We all eat, and what we eat impacts on our health and well-being.
It is the energy, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals within these foods that influence our health.
Human nutrition is the study of how the foods we eat impact on our growth and development, disease risk, and physical performance.
Nutrition impacts on the health of individuals and populations, here in New Zealand and worldwide, from birth to old age. You will learn about the nutrients within foods, their importance for health as well as the cultural and social influences on our diet.
Nutrition affects everyone, making Human Nutrition relevant to all. With new knowledge and skills, you will be able to make a real difference at the global, national, community and whānau levels. You will also learn about yourself while you study. You'll learn from world-leading experts who will provide you with the most up-to-date information in their specialist areas.
Studying Human Nutrition opens doors to career opportunities in a variety of disciplines, both in New Zealand and worldwide. It also provides all the background required to become a registered nutritionist or continue into postgraduate study where you can apply your skills in real world settings such as working in our nutrition clinic, within the public health sector or with sports organisations.
Learn about studying Human Nutrition as an undergraduate at Otago.
Whether you are advancing your career with our specialised graduate qualifications or pursuing in-depth research and expertise through our postgraduate programmes, Otago is here to support your aspirations.
Honours, Master’s, PhDs, and other advanced degrees for graduates. Just one additional year of study will earn you a valuable postgraduate degree. Or perhaps you want the depth of a full year of research-only time during a Master’s or to step up to a PhD.
A four-year degree focusing on advanced study and culminating in a research project in the final year
A one-year full-time (or longer part-time) programme for health professionals who want to increase knowledge and skills in a specific area of practice
A one-year programme which builds on an undergraduate science degree, encompassing coursework and a chosen research topic
A one-year part-time (or one semester full-time) programme for health professionals who want to increase knowledge and skills in a specific area of practice
A one- or two-year postgraduate degree encompassing coursework and/or research in a chosen area of specialisation
A two-year degree with a wide range of subject options, the MSc may be taken by a combination of coursework and thesis, or by thesis only
Our graduate qualifications are crafted to transition students from foundational studies to advanced, specialised knowledge.
Take your expertise to the next level with advanced study.
Compare programmes for this subject.
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View a list of all related papers below.
Paper Code | Year | Title | Points | Teaching period |
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HUNT141 | 2025 | Understanding Human Nutrition | 18 points | Summer School, Semester 1, Semester 2 |
HUNT241 | 2025 | Fundamentals of Nutrients and Health | 18 points | Semester 1 |
HUNT242 | 2025 | Nutritional Assessment | 18 points | Semester 2 |
HUNT243 | 2025 | Lifecycle Nutrition | 18 points | Semester 2 |
HUNT245 | 2025 | Sport and Exercise Nutrition | 18 points | Semester 1 |
HUNT246 | 2025 | Applied Nutrition | 18 points | Semester 1 |
HUNT341 | 2025 | Nutrition and Behaviour Change Communication | 18 points | Semester 1 |
HUNT342 | 2025 | Nutrition and Chronic Diseases | 18 points | Semester 1 |
HUNT343 | 2025 | Community and Public Health Nutrition | 18 points | Semester 2 |
HUNT344 | 2026 | Foodservice Management | 36 points | Semester 2 |
HUNT345 | 2025 | Applied Sports Nutrition | 18 points | Semester 2 |
HUNT346 | 2025 | Global Nutrition and Health | 18 points | Semester 2 |
HUNT441 | 2025 | Research Methods | 20 points | Not offered in 2025 |
HUNT442 | 2025 | Applied Nutrition & Disease Management | 20 points | Semester 1 |
HUNT443 | 2025 | Practice in Public Health Nutrition | 20 points | Semester 1 |
HUNT444 | 2025 | Food - Systems, Services and Skills | 20 points | Full Year |
HUNT445 | 2025 | Applications in Sport and Exercise Nutrition | 20 points | Semester 2 |
HUNT452 | 2025 | Nutrition and Human Health | 20 points | Semester 2 |
HUNT454 | 2025 | Nutritional Biostatistics | 20 points | Semester 1 |
HUNT455 | 2025 | Advanced Topics in Human Nutrition | 20 points | Semester 1, Semester 2 |
HUNT460 | 2025 | Research Project in Sport and Exercise Nutrition | 20 points | Full Year |
HUNT485 | 2025 | Research Project | 20 points | Full Year |
HUNT490 | 2025 | Dissertation | 60 points | Full Year, 1st Non standard period (14 July 2025 - 17 June 2026) |
HUNT495 | 2025 | Master's Thesis Preparation | 40 points | Full Year, 1st Non standard period (14 July 2025 - 17 June 2026) |
NUTN401 | 2025 | Principles of Human Nutrition | 30 points | Semester 1 |
NUTN402 | 2025 | Nutrition and Health Promotion | 30 points | Semester 1 |
NUTN404 | 2025 | Nutrition and Chronic Disease | 30 points | Semester 2 |
NUTN407 | 2025 | Advanced Sports Nutrition | 30 points | Semester 2 |
NUTN590 | 2025 | Dissertation | 60 points | Semester 1, Semester 2, Full Year, 1st Non standard period (14 July 2025 - 12 June 2026) |
Department of Human Nutrition
Tel +64 3 479 7959
Email human-nutrition@otago.ac.nz
Web otago.ac.nz/humannutrition
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Regulations on this page are taken from the 2025 Calendar and supplementary material.
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