Graduate Certificate of Human Nutrition
2025 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2025 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Graduate Certificate of Human Nutrition |
| Deakin course code | H511 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health |
| Campus | This course is only offered Online |
| Online | Yes |
| Duration | 1 year part-time, please refer to course structure below |
| 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. |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8 |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Mandatory student checks
- Pathways
- Course Learning Outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Other learning experiences
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Get an introduction to advanced nutrition studies with the Graduate Certificate of Human Nutrition. Develop an understanding of human nutrient requirements across the lifespan, including macro and micronutrients, and prepare yourself for further study at the postgraduate level.
Want to shape nutrition discussions with an informed voice?
A history of teaching and research excellence, world-class facilities, pioneering academics and a long list of industry partners make Deakin’s Graduate Certificate of Human Nutrition one of the leading human nutrition courses in Australia. The course attracts high-achieving students from a broad range of sectors. It caters for those looking to turn their lifelong passion for nutrition into sustained career growth, as well as professionals from other areas of health who want to enhance the quality of their care with expertise in human nutrition.
To truly understand the connection between nutrition and health, you will draw on studies from a variety of related disciplines, such as food science, biochemistry, physiology, epidemiology, psychology, public health and politics. Combining this knowledge allows you to examine nutrition from different angles, which is particularly beneficial when providing advice to audiences from diverse backgrounds. Better still, everything you learn is evidence-based, giving you the confidence to combat the dissemination of nutrition misinformation.
There is growing public interest in the relationship between diet and health, and as a result there are increasing demands from the public for reliable, evidence-based and trustworthy information. In response, the Nutrition Society of Australia (NSA) has developed a ‘Register of Nutritionists’ to establish a list of appropriately qualified nutrition professionals.
As a graduate of this course, you may be eligible for registration as an ‘Associate Nutritionist’. Following three years of relevant work experience, Associate Nutritionists are able to apply for ‘Registered Nutritionist’ status. Registration with NSA does not authorise registrants to obtain provider numbers with Medicare or Private Health Insurers. Please refer to the NSA website for further information or queries about registration.
This course can also be used as a stepping stone into the Master of Human Nutrition, and includes three core units from the masters program plus an elective of your choice.
Indicative student workload
As a student in an online course in the Faculty of Health you will be expected to spend 11-13 hours every week studying, interacting online and completing assessment tasks for each unit in your course.
Professional recognition
There is growing public interest in the relationship between diet and health, and as a result there are increasing demands from the public for reliable, evidence-based and trustworthy information. In response, the Nutrition Society of Australia (NSA) has developed a ‘Register of Nutritionists’ to establish a list of appropriately qualified nutrition professionals.
As a graduate of this course, you may be eligible for registration as an ‘Associate Nutritionist’. Following three years of relevant work experience, Associate Nutritionists are able to apply for ‘Registered Nutritionist’ status. Registration with NSA does not authorise registrants to obtain provider numbers with Medicare or Private Health Insurers. Please refer to the NSA website for further information or queries about registration.
Career opportunities
As the prevalence of global health issues like obesity, malnutrition and mental illness grow, so too has the public’s interest in the relationship between nutrition and health. As a result, there are increasing demands for health professionals who can provide reliable, evidence-based nutrition advice. So much so that jobs in nutrition are expected to grow 17.6% by 2023*.
As a graduate of this course, you will be well-placed to progress your studies into the Master of Human Nutrition or enhance your existing role with nutrition expertise. Note, many nutrition roles may require an undergraduate degree in health or science or some further postgraduate studies to ensure a broader knowledge and skill base.
Learn more about careers in nutrition
*Australian Jobs 2019, Department of Jobs and Small Business
Mandatory student checks
There are no mandatory student checks required for this course.
Pathways
This course can be a pathway to:
Graduate Diploma of Human Nutrition (H616)
Master of Human Nutrition (H714)
Master of Nutrition and Population Health (H748)
Course Learning Outcomes
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Apply key principles, concepts and evidence-based knowledge of nutrition and health to nutrition related health problems. |
| Communication | Select and use appropriate modes of communication to obtain and share evidence based nutrition knowledge. |
| Digital literacy | Select and use appropriate technologies to analyse and interpret nutrition information, and to share knowledge, skills and ideas. |
| Critical thinking | Analyse and synthesise information and problems in nutrition, to inform high level independent judgements. |
| Problem solving | Apply best practice and evidence to identify problems and generate practical solutions to a range of nutrition issues. |
| Self-management | Employ personal accountability and demonstrate effective work practices, responsible judgement, adaptability to new situations and responsibility as a nutritionist. |
| Teamwork | Establish, contribute and maintain a key role in relationships with a range of stakeholders to achieve successful outcomes to advance nutrition sciences. |
| Global citizenship | Engage in professional and ethical practice that demonstrates a high level of personal autonomy, within diverse contexts in nutrition sciences. |
Course rules
To complete the Graduate Certificate of Human Nutrition students must pass 4 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
- 3 credit points of core units
- 1 credit points of course electives
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.
Note:
- This course is part-time only.
Course structure
Core units
Students must enrol in the online offerings of all units
Trimester 1
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points) |
| HSN701 | Principles of Nutrition (also available in Trimester 3) |
| HSN749 | Biochemistry and Physiology for Human Nutrition |
Trimester 2
| HSN702 | Lifespan Nutrition |
plus one elective
Elective units
Trimester 1
| HSN703 | Diet and Lifestyle Diseases |
| HSN705 | Public Health Nutrition |
| HSN708 | Nutrition Promotion |
| HSN709 | Sports Nutrition |
| HSN713 | Food, Nutrition and Behaviour |
| HSN719 | Assessment Methods for Nutrition and Physical Activity Research (also available in Trimester 3) |
Trimester 2
| HSN706 | Policy and Practice for Healthy and Sustainable Food Systems |
| HSN715 | Understanding Human Nutrition Research Studies |
| HSN734 | Obesity Prevention |
| HSN735 | Essentials of Food Science |
| HSN746 | Nutritional Issues from Early Childhood to Adolescence |
Trimester 3
| HSN738 | International Nutrition |
| HSN743 | Nutrition for Healthy Ageing |
Work experience
Work Integrated Learning principles are embedded within all units.
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
Other learning experiences
A 1 credit point elective unit “International Perspectives in Nutrition” which features a 2 week study tour is available to all students every second year.
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.