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.

View Master of Dietetics course handbook
Deferring

Due to limited capacity, students will be unable to defer their place in this course.

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

CRICOS course code
0100999
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

The Master of Dietetics is currently accredited by Australian Dietetic Council. A graduate of this program is eligible to become a full member of Dietitians Australia and to join the Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) Program.

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)

Next gen now degree

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

Completion of a 3 year Bachelor degree in a relevant area of study* with a minimum average of 65% in the last year of study and are eligible to apply if: 

  • degree was completed in the last 10 years or
  • undertaken relevant Postgraduate studies or
  • relevant work experience*

*Relevant areas of study include courses that meet the unit pre-requisite requirements. Relevant work experience includes: practice in a related health profession such as nursing, allied health, public health or education.

Course Pre-requisites 

  • Chemistry/Biochemistry, 4 units - including Chemistry (equivalent to 25% of a year study load) followed by Biochemistry (equivalent to 25% of a year study load);
  • Human Biology and Human Physiology, 4 units - including Human Biology (equivalent to 25% of a year study load) followed by Human Physiology (equivalent to 25% of a year study load); and
  • Food Science, 1 unit (equivalent to 25% of a year study load); and
  • Nutrition Science, 1 unit (equivalent to 25% of a year study load). 

Completion of a 3 year Bachelor degree in a relevant area of study* with a minimum average of 65% in the last year of study and are eligible to apply if: 

  • degree was completed in the last 10 years or
  • undertaken relevant Postgraduate studies or
  • relevant work experience*

*Relevant areas of study include courses that meet the unit pre-requisite requirements. Relevant work experience includes: practice in a related health profession such as nursing, allied health, public health or education.

Course Pre-requisites 

  • Chemistry/Biochemistry, 4 units - including Chemistry (equivalent to 25% of a year study load) followed by Biochemistry (equivalent to 25% of a year study load);
  • Human Biology and Human Physiology, 4 units - including Human Biology (equivalent to 25% of a year study load) followed by Human Physiology (equivalent to 25% of a year study load); and
  • Food and Nutrition Science, 2 units (equivalent to 25% of a year study load).

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 with one of the following:

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.

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.

12
Core units
+
4
Professional placement units
=
Masters degree

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
Specialised Nutrition: Sport and Paediatrics
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DET60003
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 Education
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
Research and Evidence-Based Practice D
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DET80005
Entrepreneurial Dietetic Practice
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
DET80006
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
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

2024 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$39,900

Total fee* ($AUD)

$79,800

2024 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$47,040.00

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 2024 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 only. They are based on a standard study load per year. However, please note that fees are assessed according to a student's study load in each semester, and variation to study load will result in an adjustment to tuition fees. International tuition fees are generally inclusive of Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). All fees are subject to annual review and may be adjusted.

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 2024.

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 in the capped amount for 2024.

Please refer to the Student Services Amenities Fee page for more information.

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

$351.00

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

$351.00

Scholarships

Scholarship applications for 2024 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.

Representatives and agents
MA-DIET
Search for agents

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.

Course code
MA-DIET
Apply directly
Course code
MA-DIET
CRICOS code
0100999
Apply directly
Start dates
Location
Last date to apply
Start dates
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Last date to apply
26-February-2025
Start dates
03-March-2025
Start dates
Location
Start dates
Semester 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start dates
03-March-2025
Upcoming events
5th Australasian Youth Justice Conference 2024. Strengthening Connections: The Power of Relationships and Strong Service Partnerships
16-April-2024