Dietetics placements: a part of your course

Tell me a little more about placement A. Will I be able to meet dietitians and visit a hospital in the first year?  

All our dietetics students have the opportunity to visit a hospital in Year 1 during placement A. This typically involves visiting a dietetics department to meet dietitians, with the opportunity to briefly observe a ward environment and the catering arrangements (including observing the 'food journey' from patient menu selection to food production/plating and delivery of the meal service itself). Students usually also have the opportunity to attend an in-person NHS multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meeting to see first-hand how dietitians work with other healthcare professionals.

Placement A activities also include university-based sessions delivered by a variety of experienced dietitians from local healthcare providers and other settings such as private practice.   

Tell me a little more about the two-week non-traditional placement block that is part of placement B.  

During the summer of Year 3, prior to commencing the main clinical placement B, all our dietetics students participate in two weeks of non-traditional dietetics activities. These placements span a range of settings including charitable organisations, private dietitians, health coaching organisations, industry, research and public health. These placements are primarily delivered virtually, but some organisations also offer in-person engagement. 

What would I likely do in these different types of placements?  

You can expect to undertake a range of different activities, depending on your placement setting. Previous students’ experiences include observing and contributing to activities such as clinical trials, health promotion projects, literature reviews, food and recipe analysis using food data software, meal plan development, assisting at foodbanks, creating and reviewing website and social media content to educate the public… the list goes on!  

What skills does a student need to demonstrate when on placement?   

To make the most of all your placement experiences we recommend embracing the varied learning opportunities that are presented to you with enthusiasm and an open mind. Compassion, empathy, resilience, professionalism and good communication skills will all support your clinical learning while on placement. These are all skills that we will support you to develop throughout your dietetic training. The clinical placements are your opportunity to put what you have learned at university into practice in healthcare settings.  

Where might I undertake my clinical placements? 

Our placements are located across the East Midlands region, extending from South Yorkshire to Northamptonshire and east to west from Lincolnshire to Staffordshire with Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire in between. Our students currently attend the same placement location for both B placement and C placements.