#1 Victorian university for health course satisfaction
#1 Victorian university for business undergraduate employment
Top 150 worldwide for food science and technology
Why choose nutrition science and commerce at Deakin
Build your knowledge in nutrition science and learn how nutrition affects population health, disease and ageing, and gain a deep understanding of the commercial forces that guide Australia's $173 billion food industry. With Deakin's Bachelor of Nutrition Science/Bachelor of Commerce, you will graduate with highly transferable skills that allow you to work in either field, or where nutrition and business connect.
Get hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art food sensory labs that will prepare you for employment in the thriving health and food industries, with the advanced knowledge to provide evidence-based nutrition advice in community settings. Your commerce degree will build expertise in analysis and reporting to guide business decisions, analyse data, communicate insights and think strategically - foundational for success in the finance, marketing and nutrition industries.
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Unbeatable employability
Graduate from a study area ranked #1 in Victoria for course satisfaction and gain practical, career-focused commerce skills.
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Practical learning in two industries
Complete nutrition placements and apply business theory to real challenges, building skills employers value in both sectors.
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Learn in state-of-the-art facilities
Train in commercial-grade food and sensory labs, and study commerce shaped by industry and real business challenges.
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Research-led and future focused
Study at a university ranked #1 in Australia for nutrition science research and business graduate employment, while developing strong analytical and strategic business capability.
Connected to industry
Deakin’s strong industry connections help shape your learning. Build practical experience in real workplace contexts through work-integrated learning, mentoring and networking opportunities. Industry advisory boards also help shape our degrees, which means what you study is current, relevant and aligned to what your future employers need.
Deakin puts employability first
Career outcomes
Combine nutrition expertise with commercial insight for careers across health, food, wellbeing, marketing and business settings.
Nutritionist
Support individuals and communities to make informed food and nutrition choices that improve health, wellbeing and disease prevention.
- 16.6%
Projected job growth in 5 years
- $90k
Typical annual salary in Australia
Marketing manager
Plan marketing strategies, manage campaigns and use audience insights to connect products, services and ideas with the right communities.
- 12.6%
Projected job growth in 5 years
- $115k
Typical annual salary in Australia
Other jobs
- Health promotion officer
- Food marketing coordinator
- Nutrition consultant
- Business analyst
- Financial planner
- Human resource manager
Key dates
Direct applications
Trimester 1 2027 applications close 7 February 2027
VTAC
FAQs
Yes – every Deakin student can access work-integrated learning (WIL) in their degree. Each year, more than 30,000+ students complete a placement or internship with partners including Microsoft, KPMG, EY and the National Australia Bank. You can access WIL through placements, industry projects, field-based experiences, simulations and global programs, helping you apply your skills and graduate with the experience and confidence employers value.
DeakinTALENT is Deakin's award-winning career service, and you can access it for life – not just while you're studying. From personalised career coaching sessions and AI-enhanced resume support to a jobs and internships board with employment opportunities, it’s designed to give you the career management skills and connections you need to stand out. Every Deakin degree is built with input from employers, so your course is designed around real workplace needs, now and into the future.
Entry requirements and the minimum ATAR vary by degree and are detailed on the degree page, but if your ATAR is below the cut-off, you still have options. Use the pathway finder tool to find the opportunities available to you, including associate degrees and Deakin Guaranteed ATAR, which offers eligible students a guaranteed entry score that's on average 10 points below the lowest selection rank. If you don't have an ATAR, Deakin Uni Ready is a free, supported program designed to build your skills and confidence and open doors to degrees in arts, health, science and business. Access programs and equity schemes are also available.
At Deakin, employability isn't an add-on – it's built in. Our degrees are designed with industry input, so your skills are aligned to what employers actually need. Every Deakin student can access work-integrated learning through opportunities such as placements, internships and industry projects, helping you build your professional network and practical experience before you even graduate. It's an approach that works: nine out of 10 Deakin graduates get a job within four to six months of finishing their degree.
Yes. Most eligible undergraduate students are offered a Commonwealth Supported Place meaning the government subsidises part of your tuition fees. If eligible, you can pay your student contribution using a HECS-HELP loan that you only start repaying once your income is above the repayment threshold. Deakin has scholarships that cater to our diverse student community, ranging from $5,000 per year for high ATAR achievers to $10,000 per year for students facing financial or personal hardship. The University also offers support services including financial counselling, budgeting help and access to short-term, interest-free loans to help you stay on track.
