Bachelor of Nutrition Science/Bachelor of Commerce
2025 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2025 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Nutrition Science/Bachelor of Commerce |
| Deakin course code | D301 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health |
| Campus | Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong) |
| Campus note | Waurn Ponds (Geelong) campus - with Burwood intensives and possible inter-campus travel. |
| Online | No |
| Duration | 4 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
| Course Map - enrolment planning tool | This course map is for new students commencing from Trimester 1 2025 Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| CRICOS course code | 095522K Burwood (Melbourne) |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7 |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Pathways
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Majors
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Build your foundation knowledge in nutrition science and learn how nutrition affects population health, disease and ageing, and gain a deep understanding of the commercial forces that guide Australia's $130 billion food industry.* With Deakin's Bachelor of Nutrition Science/Bachelor of Commerce, you will graduate with highly transferable skills that allow you to work in either field, or where nutrition and business connect.
Hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art food sensory labs will ensure you graduate with practical skills that prepare you for employment in the thriving health and food industries, with the advanced knowledge to provide evidence-based nutrition advice throughout community settings. Your commerce degree equips you with versatile skills that ensure you are ready for the commercial roles of the future. You will work with real commercial clients on industry projects and learn from today's business leaders.
Why not combine your passion for food and nutrition with business skills and help shape the future of Australia's food industry?
While studying nutrition science, you will gain expertise and insight into the overall impact of food on health and wellbeing, and graduate ready for a variety of career opportunities across health and nutrition industries.
Your commerce degree will equip you with highly transferable skills that ensure you graduate ready to confidently advise in roles across business and government. By choosing to complete a business major, you will gain insight into how a specialised area of commerce affects the nutrition industry. The majors available in the commerce stream of this degree include:
- accounting
- economics
- finance
- human resource management
- management
- management information systems
- marketing.
Both the School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences and Deakin Business School house state-of-the-art facilities to expose you to industry-standard environments while you study. Put theories to the test in our food sensory labs and develop your skills in business focused learning spaces.
Broaden your cultural understanding of nutrition and commerce by taking the opportunity to study abroad for a trimester. International study provides invaluable experience that prepares you to transition from course to career within Australia and around the globe.
With more than 7% of the total burden of disease in Australia due to poor diet^, graduate with the practical skills to improve health and wellbeing through food and nutrition and the commercial prowess to make large scale changes to the food industry.
Discover our food, nutrition and dietetics courses.
*State of the Industry - Australian Food and Grocery Council, 2020-2021
^Australian Burden of Disease Study: Impact and causes of illness and death in Australia 2018
Indicative student workload
As a student in the Faculty of Health you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, practicals and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.
Professional recognition
This qualification allows you to receive recognition from both nutrition and business professional bodies.
Enrolled students and graduates may apply for membership of the Nutrition Society of Australia (NSA). Graduates may apply for registration which will ensure you’re recognised as a qualified nutrition professional in the field.
Deakin Business School holds the prestigious and globally recognised AACSB and EQUIS accreditations, which attest to quality, academic and professional excellence, ongoing improvement, innovation and graduate employability.
Our courses are developed and reviewed with industry and professional input.
Graduates are eligible to apply to become a Registered Associate Nutritionist with the:
Deakin’s accounting major enables students to apply for the:
The marketing major provides a one-year credit towards the Australian Marketing Institute (AMI) five-year Certified Practicing Marketer and Chartered Marketer certification.
Students who complete the finance major are recognised through the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program.
The human resource management major enables students to apply for the Australian HR Institute (AHRI) membership.
Students should consult with a Student Adviser to identify any additional requirements for membership for each professional body, and also consult with the professional body.
Career opportunities
Do you want to help shape the future of Australia’s food industry? This combined course will give you a competitive edge when it comes to employment. You will not only have the understanding of how nutrition affects our population, but the business skills to critically analyse its relationship to commerce. Find yourself in roles including:
- brand/product management
- consumer education
- consumer research
- food composition
- food policy
- food regulation
- management
- marketing and media
- quality assurance
- wholesale and retail.
