Master of Dietetics
Overview
Study a Master of Dietetics and help empower people to make informed choices about their health and wellbeing. You’ll develop competencies in clinical practice, community, and public health nutrition, along with food service management. We’ll teach you how entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership are key skills in the growing fields of private practice and consultancy.
Deferring
Due to limited capacity, students will be unable to defer their place in this course.
You're invited to our 2025 Study Expo
Join us this January to meet academics, browse courses, get application help, explore our Hawthorn campus and find out all you need to know about starting in Semester 1.
Upgrade your skills
- Clinical nutrition
- Sports nutrition
- Nutrition education and assessment
- Food systems management
- Nutrition research
- Entrepreneurship
Stretch your career further
- Clinical dietetics (hospitals)
- Private practice
- Food service management
- Public health services
- Research
Key codes
International student visa
International students in Australia who hold student visas are required to study full-time and on campus. Courses that are taught entirely online are only available to international students studying outside Australia or those in Australia who are not on a student visa. Online courses are not available to international students in Australia who hold a student visa.
Strong industry connections and co-creation
Our post graduate program connects students to organisations where they can undertake industry placements to gain practical, hands on experience. Here are some of the organisations our students have connected with:
- Austin Health Dietetics
- Monash Health Dietetics
- Swan Hill Health Service
- Access Health and Community Hawthorn
- Mildura Health Service
- Cabrini Health
- Benalla Health
- ForensiCare Victoria
- Gippsland South Health Service
Professional accreditations
Why Swinburne?
Rated top 20% of Australian universities for PG Overall Experience
92.9% of PG graduates found full-time employment after graduating
Rated top 20% of Australian universities for PG Teaching Quality
Awarded 5-stars for PG teaching quality (overall)
The future of dietetics
Think dietetics is just about your diet? Think again.
Three students from the tight-knit Master of Dietetics course share how Swinburne is getting them ready for the future of dietetics. Hint: it involves a non-diet approach, industry immersion, and rubbing shoulders with The Mindful Dietitian, and dietitians from Richmond and Hawthorn football clubs.
Qualifications
Applicants who have completed a 3-year Bachelor's degree in a relevant area of study are eligible to apply if:
- The degree was completed within the last 10 years, or
- They have undertaken relevant Postgraduate studies* or
- They possess relevant work experience**
*Relevant areas of study include health sciences, biomedical science, nursing, exercise science, food science, nutrition science, and similar science-based disciplines.
**Relevant work experience includes practice in a related health profession such as nursing, allied health, public health or education.
Course Pre-requisites
Students must have completed equivalent 62.5 credit points or equivalent from a combination of the following units:
- 2 units (equivalent to 25cp or equivalent to a minimum of 25% of the yearly full-time load) of 2nd-year or above human physiology, or equivalent learning from a combination of units and;
- 2 units (equivalent to 25cp or equivalent to a minimum of 25% of the yearly full-time load) of 2nd-year or above biochemistry, or equivalent learning from a combination of units and;
- 1 unit (equivalent to 12.5cp or equivalent to a minimum of 12.5% of the yearly full-time load) of food science at any level, or equivalent learning from a combination of units.
Students of this course are required to provide up-to-date evidence of immunisations prior to attending the placements necessary in this course. Additional immunisations may be required in response to any changes in government policy or the specific requirements of the organisation you attend for your placement.
Applicants who have completed a 3-year Bachelor's degree in a relevant area of study are eligible to apply if:
- The degree was completed within the last 10 years, or
- They have undertaken relevant Postgraduate studies* or
- They possess relevant work experience**
*Relevant areas of study include health sciences, biomedical science, nursing, exercise science, food science, nutrition science, and similar science-based disciplines.
**Relevant work experience includes practice in a related health profession such as nursing, allied health, public health or education.
Course Pre-requisites
Students must have completed equivalent 62.5 credit points or equivalent from a combination of the following units:
- 2 units (equivalent to 25cp or equivalent to a minimum of 25% of the yearly full-time load) of 2nd-year or above human physiology, or equivalent learning from a combination of units and;
- 2 units (equivalent to 25cp or equivalent to a minimum of 25% of the yearly full-time load) of 2nd-year or above biochemistry, or equivalent learning from a combination of units and;
- 1 unit (equivalent to 12.5cp or equivalent to a minimum of 12.5% of the yearly full-time load) of food science at any level, or equivalent learning from a combination of units.
Students of this course are required to provide up-to-date evidence of immunisations prior to attending the placements necessary in this course. Additional immunisations may be required in response to any changes in government policy or the specific requirements of the organisation you attend for your placement.
Other requirements
Students enrolled in this course may be required to complete an annual N95 Mask Fit Test prior to commencing placement. The relevant fee is the responsibility of the student.
Working with Children Check and Police Records Check
To be eligible to enter the course, applicants must maintain a current Working with Children Check and Police Records Check throughout the duration of the program and will be required to obtain immunisations in line with placement site requirements as well as meet the inherent requirements of the course.
NDIS Worker Screening Check
Students enrolled in this course may be required to apply for and receive an acceptable National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Worker Screening Check prior to commencing placement with an NDIS provider. The relevant fee is the responsibility of the student.
Admission requirements
Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee an offer of a place. See admission requirements for general information about the admission process.
English language requirements
Demonstrate English proficiency in one of the following:
- IELTS overall band of 7.0 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 7.0
- or equivalent measures available at English language requirements.
Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?
A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) can now be done at our Hawthorn campus.
