietetics Administrative Officer Academic Centre, School of Biomedical & Health Sciences King s College London, 4.68 Franklin Wilkins Building Waterloo Campus, 150 Stamford Street London SE1 9NH, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) postgrad-biomed@kcl.ac.uk Programme Admission Tutor Jane Thomas, Department of Nutrition & Dietetics King s College London, Franklin Wilkins Building Waterloo Campus, 150 Stamford Street London SE1 9NN, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) jane.thomas@kcl.ac.uk Our online prospectus contains full programme descriptions, entry requirements and fee information For information on how to apply and our online application form Information and advice for international students about studying at King s and living in London