Course Overview

About This Course

Nutritionists create opportunities for people to learn about food and nutrition, design food products to support a healthy diet, influence food systems to foster sustainability, and advocate for a safe and equitable food supply. The nutrition science half covers the science behind food and nutrition, including human physiology and biochemistry and culinary nutrition science, focusing on health promotion and disease prevention for individuals, communities and populations, particularly at-risk groups. The psychological science half helps students understand human functioning across professional settings and delivers a sequence in psychology accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC) as a Level 1 Program, building an advanced understanding of human behaviour and mental processes.

Combining the two allows greater insight into both disciplines: nutrition knowledge can be applied by clinical psychologists working with eating disordered populations and by health psychologists working with chronically ill populations, while nutritionists benefit from psychology's account of the motivations for eating behaviours, how habits are formed and how behavioural change is encouraged. The course requires 320 credit points: 140 credit points of specified psychological science units, 150 of specified nutrition science units, 10 for a community engagement unit and 20 of Core Curriculum units. Placements may be taken with sporting teams and clubs, food production companies, restaurant and catering groups, community health centres, local government, schools and not-for-profit health organisations. Graduates are eligible to apply for registration as a nutritionist with the Nutrition Society of Australia, and the degree meets the academic qualifications for Professional Membership of the Australian Institute of Food Science and Technology, which also requires three years of professional experience.

Where You Can Study

Available Locations

Melbourne

1200 Mair St, Ballarat, VIC 3350

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Student Information

Fees & Entry by Student Type

Tuition Fee

AUD $9,880

Duration

4 years full-time or equivalent part-time

Intakes

Semester 1 intake: Beginning March 2027 (Applications open August 2026) | Midyear (Semester 2) intake: Not offered this intake

Study Mode

Full-time or part-time

Eligibility

Entry Requirements

General Requirements

Domestic students

An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must have completed the following prerequisites at year 12, or equivalent:
- New South Wales: Assumed Knowledge - English (Standard) (Band 2) or English as an Additional Language or Dialect (EALD)
- Victoria: Units 3 and 4 - a study score of at least 25 in English as an Additional Language (EAL) or at least 25 in English other than EAL
Indicative ATAR: 58.50 (Blacktown), 58.50 (Melbourne), 58.50 (Strathfield)
Applicants with higher education study must still meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites. Applicants who have completed at least two units of AQF-recognised study at bachelor level or above are assigned a new selection rank reflecting their study level, duration and grade point average, and prior study or relevant work experience may attract credit or recognition of prior learning.
ACU also assesses applicants on recent secondary education, prior VET study, and work and life experience.

Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2027 Admission. Refer to your relevant Tertiary Admission Centre website for future years' entry requirements.

International students

International applicants need the equivalent of an Australian Year 12 Certificate and must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy, including its English Language Proficiency requirements.
International students completing an Australian Year 12 qualification (either in or outside Australia), an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma or a New Zealand National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) Level 3 must apply for admission through their local Tertiary Admission Centre and are assessed on their performance in those studies, that is, their ATAR or equivalent.

Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2027 Admission. Refer to your relevant Tertiary Admission Centre website for future years' entry requirements.

Career & Study Pathways

Where this takes you

Career Opportunities

Graduates will be qualified to work in:
• Food and nutrition research
• Food and nutrition education
• Food and nutrition communication
• Food and nutrition advice
• Food product design
• Food science and technology
• Food and nutrition policy
• Child welfare and protection
• Case management
• Community work
• Marketing and market research
• Health
• Education
• Human resources

Quality & Recognition

Accreditation & Migration

Academic Regulator

TEQSA

Professional Body

Dietitians Australia (DA)

