Application Information

Our dietetic internship program participates in DICAS (Dietetics Inclusive Central Application Service). This requires that your application be submitted through the central application portal.  The ACEND website provides additional information on the centralized application process. Please follow the DICAS instructions for submitting your application. Our portal will be available beginning August 5 for both the Fall and Spring application periods.

The deadline for applications is January 15 for the Spring application period and October 1 for the Fall application period.  Applicants for both our Dietetic Internship Only AND Master's Plus DI options will be asked to select their start date preference.  Availability for an August vs. January vs. either start date will be noted within our DICAS portal.  Those that select either start date, will note their preference within the "Questions" section of the portal.  Not all tracks and/or concentrations will have the ability to be considered for more than one start date.   

• All applicants will be notified no later than March 1 (for Spring applications) or November 1 (for Fall applications) of their acceptance status (either accepted, waitlisted, or denied).
• Students have no later than March 15 (for Spring applications) or November 15 (for Fall applications) by 5 p.m. ET to accept their offer.
• The program will offer any open positions to students who are on our wait list following first-round completion.
• Notifications will continue until all program spots have been filled and/or the program has exhausted their list of waitlisted applicants.
• After the Spring application acceptance period, any remaining positions will be filled on a rolling basis through the DICAS portal. In this event, more information will be posted in DICAS, this website, and our social media outlets.

There is an application fee for this program.  Please send a check or money order for $50 (no cash), payable to Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, to the address below. If there is an option given in the DICAS portal to apply to both the August and January start dates, only one program application fee needs to be submitted. This application fee is non-refundable. The application fee for our program must be postmarked by the DICAS application deadlines noted above.

Please send the application fee to:

Stephanie Stockslager, MS, RD
Director, Dietetic Internship
403 N. 13th St., Box 980294
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0294

Virginia Early Admission Pathway (VEAP)

You may be eligible to apply to either our Master's Plus DI or Dietetic Internship Only tracks through our Virginia Early Application Pathway if you meet the following criteria:

Be either:

• A current or recent graduate of a Virginia college or university from an accredited dietetics program.  -OR-
• A current resident of Virginia completing an online-based dietetics program (undergraduate or graduate level)
• AND have (or will have) earned a DPD Verification Statement prior to starting the VCUHS Internship program

You do NOT need to be a permanent resident of Virginia in order to qualify for this pathway.  Applicants will follow this revised timeline in order to apply:

• All applications must be submitted in DICAS no later than October 1.
• All applicants will be notified no later than November 1 of their acceptance status (either accepted, waitlisted, or denied).
• Students have no later than November 15 by 5pm ET to accept their offer

Our normal application fee of $50 will be waived for eligible students applying through this pathway.

All students who qualify for this pathway, but cannot meet the application deadline, are welcomed to apply to our program during the regular Spring application cycle (January 15 DICAS application deadline).  Application fee will apply.

Students who are in the process of completing the Master of Science in Human Nutrition DPD Plus Partner Dietetic Internship track at Drexel University should follow the procedures and timeline below:

• Drexel will identify partner internships (including VCUHS Dietetic Internship) to qualified students who are enrolled in their MS Plus Partner track during the fall quarter of the program.
• The applicants will apply to Partner Internships using DICAS (Dietetics Inclusive Central Application Service), completing all required sections no later than January 15.
• Applications will include the following components:
  • Fully completed DICAS application form
  • Personal Statement
    • Answer all questions in DICAS in the "Program Materials" section of the application portal
  • VCUHS Supplemental Application Form
  • Declaration of Intent to Complete or Verification Statement submitted by your DPD Director
  • Official transcript(s) of credit from ALL universities or colleges attended
  • Reference forms from two (2) professionally qualified persons, one of which should be a registered dietitian:
    • Provide at least one reference from work experience (preferably dietetics related)
    • Provide at least one academic reference
    • You have the option to submit a third reference of your choosing, but only two references are required for a complete application.
• The VCUHS Dietetic Internship Selection Committee will review applications and submit ranking of the applicants to the Drexel DPD Director by February 15. Applicants will similarly submit ranking of internships to the Drexel DPD Director by the designated due date.
• Drexel will release the results of the selection decisions to partner internships and applicants no later than February 22, and selected applicants will contact the partner internship no later than March 15 to accept the match.

There is NO application fee as part of the Drexel Partner Pathway option; DICAS application fees still apply.

Students who are in the process of completing the Master of Professional Studies in Nutritional Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University (PSU) should follow the procedures and timeline below:

• PSU will identify affiliated dietetic internships (including VCUHS Dietetic Internship) to qualified students who are enrolled in their MPS in Nutritional Sciences program.
• The applicants will apply to affiliated internships using DICAS (Dietetics Inclusive Central Application Service), completing all required sections no later than November 15.
• Applications will include the following components:
  • Properly completed DICAS application form
  • Personal Statement
    • Answer all questions in DICAS in the "Program Materials" section of the application portal
  • VCUHS Supplemental Application Form
  • Declaration of Intent to Complete or Verification Statement submitted by your DPD Director
  • Official transcript(s) of credit from ALL universities or colleges attended
  • Reference forms from two (2) professionally qualified persons, one of which should be a registered dietitian:
    • Provide at least one reference from work experience (preferably dietetics related)
    • Provide at least one academic reference
    • You have the option to submit a third reference of your choosing, but only two references are required for a complete application.
• The VCUHS Dietetic Internship Selection Committee will review applications and notify applicants of their application decision (accepted, waitlisted, or denied) no later than January 15.
• Selected applicants will contact the affiliated internship no later than March 15 to accept the appointment.

There is NO application fee as part of the Penn State Early Action Pathway option; DICAS application fees still apply.