Functional Skills Level 2 for Dietetics: University Entry Requirements, Apprenticeships and the 13th January UCAS Deadline

Dietitians turn the science of food into treatment. They assess people with diet related problems, from diabetes and food allergies to recovery after surgery, and build treatment plans that help them get well and stay well. The National Careers Service puts the starting salary at around £32,000 a year, rising to around £48,000 with experience, for a typical week of 37 to 40 hours.

If you want to start a dietetics degree in 2027, the clock is already running. The UCAS deadline for most 2027 courses is 6pm (UK time) on Wednesday 13th January 2027, about nine weeks from today. Universities ask for English and maths at grade 4 (the old grade C) or an equivalent. If you do not have those grades, this guide shows which dietetics courses name Functional Skills Level 2, which ones to check first, the funding you can claim and how to get qualified in time to apply.

What does a dietitian do?

The National Careers Service lists day to day tasks such as:

• ✓ assessing patients and diagnosing dietary problems
• ✓ creating personalised treatment plans with patients
• ✓ monitoring progress and adjusting treatment
• ✓ supporting people living with or recovering from disease
• ✓ running community clinics, for example for food allergies or weight loss

You could work in NHS or private hospitals, in the community, in health centres or in research. Every dietitian must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), and “Dietitian” is a protected title, so you can only use it once you are registered.

Two main ways to become a dietitian

A dietetics degree

Most people qualify through a three year full time BSc accredited by the British Dietetic Association (BDA). The National Careers Service says you will usually need 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4, including English, maths and science, or equivalent, plus 2 or 3 A levels or equivalent, including biology or chemistry. If you already have a relevant degree, you can take a postgraduate dietetics course instead.

A dietitian degree apprenticeship

The Dietitian Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship lets you earn a salary while you study for a BSc. The National Careers Service says it usually takes about four years. The BDA explains that you must be employed and supported by your employer, and apprentices work at least 30 hours a week. You apply through your employer, not through UCAS.

Which dietetics courses accept Functional Skills Level 2?

Three course pages we checked this week name Functional Skills clearly.

Coventry University, Dietetics BSc (Hons), September 2027

• ✓ English and maths: the page asks for “GCSE maths and English at grade 4 / C or Functional Skills Level 2, or other equivalent Level 2 awards.”
• ✓ Level 3: 128 UCAS points, ABB at A level including Biology, or routes such as BTEC Applied Science at DDM or an Access to HE Diploma with 15 Level 3 credits in Biology and 15 in Chemistry at Distinction.
• ✓ Length and approval: three years full time, approved by the HCPC and accredited by the BDA for the 2027 to 2028 intake.

Leeds Beckett University, Dietetics BSc (Hons), September 2027

• ✓ English and maths: GCSE English Language and Maths at grade 4 or above, or equivalent. The page states that Functional Skills Level 2 is accepted in place of GCSEs, alongside Key Skills Level 2 and the Certificate in Adult Literacy and Adult Numeracy.
• ✓ Level 3: 120 UCAS points, with a minimum of BBB at A level or equivalent, including two science subjects from a list that includes Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, Food Technology and Physical Education.
• ✓ Start date: the course is listed as starting on 20th September 2027.

University of Plymouth, BSc (Hons) Dietetics with Integrated Foundation Year

• ✓ English and maths: five GCSEs at grade 4/C including English, Mathematics and Science. The page says “Consideration may be given to Functional Skills Level 2 in Mathematics.”
• ✓ Level 3: a typical offer of 32 UCAS points, for example from two A levels including grade E in a science. Applicants without Level 3 science are assessed individually.

Dietetics apprenticeships and Functional Skills

• ✓ Sheffield Hallam University, Dietitian Degree Apprenticeship: asks for maths and English at Level 2 (grade 4, or previously C). If you do not hold these yet, the university says it will refer you to its Functional Skills training partner and you complete them during your first year. The course is three years and three months part time, plus three months of end point assessment, starting in March.
• ✓ Teesside University, BSc (Hons) Dietetics (Apprenticeship): asks for Level 2 qualifications in English and maths before you start, plus evidence of Level 3 study. It does not name GCSEs or Functional Skills, so check with the university. The course is three years and starts in May.
• ✓ University of Plymouth, BSc (Hons) Dietetics Degree Apprenticeship: asks for GCSE English and Maths at grade C/4 “or accepted equivalent”. Applications for September 2027 open on Monday 8th February 2027.

Arriving with your Level 2 certificate already in hand makes your employer’s decision easier.

Check before you rely on Functional Skills

Some course pages say “or equivalent” without naming Functional Skills. That is not a no, so email admissions and ask: “Do you accept Functional Skills Level 2 English and maths in place of GCSE for BSc Dietetics?” Our guide to whether universities accept Functional Skills Level 2 explains more.

