After completing an undergraduate nutrition degree in her home country of Ireland, Roisin McDonagh was eager to move to Edinburgh to study QMU’s MSc Dietetics (Pre-registration) course – the subject that was her true passion.
In her Student Story, Roisin shares her positive experiences of moving to a new city and the opportunities she’s had since starting her postgraduate degree.
Why did you choose to study at Queen Margaret University (QMU)?
Dietetics is a competitive course to get in to. I applied to numerous universities, but QMU was my top choice as it has an excellent reputation for dietetics in both the UK and Ireland.
I also knew previous students of the course who assured me that I would enjoy QMU. I’m not sure if you would say it was fate, but I had a good feeling about QMU and Edinburgh. I am glad I went with my gut and chose to study here.
What interested you about your chosen course?
I have always had an interest in studying a healthcare related course. I loved learning about physiology, biology and nutrition in school, therefore I thought dietetics would be a good fit.
Unfortunately, I didn’t study the necessary subjects in school that were required to apply for an undergraduate dietetics degree in Ireland. So, instead I pursued a degree in nutrition, before applying to the MSc Dietetics (Pre-registration) postgraduate course at QMU.
As part of my undergraduate degree, I completed a research placement within a dietetics department. I had lots of opportunities to shadow dietitians, which made me even more interested in the subject than what I already was.
What attracted you to study in Edinburgh?
I heard great things about Edinburgh from family and friends. I had never visited Scotland prior to starting this course, but I just knew it would be a good change for me. Also, having an airport in the city was a massive bonus so I could fly home for a weekend easily, if needed.
What have you most enjoyed about your course? What has been the highlight?
"I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here and I am sad it is coming to an end! I have really enjoyed all of my placements, and I’ve been completely reassured that I have made the right career choice. It is also rewarding to feel as though you have made a positive impact on someone's life.  "
How have your lecturers supported your learning?
The dietetic staff at QMU have been extremely supportive. The class size for the MSc is small, so all students and staff get to know each other well. This was a pleasant change from being in a large university for my undergraduate degree. I feel the lecturers have listened to any concerns I have had, and been able to support me as much as they could, even when I just needed a listening ear!
What have been some of your challenges with the course and university life? How have you overcome them?
I think one of the challenges has been getting used to different marking criteria from my last university. I have found the Effective Learning Service (ELS) really beneficial to help with navigating this! They were able to provide guidance on my assignments and they run workshops on academic referencing (which is a necessity in academic writing and assignments) throughout the year. I would always recommend that students, no matter what their year they are in, to get guidance from the ELS! It’s a great way to boost your grades, as well as your confidence!
How did your placements help you to apply the theory that you learned in your course? 
As part of the MSc, it is compulsory to undertake 1000 placement hours to be eligible for Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration – a required qualification for dietetics. The placements I’ve been on have been some of the highlights of the course for me! It was great to see how the theory I learned in lectures could be applied to real-life situations. I feel I was well prepared and supported by staff throughout my placements and I learned a lot. It is where you get to consolidate your learning and develop your approach to seeing patients.
Have you been a part of any extracurricular programmes during your time as a student at QMU?
During my time at QMU I worked as a student ambassador. This has been a great opportunity to meet other students studying a variety of different courses. It made settling into a new university much easier when you recognised lots of faces around campus. I would definitely recommend applying to be a student ambassador during your studies!
What has been the most valuable lesson that you’ve learned at university?
The most valuable lesson I’ve learned at university is to put yourself out of your comfort zone. That could be in any aspect of university life! Go out and chat to new people - don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and take on things that challenge you. Join clubs and societies to meet new people and seek out interesting opportunities.
My dissertation was very different to previous research projects I completed in my undergraduate degree. I think the experience of a lab-based project has given me an edge and deeper appreciation of where else besides healthcare settings dietetics can take me.
What are you plans after graduation? Tell us about your ambitions and where you see yourself in the future?
I hope to get a dietetics job in Scotland after I graduate! I have loved the last two years in Scotland, and I hope it can be my home for several years to come. Plans beyond that are a bit uncertain right now but I would love to get into dietetic management or a public health role one day to have a larger impact on improving people’s health.
