Admission Requirements

To be eligible to apply for the DDEPT program, applicants must meet the following admissions criteria: 

• Undergraduate degree from a dietetic education program accredited under Canada's Partnership for Dietetic Education - Accreditation Canada (or ACEND in the U.S.A.), within the past 3 years (2022* or later). 
• Students must successfully complete their accredited undergraduate degree before the program start date of September each year.  
• Minimum GPA of 70% in final two years of accredited program or last 10 full-course equivalents (FCE).  
• Demonstrated English language proficiency if English is not your first language*. Acceptable tests are:
  • 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].
  • The International English Language Testing Service (IELTS). Minimum acceptable score is 8 out of 9.
  • 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. 
• Completion of application package including all online components. 

*Those who completed an undergraduate program accredited by PDEP or Accreditation Canada more than three years ago, need to demonstrate their knowledge is current to be eligible to apply to either of our dietetic practicum programs (DDEPT or MScFN Practicum-based programs).

To do this, applicants must achieve a Level 1 Result on the College of Dietitians of Ontario’s Knowledge and Competence Assessment Tool (KCAT) and the results must be submitted with their application when applying to Western University’s dietetic practicum programs (MScFN Practicum-based program or the DDEPT program).

If you achieve a Level 2 Result, you can self-study to rewrite the KCAT, or enroll as a special student in Western University’s Nutrition and Dietetics undergraduate program to upgrade your knowledge before retaking the KCAT. Those wanting to enrol as a special student at Western should email fnsgrad@uwo.ca with your KCAT Level 2 assessment result for more details. Note, upgrading at Western to retake the KCAT does not ensure a Level 1 KCAT will be achieved.

A signed ACEND® verification statement confirming the completion of all program requirements is required with your application. 

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

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

• 1. Complete a Four-Year Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics (or equivalent) degree from a program which is accredited by Accreditation Canada or by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics in the United States. To inquire about completing the Honours Specialization in Nutrition and Dietetics accredited degree at Western University, view the program details here and contact one of Western University’s Undergraduate Admission Officers for more information.
  
  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 KCAT Level I Result. If a Level II result is achieved:
  • a) retake the KCAT after additional self-study to achieve a Level 1 result, orundefined
  • b) contact us about enrolling at Western University to complete the accredited Honors Specialization in Nutrition and Dietetics undergraduate degree (see details in Option #1)
    
    *Note: all other Admission Requirements noted on the DDEPT and MScFN Practicum-based program websites (view here) also apply.