The NTDC is delivered at Levels 4, 5 and 6 (undergraduate equivalence), to the same level as required for an undergraduate degree.

 

Our students come from all walks of life and many have had an established career. We do not expect applicants to have the same qualifications as a college-leaver and welcome applicants with a wide range of appropriate certificated and/or experiential learning. Our admissions team can advise on individual applications and admission arrangements. We may be flexible in our normal entry requirements if you can show a commitment to succeed and have relevant skills and experience. You must show that you will benefit from and finish the course successfully. We are committed to fair admission practice and welcome applications from people with disabilities.

 

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General level of education

Level 3 education attainment: two GCE/VCE A Levels including one related science subject (Biology, Chemistry, Physiology, Home Economics) or equivalent (e.g. International Baccalaureate, Scottish Advanced Highers, Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Diploma, Irish Leaving Certificate, BTEC Diploma awards). Level 2 Maths and English at a minimum of Grade C is also required.

If you do not hold the above qualifications, you may want to consider joining our specially-tailored Nutritional Therapy Science Access Courses which enables students to progress on to the full diploma course following successful completion.  

 

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Exemptions: Recognised Prior Certificated Learning and/or Experiential Learning (RPL)

It is possible to gain exemption from modules or years of a course if you have qualifications at an equivalentor higher level or have achieved learning associated with the course through experience. RPL can be applied for before your course starts or during a course for modules which occur later in the course.

Joining ION from other institutions

Additionally, RPL may be used to transfer in from another course. Please contact us for an RPL pack to guide you through the process of providing evidence to support your claim. 

 

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English language requirements

You must demonstrate sufficient command of the English language to communicate safely and with confidence to the public, clients and medical professionals.

Applicants must normally demonstrate a Level 2 qualification in English language (e.g. GCSE grade A-C).

If English is not your first language you will need to have obtained an International English Language Test (IELTS) qualification scoring 6 in all areas (listening, reading, writing and speaking) or demonstrate equivalence (www.ielts.org). 

 

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General non-academic criteria

We believe that formal qualifications are only one measure of ability to study at this level. Applications are considered with an assessmentof the applicant’s abilities, skills, aptitudes and motivation to train as a practitioner. 

We are also looking for:

• Self-motivation and commitment to studying
• Ability to time plan
• Good level of interpersonal skills
• Ability to work in a team
• ICT literacy — you must be able to word-process, have broadband access to the internet and an email account.
• Commitment to a Code of Practice and Fitness to Practice Code.
• Management of health problems or other issues that would prevent you from being capable of, or fit for, clinical practice training. Extenuating circumstances claims can only be made for acute illness and not long term chronic illness.
• In signing the Student agreement each year you will be committing to the Student Regulations Handbook.