Nutrition courses
Help me choose a courseIntroduction to Nutrition
There’s plenty still to learn about the human body and how it’s impacted by the foods we consume.
If this is an area you’re interested in learning more about, you can start right here by comparing online nutrition courses available through Open Universities Australia.
These courses are delivered by leading universities and will give you the expertise you need to work in nutrition, health promotion or food science roles.
Explore nutrition coursesDiscover nutrition courses
Online nutrition subjects and short courses
Undergraduate
USA-HLTH2036100% online
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Starts 16 Sep 2024
Undergraduate
TAS-KLA304100% online
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Undergraduate
UNE-HUMN240100% online
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Starts 21 Oct 2024
Undergraduate
USA-FOSC3017100% online
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Starts 16 Sep 2024
Online nutrition degrees
Undergraduate
LAT-HUN-DEGJoin a rapidly growing industry
Online & on-campus
3 years full time or part time equivalent
No ATAR required. Start with a subject.
Undergraduate
USA-BHS-DEGExercise a career in health science.
100% online
3 years full time or part time equivalent
Undergraduate
TUA-NTR-DIPDiet can create positive change in communities
100% online
1 year full time or part time equivalent
Undergraduate
TUA-BCF-DEGImprove people’s lives through food and nutrition
Online & on-campus
3 years full time or part time equivalent
Need help choosing the right course?
Our student advisors are here to guide you with expert advice on:
- Enrolling and planning your studies
- Finding a study option that suits your needs
- Understanding your funding options
When would you like to chat?
Let me pick a time
Find a time that suits you for a free 1:1 consultation with a student advisor.
Call me anytime
A student advisor will call you, usually within 30 minutes during business hours.
Looking for other ways to start the conversation? Contact us
Student reviews
We support thousands of students on their study journey every year
Our advisors are here to help with your study goals from enrolment to completion 7 days a week.
Nutrition study FAQs
Nutrition is an interdisciplinary field that combines biology, biochemistry and dietetics.
A nutrition course will teach you how to help people forge better relationships with food. You’ll do this by studying food at a systems level, examining how it impacts the whole of the human body, and at a molecular level. For example, you might explore how certain fats affect the liver and liver disease.
Food and nutrition courses are critical in the digital age. Misinformation about health and diets is easily spread via social media and online outlets, so it’s more important than ever that there are individuals with the science-backed knowledge to set the record straight.
A nutrition course contains much more than the age-old adage ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’. In the online nutrition courses available through Open Universities Australia, you’ll gain the answers to questions like:
- How does the body use food?
- How is health data generated and interpreted?
- What is the link between nutrition and disease?
- How does human psychology impact food consumption?
- What does access to nutrition information look like for individual communities?
- What is food safety, and why is it important?
It depends on the course and whether you choose something short or long-term. Here’s a general guide:
Course Duration Single subject 10-18 weeks Short course 10-18 weeks Undergraduate certificate 6 months (if full time) Diploma 1 year (if full time) Associate degree 2 years (if full time) Bachelor degree 3 years (if full time) Graduate certificate 6 months (if full time) Graduate diploma 1 year (if full time) Masters degree 2 years (if full time) If you study a degree in nutrition through Open Universities Australia, you have the flexibility to choose how many subjects you take per term. This means you can complete your qualification at a faster or slower pace than you would on campus.
The nutrition sector is predicted to grow by 7.2% by 2026. That means more jobs are becoming available for those who have completed a food and nutrition course.
Not only is the field of nutrition growing, it’s also ever-changing. As a nutritionist, you’ll be at the forefront of food science and research. There’s a lot we still don’t know about food and how it impacts the human body. If you’re curious about how the foods we eat can change our health, nutrition could be a rewarding career choice for you.
Many of the online nutrition courses available through Open Universities Australia are co-designed with the food and nutrition industry, meaning you’ll be job-ready as soon as you graduate. Depending on the course that you choose, you can also gain accreditation with professional nutrition bodies.
Studying nutrition online is a great way to break into a career in this exciting and dynamic field. Online study is flexible, which means you can choose how many subjects you take at once and fit your coursework around existing commitments like work and family.
Through Open Universities Australia, you can also study the only fully online undergraduate nutrition degree in Australia. The Bachelor of Food and Nutrition with La Trobe University is among the most popular courses on our marketplace, and qualifies you for further study in dietetics if your goal is to become a dietician. You don’t even need access to an industrial kitchen—you can complete all of the practical cooking tasks in the comfort of your own home.
There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.
- You can enrol without entry requirements
We have a unique open-door policy that makes it possible for everyone to enrol in university study, no matter their academic history. If you don’t meet the entry requirements for a degree, we’ll help you get in through single undergraduate subjects and transition into a qualification from there. - You have total control over how you study
Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We’ll introduce you to flexible study options you didn’t even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you. - You’ll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
Once you enrol through us, you’ll study online with the university that provides your degree. This means that when you complete your qualification, you’ll graduate with the same degree as on-campus students. - We’ll help you navigate the university world
Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.
- You can enrol without entry requirements
Once you’ve completed your nutrition course, you can look forward to a career in the following fields:
- Nutrition
- Food science
- Health promotion
- Nutrition policy or health marketing
- Nutrition community education
- Food regulation
- Research
- Food manufacturing
Nutrition experts are employed in a wide range of settings. You might work in a private clinic as a nutritionist, advising patients on what diet would work best for their circumstances. You might work in local, state or federal government to develop food safety and access policies.
Some nutritionists work in labs to explore foods at the molecular level or in aged-care settings, supporting older people through food. Your strengths and interests are important when deciding which of the fascinating careers available to nutrition graduates is best for you.
You can book a free phone consultation with a student advisor to get unbiased advice on the different universities and nutrition courses available through us. We’re always here to help.
Before starting an enrolment, it’s important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you’re eligible to apply. If you don’t quite meet the requirements, we may be able to help you find a pathway into your course through open-entry subjects, which anyone can study.
Chat with us to find out more.
Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.
When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Apply now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to us and we’ll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.
Student stories and study advice
4 careers in sport that aren’t athlete
Fascinated by a career in high performance sport? There are a number of opportunities you can explore that don’t require you to compete—but are just as rewarding.How a World Champion athlete is broadening her horizons
From hitting the slopes as an Olympian to hitting the books through online education, Laura Peel’s journey is anything but ordinary.What's it like being a food critic?
We spoke to Lee Tran Lam and Rushani Epa, seasoned food journalists (pun entirely intended) and occasional food critics.6 careers in nutrition to consider if you love food and health
From developing new recipes to working with elite athletes, a career in food can take you far. Here’s how you can make your mark after your nutrition studies.We’re here to guide you to the right uni course
Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation helping every Australian to access thousands of university courses.
Over 515,000 students have enrolled in university through us since 1993.
How we can help you
Studying through Open Universities Australia means we take care of the guesswork and administration of university study, so you can focus on learning.
You don't need a strong academic history to go to uni
We make it possible for everyone to start university through single subjects, regardless of ATAR or study experience. These subjects are covered by government loans, and can be used to upskill or gain entry into a qualification.
You have the flexibility to start at multiple points during the year
We’re not restricted by a traditional academic calendar, so you can enrol when it suits your life. You also have total control over how you study. You can scale up (or down) your study load and even pause your course if you need to.
You can rely on us as an unbiased destination for online tertiary education
As a not for profit, we have your best interests at heart. Our advisors are here 7 days a week to guide and support you. It’s our priority to get you qualified with the university of your choice.