What is MSc Nutrition and Dietetics?
The MSc Nutrition is a two-year postgraduate course and focuses on offering advanced education and training in the fields of dietetics and nutrition. It includes knowledge of research methods, therapeutic nutrition, community nutrition, and food science. The number of health-conscious individuals has grown drastically in the past few years, which has led to an increase in the demand for this course.
Further Reading: What is an MSc Degree?
- MSc Nutrition and Dietetics eligibility is students with a BSc in Nutrition and Dietetics, BSc Microbiology, BSc Dietetics, BSc Home Science, Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery, or a similar discipline bachelor's degree with minimum 50% marks.
- MSc in Nutrition and Dietetics admission is generally done through Merit with very few institutions opting for Entrance. The Entrance exams for this course are BITSAT, IIT JAM, TISS NET, NEST, and CUET PG.
- The MSc in Nutrition and Dietetics average fee is INR 5,000 – 4 LPA and some of the top colleges that offer admission into this course are, Lovely Professional University, Banaras Hindu University, Amity University, Chandigarh University, and Shoolini University.
- MSc Nutrition and Dietetics subjects include Advanced Nutrition, Medical Nutrition therapy Nutritional Biochemistry, Food Microbiology, Nutrigenomics, and Food Safety.
- For further studies, students can pursue an MPhil in Food Science and Nutrition, a PhD in Nutrition and Dietetics, and Post Graduate Diploma in Dietetics and Applied Nutrition, etc.
- MSc in Nutrition and Dietetics jobs include Clinical Nutritionist/Dietitian, Food Service Manager, Health and Wellness Coach, Nutrition Educator, in a and Food Technologist. The average salary graduates earn after clearing this course is up to INR 2 – 12 LPA.
- MSc in Nutrition and Dietetics top recruiters are Apollo Hospitals, Abbott, Max Healthcare, VLCC, Nestle, and P&G.
Also Read: MSc Admission 2024
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MSc Nutrition and Dietetics: Course Details
| Details | Particulars |
| Course Name | MSc Nutrition and Dietetics |
| Course Level | Postgraduate |
| Course Full Form | Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics |
| Course Duration | 2 Years |
| Course Types | Full-time and Distance Education |
| Admission Process | Primarily Merit Based |
| Eligibility Criteria | BSc Nutrition and Dietetics, BSc Microbiology, BSc Dietetics, BSc Home Science, Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery, or a similar discipline bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% marks. |
| Entrance Exams | BITSAT, IIT JAM, TISS NET, NEST and CUET PG. |
| Course Fees | INR 5,000 – 4 LPA |
| Top Colleges | Lovely Professional University, Banaras Hindu University, Amity University, Chandigarh University and Shoolini University. |
| Average Salary in India | INR 2 – 12 LPA |
| Job Profiles | Clinical Nutritionist/Dietitian, Food Service Manager, Health and Wellness Coach, Nutrition Educator and Food Technologist |
| Top Recruiters | Apollo Hospitals, Abbott, Max Healthcare, VLCC, Nestle and P&G |
Why Should you pursue MSc in Nutrition and Dietetics?
- Growing Demand: The demand for qualified nutritionists and dieticians is rapidly increasing as people are becoming more health-conscious and aware of the impact of their food choices on their overall well-being.
- Career Opportunities: This course opens a wide range of career options for graduates such as hospitals, clinics, food companies, research institutions, government agencies, and non-profit organizations, among others.
- Impactful Career: As a graduate in MSc Nutrition and Dietetics, an individual makes a significant impact on people's lives by helping them in eating healthy, and managing conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
- Holistic Approach: A holistic approach to health, which considers a person's physical, emotional, and mental well-being, is emphasized in the MSc in Nutrition and Dietetics program.
- Personal Health Benefits: This course is designed to provide a deeper understanding of food in maintaining health and preventing disease, which can be applied to a graduate's life and the lives of their loved ones.
Who Should Pursue MSc Nutrition and Dietetics?
MSc Nutrition and Dietetics will be suitable for the following people:
- A science background is an advantage when pursuing an MSc in Nutrition and Dietetics degree, as it involves a significant number of scientific principles and concepts.
