Bachelor of Food and Nutrition Science
Feed our future
Food is fundamental to our wellbeing as a society. New approaches to production and processing of food, as well as to our diet, are key for health and sustainability.
The Australian food and beverage industry exports $40 billion a year and is growing rapidly. There is a high demand for food and nutrition scientists able to tackle today's challenges and meet tomorrows global needs.
What will you do?
Our Bachelor of Food and Nutrition Science prepares you to educate and innovate with food. You will:
- tackle global issues like food security and population health to help feed the world into the future
- learn about food systems and production from ‘farm-gate to fork’
- gain hands-on experience through 120 hours of placement in a food, nutrition or health organisation
- learn how to design, formulate, produce, package and market foods under industry conditions
- develop the skills to use and alter food to combat diet-related health issues
- experiment with chemical composition and flavour combinations in the lab
- explore ways of developing sustainable, nutritious, safe and healthy food supplies.
Where could it take you?
You could work in public health advertising, developing food and nutrition policy, regulations and resources. You might pursue microbiology and increase the nutrient density of plant-based protein products. Perhaps you’ll take on a role in food quality assurance, waste management or education. You’ll also be eligible to apply for registration as an associate nutritionist, or could use the program as a pathway into dietetics.
Direct access to industry leaders and paid internship opportunities: The Academy by Deloitte
This degree gives you the opportunity to be part of our new The Academy by Deloitte You’ll be part of a supportive student cohort that learns from one another and industry leaders. Formal and informal experiences will allow you to build relationships within the Deloitte network.
*Academic Ranking of World Universities by Subject, 2022
Entry Requirements
Choose your applicant type to view the relevant admissions
information for this program.
I am a:
Domestic applicants
| SATAC Code | 314761 |
|---|---|
| 2023 CSP ATAR | 68.85 |
| 2023 CSP IB | 25 |
| Guaranteed Entry Score - ATAR | 75 |
| Guaranteed Entry Score - IB | 27.5 |
| Deferment | Yes - 2 year |
| Intake | February and July |
| Assumed Knowledge | Stage 2 Chemistry and Mathematical Methods IB: Mathematics: Applications and Interpretations (HL) or Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (SL), Chemistry. |
Selection Criteria
| Recent Secondary Education | Applicants with recent secondary education are those whose admission is primarily based on the completion of Year 12 within the last two years, however if you completed your secondary education more than two years ago, you may still be able to be considered on the basis of your secondary schooling. You must not have completed more than 2 years full time equivalent university study (48 units). You compete for a place with your Selection Rank (ATAR plus any applicable adjustment factors). Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information. |
|---|---|
| Higher Education Study | You must have completed at least six months full time equivalent higher education study (the number of courses and units will vary depending on your prior institution however at the University of Adelaide, this equates to 4 courses / 12 units). A Grade Point Average (GPA) is calculated for each separate program you have undertaken (apart from some double degree programs where the GPA is combined). You compete on the basis of your best GPA. Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information. |
| Vocational Education and Training (VET) study | You must have completed an AQF Certificate IV or above from a Registered Training Organisation. Your application will be ranked according to the level of the award. Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information. |
| Work and life experience | To be eligible to sit the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) as a pathway for entry, you must be 18 years or over before 1 February 2024. If you have studied at higher education level in the last two years (for 2024 entry this means you were enrolled in either 2023 or 2022), you must not have accumulated more than a TOTAL of 2 years full-time (or part-time equivalent) higher education study (ie. including any study prior to 2022). If you meet this criteria, you will be ranked according to your result in the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). Your STAT result is not weighted between verbal and quantitative components. Indigenous applicants may be eligible for entry through the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Access Pathway. See Wirltu Yarlu for further information. |
| Other Entry Pathways | |
2023 Admissions Data for school leavers
| ATAR (raw ATAR, excluding any applicable adjustment factors) |
Lowest ATAR to receive an offer | 66.25 |
|---|---|---|
| Median ATAR to receive an offer | 76.13 | |
| Highest ATAR to receive an offer | 94 | |
| Selection Rank (ATAR plus any adjustment factors) |
Lowest Selection Rank to receive an offer | 68.85 |
| Median Selection Rank to receive an offer | 83.28 | |
| Highest Selection Rank to receive an offer | 96 | |
| Minimum eligibility score | 65 | |
| Additional criteria considered | Selection rank only | |
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Admissions Transparency Data
Student Profile
Applicant background Semester one/Full year intake 2023 Number of students Percentage of all students (A) Higher Education study
(includes a bridging or enabling course)<5 N/A (B) Vocational education and training (VET) study N/A N/A (C) Work and life experience
(admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories)N/A N/A (D) Recent secondary education: - Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR
(regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors)
<5 N/A - Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were considered
(e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR)
N/A N/A - Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was not a factor
(e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement)
N/A N/A International students 20 74.1% All students 27 100.0% - Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR
Ready to Apply?
Find out more about the application process and start your studies at the University of Adelaide.
Be sure to check the critical dates to avoid missing application deadlines.
ApplyFees and Scholarships
Choose your applicant type to view the relevant fees and scholarships information for this program.
I am a:
Domestic applicants
| Indicative annual tuition fees |
Commonwealth-supported place: $8,830
|
Where the standard duration of the program is less than one year the full cost of the program is displayed.
More information on Student Contribution Amounts.
Scholarships
Scholarships are not only for high achievers—they are also available to provide students with an equal opportunity to study at university, no matter where they live or what their financial situation might be.
Scholarships are available to both new and continuing students. We encourage students to apply for any scholarships for which they may be eligible.
