Nutritional Therapists (NTs) apply the latest research in nutrition and health sciences to manage chronic disease and promote optimum health. NTs focus on identifying the physiological imbalances in the bodily systems that are linked to chronic disease. Practitioners take a detailed case history and use a range of tools including Functional Medicine clinical paperwork to identify potential imbalances. They then recommend a personalised nutrition, supplement and lifestyle plan and support their client through making those changes.
This comprehensive 3½ year practitioner training diploma begins in year 1 at UK level 4 (Irish level 6) and builds to UK level 6 (Irish level 8) - equivalent in level to a UK degree programme. It systematically develops the knowledge, skills, competencies and confidence required to work successfully as a Nutritional Therapist. The course provides practical and interactive lectures (in-class students) alongside structured home study and over 250 hours of clinical practice supervised by some of the most respected Nutritional Therapists in the industry. This unique programme comprises of 3 interim qualifications over the 3½ years, so if students need to defer their studies at the end of any academic year, they will leave with an academically certified award (subject to passing). Our syllabus is written to cover the UK Nutritional Therapy Council’s core curriculum for Nutritional Therapy and aims to uphold the UK’s National Occupational Standards for the industry. Students and graduates may register with the Nutritional Therapists of Ireland (NTOI), Ireland’s registering body for Nutritional Therapists, and the Complementary Medical Association (CMA) & Federation of Nutritional Therapy Practitioners (FNTP) in both the UK and Ireland.
“Studying with IHS was a great experience. The lecturers were very experienced and knowledgeable and the supporting staff were extremely helpful and accommodating. The course content was excellent, evidence-based and very relevant. I feel that I was very prepared to deal with clients after this course, both from a scientific/nutrition point and by understanding clients’ motivations and barriers. I feel that IHS holds the high standards that should be expected of Nutritional Therapists and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this Institute for anyone considering a career in nutrition.” Ciara Wright, PhD, BSc, Dip NT IHS, Nutritional Therapy Diploma Graduate, currently Director and Senior Nutritionist at Glenville Nutrition Ireland
The IHS Diploma in Nutritional Therapy is based upon 2 key, evidence based and well respected healthcare models - Functional Medicine and Health & Wellness Coaching. Functional Medicine is a patient centred approach to healthcare that focuses on identifying and preventing the underlying cause of chronic disease. Health & Wellness Coaching offers the most effective tools for improving client compliance, assessing and developing readiness for change and helping client’s overcome barriers to change.
During clinical practice, we develop key skills in a systematic and logical fashion from year 1 onwards so that students are confident and competent before they see clients in our supervised student clinics in year 4. Our approach involves a variety of tried and tested education methods proven to be the best practice for developing communication and clinical practice skills. These include in-class exercises and role play, structured at-home exercises, reflective practice, video/paper based consultation analysis, live clinical observation and supervised client consultations.
The overall aim of the programme is to equip students with the knowledge, understanding and competencies required to provide comprehensive nutritional advice to individuals and groups in a range of healthcare settings. IHS develop confident, safe and effective practitioners of Nutritional Therapy who have a specific expertise and a specialised knowledge base, competent to work either individually or in collaboration with other healthcare professionals.
- Join IHS’s ever expanding group of successful graduates. Many IHS NT graduates are enjoying varied and exciting careers in the industry. Our successful graduates are currently in private practice, running healthy recipe box delivery services, developing health food products, working for international supplement companies, running healthy cooking classes, running day/weekend retreats, collaborating with gyms/weight loss companies on nutrition programmes, lecturing/tutoring NT students, writing for both industry and general public publications, conducting research, developing online health summits
- Study with the best. IHS are commonly recognised within the industry as providing the highest quality Nutritional Therapy education
- Flexible learning options. Study in-class, online or a mixture of the two (blended learning). Online students can start at one of 3 points through the year - October, January or June
- Our academically accredited interim awards. Use each qualification to build your career as you keep studying. After year 1: the CI Level 4 (UK) Diploma in Nutrition and Lifestyle Coaching (VRQ). The highest level Nutrition Coaching qualification in Ireland - start seeing clients and earning an income whilst studying the rest of the Diploma in Nutritional Therapy. After year 2: the CI Level 5 (UK) Diploma in Nutrition and Lifestyle: Evaluating their Role in Chronic Disease Development. Enhance your scientific understanding of what contributes to chronic disease development from a Functional Medicine perspective. After year 3: UK level 6 diploma currently in development
- Over 250 hours of clinical practice. We begin our clinical practice for students in Year 1, which ensures that they are very familiar and competent with the practice of Nutritional Therapy by the time they take patients in Year 4
- Our focus on Functional Medicine and Health and Wellness Coaching. Functional Medicine is an integral part of the course - we teach the approach (imbalance by imbalance), discuss the IFM protocols in detail, use the IFM paperwork for interpreting cases and planning an approach. We have organised Functional Medicine conferences with guest lecturers including Michael Ash, Dr Liz Lipski and Dr Kara Fitzgerald. All clinical practice is underpinned by the principles and practice of Health and Wellness Coaching
- Expert academic team - Lecturers, unit leaders and personal tutors for the IHS Nutritional Therapy Diploma include leading Nutritional Therapists, certified health and wellness coaches, qualified 3rd level educationalists, MSc and PhD level scientists, food lovers and a chef - giving our students access to a wealth of knowledge and experience from their first day of study. In class students will be taught by at least four different lecturers per year to benefit from as much of their knowledge as possible.