- Students with a bachelor's degree in BSc Nutrition and Dietetics, BSc Microbiology, BSc Dietetics, BSc Home Science, Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery, or a similar discipline.
MSc Nutrition and Dietetics: Course Types
MSc Nutrition and Dietetics is offered to students in two modes that can be pursued full-time or via distance education.
- MSc Nutrition and Dietetics Full-time: This course is designed systematically and provides both theoretical and practical knowledge to the students. To build a strong foundation in MSc Nutrition and Dietetics, various aspects of nutrition and dietetics are taught such as Community Nutrition, Nutritional Epidemiology, Public Health Nutrition, and Nutritional Biochemistry.
- MSc Nutrition and Dietetics Distance Education: This option is available for students who cannot pursue this course on a full-time basis and require flexibility in choosing their study time. A candidate with this degree gets the same career opportunities as a regular student but this method of learning might not provide practical knowledge and focus heavily on theory.
MSc Nutrition and Dietetics: Fees
Given below is a list of colleges that offer MSc in Nutrition and Dietetics, along with their respective locations, average course fees, and salary packages after the course:
Name of the College/University | Location | Average Course Fees | Average Salary Package |
Punjab | INR 4 LPA | INR 5 LPA | |
Uttar Pradesh | INR 13,000 | INR 8 LPA | |
Uttar Pradesh | INR 3 LPA | INR 3.8 LPA | |
Chandigarh | INR 4 LPA | INR 6.2 LPA | |
Himachal Pradesh | INR 2 LPA | INR 3 LPA | |
Punjab | INR 89,000 | INR 5.7 LPA | |
Rajasthan | INR 2 LPA | INR 3.6 LPA | |
Tamil Nadu | INR 4 LPA | INR 4.5 LPA | |
Karnataka | INR 2 LPA | INR 3.85 LPA | |
Kerala | INR 1 LPA | INR 5 LPA |
Also Read: Top MSc Colleges in India
MSc Nutrition and Dietetics: Distance Education
MSc Nutrition and Dietetics via Distance Education is a great option for students who need the freedom to choose when to study and are unable to take this course full-time. Given below are some of the key highlights of this course:
- To be eligible for this course students with a BSc in Nutrition and Dietetics, BSc Microbiology, Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery, BSc Dietetics, BSc Home Science, or a similar discipline bachelor's degree with minimum 40% marks is required.
- MSc Nutrition and Dietetics via Distance Education course fees range between INR 23,000 – 46,000 LPA.
- This course takes two years to complete, although some universities may offer longer-duration programs.
- The study material for a distance education program in India is provided through printed books, e-books, and online resources.
- Students are required to complete assignments and appear for exams as part of the MSc Nutrition and Dietetics via Distance Education program.
- The average salary after the completion of MSc in Nutrition and Dietetics via Distance Education is INR 3 – 7 LPA.
Given below is a list of colleges/universities that offer MSc in Nutrition and Dietetics via Distance Education along with their location and course fees:
Name of the College/University | Location | Average Course Fees |
Delhi NCR | INR 32,400 | |
Tamil Nadu | INR 20,000 | |
Sikkim | INR 50,000 | |
Tamil Nadu | INR 30,000 |
Further Reading: MSc Psychology Distance Education
MSc Nutrition and Dietetics: Admission Process
It is highly recommended that aspirants score well in their bachelor's because admission into this course is mainly done through merit lists. However, some universities do conduct one at their college level to select candidates. Given below is an overview of the admission procedure:
MSc Nutrition and Dietetics Admission: Merit-Based
- An aspirant should score more than 50% marks in bachelor's examinations to be applicable for merit-based admission.
- Apply to the desired college through their official website or by physically visiting the institution and filling out the application form.
- Make sure to check the eligibility criteria and have all the required documents (Bachelor's Degree, 10th and 12th Certificates, Aadhar Card, Photographs, etc.) in hand.
- Merit lists are usually updated on the official website of the colleges and need to be checked regularly by the aspirant.
- If selected, the aspirant can pay the required fees and the admission process will be complete.