To browse scholarships offered by the University, visit: University Scholarships
To explore scholarships offered by organisations external to the University, visit: External Scholarships
Careers
Career Readiness
Students who as part of their studies take part in The Academy by Deloitte experience will have the benefit of undertaking a paid internship with Deloitte. This internship is designed to shape their business readiness through significant real-world client exposure, access to multiple networking opportunities and relevant professional training.
Employment opportunities
The food industry is growing rapidly in Australia and all over the world.
This degree offers a wide range of career opportunities including:
• quality control and auditing
• nutritional advice and support
• new product development
• innovative food technology
• marketing and labelling
• public health nutrition
• research in food science and nutrition
• policy development
• education
Our graduates have ample opportunities for career progression into management and leadership positions.
You could be:
Providing nutrition and health support and advice on product development and reformulation, marketing and labelling claims and the development of education and promotional resource materials (e.g. Dairy Australia, Woolworths Fresh Kids site), working as a researcher, advisor or technical assistant/manager in the area of food, nutrition and health within organisations such as universities, hospitals, food industries, CSIRO, Food Standards Australia New Zealand, SARDI and Foundations such as the Cancer Foundation, Osteoporosis Australia, National Heart Foundation, Diabetes Australia, and other public health organisations.
The University of Adelaide Careers Service prepares, inspires and empowers students to achieve successful career transitions and connect with industry.
Graduate Attributes
The objective of this program is to produce graduates with specific attributes as outlined in University of Adelaide Graduate Attributes.- Deep discipline knowledge and intellectual breadth
- Creative and critical thinking, and problem solving
- Teamwork and communication skills
- Professionalism and leadership readiness
- Intercultural and ethical competency
- Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural competency
- Digital capabilities
- Self-awareness and emotional intelligence
Industry Placement
This provides hands-on experience in a potential career pathway. Experiences may include: recipe, new product and menu development, nutritional composition and analysis, sensory testing, application and development of hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) plans, working with innovative food manufacturing and processing techniques and the application of public health nutrition policies, such as healthy eating and dietary guidelines to real-life situations. You gain experience in teamwork, work, health and safety (WHS) and evaluation.
Professional Accreditation
A note on nutrition and dietetics accreditation:
A nutritionist is a tertiary qualified nutrition professional that has the expertise to provide a range of evidence based nutrition services related to nutrition, public health nutrition, policy and research, and community health (1).
Food and Nutrition Science graduates who would also like to be able to practice as an accredited dietitian, will need to complete a post-graduate degree in Dietetics (generally an additional 2 years of full-time study on top of the undergraduate food and nutrition science degree).
The Bachelor of Food and Nutrition Science offers a pre-dietetics pathway for those students interested in continuing with postgraduate study in order to become an accredited dietitian. To be eligible for most Masters of Dietetics programs in Australia, students must complete the pre-dietetics elective pathway and achieve a grade point average of at least 5 out of 7, on finishing the food and nutrition science degree.
(1) Dieticians Association of Australia
Potential careers
Graduates of this program have gone on to roles such as:
Food Scientist, Food Technologist; Farmer; Food Standards Officer; Flavour Chemist; Market Researcher; Science Communicators; Scientific Data Analyst; Scientific Officer; Government or Corporate Policy Adviser; Health Promotion Professional ...
Degree Structure
Students gain experience in communication, project management, research and team work, they learn about regulatory frameworks ensuring that they can contribute to the food and health industries of the future.
Academic Program Rules
The Calendar is a comprehensive handbook of the University's academic program rules.
- Core courses to the value of 63 units
- Elective courses to the value of 9 units
- Level I courses not exceeding 30 units
- Level III Science courses to the value of at least 24 units.
Example Study Plan
Core courses
| Level I | |
| All students must complete the following courses: | BIOLOGY 1101 Biology I: Molecules, Genes and Cells BIOLOGY 1201 Biology I: Human Perspectives FOOD SC 1000RG 'Farm-Gate to Fork' - Food Production I FOOD SC 1001WT Nutrition I FOOD SC 1002RG The Science and Technology of Food Production I STATS 1004 Statistical Practice I (Life Sciences) and courses to the value of 6 units from the following: CHEM 1100 Chemistry IA CHEM 1200 Chemistry IB or CHEM 1101 Foundations of Chemistry IA CHEM 1201 Foundations of Chemistry IB |
| Level II | |
| All students must complete the following courses: | BIOCHEM 2501 Biochemistry II: Metabolism FOOD SC 2502WT Food Microbiology II FOOD SC 2505WT Food Quality and Regulation II FOOD SC 2510WT Nutrition II PLANT SC 2520WT Microbiology and Biotechnology II |
| Level III | |
| All students must complete the following courses: | FOOD SC 3028WT Sensory Evaluation of Foods III FOOD SC 3502WT Nutrition III FOOD SC 3505WT Public Health Nutrition III FOOD SC 3021WT Food Product Development III FOOD SC 3503WT Food Processing Technology III FOOD SC 3520WT Nutrition and Food Science Internship FOOD SC 3530WT Food Preservation and Packaging Techniques III FOOD SC 3540WT Food Chemistry III |
Assessment
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Varies with individual courses and includes a combination of oral presentations, written assignments , practical or examination work
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Testimonial
My degree has equipped me with a deep discipline knowledge of food biochemistry and nutrient physiology.
The University of Adelaide is committed to regular reviews of the courses and programs it offers to students. The University of Adelaide therefore reserves the right to discontinue or vary programs and courses without notice. Please read the important information contained in the disclaimer.
Last updated: Thursday, 6 Jun 2024
