Q: Why should I study nutrition?

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.

Question 1

What is a nutrition course?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 2

What do you learn in a nutrition course?

Accepted Answer

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?

Question 3

How long is a nutrition course?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 4

Why should I study nutrition?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 5

Why should I study nutrition online?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 6

Why should I study online through Open Universities Australia?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 7

What career opportunities are in nutrition and dietetics?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 8

How do I know which nutrition course is right for me?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 9

How do I know if I’m eligible to apply for a course?

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 10

How do I enrol?

Accepted Answer

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.

Please note that enquiries and applications for some courses are handled directly by the university. If this is the case, it will be indicated on the course listing page.

For more information about enrolment, read our online self-service enrolling instructions. If you get stuck at any time, contact us and we’ll talk you through it.

Nutrition courses

Introduction to Nutrition