Accreditation Status

Accredited

Skills Assessor

Dietitians Australia

Course Content

Units of Competency

All Units41 units

PSYC100

Foundations of Psychology

PSYC101

Applications of Psychology

PSYC108

Psychological Practice: Theory and Techniques

PSYC110

Research Design and Data Analysis 1

PSYC200

Life Span Development

PSYC212

Abnormal Psychology

PSYC220

Personality and Individual Differences

PSYC226

Research Design and Data Analysis 2

PSYC227

Social Psychology

PSYC307

Cognitive Psychology

PSYC314

Psychological Assessment

PSYC315

Brain and Behaviour

PSYC323

Research Design and Data Analysis 3

PSYC324

Learning and Behaviour

BIOL125

Human Biology 1

BIOL126

Human Biology 2

BIOL234

Nutritional Physiology

BMSC209

Pathophysiology

CHEM113

Essential Ideas in Chemistry

CHEM206

Advanced Metabolic Biochemistry

CHEM207

Foundations of Biochemistry

NUTR101

Introduction to Nutrition

NUTR102

Culinary Nutrition Science

NUTR202

Lifespan Nutrition

NUTR302

Diet, Health and Disease

NUTR303

Food Science in Practice

NUTR304

Food Product Design and Development

NUTR311

Food, Society, and the Environment

PUBH102

Foundations of Health Promotion

NUTR305

Community and Public Health Nutrition

PHCC102

Being Human

PHCC104

Ethics and the Good Life

PHCC106

Making Sense: Practical Reasoning for Life and Career

THCC100

Revolutionary Values: Christianity in History

THCC101

People Matter: Catholic Social Thought

TPCC100

Life and Meaning: Imagining Ourselves through Art and Cinema

PHCC201

The Origins of the Sciences and Contemporary Challenges

THCC200

Justice in the World: Catholic Social Ethics in Global Perspective

THCC202

Sacred Land: Australian Indigenous Spiritualities and Catholic Thought

TPCC201

Ecology and Justice

TPCC202

Conflict, Violence and Peace-making

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

What fields of study does this dual degree cover?

The Bachelor of Psychological Science/Bachelor of Nutrition Science covers two fields: the first qualification is in Behavioural Science (under Society and Culture), and the second qualification is in Nutrition and Dietetics (under Health). This dual degree allows students to gain expertise in both psychological and nutritional sciences.

How long does the Bachelor of Psychological Science/Bachelor of Nutrition Science take to complete?

The course has a duration of 208 weeks, which is approximately four years of full-time study.

Where can I study this dual degree?

ACU lists three campuses for this course: Blacktown and Strathfield in New South Wales and Melbourne in Victoria. For NSW students, nutrition science units are undertaken at the Blacktown campus and psychology units at the Strathfield campus. ACU lists Melbourne and Strathfield as the campuses available to international students.

What is the estimated total cost of the course for international students?

The estimated total tuition cost for international students is AU$133,440, based on ACU's indicative first-year fee of AU$33,360 across the four years of the course, with no additional non-tuition fees listed.

Is this course eligible for extended Post-Study Work Rights?

Eligibility for extended Post-Study Work Rights depends on several criteria including course status, qualification level, duration (92 weeks or greater), and alignment of the narrow Field of Education with the Skills Level 1 priority list. This course is a bachelor degree with a duration of 208 weeks, but specific eligibility should be confirmed with the Department of Education at ESOS-PolicyTeam@education.gov.au, as eligibility is reviewed yearly.

Application

How to Apply

Three simple steps to get enrolled

Step 01

Enquire

Click "Enquire Now" and tell us a little about yourself. It's free and takes 2 minutes.

Step 02

Submit Documents

Our team will guide you on exactly which documents to prepare and submit.

Step 03

Get Enrolled

Receive your offer letter and confirm your enrolment. Welcome to the course!

Course Snapshot

Salary, careers & skills

Typical Salary

Entry-level (0-2 years)AUD $61,000 to $80,000 per year

Early Career (2-5 years)AUD $80,000 to $100,000 per year

Mid-Level (5-10 years)AUD $100,000 to $124,000 per year

Career Paths

Clinical PsychologistCounselling PsychologistOrganisational / Industrial PsychologistForensic PsychologistSchool Psychologist / Educational Psychologist

Key Skills

Critical thinking and evidence-based reasoningPsychological assessment and diagnostic interviewingQuantitative and qualitative research design and analysisTherapeutic communication and active listeningReport writing and clinical documentation

Full Course Overview

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