Degree-level Diploma


Our Degree-level Diploma is credit-rated by University of Greenwich (students can APL credits to upgrade the Diploma to BSc).  Whether you are looking for a career in Nutritional Therapy practice, research, charity or corporate health promotion, our course will provide you with the knowledge, confidence and the tools to do whatever you set out to achieve.

  • Year 4 is dedicated to intensive clinical training. Those students who wish to pursue a career practicing nutritional therapy will be required to complete Year 4 Clinical Training.
  • Attendance is approximately 1 – 2 weekends a month. Distance learning students are required to attend 1 weekend in Year 3 and 2 weekends in Year 4 for clinical training.
  • Following successful completion of a BCNH Degree-level Diploma, students may apply to join the BSc (Hons) Professional Practice in Health & Social Care (Nutritional Health) awarded by the University of Greenwich.
  • Students who do not wish to practice Nutritional Therapy can exit at the end of Year 3 (please see Qs and As below).

Enrolment Requirements:-

  • Basic IT skills
  • an A- level in Chemistry or equivalent

Candidates who do not comply with the above requirements, are required to complete a Science Foundation Course (SFC) and pass the SFC examination.

Overseas students:

Students for whom English is not their native language must achieve a score of 6 (or higher) in the four components of International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (or its equivalent).


APL (Accreditation of Prior Learning) Policy

  • Prospective students with a medical degree or a degree in the field of nutrition may be able to APL certain BCNH modules. Students will only be able to fast-track through a module upon provision of evidence that prior qualifications meet the learning outcomes of the BCNH module.
  • The clinical elements of each module must be completed by all students in order to ensure minimum hours of clinical training are met. This includes clinical seminars, clinical seminar exercises (distance learners only) and the production of client fact-sheets.
  • Applications to fast-track are considered on an individual basis and the requirements for each module will vary by student based on prior learning.

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Start Date

  • The next academic year starts in September 2012 and ends in June 2013.
  • 2nd enrolment for distance-learning students only is in February 2013.

Clinical Training

By the end of the Year 3 students will have completed a total of 40 BCNH-set case studies.

In Year 4 students are required to complete a total of 8 comprehensive real-life case studies in a clinical setting. The last 3 case studies are ‘free-style’ (students can choose their own style of delivery provided certain essential requirements are met.

Upon successful completion of UG and BCNH Year 1, 2 & 3 courses and clinical practice, students will be awarded BCNH Degree-level Diploma in Nutritional Therapy (with Clinical Practice).

NTC & CNHC Registration

The BCNH Degree-level Diploma in Nutritional Therapy is now accredited by the Nutritional Therapy Council (NTC). Graduates of courses that have been fully accredited to Stage 2 are eligible to apply for direct entry to the professional register held by the Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), which is supported by the Department of Health.

NTC Accreditation handbook is available on the NTC website.

Converting BCNH Degree-level Diploma to BSc


Following successful completion of a BCNH Degree-level Diploma, students may apply to join the BSc Hons Complementary Therapies Nutritional Health awarded by the University of Greenwich, transferring relevant credits from their Diploma studies. Diploma Students are entitled to the same privileges and access to resources as all other part-time students of the University for the duration of their period of study.

BCNH modules provide 195 credits and UG modules 45 credits towards the BCNH Diploma. Students will need to complete a further 120 credits provided by the University of Greenwich, to gain a total of 360 credits for the BSc Hons Professional Practice in Health & Social Care (Nutritional Health) awarded by the University.

Information about our course fees is available in the BCNH Prospectus (12-13)

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Life after qualification

Our graduates have pursued their careers in various areas: working in multidisciplinary clinics, teaching, lecturing, running workshops, delivering public seminars, working in GP surgeries, running courses for local councils, planning menus for school meals, writing articles for magazines, etc. Please see our graduates page for further information.


Questions and Answers:

What is the difference between the BCNH degree-level diploma and BSc?

The main difference is the total of credits completed.  Students completing BCNH degree-level Diploma will have acquired 240 credits of 360 credits required for the BSc.  Degree-level diploma (credit rated by University of Greenwich) is awarded by BCNH, while BSc is awarded by the University of Greenwich

Is Year 4 clinical training compulsory?

Candidates who do not wish to pursue their career as Nutritional Therapy Practitioners – e.g. journalists, health writers, life coaches, personal trainers, teachers, other complementary therapy practitioners such as osteopaths, chiropractors, homeopaths, etc. may choose to exit at the end of Year 3 with a Diploma in Nutrition & Health,subject to successful completion of Year 1, 2 & 3 modules.

Graduates without the clinical practice will NOT be eligible to register with NTC or BANT.

Can I register to complete the clinical practice at a later date?

Yes. Students who have successfully completed level 1, 2 & 3 of the BCNH Degree-level Diploma without clinical practice can complete clinical practice within 6 years of graduation.