- Finally, candidates must attend the counseling or orientation organized by the institution for further details, if selected from the merit list.
MSc Nutrition and Dietetics Admission: Entrance-Based
- Apply to the desired college through their official website or by physically visiting the institution and filling out the application form.
- The application form will require the candidates to register themselves with an email ID, password, and mobile number along with academic and course details.
- The candidate is required to upload the necessary documents online, such as Bachelor's Degree, Photograph, 10th, and 12th Certificates, Aadhar Card etc.)
- Once the form is complete, the candidate will be asked to pay a minimal amount of application fee.
- It is advised to check the website regularly for updates on the admit card, entrance exam, and entrance exam syllabus.
- Admit cards will be issued to all the eligible students which will have important information such as the date of the examination, examination center, and timings.
- The college/university will then publish lists according to their cut-off and seat availability.
- If selected, a candidate should pay the course fee as soon as possible and attend the orientation/counseling organized by the college for further information.
MSc Nutrition and Dietetics: Eligibility
To be eligible for this course, a candidate must fulfill the following mandatory criteria:
- BSc Nutrition and Dietetics, BSc Microbiology, BSc Biology, BSc Dietetics, BSc Home Science, Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery, or a similar discipline bachelor's degree with a minimum 50% marks for full-time MSc Nutrition and Dietetics.
- BSc Nutrition and Dietetics, BSc Microbiology, BSc Biology, BSc Dietetics, BSc Home Science, Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery, or a similar discipline bachelor's degree with a minimum 40% marks for full-time MSc Nutrition and Dietetics.
MSc Nutrition and Dietetics: Entrance Exams
Given below are the details of some of the entrance exams conducted by various universities along with their details for MSc in Nutrition and Dietetics:
MSc Nutrition and Dietetics: Subjects
Given below is a table of subjects that are taught in MSc Nutrition and Dietetics in India:
| Subjects | ||
| Food Science and Nutrition | Food Microbiology and Safety | Nutritional Epidemiology |
| Principles of Biochemistry | Food and Nutrition Policy | Nutritional Anthropometry and Techniques |
| Nutritional Assessment and Screening | Statistical Methods in Nutrition Research | Food Service Management |
| Nutritional Toxicology | Nutrition and Food Allergies | Nutrition and Metabolic Disorders |
MSc Nutrition and Dietetics: Syllabus
The course is divided into 4 Semesters which must be covered in 2 years. The syllabus of MSc Nutrition and Dietetics will vary from college to college; however, a brief of the syllabus is given in the following table:
MSc Nutrition and Dietetics: Syllabus 1st Year | |
Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
Food Science | Advanced Nutrition – 1 |
Diet Therapy 1 | Diet Therapy 2 |
Nutrition through Developmental Stages | Community Nutrition |
Nutraceuticals and Functional Foods | Food Cost and Quality Control |
Human Physiology | Nutrition and Food Allergies |
Public Health Nutrition | Dissertation/Project Work |
MSc Nutrition and Dietetics: Syllabus 2nd Year | |
Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
Therapeutic Nutrition in Clinical Practise | Food Service Management |
Nutrition and Metabolic Disorders | Sports and Fitness Nutrition |
Nutrition Counselling and Communication | Nutritional Assessment and Screening |
Statistical Methods in Nutrition Research | Medical Nutrition Therapy |
Nutritional Epidemiology | Nutritional Biochemistry |
Food Microbiology and Safety | Dissertation/Project Work |
MSc Nutrition and Dietetics: Recommended Books
Given below are the names of some recognized nutritionists' books along with their authors in the field of Nutrition and Dietetics that a candidate must read to gain further knowledge in the course:
Name of the Book | Author's Name |
Krause's Food & the Nutrition Care Process | L. Kathleen Mahan and Janice L. Raymond |
Nutrition and Dietetics' 6th Edition | B. Srilakshmi |
Food Science | B. Srilakshmi |
