Is a 13-month nutrition diploma taken as seriously as a university degree?
Yes, MNU’s Level 5 Diploma in Advanced Nutrition Science is taken as seriously as a university degree by employers and clients in the health and fitness industry. Regulated by Ofqual and designed for professional practice, the qualification covers the same core academic knowledge as a nutrition degree while adding more practical, client-facing skills that degree programmes typically omit. Due to the uniquely practical focus of MNU as a professional qualification, the scope of practice of working 1-2-1 with clients is also the same, if not greater, than ‘degree qualified’ nutritionists.
The course content on MNU is more specific to working with 1-2-1 clients and building a successful nutrition career rather than the much broader range of topics that a nutrition degree covers – typically designed for 18-year-olds who have not yet chosen a specialism. By being more specific, MNU is able to cover all the necessary academic knowledge, as well as teaching the practical application of this, in a much shorter space of time.
Practical application is one of the things that is missing from most University nutrition degree syllabuses, however MNU puts research into practical terms by incorporating real-life scenarios and case studies throughout each module. This is to ensure that the content is both relatable and immediately applicable. As a result, MNU graduates can use the post-nominal MN.Nutr and are recognised as MNU Certified Nutritionists with the ability to gain insurance to practice after just 13 months of study.