Key facts
Duration
1.5 years full-time or part-time equivalent, depending on your entry point
Campuses
Current Deakin Students
To access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook
Course information
Learn the skills to work effectively as a nutritionist in a range of employment settings.
Deakin’s Master of Human Nutrition draws content from related disciplines such as food science, biochemistry, physiology, epidemiology, psychology, sociology and politics and policy.
In this course, you will develop an advanced understanding of the role of nutrition and diet in the health of individuals and the population. You will also learn about the biological, social and policy related aspects of human nutrition along with skills to evaluate the findings of human nutrition studies and undertaking research.
This course also provides you with the opportunity to undertake a diverse range of elective study options, giving you the ability to pursue topic areas that align with your interests and career aspirations. Students looking to pursue a specific nutrition career pathway should first visit the School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences' Careers website to ensure the elective units they select will meet their career development needs.
Read MoreCourse structure
The Master of Human Nutrition is typically 8 or 12 credit points. The exact number of credit points you study depends on how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL) – your professional experience and previous qualifications – which can save you time and money.
To complete the Master of Human Nutrition students must attain 12 credit points comprising:
- 6 core units (these are compulsory) worth 1 credit point each
Plus choose one of the following options:
Research Based Project Option A
- HSN753 Research Practice in Human Nutrition and *5 elective units
OR
Research Based Project Option B (Research focus)
- HSN750 Nutrition Research Project Part A (2 credit points) and HSN751 Nutrition Research Project Part B (2 credit points) and *2 elective units
* Up to 2 elective credit points may be chosen from postgraduate units offered by any faculty of the University (subject to unit rules and approval by the Course Director).
All commencing Faculty of Health Undergraduate and Postgraduate course work students are required to complete HAI010 Academic Integrity in their first trimester of study (0 credit point compulsory unit).
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. Click here for more information.
Core units
This course structure applies to students who commenced the course from 2019 onwards.
Students who completed an undergraduate degree from a non-cognate undergraduate study area (e.g. Arts, Commerce, Business, any non-health/science study areas, etc) must complete either H511 Graduate Certificate of Human Nutrition or H616 Graduate Diploma of Human Nutrition first before enrolling into H714 Master of Human Nutrition.
Students who have completed H511 will receive Recognition of Prior Learning for the 4 credit points already completed in H511 and then complete 8 credit points in the H714 course.
Students who completed H616 will receive Recognition of Prior Learning for the 8 credit points already completed in H616 and then complete 4 credits points in the H714 course.
Students who completed an undergraduate degree from a cognate study area may be granted preclusions for the units they have completed in their undergraduate course.
Preclusions mean that you are not required to undertake the specific units within the Masters course but you will need to choose another HSN7xx electives instead.
For example: H315 Bachelor of Nutrition Sciences student has completed HSN211 Nutritional Physiology, they can be precluded from HSN701 Principles of Nutrition and they will need to choose another HSN7XX unit to replace HSN701.
Students must enrol in the Cloud offerings of all units
Trimester 1
Trimester 2
Trimester 3
AND
Research Based Project Option A
Trimester 3
Students would need to complete an additional 5 elective units to complete the 12 credit points for the H714 Master of Human Nutrition.
OR
Research Based Project Option B
Trimester 1
Trimester 2
Students would need to complete an additional 2 elective units to complete the 12 credit points for the H714 Master of Human Nutrition
Elective units
Trimester 1
Trimester 2
Trimester 3
Students intending to use H714 Master of Human Nutrition as a PhD entry pathway must complete these units:
Key information
2021 course information
Campuses by intake
Campus availability varies per trimester. This means that a course offered in Trimester 1 may not be offered in the same location for Trimester 2 or 3. Read more to learn where this course will be offered throughout the year.
Trimester 1 - March
- Start date: March
- Available at:
Trimester 2 - July
- Start date: July
- Available at:
Trimester 3 - November
- Start date: November
- Available at:
Additional course information
Alternative exits
Graduate Certificate of Human Nutrition (H511)
Graduate Diploma of Human Nutrition (H616)
Course duration - additional information
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.
Mandatory student checks
Applicable only to students undertaking practicum units, who will therefore require a working with children check. Not mandatory for all students.
Workload
As a student in a Cloud (online) course in the Faculty of Health you will be expected to spend 11-13 hours every week studying, interacting via CloudDeakin and completing assessment tasks for each unit in your course.
Participation requirements
Elective units may be selected that include compulsory placements, work-based training, community-based learning or collaborative research training arrangements.
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. Click here for more information.
Work experience
Entry requirements
Entry information
Deakin University offers admission to postgraduate courses through a number of Admission categories. To be eligible for admission to this program, applicants must meet the course requirements.
All applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements.
Please note that meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee selection, which is based on merit, likelihood of success and availability of places in the course.