- Our comprehensive and well structured study material. Including presentation slides (with audio), case studies, video clips, quizzes, short answer questions and chances to reflect on your knowledge - all designed to make the learning experience as interactive as possible - IHS students do not simply sit in class, taking notes!
- Constantly updated material. All units have a unit leader responsible for them. Their role is to continually update the material delivered in lectures, student notes and online, set and mark assignments and to answer student queries on the unit forums. This keeps IHS material up to date using evidence based research and the very latest theories in healthcare.
- Dynamic and interactive lecture weekends. Designed to suit all learning types and engage students in the learning process. Lecture weekends include a mixture of formal lectures, group discussion, group exercises, role play and case studies
- The IHS commitment to pastoral care and student support. IHS have a dedicated student support officer to help struggling students or those with specific learning difficulties. We ensure that all students have access to both staff and peer support whilst studying with IHS
- Apply for direct entry onto the MSc/PG Dip/PG Cert in Personalised Nutrition taught at CNELM (Wokingham, UK) upon graduation. This course is validated by Middlesex University for attendance, part attendance or 100% distance learning
- Regular optional cooking days. Allowing students to see first hand how to incorporate healthy eating cooking skills and ingredients into meals for both them and their future clients
- Try us for free! Sign up for a free trial to experience our study material
- Change your mind! After the first year, if you find you are more interested in behavioural change rather than nutrition, move over to the IHS Combined Diploma in Nutrition, Coaching and Behavioural Change - gain 3 separate further qualifications in NLP, Health and Wellness Coaching and Stress Management in this 1 additional year
Year 1 is the CI Level 4 (UK) Diploma in Nutrition and Lifestyle Coaching (VRQ), a unique, Ofqual regulated course where food is examined from farm to fork. We explore exactly how food is grown, processed and thus nutritionally depleted and the cumulative effect this has on health. Students are then taught how to analyse a client’s individual needs and instructed how food, nutrients and supplements can be used to counteract the health problems associated with modern lifestyles and promote optimum health.
You will:
Year 1 Interim Award: CI Level 4 (UK) Diploma in Nutrition and Lifestyle Coaching (VRQ)
Year 2: Our CI Level 5 (UK) Diploma in Nutrition and Lifestyle: Evaluating their Role in Chronic Disease Development. The objective of this year is to critically evaluate different theories and approaches on how and why nutrition and lifestyle choices influence the development of chronic disease, with a particular emphasis on the Functional Medicine model.
You will:
Year 2 Interim Award: CI Level 5 (UK) Diploma in Nutrition and Lifestyle: Evaluating their Role in Chronic Disease Development
Year 3: Our Level 6 (UK) Diploma (to be announced very soon!). The objective of this year is to critically evaluate the role of nutrition and lifestyle in the management of chronic disease. It will focus specifically on personalised nutrition and lifestyle interventions and explore the Functional Medicine model as a means of applying these principles to practice.
You will:
Year 3 Interim Award: To be announced soon
Year 4 is six months in duration and requires the production of clinical case studies, reflective narratives and evaluations of the effectiveness of nutritional therapy in various clinical scenarios. All clinical practice during this module takes place in the IHS student clinics. This module provides students with intensive supervised clinical practice and tutorials in small groups designed to maximise their skills and bolster their confidence prior to graduation. During supervised cases they are expected to exhibit advanced therapeutic skills, knowledge and competence. The aim is to give students a comprehensive and thorough overview of contemporary professional practice. The success of our current graduates demonstrates the effectiveness of this approach.
The IHS Diploma in Nutritional Therapy can be completed in-class, online or a mixture of the two (blended learning).
The first 3 years of this 3½ year part-time course includes approximately 10 lecture weekends (in-class only) per year alongside structured home study. The 4th year (6 months in total) is solely focused on ensuring graduates are competent and confident in clinical practice. It comprises of 6 clinical practice weekends which students attend in small groups (3 or 4 students) with an experienced Nutritional Therapy practitioner as a clinic mentor. Each student must pass a number of supervised clinical practice cases in order to graduate.
This is a lifelong learning course and students are accepted on to this course through a combination of academic qualifications and relevant life experience.
The minimum academic entry requirement for this course is 4 grade Cs (preferably including a science subject) at Leaving Certificate. A pass in either Irish or English must be included. Overseas equivalents are also considered.
For entry to the programme applicants with Prior Learning and Experiential Prior Learning will be considered. The knowledge, skills and competencies identified are those corresponding to the knowledge, skills and competencies defined by Level 4 and Level 5 on the National Framework.
Students with a nutrition coaching qualification from elsewhere may be able to fast track into year 2 of the IHS Diploma in Nutritional Therapy (a bridging module may be required to be undertaken if this qualification is below UK level 4 - Irish level 6). Also, students who have obtained other nutrition qualifications or have undertaken some study in the field may be eligible for fast track entry onto the IHS diploma programme. These students will be assessed in terms of modules completed in prior studies and will complete all outstanding modules in the diploma programme.
* not including Nutritics dietary analysis software - special discounted rate for IHS students
** please note that prices are subject to change, subject to future academic accreditation