Do not forget science

Most dietetics courses want biology or chemistry at Level 3, and many ask for GCSE science too. Functional Skills covers English and maths only, so it will not replace a science GCSE. If you are short on science, look at an Access to HE Diploma or a foundation year course such as Plymouth’s.

Funding for dietetics students

In England, dietetics is one of the allied health courses covered by the NHS Learning Support Fund, run by the NHS Business Services Authority. If you meet the eligibility rules, you could receive:

• ✓ a Training Grant of £5,000 per academic year, which does not need to be paid back
• ✓ Parental Support of £2,000 per academic year if you have parental responsibility for a child under 15 (or under 17 with special educational needs)
• ✓ help with travel and accommodation costs for clinical placements, within set limits

Dietetics is not on the list for the extra £1,000 Specialist Subject Payment. Check the government’s NHS Learning Support Fund guidance for full eligibility before you apply.

Why an Ofqual regulated qualification matters

Not every online “Level 2” certificate is a regulated qualification. Universities and employers asking for Level 2 “or equivalent” mean a qualification like Functional Skills Level 2, not a short course certificate.

At Functify Learning, your Functional Skills Level 2 English and maths qualifications are awarded by Highfield and regulated by Ofqual, and we are a Highfield Approved Centre. Functify is part of Geek School Tutoring, which has taught more than 1,000 students since 2013.

How long does it take to get Functional Skills Level 2?

That depends on where you are starting from.

• ✓ You feel confident: book the exam. With Functify Learning your exam is booked within 5 days and your certificate usually arrives within 10 days of your result.
• ✓ You are rusty: a 5 Day Revision Course from £19.99 gets you exam ready in about a week.
• ✓ You have been out of education for years or failed before: a live 10 Week Course from £197 per subject, in a small group of no more than 10 learners, with a mock exam included.

Not sure which group you are in? Take our free Functional Skills pass quiz at quiz.functifylearning.co.uk. It tells you whether to book now or revise first.

Your nine week plan to the UCAS deadline

Here is a realistic timeline from Friday 13th November:

1. This weekend: shortlist your universities, note exactly what each asks for in English, maths and science, and take the free pass quiz. Email any admissions team that does not name Functional Skills.
2. By the end of November: start a 5 Day Revision Course, or book a £35 mock exam per subject to find any gaps.
3. Early December: book your exam and sit it online from home, with technical setup support beforehand.
4. Mid to late December: receive your certificate, finish your personal statement and add your qualification to your UCAS application.
5. By 6pm on Wednesday 13th January 2027: submit your UCAS application.

How much will it cost?

At Functify Learning:

• ✓ English Level 2 exam: £160
• ✓ Maths Level 2 exam: £160
• ✓ English and maths together: £250, instead of £320 booked separately
• ✓ Mock exam: £35 per subject
• ✓ Klarna available at checkout on orders of more than £35

For a full breakdown, read our guide to how much a Functional Skills Level 2 exam costs in 2026. If you are weighing up other allied health careers, see Functional Skills Level 2 for speech and language therapy or Functional Skills Level 2 for podiatry.

Functional Skills Level 2 for dietetics: frequently asked questions

Can I become a dietitian with Functional Skills instead of GCSEs?

On some courses, yes. Coventry University and Leeds Beckett University both name Functional Skills Level 2 as an alternative to GCSE English and maths on their 2027 Dietetics BSc courses. You will still need Level 3 qualifications that include science.

Do all dietetics degrees accept Functional Skills Level 2?

No. Some accept it for maths only, such as Plymouth’s foundation year course, and some pages say “or equivalent” without naming it. Email admissions and get the answer in writing before you apply.

Will Functional Skills replace my GCSE science?

No. Functional Skills covers English and maths only. Most dietetics courses also want biology or chemistry at Level 3.

Can I do a dietitian apprenticeship with Functional Skills?

Apprenticeships ask for Level 2 English and maths. Sheffield Hallam says it can refer you to a Functional Skills training partner if you do not have them yet. You must be employed, and you apply through your employer.

When is the UCAS deadline for 2027 courses?

UCAS says applications for most 2027 undergraduate courses should arrive by 6pm (UK time) on Wednesday 13th January 2027.

Is there funding for dietetics students?

Yes. In England, eligible students can claim the NHS Learning Support Fund Training Grant of £5,000 per academic year, plus £2,000 Parental Support if eligible, and help with placement travel costs.

Get your Level 2 sorted before the UCAS deadline

Book your English or maths exam today, sit it from home around work or childcare, and have your certificate ready for your dietetics application. Not sure where to start? Message us on WhatsApp and we will point you in the right direction.