Bachelor of Food and Nutrition

La Trobe has identified course intended learning outcomes which describe a set of interdisciplinary skills, knowledge and attitudes students are expected to have acquired by the completion of the Bachelor of Food and Nutrition:

• Well-developed literacy and communication skills across a variety of settings, including demonstration of digital literacy, in order to effectively transmit knowledge, skills and ideas to others;
• Critically analyse research evidence to enable knowledge translation for ethically informed and evidence based nutrition practice incorporating health data, nutrition epidemiology methods and biostatistics;
• Critically analyse problems and provide innovative and creative professional solutions in a changing environment including consideration of sociocultural factors that influence food intake and impact food security;
• Broad and coherent theoretical knowledge and ability to apply this knowledge in health promotion and community nutrition;
• Apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate accountability and responsibility 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 and communities within broad parameters to provide specialist advice and functions;
• Apply specialist knowledge developed in foundation subjects including food chemistry, human physiology and anatomy, human nutrition physiology, biochemistry, and food science to understanding the role of diet in health maintenance and illness prevention;
• Use appropriate information sources and technologies to support continued personal and professional development.

Nutritionists help translate nutritional science for the lay public and advise the community about good food choices for healthy eating. To do this, nutritionists consider the nutritive value of foods, the nutrients bodies need at different stages of development, and the role nutrients and diet play in health and in disease prevention. They can also do research: for example working on new food products, or examining the relationships between nutrients/dietary patterns and disease (however, they do not help treat disease through nutrition – this is the role of dietitians).

The Bachelor of Food and Nutrition aims to provide graduates with a thorough understanding of food and human nutrition, as preparation for careers in various fields related to the promotion of health at individual and community levels. During the degree, students will study biosciences, principles of nutrition, food science and food skills, nutrition and disease, nutritional needs over the lifespan and for sports performance, and the social and public health aspects of nutrition.

Please note: La Trobe students studying on campus who wish to do individual subjects need to apply for the La Trobe On Campus to Online degree.

Additional Information:  In order to participate successfully in this course students must have reliable internet access.

In this course you will be required to complete cooking and food science practicals/assessment tasks in your own kitchen or one you arrange to access. You will need to purchase ingredients and have access to standard kitchen equipment including a digital thermometer and digital scales. Cooking or handling foods from across all food groups (including red meat, eggs and milk) is part of the required coursework. Sensory analysis requiring the tasting of food, is at your discretion to accommodate special dietary requirements. Students should direct any questions to the course coordinators prior to enrolment.

Recommended study pattern

This degree is an OUA Pathways degree, which means there is a recommended series of subjects that, once successfully completed, can be credited towards this degree. To commence the Pathway for this degree, simply select subjects from the Pathway stream below.

To get the most of this degree:

• Start with CHM101, HBS101, DTN101 and PHE102 prior to the other Level 1 subjects
• Complete all subjects in a year level before progressing to the next
• Complete 2 core-choice elective subjects.
• Complete 1 elective.

Refer to the study plan below for the full structure of the degree.

Click here for the study plan.

Award requirements

To qualify for the Bachelor of Food and Nutrition from La Trobe University, a student must complete the 24 subjects as follows:

• 8 core subjects at Level 1 (including 4 Health Pathway subjects)
• 6 core subjects at Level 2
• 7 core subjects at Level 3
• 2 core-choice electives at Level 3
• 1 elective at Level 3

Students who have been accepted in a Commonwealth Supported Place in the Bachelor of Food and Nutrition are required to complete the following 2 modules in their first Study Period as a CSP student:

• LTU0AIM Academic Integrity Module
• ABS0WOM Wominjeka La Trobe: Indigenous Cultural Literacy for Higher Education

Each Module takes around 1 hour to complete. You will find these modules in your La Trobe University Learning Management System (LMS). You can log into the La Trobe University LMS using the username and password provided to you in your Welcome to La Trobe University letter.

For a module outline, please click on the modules above. For further information about AIM and Wominjeka at La Trobe, please click here.

Exit points

The Diploma in Food and Nutrition is an exit qualification designed to provide flexibility for students from the Bachelor of Food and Nutrition.   

To attain the Diploma in Food and Nutrition, students are required to complete 120 credit points (8 subjects) comprised of the first year of the Bachelor of Food and Nutrition:

• DTN101 Introduction to Nutrition
• HBS101 Introduction to Human Physiology
• CHM101 Essentials of Chemistry (or SCI18 if completed prior to 2018)*
• PHE102 Individual Determinants of Health
• PHE101 Social Determinants of Health
• HBS102 Introduction to Anatomy
• DTN102 Applied Food Chemistry
• HEA102 Research & Evidence in Practice

*La Trobe consider Murdoch’s SCI18 Fundamentals of Chemistry to be academically equivalent to CHM101 Essentials of Chemistry (if completed prior to 2018).

Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.

This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.

• Health Pathway

• Level 1 Core Subjects

• Level 2 Core Subjects

• Level 3 Core Subjects

• Level 3 Core Choice Electives

• Level 3 Elective

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $28,056

The amount shown here is indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

The third university established in Victoria, La Trobe University has a diverse community of more than 38,000 students and staff. Its commitment to excellence in teaching and research prepares students to make a bold and positive impact in today's global community. La Trobe provides Open Universities Australia with its core tenets, entrepreneurship and sustainability.

Learn more about La Trobe University.

