Student experience – Robin

The MDiet is a brilliant opportunity to gain even more skills and experience, it places more emphasis on being independent and pioneering and gives you even more opportunities for interprofessional learning and professional development.

There is so much variation and detail you get to experience in the modules on the MDiet course. You are able to explore your own areas of interest within assignments, choosing your own topics and conditions for several of them and you can carry out your own research for your dissertation.

I also love how it sets you up for your dietetic career: I personally feel so much more confident stepping out into my first job as a dietitian knowing I have an additional year of learning and experience under my belt.

The balance of theory to practical work at the University is perfect for the course, there is a great blend of dietetics theory intertwined with much more hands-on teaching sessions to reinforce these skills in practice.

The theoretical elements of the degree are vital in underpinning the more practical aspects of learning: both compliment each other and provide students with a well-rounded plethora of skills to equip them to enter the workplace when they qualify as a HCPC-registered Dietitian.

Practical work at the University of Plymouth is a real mix of different skills and learning, which changes and adapts as you progress through the course. This can be a mixture of laboratory practicals, cooking and tasting sessions, as well as role playing with your peers and real actors. Practical work can involve multidisciplinary learning, on top of a whole range of other activities such as practising assisted feeding on each other, getting to have a look at different feeding tubes and equipment, and preparing different fortified foods and nutritional supplements in the kitchens.

A typical week studying dietetics at the University of Plymouth is varied and dynamic, with a mix of lectures, practical sessions, seminars, and self-taught learning. There are usually regular, structured teaching sessions interspersed with more independent and collaborative learning – roleplaying or case-based learning workshops, for example, giving you the opportunity to bounce ideas between your peers to get the most out of the sessions.

While on placement, your weeks will look a lot different to the regular timetabled teaching, as you’ll be working 9-5 every weekday – whether this be the acute setting such as a hospital, or out in the community.

There is also time available for peer-assisted learning throughout the weeks, and as you progress throughout the course the amount of self-directed learning expected of you increases, so you will have more time to plan out your own studies around your free time.

I have found it really handy to be able to work part-time for the University whilst studying, as I have been a student ambassador since first year and a sales supervisor at the Student Union shop since second year. The careers service is very forthcoming with providing support and advice when needed, and the student support services in general are amazing at Plymouth, and have helped me a lot in my journey.