Why study nutrition and dietetics at Sydney

You can enrol in our Bachelor of Science and Master of Nutrition and Dietetics as an undergraduate student at Sydney if you meet the minimum ATAR score.

This course is a five-year, full-time double degree (with the three-year undergraduate course also available part-time for domestic students) based on successfully completing the Bachelor of Science with a credit average, so that you can progress to the two-year Master of Nutrition and Dietetics.

If you already have a science degree from the University of Sydney with a credit average and the prerequisite subjects¹, you can choose to study our Master of Nutrition and Dietetics. If you’ve completed a science degree at another university, you may also be eligible to apply. Check the handbook to make sure you meet the required pre-requisites before you can start.

Our Master of Nutrition and Dietetics is part of our Graduate Entry Masters degrees in health and is a two-year full-time only degree. The degree comprises core units in nutrition and dietetics, a training placement and a research project.

¹ _{The prerequisite subjects include 12 credit points of first year chemistry and human biology and of second year human physiology and biochemistry/molecular biology. Also required are six credit points each of nutrition science and food science.}

Our nutrition and dietetics degrees are accredited by the Dietitians Australia (DA). This means that once you’ve completed our Bachelor of Science and Master of Nutrition and Dietetics or the Master of Nutrition and Dietetics you’ll be career-ready.

Accredited dietitians are an integral part of any healthcare team. With your accreditation in hand, you’ll enter a dynamic profession that is constantly evolving to meet the health needs of consumers.

You’ll learn from subject-matter experts including academics from the Faculty of Medicine and Health as well as guest lecturers including accredited practising dietitians. Your teachers all share a common passion for teaching and enabling their students to help others achieve better health and wellbeing.

Added to that, you’ll be studying at an internationally recognised university. The University of Sydney is ranked 27th globally for life sciences and medicine (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2027) as well as being a top 20 university globally (QS World University Rankings 2024). 

A fundamental part of putting your knowledge into practice is through the clinical placements that you’ll undertake. You’ll gain hands-on training during your degree working at our teaching hospitals, in Sydney or rurally if you prefer.

You’ll also be able to undertake placement experiences in public health, with government, non-government organisations (NGOs) and disability services as well as with food service management dietitian teams.

Clinical placements allow you to combine your academic study with the practical abilities the nutrition and dietetics profession requires. You’ll be able to demonstrate and develop skills learned in the classroom in the real world.

Our graduates can be found in almost all areas of dietetic and nutrition practice, across the lifespan and care continuum.

Graduates enjoy a breadth of role diversity including the option to work in either large or small hospitals, private practice, the food industry, community health and NGOs such as the Cancer Council.

There are also opportunities in government positions such as Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), National Health and Medical Research Council, with Dietitians Australia (DA) as well as in academia and research.