Deakin is the #1 Victorian university for student support and that starts the moment you accept your offer. Orientation is designed to help you feel welcome and get to know your community of classmates and teachers from day one. Across all campuses, there's a vibrant student community with clubs, events and opportunities to build real friendships. Deakin offers a range of services to help students stay healthy and safe, including sport and fitness facilities, free counselling, on-campus medical services and around-the-clock security.
Yes, and it's straightforward. You can transfer to Deakin in a few steps and apply for credit through recognition of prior learning (RPL), so you won't necessarily repeat subjects you've already completed. If you're coming from a TAFE partner, you may get guaranteed entry into second year with guaranteed RPL. Deakin's three-trimester system also means you may be able to start mid-year rather than waiting until March.
Most Deakin courses run across three trimesters per year instead of the traditional two semesters. Trimester 1 begins around March, Trimester 2 around July and Trimester 3 around November, each with roughly 12 weeks of teaching followed by an exam period. This means you can usually start your degree at three different points in the year and have more flexibility to manage your study load. Check the intakes by location section on the course page for details.
*Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. Learn more about our achievements on our University rankings page, or explore our sources page for supporting references.
What will I study in the Bachelor of Nutrition Science/Bachelor of Commerce?
This four-year double degree integrates nutrition science with commerce. You’ll develop strong scientific foundations in food and health while building capability in your choice of commerce major.
Explore the foundations
Introduction to nutrition
Examine nutrient function, digestion and diet-health relationships across individuals and populations.
Human biology and chemistry
Build foundational knowledge of physiology and biochemical processes that underpin nutrient metabolism and human health.
Commerce foundations
Develop knowledge in accounting, economics, marketing and management to understand how organisations operate and make decisions.
Developing disciplinary depth
Nutritional biochemistry
Explore metabolic pathways and how nutrients interact, examining how biochemical processes influence health and disease outcomes.
Core commerce capability
Build knowledge in marketing, management and business analytics while strengthening professional insight and data-driven decision-making skills.
Research and quantitative skills
Develop analytical capability in interpreting scientific data and applying quantitative reasoning in business contexts.
Applied and strategic learning
Public health nutrition
Investigate food systems, dietary patterns and policy influences shaping chronic disease prevention and population health.
Start your commerce major
Begin specialised study in your selected commerce discipline, building focused expertise aligned with your career interests.
Industry-informed learning
Apply disciplinary knowledge through project-based learning that reflects contemporary business and health challenges.
Integration and professional preparation
Complex nutrition analysis
Critically evaluate scientific evidence to address multifaceted nutrition and population health issues.
Strategic business application
Apply major-specific knowledge to analyse organisational challenges and inform evidence-based business decisions.
Advanced commerce major studies
Complete higher-level units within your commerce major, including the major capstone that consolidates strategic and analytical capability.
Course structure
To complete the Bachelor of Nutrition Science/Bachelor of Commerce, you must pass 32 credit points.
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
Are you a current student? For course information that applies to the year you started your degree, visit the handbook.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements
Units
Core units
Please refer to the Course Map page for course map information.
Please contact a Student Adviser for specific course planning by submitting an enquiry.
Completion of HSN010 Food and Nutrition Laboratory Safety and SLE010 Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program prior to your first laboratory- based units in this course.
Students may be able to complete their course in three years by undertaking units in Trimester 3, subject to availability of units in Trimester 3. Please refer to the Course Map page for course map information. The course maps will guide the units you need to enrol in each trimester.
All Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus enrolled students are required to attend seminars and practical laboratory classes (if any) at the Melbourne Burwood Campus for the units marked (#) below.
Burwood students will need to enrol into the Burwood unit offerings.
Geelong students can choose one from the below two options:
A. Online unit offering: Attend two x 2 day intensive practical classes (one day for HSN104 and one day for HSN106). These intensive practical sessions are typically conducted on a Saturday or Sunday at Burwood (Melbourne) Campus.
B. Burwood unit offering: attend four practical classes at Burwood. Geelong students who choose to enrol into Burwood offering can only do so if there is capacity and via manual enrolment.
