Postgraduate study in Nutrition

Enrol in the Master of Health Sciences in Nutrition and Dietetics, your pathway to becoming a Registered Dietitian under the Dietitians Board New Zealand (DBNZ).

This two-year, full-time programme will provide you with learning across a broad range of nutrition related areas, including clinical and sport nutrition, public health nutrition strategies and food systems management.

This immersive programme blends up-to-date nutrition theory with real world experience, including 20 weeks of placements across diverse nutrition settings, giving you the skills, confidence, and connections to thrive in your career. With small group learning, expert mentorship, and a curriculum designed to meet the evolving needs of the healthcare system in Aotearoa, you’ll graduate ready to make a meaningful impact on individual lives and community health.

The list below contains the courses compulsory to this programme:

• DIETETIC 703: Clinical nutrition: Disease Pathophysiology and Management
  
• DIETETIC 707: Professional Skills 1
  
• DIETETIC 708: Professional Skills 2
  
• DIETETIC 710: Research Methods in Human Nutrition
• MAORIHTH 701: Foundations of Māori Health
  
• POPLHLTH 765: Nutrition Interventions in Public Health
  
• DIETETIC 709 A&B: Professional Skills 3
  
• DIETETIC 793 A&B: Thesis

Our postgraduate teaching is supported by our excellent Professional Teaching Fellows Clare Wallis and Julia Bates.

Advance your knowledge, sharpen your critical thinking, and contribute to the future of health through nutrition.

Our postgraduate nutrition courses offer flexible study pathways that can be taken as part of a Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, or Master’s degree in Health Sciences, Public Health, or Science.

Whether you are looking to deepen your expertise, pivot into a new career area, or work toward becoming a Registered Nutritionist (see the Nutrition Society of NZ for eligibility guidelines), these courses provide a strong foundation.

You'll engage with leading researchers and international experts, exploring nutrition from molecular mechanisms to clinical application and public health impact. Our programmes are designed to foster advanced critical thinking and research skills, empowering you to contribute to improving population health and well-being across diverse communities.

Depending on your interests, you can tailor your study across a wide range of course offerings, including:

• MEDSCI 701: Special Studies in Medical Science
  Explore a topic of your choice under expert supervision.
• MEDSCI 709: Nutrition in Health and Disease
  Examine the role of nutrition in the prevention and management of chronic disease.
• MEDSCI 710: Nutrition Mechanisms
  Investigate the molecular and physiological basis of nutrient function.
• MEDSCI 711: Clinical Nutrition
  Learn about the nutritional management of medical conditions in clinical settings (Not currently available for selection)
• MEDSCI 712: Critical Evaluation of Nutritional Therapies
  Develop the skills to assess evidence for nutrition interventions in practice.
• POPLHLTH 765: Nutrition Interventions in Public Health
  Design and evaluate strategies to improve population health through nutrition.

Whether you're passionate about clinical care, public health, research, or health policy, our courses will equip you with the specialist knowledge and practical tools to lead change and make a meaningful impact.