Entry requirements and pathways
International students

Academic entry requirement

Prerequisites

The successfully completed cognate undergraduate Bachelor (AQF7) degree program in nutrition, or in a science or health-related discipline must have been completed within the last eight years.

Subsequent postgraduate study and/or work experience in a relevant area may also be considered.

Successful completion of a cognate undergraduate Bachelor (AQF7) degree program in nutrition, or a science or health-related discipline with a nutrition minor or equivalent subjects. Subjects completed must include two units each of: human biology, human physiology, chemistry, and biochemistry, as well as units covering nutrition science, nutrition and disease, food science and food skills, general research and epidemiology.

Successful completion of La Trobe Bachelor of Nutrition Science/Bachelor of Human Nutrition

OR

Successful completion of La Trobe Bachelor of Food and Nutrition, including completion of HBS301 as an elective

The successfully completed cognate undergraduate Bachelor (AQF7) degree program in nutrition, or in a science or health-related discipline must meet the following conditions:

  • Each subject must be equivalent to at least 0.125 Effective Full-time Study Unit (EFTSU).
  • The required units of human physiology and biochemistry must be completed at a second-year tertiary level or higher (Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Level 6 or higher).
  • The required general research and epidemiology must be completed at a second year tertiary level or higher (AQF level 6 or higher)
  • Specialisation - compulsory: Physiology studies must have included systemic physiology and/or pathophysiology, including homeostatic mechanisms and at least six of the following eight systems: body defences (immune system), gastrointestinal, renal, endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, muscular and nervous systems.
  • Specialisation - compulsory: Nutrition science must have included macronutrients and micronutrients (food sources, metabolism, storage and function), principles of energy balance and nutrient analysis of foods.

Subsequent postgraduate study and/or work experience in a relevant area may also be considered.

Selection criteria

  • All applicants can complete and submit a Personal Statement.

  • If you are not a current La Trobe University student, please complete the additional information form Non La Trobe applicants to complete and attach a Prerequisite Information Form

  • Applicants can supply their resume. Non La Trobe applicants can provide a resume work or volunteer experience relevant to dietetics.

Note: Meeting minimum prerequisites does not guarantee an offer of a place. Entry into all La Trobe courses is based on competitive selection and there may be limited places available.

English language requirement

7.0 IELTS (Academic) with no individual band less than 7.0.

Please refer to our English Language Requirements page for details of other accepted English Proficiency tests and additional recognised English Language Proficiency Measures, such as English as the language of instruction.

Core participation requirements

Core Participation Requirements are abilities, attributes and behaviours that are required to undertake learning activities and professional experience in your course. These requirements are provided for your information and are not entry requirements. Core Participation Requirements are also referred to as Inherent Requirements by other institutions.

La Trobe University wants you to understand the Core Participation Requirements of your course so you can:

  • determine if you may need support during your studies; and
  • make an informed decision about whether the course is suitable for you.

If there are any Core Participation Requirements listed below that you do not feel capable of demonstrating, we may be able to make adjustments that may support your studies. Please contact the AccessAbility Hub or your Course Coordinator to discuss any adjustments you may need.

As a La Trobe student, you will also need to abide by the Student Charter and meet any professional accreditation requirements of your course.

Core requirement

Students must be able to manage their own responses and behaviour to work effectively in a range of learning environments with diverse people and tasks. This includes the capacity to be receptive and respond appropriately to constructive feedback. Students should also be able to work with others in a team or group environment and make and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of individuals in order to complete tasks or for professional practice.

See also Student behaviours policy for more information.

Course-specific requirement

Dietetics students will work collaboratively with peers in classroom environments, and with a range of stakeholders in professional placement settings. To ensure the safety and wellbeing of students and those they interact with, there are a number of expectations that must be demonstrated during the course to signal their ability to perform in a workplace setting. Students are expected to seek, respond to and provide effective feedback. They must demonstrate flexibility, adaptability and resilience, and they are expected to accept responsibility for and manage, implement and evaluate their own emotions, personal health and wellbeing. Students must demonstrate professional conduct and accept responsibility for their own actions. They should consistently demonstrate reflective practice in collaboration with supervisors, peers and mentors. Students are expected to demonstrate integrity, honesty and fairness, and to use negotiation and conflict-resolution skills.

