Enrolment in the honours program is subject to the school/department being able to provide appropriate resources and staff to supervise the program of study.

Admission requirements

Students who have completed Year 3 of the Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics to a sufficiently high standard may be invited to enrol in the Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours) program in Year 4.

Other students may be admitted at the discretion of the Faculty Board, subject to specific conditions.

Students who are accepted into the Honours program will be required to satisfactorily complete 45 units in the following program of study in Year 4.

Course aims

This course articulates with the Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics following successful completion of third year. In addition to the course aims outlined for the Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics, this course aims to provide students with an opportunity for more comprehensive research training which will complement their professional skills and competencies, allow them to become more competitive in the workplace, expand their career options and provide a more accessible pathway for progress to postgraduate research.

The first two years of the course introduce students to the behavioural and biosciences which they will progressively apply to the study of food and nutritional sciences, including the study of social and ecological issues in relation to food. In the final two years there is increasing exposure to professional nutrition and dietetic practice, including at least 45 weeks of supervised placement.

This course, accredited by the Dietitians Association of Australia, prepares graduates for employment in a wide variety of settings including: patient care and education in hospitals, food service, nutrition and health education in community health services, public health nutrition, food and nutrition policy, private practice and consultancy, education and training, food industry, health promotion and nutrition research. 

This course is founded on teaching and learning practices designed to encourage life long learning in the practice of nutrition and dietetics.

Learning outcomes

At completion of the course, students will be expected to:

  • demonstrate knowledge, skills and attitudes required to analyse and synthesise nutrition and dietetic issues in a range of settings
  • demonstrate communication skills for provision of nutrition and dietetic counselling and education to individuals and groups, using a variety of methods
  • apply the principles of research and evidence-based practice, and advanced level communication skills to justify and defend nutrition and dietetic professional reasoning and decision-making
  • have developed independent learning and reflexivity for self-evaluation and management of nutrition and dietetic practice
  • have understood the importance of inter-professional and cross cultural perspectives in nutrition and dietetic practice
  • have developed skills to practice in a changing work environment demonstrating accountability at the individual and organisational level
  • demonstrate excellence in professional behaviours including commitment to continuing professional development
  • enquire critically into nutrition and dietetic practice issues and, plan and execute a substantial project that demonstrates an advanced level of autonomy and scholarship.

Program of study

To qualify for the Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours) a student must complete 153 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following program of study. Except with the permission of the Faculty Board:

  • the Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics must be completed: within seven consecutive years for students entering in Year 1; within six consecutive years for students entering in Year 2; within four consecutive years for students entering in Year 3; or, where credit has been granted for previous work, a period determined by the Board;
  • a student may not proceed to a higher year unless they have satisfactorily completed the previous year's topics.

Honours Degree

Students who have completed Year 3 of the Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics to a sufficiently high standard may be invited to enrol in the Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics (Honours) program in Year 4. Other students may be admitted at the discretion of the Faculty Board, subject to specific conditions. Enrolment in the honours program is subject to the school/department being able to provide appropriate resources and staff to supervise the program of study. Students who are accepted into the Honours program will be required to satisfactorily complete 45 units in the following program of study in Year 4.

Core - Year 4 topics - Honours Year

 NUTD9222  Food Service - Theory and Practice  (4.5 units)
 NUTD7106  Honours Research Project in Nutrition and Dietetics  (22.5 units)
 NUTD9220  Clinical Placement in Nutrition and Dietetics  (9 units)
 NUTD9221  Community/Public Health Placement in Nutrition and Dietetics  (9 units)
 NUTD4050  Intensive in Nutrition and Dietetics  (0 units)

Prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University's Policy on Student Progress may be constituted by:

the award of a grade of Fail (F) in the same topic on more than one occasion or;

failure to complete the course within a specified number of consecutive years as follows: within seven consecutive years for students entering the Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics in Year 1; within six consecutive years for students entering the Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics in Year 2; within four consecutive years for students entering the Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics in Year 3.