As individuals we are involved in human nutrition everyday we eat to keep alive, but we also eat to connect with other people, to express our culture, and for the enjoyment of eating. During your undergraduate study you will learn about how foods and eating influence your health and wellbeing and the health and wellbeing of others in a combination of lectures, hands on practicals and laboratory classes and small group case study type tutorials. The skills and knowledge you obtain during your degree can lead into a variety of career pathways.
Human Nutrition also offers a variety of papers and minors to undergraduate students who are not majoring in Nutrition. These include HUNT141 Understanding Human Nutrition, HUNT245 Sport and Exercise Nutrition, HUNT241 Fundamentals of Nutrients and Health, HUNT242 Nutritional Assessment and HUNT243 Lifecycle Nutrition.
Students intending to study any of the degrees in Human Nutrition are strongly recommended to take:
- Year 12 (NCEA Level 2) Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics with Statistics, and English, and
- Year 13 (NCEA Level 3) Mathematics with Statistics and particularly Chemistry
- For the Bachelor of Biomedical Science, you should also study Biology in Year 13 (NCEA Level 3)
Undergraduate degrees you can enrol in include:
Information about the Department of Human Nutrition's minor options can be found here.
- Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Human Nutrition
- Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (BBiomedSc) in Nutrition and Metabolism in Human Health
An undergraduate degree consists of 360 points of which 180 points must be above 100-level (of those 72 points must be above 200-level).
Bachelor of Science (BSc) majoring in Human Nutrition
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | BIOC 192 Foundations of Biochemistry | 18 |
| CHEM 191 The Chemical Basis of Biology and Human Health | 18 | |
| HUBS 191 Human Body Systems 1, or PTWY 131 Introduction to the Human Body | 18 | |
| HUBS 192 Human Body Systems 2 | 18 | |
| HUNT 141 Understanding Human Nutrition
Note: PTWY 131 is only available to students enrolled in the Diploma in Science. | 18 | |
| 200-level | HUNT 241 Fundamentals of Nutrients and Health | 18 |
| HUNT 242 Nutritional Assessment | 18 | |
| HUNT 243 Lifecycle Nutrition | 18 | |
| 300-level | HUNT 341 Nutrition and Behaviour Change Communication | 18 |
| HUNT 342 Nutrition and Chronic Diseases | 18 | |
| HUNT 343 Community and Public Health Nutrition | 18 | |
| One of: | 18 | |
| Plus |
144 further points; (POPH 192 recommended) Must include 54 points at 200-level or above. Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Science. Note: Cannot be taken by students majoring in Sport and Exercise Nutrition. | 144 |
| Total | 360 |
Bachelor of Biomedical Sciences (BBiomedSc) majoring in Nutrition and Metabolism in Human Health
Some small changes to the programme structure for the BBiomedSc will take effect from 2026.
Students currently enrolled in the BBiomedSc or the Biomedical Sciences First Year will complete their degree under the new requirements. For most students, there will be no change in terms of which papers are required to complete the degree, but there may be more flexibility around when those papers can be taken.
If you would like to discuss your options further, please contact the Student Development team for course advice:
BBiomedSc majoring in Nutrition and Metabolism in Human Health
(current until end of semester 2, 2025)
| Year | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1st year | BIOC 192 Foundations of Biochemistry | 18 |
| CELS 191 Cell and Molecular Biology | 18 | |
| CHEM 191 The Chemical Basis of Biology and Human Health | 18 | |
| HUBS 191 Human Body Systems 1 | 18 | |
| HUBS 192 Human Body Systems 2 | 18 | |
|
36 further points HUNT 141 Understanding Human Nutrition, MAOR 102 Māori Society, PHSI 191 Biological Physics, STAT 110 Statistical Methods or STAT 115 Introduction to Biostatistics recommended. | 36 | |
| 2nd year | BIOC 223 Cellular Biochemistry and Metabolism | 18 |
| HUNT 241 Fundamentals of Nutrients and Health | 18 | |
| HUNT 243 Lifecycle Nutrition or HUNT 245 Sport and Exercise Nutrition | 18 | |
|
At least 54 further points from ANAT 241, BIOC 221, GENE 221, GENE 222, MICR 221, MICR 223