Dietetics students will work collaboratively with peers in classroom environments, and with a range of stakeholders in professional placement settings. To ensure the safety and wellbeing of students and those they interact with, there are a number of expectations that must be demonstrated during the course to signal their ability to perform in a workplace setting. Students are expected to seek, respond to and provide effective feedback. They must demonstrate flexibility, adaptability and resilience, and they are expected to accept responsibility for and manage, implement and evaluate their own emotions, personal health and wellbeing. Students must demonstrate professional conduct and accept responsibility for their own actions. They should consistently demonstrate reflective practice in collaboration with supervisors, peers and mentors. Students are expected to demonstrate integrity, honesty and fairness, and to use negotiation and conflict-resolution skills when required. Students should acknowledge, reflect on and understand their own culture, values, beliefs, attitudes, biases, assumptions, privilege and power and their influence on practice. The must work respectfully with diverse clients in choosing culturally safe and responsive strategies to suit the goals, lived experiences and environment of clients.

https://dietitiansaustralia.org.au/maintaining-professional-standards/ncs/

Core requirement

Students must be able to locate, acquire, retain and apply knowledge as part of their learning and for assessment. They must have the ability to sustain their attention over a designated period, maintain their focus in a variety of learning environments and remember information long enough to complete tasks in a reasonable and safe timeframe.

Course-specific requirement

Dietitians and dietetics students require focus and sustained attention in all work activities. For example, in an individual case management setting, students will be required to gather information from a range of sources (clients, other health professionals, medical notes, peer-reviewed literature and practice guidelines) to inform their nutrition care plans. This involves application of a range of skills in tasks that are sustained over significant periods of time. To successfully complete their studies and perform as dietitians, students will be required to demonstrate that they can: (1) systematically search for, evaluate, interpret and apply findings from food, nutrition, dietetic, social, behavioural and education sciences into dietetic practice; (2) apply problem-solving skills to create realistic solutions to nutrition problems or issues; (3) collect, analyse and interpret relevant health, medical, cultural, social, psychological, economic, personal, environmental, dietary intake, food systems and sustainability data when assessing nutritional issues of clients; (4) collect, analyse and interpret qualitative and quantitative research, evaluation and quality management data.

https://dietitiansaustralia.org.au/maintaining-professional-standards/ncs/

Core requirement

Students should possess the ability to interact with visual, auditory or tactile inputs sufficiently to manage their learning environment and to meet professional performance needs.

Course-specific requirement

Dietetics students require sufficient visual acuity to assess nutritional status of clients. They require sufficient ability to interact with visual as well as auditory and tactile inputs to identify and assess risks, incidents and errors to maintain personal and client safety. Dietetics students require sufficient auditory ability to engage in effective active listening, interviewing and interpersonal skills. They require sufficient tactile ability and visual acuity to undertake physical patient assessments and to manipulate and assess the sensory characteristics of food.

https://dietitiansaustralia.org.au/maintaining-professional-standards/ncs/

Core requirement

Gross motor skills: Students should possess the strength, range of motion, coordination and mobility sufficient to manage their learning environment and ultimately, professional performance needs.

Fine motor skills: Students should possess the manual dexterity and fine motor skills sufficient to manage their learning environment and ultimately, professional performance needs.

Course-specific requirement

Dietetics students are required to utilise a range of relevant technology and equipment efficiently, effectively and safely. This includes participating in food preparation activities using manual equipment (eg. knives) as well as large appliances. Students are also required to complete anthropometric measurements using a range of equipment requiring fine motor skills such as calipers and tape measures, and gross motor skills such as stadiometers.

https://dietitiansaustralia.org.au/maintaining-professional-standards/ncs/

Credit for previous study (advanced standing)

Credit for previous study (advanced standing) is the recognition of prior study or learning that can be counted towards a qualification. This can reduce the number of subjects required to complete your course. The amount of credit received depends on the level and relevance of your previous study and the number of subjects completed.

The University will designate courses where there is only admission into Year 1 of the course. In these cases, there is limited credit. See list of limited entry courses.

To check if this course is available for credit, please visit the Advanced standing webpage.

Questions about the course?

Check when course applications close and find out how to apply directly.

