Bachelor of Food and Nutrition
Join a rapidly growing industry. Study nutrition as a science as well as a crucial part of wellbeing.
About the Course
Gain the skills to make a difference in people's lives through food and nutrition. La Trobe's Bachelor of Food and Nutrition will equip you with the skills and knowledge to work with people, communities and organisations to prevent many chronic diseases.
Designed by leading nutrition experts and in collaboration with industry, you'll get a practical hands-on experience while exploring a range of topics such as environmental sustainability of our food system, sustainable diets, food product development, culture and food, and nutrition and disease. You'll have the opportunity to study in modern science labs and commercial kitchens.
By completing La Trobe's Bachelor of Food and Nutrition, you will:
- build expertise in chemistry and nutrition science, analysis, physiology and biochemistry, epidemiology, and research and communication
- have the flexibility to study online or on campus, or even choose an accelerated option to finish your degree in 2.5 years
- prepare for your career at every stage of the degree, with the option to exit early via the Diploma or Associate Degree in Food and Nutrition
- graduate ready to apply for membership with the Nutrition Society of Australia, or pursue postgraduate studies through the Master of Dietetics or our Honours research program.
Note: Completion of this course is subject to core participation requirements, essential requirements, and additional costs. Please see the Entry requirements and pathways & Fees and scholarships tabs for more information.
Course Entry Requirements
Yes, you can get into this degree!
Gain entry through single subjects, regardless of your ATAR or study history. Here’s how:
Start with subjects
Enrol and pass subjects from this degree. You can get access to HELP loans if you’re eligible. This enrolment option is only available through Open Universities Australia.
We’ll recommend starting subjects for you when you enrol. Enrol in single subjects
Continue to the Bachelor of Food and Nutrition
Enter the degree with full credits from your subjects. You’ll study for the same amount of time as students who go straight into the degree.
Alternate entry requirements
Want to apply for the degree straight away?
To gain direct entry into this degree, you need to meet ONE of the following requirements:
- Demonstrate proficiency equivalent to Year 12 prerequisites.
- Successfully complete the Special Tertiary Admission Test (STAT) multiple choice.
Please note, to do any more than the four open access pathway subjects, you must apply for and be accepted into the degree.
Course Structure
Recommended study pattern
This degree is structured to allow students to complete 2 subjects per study period and this is the strongly recommended study load from La Trobe University. If you enrol in more than 2 subjects per study period, this may limit your options for enrolment in later study periods and thus careful planning and assessment of required prerequisites is needed.
Please refer to the La Trobe University Handbook to review the full structure.
Students who are studying and want to take a break (minimum one study period) must submit a leave of absence covering the relevant dates.
Students who have been accepted in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) are required to complete the following 2 modules in their first study period as a CSP student:
LTU0AIM Academic Integrity Module
ABS0WOM Wominjeka La Trobe: Indigenous Cultural Literacy for Higher Education
Award requirements
To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Food and Nutrition, students must complete 24 subjects (360 credit points) as follows:
- 20 core subjects
- 4 elective subjects
Upon completion of Level one 8 subjects (120 credit points), students have the option to exit with a Diploma in Food and Nutrition (HDFN).*
Upon completion of Level one and Level two 16 subjects (240 credit points), students have the option to exit with an Associate Degree in Food and Nutrition (HA005).*
*Please note that if you are a past La Trobe student who has discontinued study, or if you have been absent without leave, you are not eligible to apply for an alternative exit retrospectively.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Apply well developed literacy and communication skills across a variety of settings, including demonstration of digital literacy, to effectively communicate your knowledge, skills and ideas to others.
- Critically appraise research evidence to enable knowledge translation for ethically informed and evidence-based nutrition practice incorporating health data, nutrition epidemiology methods and biostatistics.
- Critically analyse problems and provide innovative and practical solutions that consider the sociocultural factors that influence food intake and impact food security in changing and complex food, health environmental and economic systems.
- Integrate and apply knowledge and strategies that support health and wellbeing among individuals and communities to provide specialist advice when working collaboratively with key stakeholders.
- Engage in personal and professional development through reflective practice and self-directed learning.
- Integrate and apply specialist knowledge and practical skills to understand the role of diet in health maintenance and illness prevention and promote health in diverse settings.
- Apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate accountability and ethical responsibility in decision-making in a range of food, nutrition and health related contexts.
