Clinical Nutrition

The module provides a systematic understanding and specialist theoretical and methodological approaches of the fundamentals of nutrition in adult medicine, covering the physiology and pathophysiology of diet, metabolism, appetite and food science, including macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fats), micronutrients (vitamins, minerals) and their metabolic roles.

Indicative content:

• Food science, including Foods, nutrients, metabolism, diet and appetite
• Macronutrients
• Micronutrients
• Physiological functions
• Biochemical mechanisms
• Diets

Learning outcomes:

• Demonstrate a systematic understanding of the fundamentals of nutrition in health.
• Critically evaluate current research and guidelines relating to dietary patterns and nutrient intake in adults, in a range of settings.
• Apply an advanced knowledge and understanding of the dietary variety, nutritional intake patterns, functions of nutrients, absorption and metabolisation.

This module will equip students with the knowledge and skills to conduct integrated nutritional assessments, calculate individual energy and nutrient requirements, and foster interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing nutritional concerns, whilst providing in-depth knowledge of body composition in healthy individuals, assessment methods, and factors influencing nutritional status.

Indicative Content:

• Nutritional risk, nutritional status and body composition changes (changes throughout the life cycle)
• Methods for assessing nutritional risk and nutritional status body composition (practical and research applicability)
• Dietary intake questionnaires to assess current and previous dietary patterns. Nutritional history
• Previous intake of food and nutrients (consumption of supplements and drugs)
• Biochemical analysis
• Social and individual aspects relevant to access and intake of food (isolation, housing conditions, economic factors, functional disabilities)

Learning Outcomes:

• Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the physiological changes in body composition across various life stages and the implications for overall health, integrating knowledge of metabolic processes, hormonal influences, and nutritional requirements.
• Critically evaluate and apply advanced methodologies for assessing body composition in clinical and research contexts, synthesising information from multiple sources to interpret anthropometric data, bioimpedance measurements, and imaging techniques accurately.
• Synthesise the evidence and critically interpret this into the delivery of processes to conduct comprehensive nutritional assessments, including obtaining dietary history, analysing nutrient intake data, and interpreting weight variations over time, to make informed recommendations for dietary interventions and personalised health strategies.

The overall aim of this module is to equip postgraduate healthcare professionals with advanced knowledge, analytical skills, and practical expertise in utilising clinical nutrition as an integral component of preventative care strategies for promoting optimal health and mitigating chronic disease risk across diverse patient populations.

Indicative Content

• Importance of nutrition in disease prevention
• Obesity and chronic disease prevention
• Cardiovascular disease prevention
• Bone and joint health, neurological health
• Gut health and immune function
• Cancer prevention

Learning Outcomes:

• Demonstrate an advanced knowledge of the role of specific dietary patterns, functional foods, and nutraceuticals in the prevention of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and obesity-related conditions.
• Critically analyse current research findings and evidence-based guidelines to formulate comprehensive nutritional strategies for the prevention and management of various health conditions in diverse patient populations.
• Devise and justify personalised nutrition care plans for patients, incorporating appropriate dietary modifications, lifestyle recommendations, and patient education strategies for effective preventative care.

This module aims to equip healthcare professionals with advanced understanding and practical skills in clinical nutrition assessment and management across acute and chronic conditions. Participants will develop interprofessional collaboration abilities, enhance clinical decision-making through case studies, and gain expertise in specialised nutrition support techniques. Additionally, the module aims to explore future trends and ethical considerations in clinical nutrition, preparing participants to adapt to evolving healthcare landscapes and contribute to advancements in the field.

Indicative Content:

• Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases
• Intensive care units (ICU), critically ill patients; surgery, burns
• Obesity, cardiovascular disease (CVD)
• Diabetes, high-blood pressure (HBP), dyslipidemia
• Kidney disease and disorders
• Cancer

Learning Outcomes:

• Critically evaluate the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying malnutrition in acute and chronic conditions, and appraise the metabolic response to various states such as injury, recovery, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.
• Systematically and critically evaluate current research and guidelines relating to the diagnosis, investigation, and management of nutritional status in acute and chronic conditions.
• Construct and consider the application of tailored nutritional plans for individuals with chronic conditions, synthesising evidence-based principles and practical considerations to optimise nutritional status and seek to mitigate disease progression.

This module aims to provide students with an advanced understanding of various dietary patterns, including cultural, regional, and individual differences, and their impact on health and well-being. It emphasises the integration of multidisciplinary approaches in dietary counselling, collaborating with other healthcare professionals, such as dietitians, psychologists, and physicians, to provide comprehensive care to patients by enhancing students’ knowledge and skills in conducting thorough dietary assessments to implement personalised and effective counselling strategies for facilitating sustainable behavioural change, whilst upholding ethical considerations throughout the counselling process.

Indicative Content:

• Dietary history, food preferences, current intake, comorbidities, symptoms, drug therapy, social and cultural background
• Behavioural change, psychological mechanisms underlying dietary behaviours
• Motivational interviewing, goal setting, and active listening
• Tailoring dietary Interventions, communication
• Addressing Barriers to Change
• Sustainable Behaviour Change, evaluation and Monitoring of Progress
  Ethical Considerations in Counselling

Learning Outcomes:

• Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of individual and cultural factors influencing dietary behaviours, incorporating a broad healthcare and lifestyle perspective to critically appraise the impact of social, economic and healthcare system barriers to optimal nutrition.
• Systematically synthesise advanced information and specialised theories related to behavioural change communication and dietary counselling strategies to develop tailored nutritional interventions that meet individual needs, preferences, and goals in a range of healthcare and lifestyle contexts.
• Apply advanced interpersonal, team and networking skills to strategically enhance multidisciplinary team performance in facilitating sustainable dietary changes and food habits for patients in a variety of contexts.