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QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

17

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

15

There are four open enrolment subjects in this degree. Students do not have to submit an Application Form for open enrolment subjects, and can enrol in the subjects below:

• HBS101 Introduction to Human Physiology
• DTN101 Introduction to Nutrition 
• CHM101 Essentials of Chemistry
• PHE102 Individual Determinants of Health

Students who successfully complete two from these four open enrolment subjects may apply under the Academic Eligibility category for admission to the restricted Bachelor of Food and Nutrition. 

Please note: La Trobe students studying on campus who wish to do individual subjects need to apply for La Trobe CSP On Campus to Online.

Please note: This degree and its subjects are unavailable to international students.

Successful completion of at least the equivalent of 1 semester of higher education full time study within the last 10 years.

La Trobe University may need to approve any prior learning you have to determine that you meet the eligibility requirements for admission into the program.

Please note: La Trobe students studying on campus who wish to do individual subjects need to apply for La Trobe CSP On Campus to Online.

Applicants who do not satisfy Year 12 with relevant English pre-requisite, or have not completed at least the equivalent of 1 semester of higher education full time study within the last 10 years must sit the STAT Multiple Choice.

Successful completion of two of the four open enrolment subjects: HBS101, DTN101, CHM101, PHE102**

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

**Credit based application eligibility assessment: If you can provide evidence that you have successfully completed an equivalent of two or more of the four open enrolment/pathway subjects at another university you may request entry based on your previous study. La Trobe University will need to assess your application and the assessor will need to confirm that the subjects are equivalent and that you would be granted advanced standing for them upon admission to the course. Follow the steps in How to Apply and when requested provide certified copies of your transcript/s and detailed subject outline for your previous studies, and a statement that identifies the evidence of study that is equivalent for any pathway subjects where you are seeking credit.

Note: Credit will only be assessed for the four open enrolment/pathway subjects. Advanced standing for other subjects in the degree will only be assessed after admission to the course and cannot be utilised as a basis for entry.

Obtain a Tertiary Entrance Ranking 65.85 (TER, ATAR, ENTER, UAI, OP or equivalent).*

Prerequisite

VCE: Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in English (EAL) or at least 20 in English other than EAL.

NB: 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.

*Tertiary Education Ranking scores must also have been within the past five years. If the period has been longer potential students are encouraged to complete a STAT Multiple Choice.

Demonstrated proficiency equivalent to Year 12 completion and English prerequisite. VET studies at Certificate IV level or above within the last five years.

Applicants who have not undertaken VET studies at Certificate IV level or above within the last five years must sit the STAT Multiple Choice.

Demonstrated proficiency equivalent in Year 12 English.

La Trobe University, will consider applications for advanced standing, or credit for prior study. Credit may be applied to a current degree if you have undertaken previous tertiary study and completed and passed subjects similar in content and standard to those offered at La Trobe, from either another recognised tertiary institution or a different La Trobe course.

Note: Applications for advanced standing will not be considered until you have successfully been admitted to a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) in the Bachelor or Food and Nutrition through OUA.

Assessing whether you should apply for advanced standing for subjects in the Bachelor of Food and Nutrition

Advanced standing may be granted for relevant subjects in the Bachelor of Food and Nutrition. The following steps will help you to decide which subjects you wish to apply for:

1. Identify subjects within the Bachelor of Food and Nutrition that you think align with subjects you have already studied and have completed within less than 8 years prior to the application.
2. Look at the year in which the subject will be taught within the Bachelor of Food and Nutrition – this is indicated by the code of the subject (i.e. DTN102 Applied Food Chemistry is a first year subject as indicated by the '1' after the letters of the subject code). Make sure that the subjects that you have already studied have the same or a higher code.
3. Look closely at the subject content for each subject identified in the Bachelor of Food and Nutrition and ensure that it is at least a 75% match to the subject you would like to submit for assessment for advanced standing.
4. Provide subject outlines with detailed information for each subject that you wish to submit for assessment for advanced standing, identifying which subject within the Bachelor of Food and Nutrition that you have identified as a match. Include subject learning outcomes/objectives and subject content for each subject.
5. Provide a certified copy of your academic transcript for your previous studies.

*Note that a subject studied can only be used once for advanced standing.

Applying for advanced standing/credit

Applications for advanced standing will be considered by a course coordinator at La Trobe University following successful admission to the Bachelor of Food and Nutrition via OUA. The advanced standing/credit application form can be obtained by clicking the link below:

La Trobe Advanced Standing Application Form 

Once you have completed the advanced standing application form, and have all relevant supporting documentation, please submit your completed application and supporting documents to ASK La Trobe via ask a question.

In order to participate successfully in this course students must have reliable internet access.

In this course you will be required to complete cooking and food science practicals/assessment tasks in your own kitchen or one you arrange to access. You will need to purchase ingredients and have access to standard kitchen equipment including a digital thermometer and digital scales. Cooking or handling foods from across all food groups (including red meat, eggs and milk) is part of the required coursework. Sensory analysis requiring the tasting of food, is at your discretion to accommodate special dietary requirements. Students should direct any questions to the course coordinators prior to enrolment.

For intensive classes (HBS301, DTN310) students are required to purchase their own safety equipment. Students will also incur the cost of travel and any associated costs with attending the intensive block study period on campus.

The subjects below are electives only and not compulsory to complete the degree:

• HBS301 Food and Nutrition Practical Skills requires attendance at an external provider in Melbourne in an intensive block study period
• DTN310 Advanced Food Skills requires attendance at an external provider in Melbourne in an intensive block study period.