Human Nutrition

Nutrition is the interaction between food and our health and is becoming increasingly important in our society. The Human Nutrition programme in UCD provides a comprehensive education in nutritional sciences, from biochemistry to molecular and public health nutrition, nutrition communication and food regulatory affairs. You will gain knowledge of biological systems and their application to human nutrition, allowing you to apply your skills in a variety of areas in the food and health industry. Join us at UCD, where building a healthy world is a core strategy and our internationally recognised strength in food, nutrition, and health research sets us apart.

Click here to Download Course Pathways document.

The early years focus on core sciences and general food and health modules, which build your knowledge of biological systems and their application to human nutrition. After significant Professional Work Experience (PWE) in year three, final year focuses on specific areas of human nutrition.

First & Second Year

Core material (chemistry, biology, nutritional biochemistry) • Nutrients & the Role of Nutrition through the Life Stages • Physiology for Nutrition • Nutrition Research modules

Third & Fourth Year

10-month PWE • Molecular, Public Health & Clinical Nutrition • Nutrition & Communication • Food Regulation • Research Project

Students spend an average of 40 hours a week attending lectures and tutorials, participating in laboratory workshops, and undertake independent study. A combination of end-of-trimester written examinations and continuous assessment is used. In third and fourth year, you will complete comprehensive research projects.

The Human Nutrition course at UCD is accredited by the Association for Nutrition.

Professional Work Experience (PWE)

The 10-month PWE programme allows you to graduate with the skills necessary to enter the working world. Opportunities for international placements exist as part of the PWE component and, upon graduation, through world-class research groups in international universities.

A 10-month PWE programme allows you to graduate with the skills necessary to enter the working world.

Opportunities for international study exist through the PWE component and, upon graduation, through world-class research groups in international universities.

Graduates have found employment in:

• The food industry
• Nutrition research
• Health promotion

You can do further study and/or applied practice training to become a public health nutritionist. Another graduate study opportunity is to apply to the popular MSc in Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics programme at UCD.

Building a healthy world is one of UCD’s core strategies and many of our graduates have been recruited into PhD and MSc related research posts due to our internationally recognised strength in food, nutrition and health research.

• Open Learning Entry Route
• Mature Entry Route
• DARE Entry Route
• HEAR Entry Route

Professor Breige McNulty
e. breige.mcnulty@ucd.ie

UCD Agriculture & Food Science Programme Office
Agriculture & Food Science Centre
Belfield, Dublin 4

Contact Us

The UN Sustainable Development Goals present a collective roadmap for fostering peace and prosperity for both people and the planet, both now and in the future. In the Human Nutrition program, students delve into the foundations of nutritional knowledge within the framework of these UN Sustainable Goals. At its core, nutrition is about the interplay between food and our health. And in a sustainable food system, the provision of a diet that maintains health and prevents disease is paramount.

As an integral part of the program, leading experts guide students to explore various aspects relevant to sustainability. These include food production, processing, consumption, and their impact on global resources and the environment. The vision of sustainability within the Human Nutrition Program aligns with the ethos of the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science. Here, the teaching and research programs span the entire food chain, from on-farm food production to human nutrition and health, offering a diverse range of career opportunities for graduates in Ireland and internationally. In addition to this the programme relates to the relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s): 

• Zero Hunger (SDG 2)
• Good Health and Well-being (SGD3)
• Quality Education (SDG4)
• Decent Work and Economic Growth (SDG8)
• Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12)
• Climate Action (SDG 13)
• Life Below Water (SDG 14)
• Life on Land (SDG 15)

I’m a student from Spain, studying my third year of Human Nutrition at UCD. Going to UCD has been one of the best decisions I have ever made. At first, it is difficult to leave everything behind, but it is amazing how we can quickly start developing a new life in a different country.

UCD is a huge campus and is always full of people. There are a lot of activities going on during the week and when the weather is nice you can really enjoy the green areas on campus. There are lots of international students here and it has been really great getting to know them. Studying at UCD has been a great experience and I would recommend to anyone to study here and to enjoy living in the amazing city of Dublin.

Miriam Mitxelena, Spain

Non-EU Undergraduate Fee information can be found here.

UCD offers a number of competitive undergraduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD undergraduate degree programme. For information on Undergraduate Scholarships, please see the UCD International Scholarships webpage.