This module gives you the opportunity to undertake an in-depth independent research project with support from an academic supervisor. You may explore a clinically-focused topic with the potential to inform real-world practice. You'll critically engage with both primary scientific sources and secondary literature, building strong evidence-based knowledge. The module also guides you through key research processes—including ethics approval, risk assessment, literature reviewing, and evidence grading. You'll learn how to present your findings effectively, manage your project independently, and apply your research skills in a professional context—developing confidence for future academic or clinical careers.

This module provides a comprehensive overview of major disease processes, covering key terminology, risk factors, classification, and causes of conditions like immune disorders, organ dysfunction, and cancer. You’ll learn about clinical assessment, diagnosis, and medical and surgical treatment options. The module highlights how different physiological systems interact during disease progression and management, including how outcomes are monitored. Importantly, it explores the role of nutrition as a supportive treatment, addressing drug-nutrient interactions. You’ll also study the basics of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, gaining insight into how drugs work in the body and their impact on health and nutrition.

The module content includes:

• Review of the major disease processes and their descriptive terminology.
• Risk factors for, classification and aetiology of the major diseases (e.g. disorders of the immune system, organ dysfunction, cancer)
• Clinical assessment, diagnosis and treatment interventions (medical and surgical) in the management of major diseases and disorders
• Integration of physiological systems and their impact on disease progression and management, including monitoring of measurable outcomes
• Nutrition as an adjunctive treatment in disease management, including drug-nutrient interactions                       
• Principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics

This module focuses on the key elements of public health nutrition, covering strategy, policy, and planning to improve population health. You’ll learn how to design, manage, and evaluate health and nutrition programmes and projects. The module emphasises health promotion, primary prevention, and risk management to reduce disease burden. Explore nutrition epidemiology to understand how dietary patterns affect public health outcomes. Effective communication strategies in public health settings are also covered, equipping you to engage communities and stakeholders with impactful nutrition messages that drive behaviour change and support healthier societies.

Module content will include:

• Public health nutrition strategy, policy, planning
• Health and nutrition programme and project management
• Health promotion, primary prevention and risk management 
• Nutrition epidemiology and public health nutrition
• Communication strategies in a public health setting

The module focuses on the more complex areas of dietetic practice, including reinforcement of topics introduced and discussed in level 5. For such conditions, processes of clinical nutritional assessment, care pathways, implementation of interventions and evaluation of outcomes in the context of the practice placement experience will be taught. Sessions will cover nutritional care and dietetic practice in acute and chronic conditions, including medical, surgical, paediatric and mental health, and will also deal with the ethical dilemmas often faced such as withholding or withdrawing feeding. Students will examine the evidence base for current dietetic treatment strategies, including the use of and legislation regarding nutritional supplements. Students will also consider the role of public health nutrition strategies alongside the clinical management of conditions.

The practice placement will enable the student to develop and apply advanced working knowledge, and display competence in the range of skills needed to work as a dietitian with specified clients/care groups and in a range of work settings, which may involve non-health settings.  Experience will include specific tasks and activities appropriate to the entry level of the profession: 

• The model and process of nutrition and dietetic practice
• Applied knowledge of health promotion and public health strategies
• Environmental factors - cultural, educational, social and financial - which affect individuals, groups and populations
• Enhanced knowledge, communication skills and professional competencies

The placement will also allow students to apply knowledge and understanding of professional practice, and display leadership, including self-awareness and reflective practice

The aim of this module is to enable students to:

• Master dietetic-specific skills in relation to complex conditions requiring dietary and nutrition support
• Develop through working knowledge of clinical conditions through the formulation of nutrition care plans and evidence-based intervention strategies.
• Translate dietary and nutrition support principles into interventions which are person-centred and are based on clinical, nutritional and psycho-social data.
• Demonstrate ability as a reflective practitioner including awareness of personal strengths and limitations in relation to professional standards of proficiency, and in the delivery of high quality service.