For more information on the Admission Criteria and Selection (Higher Education Courses) Policy visit the Deakin Policy Library
The minimum entry requirement to this course is completion of a three year Bachelor degree or Postgraduate degree in a related discipline from an approved university or other educational institution OR completion of Bachelor Degree in any discipline PLUS two years of relevant work experience.
Recognition of prior learning
If you have completed previous studies which you believe may reduce the number of units you have to complete at Deakin, indicate in the appropriate section on your application that you wish to be considered for Recognition of Prior Learning. You will need to provide a certified copy of your previous course details so your credit can be determined. If you are eligible, your offer letter will then contain information about your Recognition of Prior Learning.
Your Recognition of Prior Learning is formally approved prior to your enrolment at Deakin during the Enrolment and Orientation Program. You must bring original documents relating to your previous study so that this approval can occur.
You can also refer to the Recognition of Prior Learning System which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree.
Fees and scholarships
Fee information
Learn more about fees and your options for paying.
The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only based on a typical enrolment of students completing the first year of this course. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the length of your course and any approved Recognition of Prior Learning.
One year full-time study load is typically represented by eight credit points of study. Each unit you enrol in has a credit point value. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together eight credit points of a typical combination of units for your course.
You can find the credit point value of each unit under the Unit Description by searching for the unit in the Handbook.
Learn more about tuition fees.
Scholarship options
A Deakin scholarship might change your life. If you've got something special to offer Deakin – or you just need the financial help to get you here – we may have a scholarship opportunity for you.
Postgraduate bursary
If you’re a Deakin alumnus commencing a postgraduate award course, you may be eligible to receive a 15% reduction per unit on your enrolment fees. Your Immediate Family Members may also be eligible to apply for this bursary.
Apply now
How to apply
Applications can be made directly to the University through StudyLink Connect - Deakin University's International Student Application Service. For information on the application process and closing dates, see the How to apply web page. Please note that closing dates may vary for individual courses.
Fill out the application form and submit to a Deakin International office or take your application form to a Deakin representative for assistance
For information on the application process and closing dates, see the How to apply webpage.
If you’re still having problems, please contact Deakin International for assistance.
Entry pathways
Students who wish to undertake a PhD in the future are recommended to complete units HSN715, HSN719, HSN750 and HSN751.
Tap image to expand
Duration of H714 will be 8-12 credit points based on past experience and qualifications, recognition for prior learning will be assessed on a case by case basis.
Why choose Deakin
Career outcomes
Graduates will be equipped to find careers as a nutritionist, nutrition promotion officer and nutrition consultant.
Graduates can expect to gain employment in a wide range of organisations such as food industry, state or local government community settings, state and federal health departments, NGOs with a nutrition focus, media or the corporate sector.Professional recognition
Growing public interest in the relationship between diet and health is evident and, as a result, there are increasing demands from the public for reliable and trustworthy information. In response, the Nutrition Society of Australia (NSA) has developed a ‘Register of Nutritionists’ to establish a list of appropriately qualified nutrition professionals.
As a graduate of this course, you may be eligible for registration as an ‘Associate Nutritionist’. Following three years of relevant work experience, Associate Nutritionists are able to apply for ‘Registered Nutritionist’ status. Registration with NSA does not authorise registrants to obtain provider numbers with Medicare or Private Health Insurers. Please refer to the Nutrition Society of Australia website for further information or queries about registration.
You can find additional careers information about this course here
Course learning outcomes
Deakin's graduate learning outcomes describe the knowledge and capabilities graduates can demonstrate at the completion of their course. These outcomes mean that regardless of the Deakin course you undertake, you can rest assured your degree will teach you the skills and professional attributes that employers value. They'll set you up to learn and work effectively in the future.
| Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
| Discipline Specific knowledge and capabilities | Apply advanced and integrated knowledge of nutrition and health to nutrition related health problems. |
| Communication | Select and use appropriate modes of communication to obtain and share evidence based nutrition knowledge. |
| Digital Literacy | Select and use appropriate technologies to analyse and synthesise complex nutrition information and problems, and to interpret and share knowledge, skills and ideas. |
| Critical thinking | Critically analyse, reflect on and synthesise complex information and problems in nutrition, to come to well-reasoned conclusions. |
| Problem Solving | Apply best practice and evidence to identify problems and generate and evaluate practical solutions to complex nutrition issues. |
| Self-management | Employ high level personal responsibility, accountability and autonomy to demonstrate expert judgement, adaptability to new situations, effective work practices, and responsibility as a nutritionist. |
| Teamwork | Establish, contribute and maintain a key role in relationships with a range of stakeholders to achieve successful outcomes to advance nutrition sciences. |
| Global Citizenship | Engage in professional and ethical practice that demonstrates a high level of personal autonomy, within diverse contexts in nutrition sciences. |
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