PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION
Programme title:
Final award (BSc, MA etc):
MSc in Eating Disorders and Clinical Nutrition
PG Diploma in Eating Disorders and Clinical Nutrition
PG Certificate in Eating Disorders and Clinical Nutrition
MSc /PG Diploma/PG Certificate
(where stopping off points exist they should be
detailed here and defined later in the document)
UCAS code:
(where applicable)
Cohort(s) to which this programme
specification is applicable:
From 2014/15 onwards
(e.g. from 2015 intake onwards)
Awarding institution/body:
University College London
Teaching institution:
University College London
Faculty:
Faculty of Medical Sciences
Parent Department:
Division of Medicine
(the department responsible for the administration of
the programme)
Departmental web page address:
(if applicable)
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/medicine/education/postgraduate-taughtdegrees/msc-eating-disorders-and-clinical-nutrition
Method of study:
The programme can be taken either full-time or part-time.
Full-time/Part-time/Other
Criteria for admission to the
programme:
Length of the programme:
A medical degree or a UK bachelor’s degree in a biological science
or healthcare related subject, awarded with first or upper secondclass honours, or an overseas qualification or an equivalent standard
from a university or educational institution of university rank.
IELTS Standard Level
One calendar year full-time, two calendar years part-time
(please note any periods spent away from UCL, such
as study abroad or placements in industry)
Level on Framework for Higher
Education Qualifications (FHEQ)
(see Guidance notes)
Relevant subject benchmark statement
(SBS)
(see Guidance notes)
Level 7
N/A
Brief outline of the structure of the
programme
and
its
assessment
methods:
(see guidance notes)
Students must take eight core modules totalling 120 credits
(assessed by either coursework, oral presentations, practical work or
written examinations) and submit a 10,000-word dissertation worth 60
credits.
1.
All MSc students must take the following core modules:
GASNG002
GASNG003
GASNG004
GASNG005
GASNG006
GASNG007
GASNG009
GASNG010
GASNG098
Fundamentals of Nutrition and Metabolism
Disease and Disordered Eating
Therapeutic Aspects of Clinical Nutrition
Practical Nutrition Assessment
Malnutrition in the Community
Experimental Design and Research Methods
Eating Disorders – Clinical Science
Eating Disorders - Treatment
Research Project
2.
Students on the PG Diploma must take all taught modules on
their route (120 credits), excluding the GASNG098 Research Project.
3.
Students on the PG Certificate must take the following four
taught core modules on their route (60 credits):
GASNG002
GASNG004
GASNG009
GASNG010
Fundamentals of Nutrition and Metabolism
Therapeutic Aspects of Clinical Nutrition
Eating Disorders – Clinical Science
Eating Disorders - Treatment
Name of Board of Examiners:
Clinical and Public Health Nutrition Combined Board
Professional body accreditation
(if applicable):
Date of next scheduled
accreditation visit:
EDUCATIONAL AIMS OF THE PROGRAMME:
We wish to attract students and clinicians from multidisciplinary setting including dietetics, psychology, public
health, nursing and medical specialties (especially psychiatry) interested in the emerging field of Eating Disorders.
There is an increasing demand for education in Eating Disorders, both from professionals working in Psychiatry,
psychology and dietetics and from those in medicine and nutrition, looking after the most ill patients with anorexia
nervosa. There have been progressive increases in the number of specialist services for eating disorders in the UK
and internationally, with increasing numbers of professionals working in these services. New developments in
research on the aetiology and treatment of eating disorders make this field a growing research and clinical area.
Surprisingly there is no postgraduate degree courses suitable for training these professionals and the Division of
Medicine have recognised this educational gap with important clinical implications. This new MSc is the only
graduate training programme available in the Eating Disorders field and meets an important clinical and research
need and furthers professional development This degree will increase the knowledge of suitably qualified
professionals who are interested in treatment and research in eating disorders across all ages.
PROGRAMME OUTCOMES:
The programme provides opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding,
qualities, skills and other attributes in the following areas:
A: Knowledge and understanding
Knowledge and understanding of:
1. Aetiology, epidemiology and clinical
features of eating disorders in children
and adolescents and adults
2. The range of treatment approaches
to eating disorders in children,
adolescents and adults.
3. The basic sciences applied to
nutrition.
4. Human nutrition in health and
disease and in public health
5. Nutritional interventions in disease
6. Management and organisation of an
eating disorders service
7. The development of a research
project in eating disorders,
implementing the project and writing it
up appropriately.
6.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
1 and 2 are covered during seminars in the modules
devoted to eating disorders. 3-5 in the Clinical and
Public Health Nutrition modules , 6 in attachments,
with teaching, in a recognised eating disorders
service, and 7 through a properly developed and
supervised research project
Assessment:
Assessment is through essays, examinations and a
dissertation on the Research Project.
B: Skills and other attributes
Intellectual (thinking) skills:
This programme aims to help
students:
1. Think about the various ways in
which nutrition contributes to health
and how nutritional problems interact
with disease states.
2. Employ critical thinking in
assessment of evidence relating to
aetiology, epidemiology and clinical
presentations of eating disorders
3. Critically appraise the different
treatment models in eating disorders
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
These skills are taught through the seminar
programme, the individual tutorials and in feedback
on written work.
Assessment:
MCQ and essay examinations. In discussions with
tutors.
C: Skills and other attributes
Practical skills (able to):
1. Under supervision, assess the
problems presented by a patient with
an eating disorder
2. Undertake accurate anthropometry
and estimation of energy expenditure
3. Plan, undertake and present a
research project.
4. Conduct a critical appraisal of a
research paper
5. Construct an effective research
ethics application
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
1 is taught in seminars and during the clinical
attachment.
2-5. In the practical seminars and in individual
tutorials.
Assessment:
1. In the clinical attachment by the supervisor
2-5 in the assessment of the research project
module.
D: Skills and other attributes
Transferable skills (able to):
1. Bring knowledge of nutrition to an
eating disorders service.
2. Bring knowledge of eating disorders
to multidisciplinary settings, eg in
dietetic practice
3. Teach more junior staff in a team
about nutrition as relevant to eating
disorders.
4. Plan and execute research in eating
disorders, alone and in a research
team.
5. Plan and execute audit in eating
disorders in the context of an eating
disorders service.
Teaching/learning methods and strategies:
Seminars, tutorials, research module.
Assessment:
MCQ, essays, assessment of research project.
The following reference points were used in designing the programme:
 the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/en/Publications/Documents/qualifications-frameworks.pdf);
 the relevant Subject Benchmark Statements:
(http://www.qaa.ac.uk/assuring-standards-and-quality/the-quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements);
 the programme specifications for UCL degree programmes in relevant subjects (where applicable);
 UCL teaching and learning policies;
 staff research.
Please note: This specification provides a concise summary of the main features of the programme and the
learning outcomes that a typical student might reasonably be expected to achieve and demonstrate if he/she takes
full advantage of the learning opportunities that are provided. More detailed information on the learning outcomes,
content and teaching, learning and assessment methods of each course unit/module can be found in the
departmental course handbook. The accuracy of the information contained in this document is reviewed annually
by UCL and may be checked by the Quality Assurance Agency.
Programme Organiser(s)
Dr Paul Robinson
Name(s):
Dr Nadia Micali
Date of Production:
15 May 2013
Date of Review:
November 2015
Date approved by Chair of
Departmental Teaching
Committee:
Date approved by Faculty
Teaching Committee
November 2015
November 2015