Nutrition is a science which analyses the impact of food and drink on the health of both body and mind. A degree in health and nutrition is multifaceted and will study the unique interaction between diet and wellbeing from medicinal, therapeutic and dietetic angles as well as from an overarching public health viewpoint.
Studying health and nutrition will equip you well to work in a variety of careers, in particular those about health, diet and exercise. As such, applicants must be scientifically minded with a genuine interest in human health. Strong analytical and communication skills will also be beneficial to your degree.
Subjects related to health and nutrition include biological sciences, dietetics, food science, health studies, physiotherapy, sport science and sport therapy.
Studying health and nutrition abroad at the undergraduate level typically takes two to four years, depending on your study destination, degree and study mode. At the postgraduate level, a nutrition degree is likely to last one to three years.
Health and nutrition courses are taught as a mixture of lectures, seminars and tutorials from theoretical and practical perspectives. You will also have regular laboratory sessions to improve your practical knowledge and skills.
There are many different types of health and nutrition degrees available, including certificates, diplomas, associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and even PhDs. Some areas you may learn about throughout your health and nutrition degree include:
1. Human anatomy
2. Biochemistry
3. Genetics
4. Food production
5. Food microbiology
6. Physiology
Some specialisations in health and nutrition include food development and production, molecular nutrition, nutrition and physical health, nutrition and mental health, and public health. You may also choose to specialise in the relationship nutrition has with specific health conditions and diseases.
To enrol on a health and nutrition course as an international student, you must meet basic entry requirements. These may differ between institutions, but generally, to study health and nutrition at the undergraduate level, you will need:
1. Three A-Levels (or equivalent)
2. Grades equivalent to ABB at A-Level / International Baccalaureate score of 34 points
3. An A-Level in chemistry or biology (some universities will also ask for a second science subject at A-Level)
At the postgraduate level, you will usually need to have achieved a 2:1 in a related undergraduate degree. To study a health and nutrition degree overseas, you will likely also need an overall IELTS score of 6.5 with no band score lower than 6.0.
If you are hoping to study abroad, you may well be wondering which country or university will provide you with the best health and nutrition degree experience. Why not explore some of the best institutions in the world for clinical and health courses, according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by subject:
1. University of Oxford
2. Harvard University
3. University of Cambridge
4. Imperial College London
5. University of Toronto
If you want to gain a health and nutrition qualification in Australia, the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by subject states the best Australian universities for clinical and health courses are:
1. University of Melbourne
2. University of Sydney
3. Monash University
Alternatively, if you want to know the best universities for health and nutrition courses in Canada, why not review the Times Higher Education World University Rankings by subject for institutions offering clinical and health courses there:
1. University of Toronto
2. McMaster University
3. McGill University
For those with a qualification in health and nutrition, there are plenty of employment options available within the food and health industries. However, depending on the profession you wish to work in, you may need to ensure a relevant accreditation body approves your qualification. Salaries for health and nutrition graduates vary depending on your job, experience, location and industry. A nutritionist in the UK can expect to earn GBP 27,000 to GBP 40,000.
Jobs and roles you can fulfil or are related to your health and nutrition degree include:
1. Dietician
2. Food regulatory advisor
3. Health education officer
4. Nutritionist
5. Nutritional therapist
6. Personal trainer
7. Sports nutritionist
If you hope to use your health and nutrition degree to become a dietician, you’ll likely need to specialise further with a qualification in human nutrition or dietetics that has been approved by the relevant accreditation body in the country in which you wish to work. In the UK, for example, this is the British Dietetic Association.
A typical salary for a dietician in the UK is GBP 27,000 to GBP 48,000. Common employers of health and nutrition graduates include:
Food production companies
Food and health research companies
GP surgeries
Hospitals
Social care organisations
Sports organisations