Credit transfer
Credit is granted in recognition of previous study and/or experience and allows students to gain advanced standing towards their course. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Recognition of prior learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Finding your fit
At Swinburne, we recognise that not one size fits all. If this course doesn’t meet all your study criteria, check out these alternatives.
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Bachelor of Nutrition
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Master of Forensic Behavioural Science
How credit points work
To qualify for the award of Master of Dietetics students must complete 200 credit points comprising twelve (12) core units of study (150 credit points) and four (4) professional placement units of study (50 credit points)
It is a mandated requirement of the Dietitians Australia as part of the “Accreditation Standards for Dietetics Education Programs” that all students undertake a minimum of 100 days of professional placements.
Students are advised that eligibility for professional accreditation as APD requires the successful completion of all placements. Units are taken in a sequence so that students build knowledge, skills and attributes in preparation for each of the professional placements. As a result, students must enrol full-time.
Your units
| Units of study | Unit code |
|---|---|
| Core units | |
|
Applied Nutrition Science
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
DET60001 |
|
Food Science and Systems
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
DET60002 |
|
Community and Public Health Nutrition
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
DET60004 |
|
Research and Evidence-Based Practice A
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
DET60005 |
|
Nutrition Assessment and Diagnosis
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
DET60006 |
|
Nutrition Education and Counselling
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
DET70002 |
|
Medical Nutrition Therapy A
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
DET70003 |
|
Research and Evidence-Based Practice B
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
DET70004 |
|
Medical Nutrition Therapy B
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
DET80001 |
|
Research and Evidence-Based Practice C
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
DET80002 |
|
Clinical Dietetics Placement 1
Core unit, 12.5 credit points, 25 days of placement |
DET80003 |
|
Public Health Nutrition Placement
Core unit, 12.5 credit points, 25 days of placement |
DET80004 |
|
Research and Evidence-Based Practice D
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
DET80005 |
|
Entrepreneurial Dietetic Practice
Core unit, 12.5 credit points |
DET80006 |
|
Food Service Management Placement
Core unit, 12.5 credit points, 25 days of placement |
DET80007 |
|
Clinical Dietetics Placement 2
Core unit, 12.5 credit points, 25 days of placement |
DET80008 |
Want to see the full range of electives?
Learn about all the electives you can take in the course handbook.
2025 fees
Yearly fee* ($AUD)
$41,520
Total fee* ($AUD)
$83,040
2025 fees
Yearly fee* ($AUD)
$49,360.00
Fees are estimates only
The student tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. These fees apply for units studied in 2025 only and may change for units studied in future years. If part-time study is permitted, annual fees will be proportionally lower based on the number of units taken per semester.
Fees are estimates only
The indicative course fees shown apply to international students for the relevant year, based on a standard study load per year. Fees are assessed according to actual study load each semester, with variations to study load resulting in tuition fee adjustments. These fees generally include the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) and are subject to annual review. Enrolled students will receive reasonable notice of any fee changes before payment is due.
How do I pay my fees?
FEE-HELP is a loan given to eligible full-fee paying higher education students to help pay part or all of their tuition fees. The Commonwealth Government pays the amount of the loan directly to Swinburne.
International students need to pay tuition fees up-front by the relevant due date. You can find the due dates on your Statement of Account.
To pay your fees:
- log in to My Finances
- check your Australian bank account details are correct
- check your Statement of Account to see how much you owe
- pay using your preferred payment method.
Eligibility for FEE-HELP
You’re eligible for a FEE-HELP loan if you are studying an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, or UniLink or OUA course at Swinburne, and you:
- are an Australian citizen doing at least one unit of your course in Australia; or
- hold a permanent humanitarian visa and will be living in Australia for the duration of your course; or
- hold a New Zealand Special Category visa and meet the special eligibility requirements for New Zealand citizens
- are undertaking bridging study for overseas trained professionals and will be living in Australia for the duration of this study
- have not exceeded the new combined Help Loan limit.
The HELP limit is the maximum amount you can borrow from the government in your lifetime towards your education costs. It is fixed and cannot be topped up.
Student services and amenities fee
This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.
The fee shown in the capped amount for 2025.
This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.
This amenities fee is included within your annual tuition fee listed above. The fee shown is the capped amount for 2025.
Please refer to the Student Services Amenities Fee page for more information.
SSAF fee* ($AUD)
$365
SSAF fee* ($AUD)
$365
Accreditation placement fees
Placement opportunities at Swinburne are designed to provide valuable experience, promote career readiness, and recognise the importance of practical skills in achieving your goals. Students attending placements will be required to cover fees with costs ranging from approximately $350 to $600, depending on the specific course.
Scholarships
Scholarship applications for 2025 are open. Scholarships at Swinburne are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. We want you to reach your potential and achieve your life and career goals.
Our handy guide will assist you to gather documents for your application.
When you apply for a Swinburne course, we automatically consider you for an international scholarship of up to 20 per cent off your course fees – no separate application required! Just apply for your Swinburne course of choice and when we review your course application, we will also assess you for an international scholarship.
Apply through an agent
Most international students use an education agent to help them through the application process. Swinburne has agents all over the world that can help you with your application to study. Search for a Swinburne representative in your country. If your country is not listed, please contact us.
Apply directly
Ready to take on a new challenge and reach your academic goals? If you already know which course you want to study and understand the entry requirements, what are you waiting for? Apply online!
All applicants must submit a completed Supplementary Information Form [PDF 208KB].
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- Health
First graduates of Swinburne’s Master of Dietetics thriving in the workforce
Isabella, Stefania and Chloe from the first graduating cohort of Swinburne’s Master of Dietetics are enjoying using their skills to help improve people's health and wellbeing.
Friday 12 March 2021