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What you'll study

Sample course structure

Please note, the following course structure is indicative and subject to change depending on your course location, offer year or how you tailor your course with specialisations, majors, minors and electives. Structures for the following year are not normally finalised until October, so the sample provided is based on the most recently approved structure. For more information, please refer to the La Trobe University Handbook.

To qualify for the award of Master of Dietetics, students must complete a total of 195 credit points across 2 years.

The subjects of this course may be scheduled for offer at either or both the Bundoora or City campuses. In order to complete the course, students may need to attend classes at both campuses.

Year 1 requires the completion of 60 credit points including:

  • 60 credit points from chosen Core

Study options

Core subjects are required subjects in your course. You need to complete these subjects to attain your degree.

Subject name Subject code Year Credit points
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY MODULE LTU0AIM 1 0
ADVANCED MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY DTN5003 1 15
DIETETIC PRACTICE AND COUNSELLING SKILLS DTN5001 1 15
DIETETICS FOR A DIVERSE SOCIETY DTN5004 1 15
MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY DTN5002 1 15
APPLIED RESEARCH SKILLS IN DIVERSE PRACTICE SETTINGS DTN5009 2 15
DIETETICS FOR MENTAL HEALTH, DISABILITY AND AGED CARE DTN5005 2 15
EMPLOYABILITY BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP SKILLS FOR DIETITIANS DTN5011 2 15
FOOD SERVICE MANAGEMENT THEORY AND PRACTICE DTN5006 2 15
PUBLIC HEALTH NUTRITION PRACTICE DTN5008 2 15
FUTURE READY AND SPECIALISED DIETETIC PRACTICE DTN5012 2 30
PROFESSIONAL DIETETIC PRACTICE DTN5007 2 30

Work-Based Learning

Compulsory placements (Work Based Learning)
During this course, you will participate in one or more supervised Work Based Learning (WBL) placements designed to allow you to practice newly acquired skills, behaviours and knowledge while integrating theory with practice. The placements will immerse you in professional work culture, enabling you to develop and further enhance your skills. WBL provides you with the opportunity to gain valuable industry experience at one or more of our local, interstate or international industry partners or agencies. WBL placements will generally be arranged by the Partnership Operations Team in the Office of the Provost at La Trobe University. Students may incur additional costs and it may be necessary to travel or relocate to complete a specific placement. Please refer to the individual subject entries for more information.

See La Trobe University Handbook for more details

The Handbook contains detailed course information designed for enrolled students, including course structures, electives and options. The delivery of this course can vary between campuses.

View course information for Melbourne (Bundoora)

Questions about the course?

Check when course applications close and find out how to apply directly.

Apply now

 Call  (+61 3) 6145 0033

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Master of Dietetics course and career outcomes

However you choose to structure your study, La Trobe recognises your hard work. Here are the pathways you could follow as you move through your course.

Course intended learning outcomes

  • Communicate, educate and advocate effectively with professional and non-professional stakeholders in a variety of settings, using a number of modes and media, and including demonstration of advanced digital literacy
  • Critically analyse and demonstrate mastery of food, nutrition, biological, psychological and social sciences in order to plan, implement and evaluate food, nutrition and dietetic practice in diverse and changing contexts
  • Critically analyse research evidence to enable knowledge translation for ethically informed and evidence based food, nutrition and dietetic practice and synthesise innovative and creative professional solutions in a dynamic environment
  • Exhibit autonomy, collaboration and leadership in decision-making in the ethical application of professional knowledge and skills in a range of food, nutrition and health related contexts
  • Integrate and apply diverse understandings and strategies to support health and wellbeing among individuals, groups and communities
  • Demonstrate mastery in the application of specialist knowledge in accordance with the required dietetic competencies
  • Critically reflect on practice to identify learning needs and take a responsible and proactive approach to ongoing professional development

Master of Dietetics career opportunities

After graduation, you'll be ready to work as a registered dietitian. You could find employment in a growing range of clinical and community settings, including:

  • Hospitals
    • Help hospital patients recover from injury or illness.
  • Private practice
    • Work in private practice to provide care for a wide range of individuals and help them reach their health goals.
  • Research
    • Work in universities and other research organisations to further our understanding of nutrition. Work in the food industry to develop food products.
  • Sports associations
    • Provide individual care and support to improve performance and health outcomes.
  • Community nutrition
    • Provide nutritional education for general good health and promote nutrition through community-level education.