To impart a comprehensive understanding of the principles and applications of clinical nutrition therapy across the healthcare continuum. Students will develop competencies in evaluating patient needs, determining appropriate nutritional interventions, implementing tailored nutrition care plans, and monitoring outcomes through an interprofessional, patient-centred approach.

Indicative Content:

• Decision making process for nutrition intervention with a multidisciplinary approach, including ethical and cultural considerations
• Therapeutic diets
• Nutritional supplements
• Medical nutritional therapy, artificial nutrition (enteral and parenteral)
• Therapeutic diets and artificial nutrition in specific conditions
• Multidisciplinary nutrition team

Learning Outcomes:

• Demonstrate an in-depth and systematic knowledge of the decision making process involved in nutrition intervention, with an emphasis on ethical and cultural considerations presented in complex and varied settings.
• Critically evaluate emerging approaches to the treatment of nutritional disorders to develop effective methodologies that justify recommendations in complex nutritional contexts along the continuum of care.
• Critically apply knowledge and synthesise evidence into the development of personalised diagnostic management strategies for patients requiring specialised nutritional interventions, demonstrating advanced interpersonal, team, and networking skills to strategically enhance multidisciplinary collaboration in a variety of settings.

As each Medical Council has their own rules/regulations with regard to Postgraduate study we recommend that you contact your local Medical Council with regard to recognition.

Upon completion of the course the University would invite you to a graduation ceremony and provide your certificate which makes no reference to the fact that the course was studied online and is therefore typically recognised the same as any other UK University qualification.

Rest assured, the overall Postgraduate Diploma carries a total of 1,200 CPD points, with the MSc an additional 600 CPD points, and all official certifications are issued directly by the University.

When you study one of our programmes you may be surprised to find that there are no lectures or seminars. Your learning will be self-directed meaning that rather than being told information you find it for yourself (with tutor guidance and support). We do this via a series of clinically rich scenarios which your tutor will post on our academic forum which you and your classmates will research, respond to and discuss.

You will be assessed through the Academic Forum, Reflective Journal and Assignments. Learning will be carried out using our online learning platform: Moodle.

You can study whenever and wherever you want - our programmes are totally flexible to fit around your other work and life commitments.

The course is specifically designed so that part of your study is the application of theory to practice in your day job.

We typically suggest that students aim to log into the Moodle platform daily. We recommend a "little and often" approach for reading, reflection and/or posting. High achieving students will typically spend 1-2 hours dedicated to their studies a day; 10 hours per week is sufficient time to spend on the platform.

Those who cannot dedicate more time than once/twice per week may struggle with the demands of this postgraduate programme.

Yes, everything is done entirely online through our learning platform, Moodle. You do not need to attend the University.

All of our courses are delivered in English, so proficiency in the English language is essential for success. If English is not your first language, we require proof of competency as part of your application. We accept the following as proof of English Language skills:

We Accept a Range of English Language Qualifications
While IELTS and TOEFL are among the most commonly used English tests, we understand that students come from diverse backgrounds — and we’re happy to work with you to accept a wide range of other recognised English language qualifications.

We accept IELTS (International English Language Testing System)
Our most commonly accepted test, IELTS is globally recognised and widely used for university admissions.

We accept TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)
Another widely accepted test, TOEFL assesses your reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills in an academic setting.

We accept English Medium of Instruction (EMI) Letters
Many of our international students provide an EMI (English Medium Instruction) letter from their previous institution. This letter should confirm that you were taught in the medium of English. It is a popular and widely accepted form of proof, especially if you have completed prior academic studies in English.

Our University partners Requirements
The University of South Wales accepts an overall score of 6.0 (minimum of 5.5 for each band) and The University of Buckingham accepts an overall score of 6.5 (minimum of 6.0 for each band).

Our Flexible Instalment Plan is designed to offer ultimate flexibility to pay for your programme. You have the choice of two payment options:

Make an Upfront Payment in Full: For those who prefer to settle their fees upfront, you can pay the full amount at the beginning of your programme.

Interest-Free Payments: Alternatively, you can choose to spread your payments out with interest-free instalments every month for the duration of your course.

These options are separate from our existing lending partners, which you can explore further on our programme pages. We believe that education should be accessible to all, and our Flexible Instalment Plan is just one of the ways we are committed to supporting you in your academic journey.

We currently offer two discounts: the Early Bird Discount and the Action Taker Discount. The Early Bird discount allows you to save up to £500 or more, available only to self-funders and is a limited-time offer that runs for the entirety of November for the March cohort or the entirety of May for the September cohort. Our Action Taker Discount allows you to save up to £150 off for PGCert and £250 off for PGDip/2-year MSc programmes. To qualify for Action Takers, you must pay the deposit within 7 days of acceptance.

For Early Bird Discounts, the discount is visible if your application and acceptance are completed within the required timeframe. For Action Taker Discounts, it will reflect once conditions are met.

A Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Nutrition is a postgraduate qualification that develops advanced knowledge of nutrition in relation to health and disease. Learna’s Clinical Nutrition Diploma is worth 120 credits and covers nutrition science, nutritional assessment, preventative care, acute and chronic conditions, dietary counselling, behavioural change, and nutrition across the continuum of care.

Yes. Nutritional assessment is a significant part of the Clinical Nutrition Diploma. You’ll study nutritional risk and status, body composition, dietary history, nutrient intake, biochemical analysis, and methods used to assess nutritional status and body composition.

Yes. The curriculum examines nutrition in acute and chronic conditions, including gastrointestinal disease, obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney disease, and cancer.

You’ll also consider nutrition in settings including critical illness, surgery, and burns, developing your understanding of nutrition across a range of healthcare contexts.