Bachelor of Nutrition and Food Sciences

University of South Australia

This degree prepares you for a career in the health and food industry, where you will be involved in developing innovative foods, promoting and managing diets and lifestyles, and conducting research for enhanced wellbeing.

Our on-campus facilities are state-of-the-art, with a dedicated nutrition and food science hub that is home to a $1 million commercial kitchen, sensory laboratory (one of only a few in Australia) and microbiology laboratory.

You will also learn from award-winning academics and get a taste of what it’s like to work in the food and nutrition industry in our community by attending field trips to some of South Australia’s major nutrition and food providers.

What you'll need

Students who undertake activities where interaction with patients/the public is required for their degree, such as field or clinical placements/visits and in University clinics and gyms, must demonstrate they meet mandatory pre-placement conditional requirements. These include criminal history clearance, child related employment clearance and immunisation requirements. Please visit the Clinical Placement Unit for information on key requirements, and to access the full student checklists.

What you'll learn

This unique degree offers practice-based and theoretical learning to ensure you are career-ready.

During the first two years you will explore both nutrition and food science topics, gaining a solid understanding of the key elements of each.

You will develop knowledge in:

biology
chemistry
health in our society
human and lifespan nutrition
biochemistry
physiology
the chemistry of food
food quality and safety
relationships between food bioactives, functional foods and medicines
consumer education
influences of the senses on consumer food choice.

In the third year you will select either a nutrition or food science stream:

If you choose nutrition, you will focus on:

developing essential communication skills across a variety of platforms
developing skills to promote good health through food and nutrition in the community
developing personalised dietary and exercise plans to manage weight
nutrition for sports, exercise and activity.

If you choose food science, you will focus on:

food microbiology
quality assurance in food processing and manufacturing
developing safe and nutritionally sound foods for the marketplace
food and beverage fermentation.