Participation requirements
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.
Mandatory student checks
Working with Children Check
Applicants will be required to hold a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) for the relevant state prior to undertaking placements as part of this course. Further information and guidance will be provided to students when they enrol into their placement unit.
Police Record Check
Applicants will be required to hold a valid National Police Record Check for placements as part of this course. Further information and guidance will be provided to students when they enrol into their placement unit.
Pathways
This course can be a pathway to:
Bachelor of Nutrition Science (Honours) (H418)
Master of Human Nutrition (H714)
Master of Nutrition and Population Health (H748)
Alternative exits
Bachelor of Nutrition Science (H315)
Bachelor of Commerce (M300)
Course Learning Outcomes
See course entry for Bachelor of Nutrition Science (H315) or Bachelor of Commerce (M300).
Course rules
To complete the Bachelor of Nutrition Science/Bachelor of Commerce students must pass 32 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
- HSN010 Food and Nutrition Laboratory Safety (0-credit-point unit) and SLE010 Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program (0-credit-point unit) prior to your first laboratory based unit in this course
- 16 credit points from H315 Bachelor of Nutrition Science
- 16 credit points of core units
- 16 credit points from M300 Bachelor of Commerce
- 8 credit points of core units
- 1 commerce major that consists of 8 credit points
- a maximum of 12 credit points at level 1
- a minimum of 10 credit points at level 3 or above
- Course requirements for both the Bachelor of Nutrition Science and Bachelor of Commerce must be satisfied
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. See the enrolment codes and terminology to help make sense of the University’s vocabulary.
Majors
Refer to the details of each Commerce major sequence for availability.
Management Information Systems
Course structure
Burwood offering
Core units
Course structure applies for students who commenced in 2022 onwards. Students who commenced prior to 2022 should refer to previous online Handbooks or contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
Please refer to the Course Map page for course map information.
Please contact a Student Adviser for specific course planning by submitting an enquiry.
Completion of HSN010 Food and Nutrition Laboratory Safety and SLE010 Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program prior to your first laboratory- based units in this course.
Students may be able to complete their course in three years by undertaking units in Trimester 3, subject to availability of units in Trimester 3. Please refer to the Course Map page for course map information. The course maps will guide the units you need to enrol in each trimester.
All Geelong Waurn Ponds Campus enrolled students are required to attend seminars and practical laboratory classes (if any) at the Melbourne Burwood Campus for the units marked (#) below.
Burwood students will need to enrol into the Burwood unit offerings.
Geelong students can choose one from the below two options:
A. Online unit offering: Attend two x 2 day intensive practical classes (one day for HSN104 and one day for HSN106). These intensive practical sessions are typically conducted on a Saturday or Sunday at Burwood (Melbourne) Campus.
B. Burwood unit offering: attend four practical classes at Burwood. Geelong students who choose to enrol into Burwood offering can only do so if there is capacity and via manual enrolment.
