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Distance learning is a practical way to study nutrition for working professionals such as:

  • Public health professionals
  • General practitioners
  • Nurses
  • Pharmacists
  • Physiotherapists
  • Dentists
  • Naturopaths
  • Midwives
  • School teachers with a background in biological sciences (eg Physical Education teachers, Food Technology or Home Economics teachers)

The Department of Human Nutrition offers postgraduate study in Health Sciences qualifications. These programmes and papers are designed for New Zealand health and education professionals who want to update their nutrition knowledge and skills in order to enhance the service they provide.

They are available to those with a Bachelor of Science (BSc), Bachelor of Physical Education (BPhEd), Bachelor of Consumer and Applied Science (BCApSc) or Bachelor of Applied Science (BAppSc) degree that includes biological sciences (or equivalent qualification), a Health Sciences degree, or an acceptable tertiary-level qualification requiring at least three years' full-time tertiary study (e.g. nursing, pharmacy or physiotherapy). A background in nutrition is not required.

These are academic rather than professional qualifications. The papers are not intended to enable participants to dispense therapeutic advice to individuals with complex medical conditions. By gaining an enhanced knowledge and understanding of nutrition, participants will gain an appreciation of the situations where referral to a qualified dietitian is appropriate.

Papers & Programmes available

The four distance taught papers can be studied individually as part of other health sciences qualifications, or together they can be used to enrol in a programme endorsed in Human Nutrition.

Human Nutrition Distance-taught Programmes

Papers are offered every year: semester 1 NUTN401 and NUTN402, semester 2 NUTN404 and NUTN407

Papers can be taken in any order. We strongly advise you to complete NUTN401 before NUTN404.

For more detailed information about any of these papers (including fees).

Student Profiles

Moira Smith Photo

Moira Smith was a dentist with her own suburban practice when she decided to embark on study in human nutrition - an area not totally related to her profession.

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Karen Munting Photo

Karen Munting, a registered nurse, has found her distance learning in human nutrition and chronic disease (NUTN404) very applicable not only in her career, but also personally. Karen is completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Health Care endorsed in Long-term Condition Management, and decided that a human nutrition paper would add depth to her qualification.

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