Master of Nutrition and Population Health
2025 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2026 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Master of Nutrition and Population Health |
| Deakin course code | H748 |
| Course Credit Points | 16 |
| Course version | 2 |
| Faculty | |
| Course Information | For students who commenced from 2026 onwards |
| Campus | Offered at Burwood (Melbourne) |
| Online | No |
| Duration | 1.5 - 2 years full-time or part-time equivalent, depending on your entry point |
| Course Map - enrolment planning tool | This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2026 Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| CRICOS code | 092729G Burwood (Melbourne) |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9 |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Pathways
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Research and research-related study
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Take a significant step forward in your career with our Master of Nutrition and Population Health, designed to equip you with advanced knowledge and practical skills to excel as a nutritionist in diverse employment settings. Whether you’re passionate about improving individual health or addressing broader public health challenges, this course will prepare you to make a meaningful impact.
By integrating content from public health, food science, biochemistry, physiology, epidemiology, psychology, sociology, and policy, we provide a holistic understanding of human nutrition and population health. This multidisciplinary approach ensures you graduate with the expertise to respond to real-world health issues with confidence.
Are you eager to understand the intricate relationships between food, nutrition, and human behaviour?
Our program delves into the biological, social, and policy-related aspects of nutrition, helping you to address complex nutritional challenges and promote health and well-being across various populations. You'll explore human nutrient requirements, digestion, absorption, and metabolism, and learn about the roles of macronutrients and micronutrients in maintaining health. Additionally, you'll gain insights into the social, psychological, and biological determinants of food choice and consumption, equipping you with strategies to influence dietary behaviours from both public health and industry perspectives.
Throughout the course, you'll cover the nutritional needs at different life stages, from pregnancy and infancy to aging, and identify intervention strategies to address nutritional issues across the lifespan. You'll develop skills to design, evaluate, and interpret nutrition research studies, gaining expertise in qualitative, quantitative, and observational research methodologies, and understanding the ethical principles of human research.
You'll acquire theoretical knowledge and practical skills in food science, including food safety, preservation, regulation, and innovations for improving nutrition and health. Learn methods to measure food intake, physical activity, energy expenditure, and body composition, and engage in practical activities to analyse and interpret nutritional and physical activity data.
Explore the epidemiology of nutrition-related diseases in developed and developing countries, understanding the impact of international agreements on food production, distribution, and security. Develop skills to design and evaluate nutrition policies and interventions, applying nutrition, behavioural, and social science approaches to prevent and address population health problems.
Our program emphasises current concepts and strategies in nutrition promotion, including communication models, education, and policy evaluation. You will understand the theories of behavioural influence and change, and analyse policies that shape food systems and their impact on health and sustainability. Study food policy case studies and understand the role of evidence and politics in policy-making.
Develop a systems thinking approach to understand and intervene in major nutrition-related problems. Apply key methods and approaches in systems thinking to public health nutrition policy and programs. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the obesity epidemic from a population health perspective, learning to develop, implement, and evaluate obesity prevention programs at the community and population levels.
You may also choose an elective that aligns with your specific nutrition interests. One of these elective options is our work-integrated Postgraduate Nutrition Practicum, which provides authentic real-world experience. This practicum allows you to develop professional skills through a minimum of 100 hours in a work-based setting, preparing you for a successful career in nutrition and population health.
Join us in the Master of Nutrition and Population Health program and become a leader in promoting health and well-being through nutrition. With a strong foundation in research, practical skills, and a global perspective, you will be well-prepared to make a meaningful impact in the growing field of nutrition and population health.
Indicative student workload
As a student in the Faculty of Health you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, practicals, placements and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time. Teaching, placements and assessment tasks may take place outside of Deakin University teaching periods.
Each unit will require 11-13 study hours per week that may include some or all of the following: guided learning with online learning resources, participation in online seminars, individual study, research of the nutrition literature, learning activities in the workplace, assessment activities and participation in online discussions. Each unit will be further supported by face to face learning activities on campus with academic staff.
Professional recognition
Growing public interest in the relationship between diet and health is evident and, as a result, there are increasing demands from the public for reliable and trustworthy information. In response, the Nutrition Society of Australia (NSA) has developed a ‘Register of Nutritionists’ to establish a list of appropriately qualified nutrition professionals.
As a graduate of this course, you may be eligible for registration as an ‘Associate Nutritionist’. Following three years of relevant work experience, Associate Nutritionists are able to apply for ‘Registered Nutritionist’ status. Registration with NSA does not authorise registrants to obtain provider numbers with Medicare or Private Health Insurers. Please refer to the Nutrition Society of Australia website for further information or queries about registration.
Career opportunities
With rising rates of chronic illness, food insecurity and health inequity, the need for population-focused nutrition strategies has never been greater. There is growing demand for professionals who understand how to design, implement and evaluate nutrition interventions that support the health of entire communities. At Deakin, you will be learning from Australia’s top-ranked university for nutrition science research^, so you can be confident your skills are grounded in the latest evidence.
