Admissions

Applicants to the MScFN Practicum-based program must meet the admissions criteria of Western University’s, School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies, and the Brescia University College, School of Food and Nutritional Sciences program requirements, as follows:

• A four-year Bachelor of Science degree from a dietetic education program accredited under Canada’s Partnership for Dietetic Education and Practice - PDEP (or ACEND in the U.S.A.) within the past 3 years (2021 or later).
• Applicants must submit confirmation of completion of a PDEP accredited program. This form should be supplied to you, and signed by the head of the academic department overseeing your accredited undergraduate program.
• Undergraduate courses in each Research Methodology and Statistics.
• Minimum undergraduate GPA of 78 per cent on the last 10 Full Course Equivalent credits.
• Relevant work and volunteer experience.
• Demonstrated English language proficiency if English is not your first language. Acceptable tests are:
  i) The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Minimum acceptable score is 625 for the paper and pencil version, or 107 for the internet version. [Western’s TOEFL ID is 0984].
  ii) The International English Language Testing Service (IELTS). Minimum acceptable score is 8 out of 9.
  iii) The Duolingo English Test. Minimum acceptable score is 130.

Applicants are exempt from the English language proficiency requirement if they submit proof they have been enrolled for 2 or more years of full-time undergraduate or graduate study in an English-speaking school in a country where English is the principal language.

If you graduated from a Canadian PDEP accredited Foods and Nutrition/Dietetics program more than 3 years ago you have 2 options to demonstrate that your knowledge is current to become eligible to apply:

1. Achieve a Level 1 Result on the College of Dietitians of Ontario’s Knowledge and Competence Assessment Tool. 
2. Upgrade core upper year courses at Brescia. Contact us at fnsgrad@uwo.ca for more information.

Practicum Student Additional Requirements 

In addition to the above requirements, students accepted to this program must have access to reliable transportation to get to placements, including places where public transit may not be available. 

All Practicum students are required to have several health and non-health requirements in preparation for the practicum portion of their program, including (but not limited to) immunizations, police checks, professional membership, insurances, and learning. 

Please refer to our practicum page that outlines the additional responsibilities and requirements that must be met before students begin the practicum portion of the program.  

International applicants who completed a PDEP accredited undergraduate degree in Canada or ACEND in the United States are eligible to apply. 

All other internationally educated applicants who completed a dietetics degree or practised as a dietitian outside of Canada, Australia or the United States have two ways to become eligible to apply:

1. Complete a Four-Year Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics (or equivalent) from a program which is accredited by the Partnership for Dietetic Education and Practice (PDEP) in Canada or by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics in the U.S. See www.pdep.ca  or https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend/accredited-programs/about-accredited-programs  for a complete list of accredited undergraduate Foods and Nutrition programs.  To inquire about completing your degree at Brescia, contact one of our undergraduate Admission Officers at bucbound@uwo.ca . The Brescia Undergraduate Admissions Officers would be able to guide you on acceptance eligibility as well as the possibility for transfer credit, based on applicable past university course work.

or

2. Complete the College of Dietitians of Ontario Knowledge and Competence Assessment Tool (KCAT) as part of the Prior Learning Assessment (PLAR) process and achieve a Level I Result.  

If a Level II KCAT result is achieved:

a) retake the KCAT after additional self-study to achieve a Level 1 result, or

b) contact us about enrolling at Brescia to complete the accredited Honours Specialization in Nutrition and Dietetics undergraduate degree with advanced standing: bucbound@uwo.ca 

 Note: all other items noted under Admission Requirements also apply. 

International students will need to obtain both a valid study visa, and work permit for the practicum portion of the program, and are encouraged to contact Western’s International & Exchange Student Centre as a resource for this and other international student related questions .

If you graduated from a Canadian PDEP accredited Foods and Nutrition/Dietetics program more than 3 years ago you have 2 options to demonstrate that your knowledge is current to become eligible to apply:

1. Achieve a Level 1 Result on the College of Dietitians of Ontario’s Knowledge and Competence Assessment Tool. For more information: 
2. Upgrade core upper year courses at Brescia. Contact us for more information.

If you graduated from a US Academy ACEND accredited Foods and Nutrition/Dietetics program:

Please note  the College of Dietitians of Ontario have confirmed that completion of an American program that is ACEND-accredited could be considered equivalent to a Canadian program accredited by PDEP.

Proof of the program being ACEND-accredited is a requirement and should be submitted with your application.

Applicants still need to meet all other program admission requirements as stated on the Brescia website, and the admission committee will further review transcripts for eligibility.

Note: all other items noted under Admission Requirements also apply.