Year 1 - Trimester 1
Year 1 - Trimester 2
Year 2 - Trimester 1
Year 2 - Trimester 2
Year 3 - Trimester 1
Plus two units from one Commerce major sequence
Year 3 - Trimester 2
Plus two units from one Commerce major sequence
Year 4 - Trimester 1
Plus two units from one Commerce major sequence
Year 4 - Trimester 2
Plus two units from one Commerce major sequence
Core units
Students who commenced prior to 2027 should refer to previous online Handbooks or consult your course enrolment officer.
Please refer to the unit guides for campus locations and enrolment modes *,**,#
Please refer to the Course Map page for course map information. The course maps will guide the units you need to enrol in each trimester.
Please contact a Student Adviser for specific course planning advice by submitting an enquiry.
Completion of HSN010 Food and Nutrition Laboratory Safety and SLE010 Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program prior to your first laboratory- based units in this course.
Students may be able to complete their course in three years by undertaking units in Trimester 3, subject to availability of units in Trimester 3. Please refer to the Course Map page for course map information. The course maps will guide the units you need to enrol in each trimester.
Year 1 - Trimester 1
Year 1 - Trimester 2
Year 2 - Trimester 1
Year 2 - Trimester 2
Year 3 - Trimester 1
Plus two units from one Commerce major sequence**
Year 3 - Trimester 2
Plus two units from one Commerce major sequence**
Year 4 - Trimester 1
Plus two units from one Commerce major sequence**
Year 4 - Trimester 2
Plus two units from one Commerce major sequence**
* Units are offered for Geelong students as either online or at Burwood (Melbourne) please read unit descriptions for details.
** Units may not be offered at Waurn Ponds campus and could involve inter-campus travel or online enrolment.
# Units are currently offered at Burwood (Melbourne) however future offerings will be available for Geelong students as either online or at Burwood (Melbourne).
Professional recognition
This qualification allows you to receive recognition from both nutrition and business professional bodies.
Enrolled students and graduates may apply for membership of the Nutrition Society of Australia (NSA). Graduates may apply for registration which will ensure you’re recognised as a qualified nutrition professional in the field.
Deakin Business School holds the prestigious and globally recognised AACSB and EQUIS accreditations, which attest to quality, academic and professional excellence, ongoing improvement, innovation and graduate employability.
Our courses are developed and reviewed with industry and professional input.
Graduates are eligible to apply to become a Registered Associate Nutritionist with the:
Deakin Business School holds the prestigious and globally recognised AACSB and EQUIS accreditations, which attest to quality, academic and professional excellence, ongoing improvement, innovation and graduate employability.
Deakin’s accounting major enables students to apply for the:
- CA Program of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ)
- Associate membership for the CPA Program
- IPA Program of the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA)
- Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
Students who complete the finance major are recognised through the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program.
The financial planning major satisfies the Financial Adviser Standards (FAS) education standards, meaning students can provide financial advice in Australia and are eligible for financial planning certification programs including:
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the Financial Adviser Association of Australia (FAAA);CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER
Students should consult with a Student Adviser to identify any additional requirements for membership for each professional body, and also consult with the professional body.
What to expect while studying
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
Working with Children Check
Applicants will be required to hold a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) for the relevant state prior to undertaking placements as part of this course. Further information and guidance will be provided to students when they enrol into their placement unit.
Police Record Check
Applicants will be required to hold a valid National Police Record Check for placements as part of this course. Further information and guidance will be provided to students when they enrol into their placement unit.
As a student in the Faculty of Health you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, practicals and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.
You will enhance your employment prospects by consolidating your knowledge and skills through realistic field experience in HSN311 Food and Nutrition Practicum in your third year.
At Deakin, we're committed to ensuring an inclusive environment that supports all students to belong, thrive and succeed. We work closely with students, where needed, to identify potential barriers to participation and where possible, provide tailored support so students can engage with learning and assessment activities.
If you are neurodivergent, have a disability, health condition or mental health condition that may impact your study or participation in university life, and want to know how Deakin could support you, contact our Domestic students (opens in a new window) or International students (opens in a new window) or Disability Resource Centre (opens email client) teams for a collaborative and confidential discussion. This discussion is to support you to make plans for your studies and future career and will not have any bearing on your application to the course.
When can I start?
When you study depends on your course, location and available intakes. Check the table to see when you can start and how study is offered throughout the year.