, PATH 201, PHSL 232, PHSL 233 (FOSC 201, FOSC 202, HUNT 242, HUNT 243 , HUNT 245, SPEX 203, SPEX 205)* | 54 | |
| 18 further points | 18 | |
| * Maximum of two papers can be taken from the list in brackets. | ||
| 3rd year | HUNT 342 Nutrition and Chronic Disease | 18 |
| And one of: | 18 | |
| BIOC 353 Molecular Basis of Health and Disease, HUNT 345 Applied Sports Nutrition or HUNT 346 Global Nutrition and Health | ||
|
At least 36 further points from ANAT 331, BIOC 352, BIOC 353, BMSC 321, GENE 313, GENE 315, MICR 332,
PATH 301
, PATH 302, PHSL 344, PHSL 345 (FOSC 301, FOSC 302, HUNT 343, HUNT 345 , HUNT 346, SPEX 303)* | 36 | |
| 36 further points | 36 | |
| * Only one paper can be taken from the list in brackets. | ||
| Total | 360 |
BBiomedSc majoring in Nutrition and Metabolism in Human Health (from 2026)
| Level | Papers | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 100-level | BIOC 192 Foundations of Biochemistry | 18 |
| CELS 191 Cell and Molecular Biology | 18 | |
| CHEM 191 The Chemical Basis of Biology and Human Health | 18 | |
| HUBS 191 Human Body Systems 1 (or PTWY 131 Introduction to the Human Body) | 18 | |
| HUBS 192 Human Body Systems 2 | 18 | |
| HUNT 141 Understanding Human Nutrition | 18 | |
|
Recommended: MAOR 102 Māori Society PHSI 191 Biological Physics STAT 110 Statistical Methods or STAT 115 Introduction to Biostatistics | ||
| Note: PTWY 131 is only available to students enrolled in the Diploma in Science. | ||
| 200-level | BIOC 223 Cellular Biochemistry and Metabolism | 18 |
| HUNT 241 Fundamentals of Nutrients and Health | 18 | |
| HUNT 243 Lifecycle Nutrition or HUNT 245 Sport and Exercise Nutrition | 18 | |
|
At least three of: ANAT 241 Human Biology: Cells to Systems BIOC 221 Molecular Biology GENE 221 Molecular and Microbial Genetics GENE 222 Genes, Chromosomes and Populations MICR 221 Microbes to Medicine MICR 223 Infection and Immunity PATH 201 Foundations in Human Pathology PHSL 232 Cardiovascular and Respiratory Physiology PHSL 233 Cellular, Gastrointestinal and Renal Physiology (FOSC 201, FOSC 202, HUNT 242, HUNT 243 , HUNT 245, SPEX 203, SPEX 205)* | 54 | |
| * Maximum of two papers can be taken from the list in brackets. | ||
| 300-level | HUNT 342 Nutrition and Chronic Disease | 18 |
| BIOC 353 Molecular Basis of Health and Disease or HUNT 345 Applied Sports Nutrition or HUNT 346 Global Nutrition and Health | 18 | |
|
At least two of: ANAT 331 Functional Anatomy BIOC 352 Advanced Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics BIOC 353 Molecular Basis of Health and Disease BMSC 321 Cell Biology GENE 313 Medical Genetics GENE 315 Genomes MICR 332 Health Microbiology PATH 301 Advanced Pathology PATH 302 Cancer Biology PHSL 344 Cardiovascular Physiology PHSL 345 Physiological Aspects of Health and Disease (FOSC 301, FOSC 302 , HUNT 343 , HUNT 345, HUNT 346, SPEX 303)* | 36 | |
| * Only one paper can be taken from the list in brackets. | ||
| Plus | 72 further points | 72 |
| Note: If thinking of doing BBiomedSc Hons, then students must take at least 126 points at 200-level and 90 points at 300-level. | ||
| Total | 360 |
View our list of frequently asked questions
How will I study as an undergraduate of Human Nutrition?
Your study will consist of:
- lectures
- tutorials and workshops
- self-directed learning
- practicals and laboratories
- group work
Throughout your degree you will be take part in studies that will tell you more about your own body and health. You will learn about how nutrients affect human health and how deficiency or excess might lead to disease and you will learn about food in much broader behavioural, cultural and community contexts as well. In our 300 level papers students learn how to promote health through motivational interviewing, behaviour change methods, policies and community initiatives. We also have sports nutrition papers for those interested in elite sports or exercise for health, and an applied nutrition paper where you learn how to develop recipes, and get to cook food, eat food and work in Human Nutrition's very own food truck.
Assessment is a combination of tests, assignments, reports, scientific articles and presentations completed individually and in groups. The team at the department are renowned for being helpful and friendly. They ensure you get plenty of feedback during your study and seek feedback from you also.