The Master of Nutrition and Population Health prepares you to step into this space with confidence. Whether you are already working in public health or planning a career change, this course equips you with practical skills in health promotion, program evaluation and research translation – all underpinned by a strong foundation in human nutrition.
There is increasing demand for professionals who can share reliable, evidence-based nutrition knowledge. In fact, jobs in nutrition are projected to grow by 15.6% over the five years to 2029.*
As a graduate of this course, you will be well placed to pursue meaningful roles across a wide range of sectors. These include government departments, non-government organisations (NGOs), community agencies, food industry settings and consultancy work. You might work in areas such as:
- developing or managing public health and nutrition programs
- designing policies or guidelines that promote healthy eating
- evaluating community-based food and nutrition initiatives
- contributing to food sustainability and access strategies
- consulting for organisations on nutrition-related projects
Learn more about careers in nutrition.
* 2024 Employment Projections – for the five years to 2029, Australian Government, Jobs and Skills Australia
^ The Australian’s 2025 Research Magazine
Participation requirements
International students must attend the seminars at a campus to fulfil their visa requirements.
Students are required to complete units in Trimester 3.
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.
Mandatory student checks
Applicable only to students undertaking practicum units, who will therefore require a Working With Children Check. Not mandatory for all students.
Pathways
This course does not provide a pathway to higher degree by research.
Alternative exits
Graduate Certificate of Human Nutrition (H511)
Graduate Diploma of Human Nutrition (H616)
Course duration - additional information
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.
Course Learning Outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Apply food and nutrition and health knowledge from a range of perspectives. |
| Communication | Select and use a variety of engaging communication modes to disseminate knowledge to individuals, groups, government and non-government organisations and health professionals. |
| Digital literacy | Select and use appropriate technologies to source, understand, evaluate, and communicate information to professional networks and communities. |
| Critical thinking | Source and critically analyse the food and nutrition literature to apply an evidence-based approach to the field. |
| Problem solving | Identify and apply practical solutions to a range of changing and complex food and nutrition and health issues. |
| Self-management | Employ self-directed, reflective work and learning practices in a responsible manner to professionally contribute to food and nutrition sciences. |
| Teamwork | Work collaboratively as part of interdisciplinary teams with a range of stakeholders to advance the field of food and nutrition sciences. |
| Global citizenship | Engage in professional and ethical practice that demonstrates awareness of, and adaptability to, diverse social, cultural and environmental contexts in food and nutrition sciences. |
Course rules
To complete the Master of Nutrition and Population Health you must pass 16 credit points. This includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
- 15 credit points of core units
- 1 credit point of course electives
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Note:
- Trimester 3 is a compulsory study period for all H748 international students in order to enable students to complete units in the required sequence and complete the course within the specified course duration of their Confirmation of Enrolment
Course structure
Core units
Course structure applies for students who commenced in 2026 onwards. Students who commenced prior to 2026 should refer to previous online Handbooks or contact a contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
Please refer to the Course Map page for course map information.
Students must enrol in the Burwood (Melbourne) offerings of all units
Year 1 - Trimester 1
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points) |
| HSN701 | Principles of Nutrition |
| HSN713 | Food, Nutrition and Behaviour |
| HSN749 | Biochemistry and Physiology for Human Nutrition |
Year 1 - Trimester 2
| HSN702 | Lifespan Nutrition |
| HSN715 | Understanding Human Nutrition Research Studies |
| HSN735 | Essentials of Food Science |
Year 1 - Trimester 3
| HSN719 | Assessment Methods for Nutrition and Physical Activity Research |
| HSN738 | International Nutrition |
| HSN753 | Research Practice in Human Nutrition |
Year 2 - Trimester 1
| HSN703 | Diet and Lifestyle Diseases |
| HSN705 | Public Health Nutrition |
| HSN708 | Nutrition Promotion |
Year 2 - Trimester 2
| HSN706 | Policy and Practice for Healthy and Sustainable Food Systems |
| HSN714 | Systems Thinking in Public Health Nutrition |
| HSN734 | Obesity Prevention |
Elective units:
| HSN746 | Nutritional Issues from Early Childhood to Adolescence |
| HSN709 | Sports Nutrition |
| HSN741 | Postgraduate Nutrition Practicum |
| HSN743 | Nutrition for Healthy Ageing |
| HSN760 | International Perspectives in Food and Nutrition |
Course duration
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
Research and research-related study
The prescribed course structure includes research specific units - 1 credit point research related study and 1 credit point independent research as well as 1 credit point in nutrition assessment unit.
An additional 4 credit point research project (2 x 2 credit points) is available where students can undertake them as extra units within the course. The units are:
| HSN750 | Nutrition Research Project Part A |
and
| HSN751 | Nutrition Research Project Part B |
Please note that these project units are only offered online.
Fees and charges
Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.
Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
Further information
Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin. To help you understand the University vocabulary, please refer to our Enrolment codes and terminology page.