Your course learning outcomes describe the knowledge, skills and capabilities you’ll develop and be able to demonstrate by the time you graduate. Built into your course through your units and assessments, they provide a clear picture of what you’ll be equipped to know, understand and do – preparing you to apply your learning with confidence beyond university.
| Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Nutrition Science (H315) | Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Commerce (M380) |
|---|---|
| Apply food and nutrition and health knowledge from a range of perspectives. | Evaluate broad knowledge of commerce, with depth in one or more business disciplines, and apply theoretical and technical expertise to inform financial, economic, and organisational decision-making. |
| Select and use a variety of engaging communication modes to disseminate knowledge to individuals, groups, government and non-government organisations and health professionals. | Communicate knowledge and ideas clearly and effectively through written, spoken, and digital formats suited to the discipline and context, demonstrating the level of professionalism expected in business settings. |
| Select and use appropriate technologies to source, understand, evaluate, and communicate information to professional networks and communities. | Effectively use discipline-specific and general digital technologies to research, evaluate, synthesise, and communicate business-relevant information in a dynamic global environment. |
| Source and critically analyse the food and nutrition literature to apply an evidence-based approach to the field. | Analyse and evaluate academic, professional, and commercial information using relevant theories and methods to form reasoned judgements and support ethical, evidence informed decisions in commercial contexts. |
| Identify and apply practical solutions to a range of changing and complex food and nutrition and health issues. | Apply creative, cognitive, and technical skills to identify, investigate, and solve complex, real world commercial problems using innovative and evidence-informed approaches. |
| Employ self-directed, reflective work and learning practices in a responsible manner to professionally contribute to nutrition sciences. | Engage in independent and continuous learning across business disciplines to support personal and professional growth in a dynamic business environment; effectively manage resources, time, and constraints to deliver high-quality, timely outcomes. |
| Work collaboratively as part of interdisciplinary teams with a range of stakeholders to advance the field of nutrition sciences. | Work and learn collaboratively with fellow peers, business professionals, and members of the wider community. |
| Engage in professional and ethical practice that demonstrates awareness of, and adaptability to, diverse social, cultural and environmental contexts in nutrition sciences. | Develop an ethical awareness and a social responsibility by engaging respectfully and productively with Indigenous, local, national, and international stakeholders, and by applying knowledge and skills in ways that are culturally appropriate, inclusive, and informed by diverse worldviews and knowledges. |
- Award granted
Bachelor of Nutrition Science/Bachelor of Commerce
- Year
2027 course information
- VTAC code
1400310111 - Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
1400311351 - Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS) - (Regional and Remote)
1400510111 - Burwood (Melbourne), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)- Deakin code
- D378
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7
Fees
Estimated tuition fee
$13,499
for 1 yr full-time - Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP)
The estimated tuition (student contribution) fee above is based on a typical first-year full-time enrolment of 8 credit points and is provided as a guide only. Your student contribution is determined by the units you enrol in and will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the course duration, and any approved recognition of prior learning. You may also be eligible for a HECS-HELP loan to defer payment of all or part of your student contribution.
Check your eligibility or learn more about CSP or HECS-HELP.
Scholarships
We want to help you excel at Deakin. Our scholarships recognise your dedication and achievements, providing financial support that can ease the cost of living and studying. With less pressure, you'll have more freedom to focus on what matters most – your education and future success.
Applications for 2027 are open
Ready to take the next step? Apply now to start your journey at Deakin and get ready for what’s next.
Key dates
Direct applications
Trimester 1 2027 applications close 7 February 2027
VTAC
Apply now
Apply direct
Simply create an account in the Deakin Application Portal, enter your personal and educational details, upload your supporting documents and submit your application.
Apply through VTAC
Applications are open. Apply through VTAC if you're:
- currently in Year 12 and applying for Trimester 1 or Semester 1
- applying for multiple undergraduate courses
Need help? Follow our step-by-step undergraduate guide to prepare and submit your application.
Recognition of prior learning
We value your previous study and experience. Recognition of prior learning enables you to get credit for what you've already achieved. When you apply, we'll consider your previous study and experience for recognition of prior learning.
Not sure if you'll meet entry requirements?
Deakin offers a range of pathways into the Bachelor of Nutrition Science/Bachelor of Commerce to suit your background and goals. Explore the pathways finder to see how previous study, diplomas or alternative qualifications can lead you into the course.
Pathways
This course can be a pathway to:
Bachelor of Nutrition Science (Honours) (H418)
Master of Human Nutrition (H714)
Master of Nutrition and Population Health (H748)