Master of Dietetics Studies
Overview
Gain a deeper understanding of nutrition to become an Accredited Practising Dietitian.
This 1.5 year full-time program will prepare you for eligibility as an Accredited Practising Dietitian with Dietitians Australia (DA).
You'll gain extensive knowledge of the art and science of nutrition and dietetics and its role in the treatment of conditions including diabetes, heart disease, obesity, malnutrition, gut disorders and allergies and intolerances. You'll also develop the practical skills required to help people understand food and health relationships – enabling them to make better food choices to support healthier living.
If research is your passion, you can pursue this in your final semester and complete an innovative project alongside leading Australian dietetic researchers with national and international impact. You'll also have the potential to contribute to published scientific literature.
You'll undertake approximately 850 hours of supervised practice in hospitals, community centres, aged care facilities, the food industry and other organisations. This provides you with the opportunity to apply your theoretical knowledge to practice and develop your clinical reasoning and decision-making skills in real-life settings.
On campus, you'll gain practical, hands-on experience in our modern dietetics demonstration space and in our student-led clinic. Here you'll practice applying your medical nutrition theory with real clients, as well as help design and deliver various nutrition education opportunities including community cooking demonstrations.
Program highlights
- Be confident and job-ready with 850 hours of fully-supervised clinical/industry placement and practical experience in our on-campus dietetics clinics.
- Learn theory at the same time as gaining hands-on, practical experience from your first semester.
- Choose to complete a research project and build the foundations of your professional reputation.
- Be in high demand with employers in the rapidly growing nutrition sector through your in-depth knowledge and practical skills.
How you'll learn
Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.
- Tutorials
- Work placements
- Research experience
- Workshops
Placements and work experience
This is a full-time program with a combination of practical/theory workshops and professional practice at our partner healthcare institutions. Students are expected to attend professional practice placement full-time during their program. There is a total of 100 days professional practice placement throughout the degree, culminating in 850 hours of professional practice placement. Professional practice combines with the theory/practical workshop program throughout the 3 semester degree to create the full-time study load.
On campus, you'll gain practical, hands-on experience in UQ's modern dietetics demonstration space and student led clinics. Here you'll practice applying your medical nutrition theory straight into practice with real clients, as well as help design and deliver various nutrition education opportunities and community cooking demonstrations.
Some placements may be outside of the Brisbane metropolitan area where you may be required to contribute to your travel, accommodation and daily expenses.
Prior to applying, applicants should ensure they will be able to meet the placement requirements.
What you'll study
At UQ, degrees are called 'programs' and subjects are called 'courses'. Here's a sample of the courses you could study in this program:
- Medical Nutrition Therapy and Professional Practice 1
- Interviewing and Counselling for Dietetics Practice
- Management and Leadership for Dietetics Professionals
- Evidence Based Practice in Dietetics
Career possibilities
Postgraduate study can take you anywhere. Here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:
- Dietitian
- Clinical dietitian
- Community dietitian
- Food industry dietitian
- Food service dietitian
- Private practice dietitian
- Public health dietitian
- Researcher
- Sports dietitian
Professional memberships
When you graduate, you may be eligible for memberships with the following professional organisations. Contact the organisation to find out how to become a member.
- Dietitians Association of Australia
- Nutrition Society of Australia
- Public Health Association of Australia
- Sports Dietitians Australia (Associate Member)
Program accreditation
The Master of Dietetics Studies is accredited by:
- Dietitians Australia
UQ is a prestigious university and one of the top in the world, so I was confident that the education and experience would be world-class. You will need to be independent about your learning, but it is definitely rewarding.
The smaller cohort and supportive nature of the course was a great way to make connections with peers and established professionals within the field. With a smaller cohort, the theory classes were more interactive and allowed for greater discussion and focus on case-based learning.
This program combined the best of two worlds: theory and clinical practice. I learnt how to treat a disease at the start of the week, and immediately applied this in placement in the same week. Theory classes were exciting with frequent guest lecturers and practical cooking demonstrations.
The placements within my program were phenomenal experiences and exposed me to a wide variety of learning environments. These opportunities greatly furthered my knowledge and experience, so I was ready to hit the ground running as an Accredited Practising Dietitian.
UQ is a prestigious university and one of the top in the world, so I was confident that the education and experience would be world-class. You will need to be independent about your learning, but it is definitely rewarding.
The smaller cohort and supportive nature of the course was a great way to make connections with peers and established professionals within the field. With a smaller cohort, the theory classes were more interactive and allowed for greater discussion and focus on case-based learning.
This program combined the best of two worlds: theory and clinical practice. I learnt how to treat a disease at the start of the week, and immediately applied this in placement in the same week. Theory classes were exciting with frequent guest lecturers and practical cooking demonstrations.
The placements within my program were phenomenal experiences and exposed me to a wide variety of learning environments. These opportunities greatly furthered my knowledge and experience, so I was ready to hit the ground running as an Accredited Practising Dietitian.
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Career opportunities in nutrition and dietetics
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Entry requirements
Entry requirements
To be eligible for entry, you'll need:
Entry is competitive based on GPA with a limited intake capacity.The minimum GPA to be considered for admission into this program is 4.0.
A provisional entry pathway is available to domestic students.
Entry is competitive based on GPA with a limited intake capacity.The minimum GPA to be considered for admission into this program is 4.0.