Year 1 - Trimester 1
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points) |
| SLE010 | Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program (0 credit points) |
| HSN101 | Foundations of Food, Nutrition and Health |
| SLE133 | Chemistry in Our World |
| MAA103 | Accounting for Decision Making |
| MAF101 | Fundamentals of Finance |
Year 1 - Trimester 2
| HSN010 | Food and Nutrition Laboratory Safety (0 credit points) |
| HBS109 | Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology |
| HSN106 | Food Fundamentals (#) |
| MAE101 | Economic Principles |
| MLC101 | Law for Commerce |
Year 2 - Trimester 1
| HSN105 | Healthy and Sustainable Food Systems |
| HSN211 | Nutritional Physiology |
| MMK101 | Marketing Fundamentals |
| MMM132 | Management |
Year 2 - Trimester 2
| HSN104 | The Science of Food (#) |
| HSN107 | Physiology of Human Growth and Development |
| MIS171 | Business Analytics |
| MWL101 | Professional Insight |
Year 3 - Trimester 1
| HSN223 | Sensory Evaluation of Food |
| HSN301 | Diet and Disease |
Plus two units from one Commerce major sequence
Year 3 - Trimester 2
| HSN202 | Lifespan Nutrition |
| HSN311 | Food and Nutrition Practicum |
Plus two units from one Commerce major sequence
Year 4 - Trimester 1
| HSN309 | Food Policy and Regulation (#) |
| HSN319 | Consumer and Sensory Innovation of Food |
Plus two units from one Commerce major sequence
Year 4 - Trimester 2
| HSN302 | Population Nutrition |
| HSN305 | Assessing Food Intake and Activity |
Plus two units from one Commerce major sequence
Waurn Ponds campus
Core units
Course structure applies for students who commenced in 2022 onwards. Students who commenced prior to 2022 should refer to previous online Handbooks or consult your course enrolment officer.
Please refer to the unit guides for campus locations and enrolment modes *,**,#
Please refer to the Course Map page for course map information. The course maps will guide the units you need to enrol in each trimester.
Please contact a Student Adviser for specific course planning advice by submitting an enquiry.
Completion of HSN010 Food and Nutrition Laboratory Safety and SLE010 Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program prior to your first laboratory- based units in this course.
Students may be able to complete their course in three years by undertaking units in Trimester 3, subject to availability of units in Trimester 3. Please refer to the Course Map page for course map information. The course maps will guide the units you need to enrol in each trimester.
Year 1 - Trimester 1
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points) |
| SLE010 | Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program (0 credit points) |
| HSN101 | Foundations of Food, Nutrition and Health |
| SLE133 | Chemistry in Our World |
| MAA103 | Accounting for Decision Making ** |
| MAE101 | Economic Principles ** |
Year 1 - Trimester 2
| HSN010 | Food and Nutrition Laboratory Safety (0 credit points) |
| HBS109 | Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology |
| HSN106 | Food Fundamentals * |
| MAF101 | Fundamentals of Finance ** |
| MLC101 | Law for Commerce ** |
Year 2 - Trimester 1
| HSN105 | Healthy and Sustainable Food Systems |
| HSN211 | Nutritional Physiology |
| MMK101 | Marketing Fundamentals ** |
| MMM132 | Management ** |
Year 2 - Trimester 2
| HSN104 | The Science of Food * |
| HSN107 | Physiology of Human Growth and Development |
| MIS171 | Business Analytics ** |
| MWL101 | Professional Insight ** |
Year 3 - Trimester 1
| HSN223 | Sensory Evaluation of Food # |
| HSN301 | Diet and Disease |
Plus two units from one Commerce major sequence**
Year 3 - Trimester 2
| HSN202 | Lifespan Nutrition |
| HSN311 | Food and Nutrition Practicum |
Plus two units from one Commerce major sequence**
Year 4 - Trimester 1
| HSN309 | Food Policy and Regulation |
| HSN319 | Consumer and Sensory Innovation of Food # |
Plus two units from one Commerce major sequence**
Year 4 - Trimester 2
| HSN302 | Population Nutrition |
| HSN305 | Assessing Food Intake and Activity |
Plus two units from one Commerce major sequence**
* Units are offered for Geelong students as either online or at Burwood (Melbourne) please read unit descriptions for details.
** Units may not be offered at Waurn Ponds campus and could involve inter-campus travel or online enrolment.
# Units are currently offered at Burwood (Melbourne) however future offerings will be available for Geelong students as either online or at Burwood (Melbourne).
Work experience
You will enhance your employment prospects by consolidating your knowledge and skills through realistic field experience in HSN311 Food and Nutrition Practicum in your third year.
Course duration
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.
Further information
Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.
- Contact Student Central
Fees and charges
Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, and their study discipline or your study load.
Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.