How Do I Become a Registered Dietitian Through an MSc Dietetics (Pre-registration)?

From understanding what professional registration means to preparing for your future career, Portobello Institute’s MSc Dietetics (Pre-registration) is designed to offer a clear route towards becoming a dietitian.

As its official name suggests, this is a pre-registration master’s. That means the programme, which is currently progressing through HCPC approval, has been developed to provide a pathway towards regulated professional body registration for those seeking to build a career in dietetics.

Read on for key information about how dietetics is regulated, what the protected title of dietitian means, CORU registration, and how to apply to the programme.

Dietitian or Nutritionist: What Is the Difference?

If you’re interested in nutrition-led healthcare, you may be wondering about the difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist. While both areas are connected to food, nutrition, and health, and involve working closely with people, there is an important distinction to be made.

Dr Roberta Mendes, RD, PhD, Programme Lead for the MSc Dietetics (Pre-registration), is a CORU-registered dietitian with over 25 years’ professional experience who runs her own clinical practice in Ireland alongside lecturing at Portobello Institute.

Roberta explains: “A simple way to understand the difference is that nutrition is often connected with prevention, while dietetics is connected with both prevention and treatment.

“Nutritionists are not regulated in Ireland, whereas dietitians are. Dietetics is a protected profession in Ireland, offering graduates a recognised, prestigious professional title and a wider range of opportunities.”

CORU, HCPC, and the Protected Title of Dietitian

In Ireland, dietitians are regulated by CORU, Ireland’s multi-profession health and social care regulator. Meanwhile, in the UK, the equivalent regulator is the Health and Care Professions Council, known as HCPC.

In both countries, the title “dietitian” is protected by law, which means it can only be used by professionals who meet the required standards and are registered with the relevant regulating bodies.

This professional registration is what differentiates dietetics as a regulated healthcare profession. It helps protect the public, upholds professional standards, and gives dietitians a recognised professional status rooted in quality, accountability, and evidence-based practice.

Why Portobello Institute for MSc Dietetics?

The MSc Dietetics (Pre-registration) at Portobello Institute is a two-year full-time postgraduate degree for individuals working towards a professional career as a dietitian. It is awarded by Health Sciences University, a specialist health science university in the UK, and delivered by Portobello Institute in Dublin.

Developed by experienced academics and practising professionals, the programme combines nutrition science, evidence-based practice, clinical skills training, and applied dietetic care to prepare graduates for professional competence.

Led by Dr Roberta Mendes, the MSc has a strong practical emphasis. As a student, you will learn from accomplished CORU-registered practitioners and complete 1,000 hours of practice placements to build confidence, apply learning, and develop professional networks.

The master’s programme is available in either in-person or blended formats, giving you the flexibility to choose the learning experience that best fits your life and helping you balance study with work, family, and other commitments.

To explore where this qualification could take you, read our article on where dietitians work, including career opportunities and the growing demand for dietitians across healthcare, community, public health, and industry settings.

HCPC Approval: What Applicants Need to Know

Professional registration is an essential step towards becoming a practising dietitian, enabling graduates to work as regulated healthcare professionals.

In the UK, dietitians register with HCPC, while in Ireland, registration is with CORU. Because Portobello Institute’s MSc Dietetics (Pre-registration) is a UK university-awarded programme delivered in Ireland, professional registration follows a specific process.

The programme is currently awaiting HCPC approval and will only commence once approval has been granted. Upon successful completion of the master's, graduates will be eligible to apply to CORU via the ‘Qualified Abroad’ registration route in Ireland.

Graduates will also be eligible to register as a dietitian with HCPC and work in the UK, providing opportunities to pursue diverse careers across both the Irish and UK healthcare systems, including the HSE, NHS, private settings, and beyond.

Portobello Institute has previously secured HCPC approval for its MSc Physiotherapy (Pre-registration) and MSc Speech and Language Therapy (Pre-registration), demonstrating experience in delivering programmes that meet regulatory requirements.

How to Secure Your Place During HCPC Approval

Portobello Institute has introduced a new optional holding deposit process for applicants as the MSc Dietetics (Pre-registration) awaits HCPC approval, available until 25^th September 2026.

1. Receive your offer

Applicants must first complete the standard application process, including an interview. If successful, they may be offered a place on the programme and can then choose whether to use the optional holding deposit process.

2. Pay the holding deposit

Applicants who wish to reserve their place can pay a €1,000 holding deposit while HCPC approval is being finalised. To do this, accept the offer in Classter, select Online Payment, choose Free Payment or Open Amount, and enter €1,000. Once payment is received, Portobello Institute will confirm that the place is being held.

3. Await HCPC approval

The programme will only begin once HCPC approval has been granted. During this time, the holding deposit secures the applicant’s place and offers added reassurance while the approval process is ongoing. The deposit is refundable only if HCPC approval is not granted by 25^th September 2026.

4. Secure your place

Once HCPC approval is confirmed, applicants will be notified and will have 10 days to pay the remaining balance of their programme deposit to fully secure their place.

Ready to Apply?

Complete your application today to study MSc Dietetics (Pre-registration) at Portobello Institute or speak to a Career Pathway Consultant if you’d like more information before taking the next step.