Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics Top Colleges, Syllabus, Scope and Salary

M.Sc. in Nutrition and Dietetics is a 2-year full-time post graduate divided across 4 semesters. It has been designed to impart to eligible candidates requisite skills in:

• critical evaluation through an integration of nutrition, dietetics, and research.
• interaction with patients and students.
• hands-on training in hospitals, in association with dieticians and clinicians.
• advanced diet therapy.
• participating in symposiums, research projects, and conferences in Nutrition & Dietetics.
• forging a connection between medicine, chemistry, and food, focusing on the good and bad effects of alimentation on the human body.

A balanced diet is about prevention of bodily diseases, since a poor diet leads to imbalances in the human body.

Master of Science in Tamil Nadu

Master of Science in Uttar Pradesh

Master of Science in Kerala

Master of Science in Maharashtra

Obesity and chronic illnesses, hence, are the most popular specializations in the field of Nutrition and Dietetics. The science of nutrition is:

• the study of food elements and nutrients and their impact on the human body.
• analyses of the substances from food and the drinks that people ingest.
• determination of such food/ drinks’ impact on the human body.
• provision of a balanced food diet to the body.

The course prepares students for:

• practice in medical and dental schools.
• understanding composition, quality, and safety of foods and properties of food ingredients.
• proficiency with relationships of metabolism and utilization of nutrients in food by the human body to health and disease states
• advanced understanding of the influences of exercise and fitness.

Such postgraduates are hired in areas such as:

• Nutrition-based communities and organizations
• Management and operation of food service facilities.
• Dietetics
• service management, and industries.

Major components of study within the discipline include:

• Integrative and preventive educational approach to nutrition, health, and disease. Nutrition and Dietetics such as fundamentals of nutrition
• Food microbiology
• Sports nutrition
• Weight management
• Measuring nutrition
• Nutrition support
• Nutrition during special situations etc.
• Evidence-based approach to health and wellbeing.

This course has been designed for graduates of Life Sciences who wish to pursue a career in clinical nutrition.

The average annual course fee ranges between INR 20,000 to and 4 lacs, depending upon the institute offering the course.

The average annual salary offered in India to successful postgraduates of the course ranges between INR 2 and 12 lacs, depending upon the candidate’s expertise in the field.

M.Sc. in Nutrition and Dietetics: Course Highlights

Tabulated below are some of the major highlights of the course.

M.Sc. in Nutrition and Dietetics: What is it About?

Nutrition is the relationship between diet and health. The science of Nutrition and Dietetics involves:

• metabolic and physiological responses of the body to diet.

• safe, getting evidence-based dietary advice and interventions.
• negative impacts on health of solving deficiencies, excesses and imbalances in diet.
• diet imbalance-related diseases such as:

• cardiovascular disease
• diabetes
• obesity
• scurvy
• osteoporosis
• psychological and behavioural problems. 

• process of food-consumption and nourishment of the body.

Top Institutes offering M.Sc. in Nutrition and Dietetics

Some of the top institutes offering the course in the country are listed below with the corresponding locations and fees charged by the respective colleges.

Eligibility for M.Sc. in Nutrition and Dietetics

Candidates aspiring for admission to the course are required to fulfill the following minimum eligibility criteria.

• Graduation or another such equivalent course in a relevant discipline, completed from a recognized university.

• Graduation needs to have been completed in any of:

Home Science

Nutrition or Dietetics

Food Science

Biology

Microbiology

Clinical Biochemistry

Life Sciences

BNYS (Naturopathy)

BAMS (Ayurveda)

• A minimum aggregate score of 50% (45% for SC/ST/OBC candidates) at the level of graduation.
• Candidates in their final year of graduation can also apply for the course on provisional basis.

M.Sc. in Nutrition and Dietetics: Admission Process

Some colleges also offer admission on the basis of obtained merit at the level of graduation. However, generally, in most of the colleges and institutes offering the course, admission is provided based on the candidate’s performance in a relevant entrance test, conducted at any of State and national levels, followed by a subsequent round of counselling.

The round of counselling involves two additional rounds of Group Discussion and Personal Interview, wherein candidate’s general aptitude for the course is examined. A merit list is subsequently released issued by the institute allocating available seats to the qualifying candidates.

M.Sc. in Nutrition and Dietetics: Syllabus and Course Description

A semester-wise breakup of the course is tabulated below.

M.Sc. in Nutrition and Dietetics: Career Prospects

A balanced diet is relevant since:

• People today spend most of their time in offices in sedentary jobs with lack of exercise.
• Increase in stress levels owing to such lifestyles.
• Need for healthy, nutritional practices to prevent diseases and to promote good health.
   

Popular areas of employment for such Nutritionists and Dietetics include:

• colleges, schools, research institutes
• airlines
• private or government hospitals
• cafeterias
• maternity, yoga centres
• health maintenance organizations
• public health clinics
• athlete camps, etc.

They may also work as:

• Private Practitioners
• Private Consultants.
  Directors
• Assistants/ Associates of a dietetic department.
• Renal or Paediatric Dietetic Specialists.  

Some of the top professional avenues open to such postgraduates are listed below with the corresponding salaries offered for the respective positions.

Candidate must be pass in B.A/ B.Sc with Geography as one of the subjects.