Professional recognition

The Master of Dietetics is currently undergoing accreditation by Dietitians Australia (DA). Professional membership will require an application to the professional body and may have additional or ongoing requirements beyond the completion of the degree. Please contact the relevant professional body for details.

Questions about the course?

Check when course applications close and find out how to apply directly.

Apply now

 Call  (+61 3) 6145 0033

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Fees and scholarships

Estimated course fees for international students

Estimated fees per year (2024): Indicative based on 2023 fees
A$45 600 per 120 credit points.
Note: 120 credit points represents full-time study for one year.

Scholarships: Not available for this course

The International estimated fees are indicative only. The tuition fees you pay will depend on the subjects you choose to study, with each subject having its own cost. In some cases, your course fees may be higher than the indicated fees because of the subjects you choose.

Please note that additional costs are incurred from Essential requirements and additional costs.

International scholarships

This course is not eligible for international scholarships.

Questions about fees and scholarships?

Check when course applications close and find out how to apply directly.

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How to apply

Apply now or ask us a question if you need more help. You can also call us on +61 3 9627 4805.

Note: Some courses start earlier than the standard semester, term or study period. Applications for these courses close one week prior. Always check your course’s start date to ensure your application is submitted in time.

Check when course applications close

CRICOS code: 110805C

Ready to apply?

Check when course applications close and find out how to apply directly.

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Overview

Key facts

Award Master of Dietetics
CRICOS code110805C
Start dates

Indicative based on 2023 start dates

Semester 2 (July 2024)
Duration 1.5 years full-time
Available locations Melbourne (Bundoora)
Scholarships View fees and scholarships
Annual tuition fee

Indicative based on 2023 fees

A$45 600 per 120 credit points.
Note: 120 credit points represents full-time study for one year.

About the Master of Dietetics

If you're passionate about healthy eating and well-being, and want to promote better understanding of the benefits of nutrition in diverse communities and settings, La Trobe's Master of Dietetics has been established to reflect the emerging needs of this changing profession.

La Trobe has a long history of nutrition education, and our new contemporary Master of Dietetics both builds on that history and embraces newfound developments and changing ideologies. Our person-centred, socially conscious approach to nutrition science favours the teaching of flexible concepts over dogmatic facts, and aids you in establishing a strong professional approach and individual identity.

Applying your research skills in diverse practice settings, utilise La Trobe's long-term industry partnerships to gain on-the-ground experience in clinical and community spaces. Your experience will prepare you for work in priority sectors, with focus on diversity, community inclusion and counselling.

Our approach to dietetics values the importance of life-long learning, and teaches you how to incorporate novel technologies, cutting-edge science and emerging evidence into your developing practice. Graduate ready to succeed in your career, and ready to help people.

With La Trobe's Master of Dietetics, you'll learn:

  • Care, counselling, medical nutrition
    • Learn essential skills in nutrition assessment, diagnosis and counselling. Understanding medical nutrition therapy and patient support.
  • Individual case management
    • During 50 days of placement, you'll apply your clinical knowledge, counselling skills and the nutrition care process to support the health of individuals and groups.
  • Food service
    • Through placement and practical classes, you'll explore the food systems utilised in clinical settings, and support vulnerable and disadvantaged populations.
  • Entrepreneurship
    • Get the skills to succeed as a professional dietitian. Learn how to set up your own business and explore professional ethics, leadership and management.
  • Future-focused topics
    • Explore future-ready issues (sustainability, indigenous health) and specialist areas of dietetic practice. Use emerging, priority areas (mental health, disability, aged care) as a conceptual framework to explore interdisciplinary practice. Work with carers and translators, learn community impact and advocacy.
  • Professional identity and diversity
    • Discover the scope and diversity of dietetic roles, from professional practice and standards through to the impact of colonisation and hierarchical systems on healthcare.

The qualification awarded on graduation is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) as Level 9 - Masters Degree.

Have questions?

Check when course applications close and find out how to apply directly.

Apply now

 Call  (+61 3) 6145 0033

Live chat

Chat is available from 9am to 5pm AEST Monday to Friday during business days.

Live chat

Ask a question

Submit a question online. We'll get back to you within the next business day.

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