Dietitian's Handbook of Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition | Annalynn Skipper |
Understanding Normal and Clinical Nutrition | Sharon Rady Rolfes, Kathryn Pinna, and Ellie Whitney |
Nutritional Biochemistry | Tom Brody |
Public Health Nutrition | Judith L. Buttriss and Ailsa A. Welch |
Sports and Exercise Nutrition | William D. McArdle, Frank I. Katch, and Victor L. Katch |
Nutrition Counseling and Education Skills: A Guide for Professionals | Judith Beto and Denise Holston-Bolden |
Clinical Nutrition: A Functional Approach | Jeffrey Bland and Mark Hyman |
MSc Nutrition and Dietetics: Top Colleges in India
| Name of the College/University | Location | Average Course Fees |
| Lovely Professional University | Punjab | INR 4 LPA |
| Andhra University | Andhra Pradesh | INR 40,000 |
| Berhampur University | Odisha | INR 20,000 |
| Banaras Hindu University | Uttar Pradesh | INR 13,000 |
| Amity University | Uttar Pradesh | INR 3 LPA |
| Manav Rachna International University | Haryana | INR 1.92 LPA |
| Chandigarh University | Chandigarh | INR 4 LPA |
| Shoolini University | Himachal Pradesh | INR 2 LPA |
| Guru Nanak Dev University | Punjab | INR 89,000 |
| Banasthali Vidyapith | Rajasthan | INR 2 LPA |
| SGT University | Haryana | INR 2 LPA |
| Vellore Institute of Technology | Tamil Nadu | INR 4 LPA |
| University of Mysore | Karnataka | INR 2 LPA |
| Mahatma Gandhi University | Kerala | INR 1 LPA |
| Kurukshetra University | Haryana | INR 16,000 |
| SRM University | Uttar Pradesh | INR 1 LPA |
MSc Nutrition and Dietetics: Jobs and Salary
| Job Profile | Description | Average Salary |
| Clinical Nutritionist/Dietician | Clinical nutritionists/dieticians provide maximize medical nutrition therapy to patients with a range of medical disorders in hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare settings. | INR 2 – 3 LPA |
| Community Nutritionist | Community nutritionists work with communities, schools, and public health organizations to promote healthy eating habits and prevent nutrition-related diseases. | INR 2 – 3 LPA |
| Sports Nutritionist | Sports nutritionists collaborate with athletes to create dietary regimens that will maximize performance and hasten healing following exercise or injury. | INR 4 LPA |
| Food Quality Manager | Food quality managers are responsible for ensuring that the food products meet the safety and quality standards set by the Indian government. | INR 1.5 – 3 LPA |
| Food Technologist | Food technologists work in the food industry, developing new food products, and ensuring their safety and quality. | INR 2 – 4 LPA |
Public Health Specialist
| Public Health Specialists work with government health departments to develop and implement public health policies related to nutrition and dietetics. | INR 3.2 – 5 LPA |
| Researcher | With an MSc Nutrition and Dietetics, on organizations can also pursue a research career, working in research institutions, universities, or as a consultant. | INR 4 – 6 LPA |
Further Reading: MSc Jobs in India
MSc Nutrition and Dietetics: Top Recruiters
Upon the completion of MSc Nutrition and Dietetics, there are various career opportunities in India that students can opt for. Some of them are given below:
| Field | Organizations | Average Salary |
| Hospitals and Healthcare organizations | Apollo Hospitals, Fortis Healthcare, Max Healthcare and Medanta. | INR 1 – 5 LPA |
| Sports Organizations | Indian Premier League (IPL), Indian Olympic Association (IOA), and Sports Authority of India (SAI). | INR 2 – 6 LPA |
| Food and Beverage industry | Nestle, PepsiCo, and Coca-Cola. | INR 3 – 4 LPA |
| Research Institutions and Universities | Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), AIIMS, Jamia Millia Islamia, and University of Delhi. | INR 1 – 2 LPA |
| Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) | UNICEF, Oxfam, and CARE India. | INR 3 – 5 LPA |
MSc Nutrition and Dietetics: Further Studies
For Further studies after MSc Nutrition and Dietetics, there are several options available in India. Some of the options are listed below:
- PhD in Nutrition and Dietetics
- Postgraduate Diploma in Dietetics and Applied Nutrition
- Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Science and Nutrition
- Master of Public Health
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