Education - Undergraduate

The programme includes Therapeutic Nutrition, Community Nutrition and Food Service Administration components. The degree is a selection programme, with only 35 students being selected into the first study year each year. The B Sc Dietetics programme is offered, in its entirety on the University's Tygerberg campus.

The four-year full-time programme is comprehensive, nationally and internationally relevant and is aligned to the outcomes for registered dietitians as specified by the Professional Board for Dietetics within the Health Professions Council of South Africa. Students are trained and developed within a dynamic, integrated and professional environment and the training consists of a thorough theoretical component and a high-quality practical training component. Graduates of this degree are equipped to successfully practice as dietitians in any of the areas of dietetics and are afforded the skills to promote the nutritional health and wellbeing of human beings in all stages of the lifecycle.

Graduates from this degree must complete a 1-year remunerated compulsory community service, as stipulated by the Medical, Dental and Supplementary Health Service Professions Amendment Act, No. 89 (effective from 1 January 2003). Only after completion of this service are they eligible for full registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), allowing for independent practice.

Admission Requirements: Bachelor of Science in Dietetics (BSc Dietetics):

For admission to the four-year BSc in Dietetics degree programme, a student shall hold the National Senior Certificate (NSC) with university admission, endorsed by Umalusi, or an equivalent qualification with an aggregate of at least 50% (level 4), and with at least 50% (level 4) for Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Life Sciences.
 
Please note:
Only a limited number of candidates are accepted for this programme each year. Applications for admission to the programme should reach the Registrar before 31 July of the preceding year. Selection for the programme is according to defined guidelines. ​ 

Modules for the BSc in Dietetics programme

First year
Compulsory Modules
Chemistry for Health Sciences 
Medical Microbiology
Physiological Biochemistry 
Nutrients in Health
Anatomy
Foods 
Physiology
Becoming a Health Professional

​Second year
Compulsory Modules
Physiology 
Nutritional Status Assessment  
Therapeutic Nutrition 
Applied Food Science 
Food Production and Systems
Nutrition in the Life Cycle
Psychology for Health Sciences 
Ethics and Human Rights
Practical Training
Community Nutrition 

Third year
Compulsory Modules
Therapeutic Nutrition
Community Nutrition 
Managerial Principles 
Research Methodology 
Biostatistics and Epidemiology 
Ethics and Human Rights 
Practical Training

Fourth year
Compulsory Modules
Research Methodology 
Food Service Management
Therapeutic Nutrition 
Community Nutrition 

Students are also exposed to the division's clinical infrastructure for 34 weeks, and during this time they receive practical training in the three basic components of dietetics: therapeutic nutrition, community nutrition and food service management.

For further information refer to the Updated Cale​ndar​​.