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 - PDEP (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 May 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. 

*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: KCAT
2. Upgrade core upper year courses. Contact us for more information at fnsinfo@uwo.ca.

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. 

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

International 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 accredited by either:
   1. The Partnership for Dietetic Education and Practice (PDEP) in Canada (visit the PDEP website for a complete list of Canadian accredited programs),  
      OR 
   2. The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) in the U.S. (visit the ACEND website for a complete list of accredited programs).  

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 KCAT Level II result is achieved: 

1. Retake the KCAT after additional self-study to achieve a Level 1 result,
   OR
2. Contact us at fnsinfo@uwo.ca about enrolling at Western to complete the accredited Honours Specialization in Nutrition and Dietetics undergraduate degree with advanced standing.

International students will need to obtain both a valid post-graduate work permit and study visa. If offered a position in the DDEPT program, candidates should apply for a post-graduate work permit as soon as the undergraduate degree is completed.  The work permit is required to participate in the practicum portion of the program.    

International students are encouraged to contact Western’s International & Exchange Student Centre as a resource for this and other international student related questions .