A provisional entry pathway is available to domestic students.
English language requirements
IELTS overall 7; reading 7; writing 7; speaking 7; listening 7. For other English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores approved for UQ
TOEFL iBT (including Paper Edition) - Overall 100, listening 25, reading 25, writing 27, speaking 23.
PTE Academic - Overall 72, sub bands minimum 72.
CES - Overall 185, All sub bands minimum 185.
BE and OET are not accepted.
There are other ways to meet the English language requirements. For some programs, additional conditions apply.
Inherent requirements
To complete this degree, you have to meet its inherent requirements by demonstrating essential skills and attributes. Read the inherent requirements before you apply.
Student visas
International students who are accepted into full-time study in the Master of Dietetics Studies are eligible to apply for an Australian student visa (subclass 500).
There are a number of requirements you must satisfy before a visa is granted, including the genuine temporary entrant (GTE) requirement.
Need help meeting the entry requirements?
Additional application information
Prior approved studies must have been successfully completed within the 10 year period immediately preceding the proposed date of commencement, and include:
| Prerequisite | Units | UQ equivalent *course(s) |
| Public health nutrition at 2000 level or higher | 4 | NUTR3011 + NUTR3012 |
| Nutrition at 2000 level or higher | 4 | NUTR2101 + NUTR3201 |
| Human Physiology/Biology (incl. 4 units in human physiology) at 2000 level or higher (4 semester sequence in anatomy/physiology must be demonstrated) | 8 | [(BIOM1000 + ANAT1000) or (BIOL1020 + BIOL1040) or (BIOM1050 + (PHYL1007 or ANAT1005)) or (BIOM1070 + BIOM1071)] + [BIOM2011 or PHYL2730] + [BIOM2012 or BIOM2015] |
| Research methods (incl. statistical component) | 2 | HMST3846 or PUBH2007 |
| Behavioural science | 2 | PSYC1030 |
| Food sciences in commodities | 2 | FOOD2000 |
| Chemistry/Biochemistry (incl. 4 units in biochemistry) at 2000 level or higher (4 semester sequence in biochemistry must be demonstrated) | 8 | [CHEM1010 or CHEM1090 or CHEM1100] + [CHEM1020 or CHEM1021 or CHEM1022 or CHEM1200 or CHEM1221 or CHEM1222] + BIOC2000 + [BIOL3230 or BIOC3006] |
Additional application information
Prior approved studies must have been successfully completed within the 10 year period immediately preceding the proposed date of commencement, and include:
| Prerequisite | Units | UQ equivalent *course(s) |
| Public health nutrition at 2000 level or higher | 4 | NUTR3011 + NUTR3012 |
| Nutrition at 2000 level or higher | 4 | NUTR2101 + NUTR3201 |
| Human Physiology/Biology (incl. 4 units in human physiology) at 2000 level or higher (4 semester sequence in anatomy/physiology must be demonstrated) | 8 | [(BIOM1000 + ANAT1000) or (BIOL1020 + BIOL1040) or (BIOM1050 + (PHYL1007 or ANAT1005)) or (BIOM1070 + BIOM1071)] + [BIOM2011 or PHYL2730] + [BIOM2012 or BIOM2015] |
| Research methods (incl. statistical component) | 2 | HMST3846 or PUBH2007 |
| Behavioural science | 2 | PSYC1030 |
| Food sciences in commodities | 2 | FOOD2000 |
| Chemistry/Biochemistry (incl. 4 units in biochemistry) at 2000 level or higher (4 semester sequence in biochemistry must be demonstrated) | 8 | [CHEM1010 or CHEM1090 or CHEM1100] + [CHEM1020 or CHEM1021 or CHEM1022 or CHEM1200 or CHEM1221 or CHEM1222] + BIOC2000 + [BIOL3230 or BIOC3006] |
Fees and Scholarships
Indicative annual fee
Approximate yearly cost of tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your selected courses and study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
$31,200
2023
Fee information for 2024 is not yet available. Fee information displayed is for 2023.
$31,200
2024
Approximate yearly cost of full-time tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your selected courses and study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.
AUD $51,200
2023
Fee information for 2024 is not yet available. Fee information displayed is for 2023.
AUD $51,200
2024
Additional costs
- Costs for vaccinations and serology are the responsibility of the student and will vary based on individual and program requirements.
Government assistance
Financial aid
As an international student, you might be eligible for financial aid – either from your home country, or from the Australian Government.
FEE-HELP
Domestic students who are accepted into the Master of Dietetics Studies pay tuition fees.
FEE-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students with the cost of their tuition fees.
Centrelink support
The Australian Government has approved this master's program for income support payments to be made to eligible students.
Scholarships
You may be eligible for more than 100 scholarships, including:
How to apply
Applying online
All international applications should be submitted to UQ. If you prefer, you can use an approved UQ agent in your country.
The program code for the Master of Dietetics Studies is 5473.
Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study
Applying online
All domestic applications should be submitted to UQ.
The program code for the Master of Dietetics Studies is 5473.
Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
- To commence study in Semester 1 - October 31 of the previous year.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Important dates
The closing date for this program is:
- To commence study in Semester 1 - October 31 of the previous year.
To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants
For support with applying - or if you have any questions about Uni - get in touch with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit.
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