Studying dietetics at the University will open a wide range of career choices, including opportunities in public sector healthcare, the commercial sector and self employment.
The NHS is the major employer of dietitians, with dietitians working in hospital settings, community and GP practices. There are opportunities to specialise in a variety of areas such as ITU, diabetes, renal, paediatrics, oncology, gastroenterology, mental health, learning disabilities, neurological disorders etc. There are also opportunities to practice in private healthcare, food industry, businesses, workplace, catering, public health, education sport and the media.
In the commercial sector, food and drink manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies employ dietitians in a variety of roles including product development, quality control, advising on labelling and regulatory affairs. You could be working for a company specialising in NHS prescription only products used in the management or treatment of a range of clinical conditions.
Some graduates choose to focus on the health promotion aspects of their dietetic training. In the public sector this can involve working in partnership with NHS Trusts, councils and third sector organisations to deliver health promotion campaigns, community-based health programmes and advice to the public. National organisations such as Public Health England and the Food Safety Council offer opportunities to specialise in food safety, health promotion and protection as well as food policy. Commercial organisations also employ dietitians in health promotion related roles.
If you have an interest in research, you could pursue a career in dietetic or public health research. You could work in higher education institutions or in the health service as a clinical academic. Public health bodies also employ researchers, as do commercial organisations.
Some dietitians work in the media industry, for example writing for health publications, consulting on the content of food TV programmes, or in public relations where you could be using a range of media to build and manage the image and reputation of your clients. A small number of dietitians enter the world of professional sport, supporting athletes in achieving their maximum performance potential.
There are many opportunities for self employment, it is not uncommon for graduates to work part-time in the NHS alongside freelance work in private practice or consultancy work within the commercial or media sectors. In most cases people move into self employment after some years of clinical experience as a registered dietitian. The University offers advice and support around self-employment and entrepreneurship through
The Cube
.
*Data is from the Graduate Outcomes Surveys covering the three years of 2019/20 – 2021/22. Graduates were surveyed 15 months after graduating. Data displayed is for UK-domiciled, first degree, full-time graduates who are working, studying or looking for work.
