Charles Darwin University

Master of Dietetics

  • Delivery: Face to Face
  • Study Level: Postgraduate
  • Duration: 24 months
  • Course Type: Master's

Qualify as a professional dietitian through on-campus postgraduate study, developing advanced knowledge and practical skills to improve nutrition, health and wellbeing across diverse communities and healthcare settings.

Course overview

The Master of Dietetics from Charles Darwin University is an accredited postgraduate qualification designed for graduates seeking to qualify as professional dietitians. Delivered on campus over two years full-time or four years part-time, the course combines advanced academic learning with professional practice to prepare graduates for contemporary dietetics practice.

The curriculum integrates advanced study in clinical dietetics, medical nutrition therapy, public health nutrition, food systems, research and evidence-based practice. Throughout the course, you will complete a minimum of 100 days of supervised professional placements, including short intensive blocks at CDU Casuarina campus and a full-time placement in the final semester, applying your learning across a range of healthcare and community settings.

On successful completion, you will graduate with the Master of Dietetics. Accredited by Dietitians Australia, a graduate of this program is eligible to become a full member of DA and to join the Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) Program.  The course prepares graduates for professional dietetics practice across clinical, community and public health, food service and food industry settings, supporting improved nutrition and health for individuals, communities and populations.

CSP Subsidised Fees Available

This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.

Key facts

Delivery
Face to Face
Course Type
Master's
Duration
More Information
Can be studied part time
24 months (Full time)
Price Per Unit
From $3,647
More Information
The estimated fee is determined by individual units of study and the year the course was commenced.

$1,192 (CSP)
More Information
You may be eligible for CSP where the government pays part of your fees. Fees are determined by individual units of study and the year the course was commenced.
Campus
Casuarina
Intake
New start dates announced soon
Units
More Information
You may be required to complete 0 credit point units throughout your course. The university will confirm this as part of your enrolment.

The unit total reflects the number of units required for course completion, not the total credit point weight. Some units may be double- or triple-weighted, so the number of units you complete may be lower.
16
Fees
More Information
FEE-HELP loans and HECS-HELP loans are available to assist eligible domestic students with the cost of a university program.
FEE-HELP, HECS, CSP

What you will study

To earn the Master of Dietetics, you must successfully complete units totalling 160 credit points as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth 10 credit points. 

Core units

  • Medical Nutrition Therapy 1
  • Medical Nutrition Therapy 2
  • Food Systems Management
  • Nutrition and Dietetic Counselling
  • Nutrition Across the Lifecycle
  • Food, Society and the Environment
  • Public Health Nutrition
  • Research Design
  • Dietetic Professional Skills (20 credit points)
  • Dietetics Professional Placement 1 (20 credit points)
  • Dietetics Professional Placement 2 (20 credit points)

Research units

  • Nutrition Research Project (20 credit points)

Simulation block: Students are required to attend a five-day on-campus intensive for Unit Food Systems Management and Nutrion and Dietetic Counselling, as well as a two-week on-campus intensive for Dietetic Professional Skills as a part of these units.
Work Integrated Learning: Students are required to attend the clinical placement hours as allocated by CDU Placement Office.

Entry requirements

Applicants for this course must meet all of the following:

  • Successful completion of a recognised bachelor's degree or equivalent international qualification in a health-related field (including biomedical science, science, health sciences, nutrition, food science and exercise science).
  • Applicants must have attained a GPA of at least 5.00 in their bachelor's degree.

A written statement detailing the following:

  • Why are you interested in the field of dietetics?
  • Your reasons for undertaking this course.
  • Any relevant work experience and skills.

The completion of specified units undertaken in prior qualifications. This must be evidenced in applicants transcripts along with unit outlines from the year study was undertaken. Applicants must complete the CDU Application Pack to identify which units they are using to meet the prerequisite units. This pack must be uploaded to their SATAC application.

The Master of Dietetics is a highly competitive course with a limited number of places. This means that although applicants may meet the minimum entry requirements for the course, they may not be ranked high enough to receive an offer. Subquotas are in place for First Nation and NT Resident applicants.
Contact the university or visit their website for more information.

Prior to commencing work integrated learning, all students are required to undergo a 'working with vulnerable people' check, and Australian Federal Police Record Check. Depending on the requirements of health and education departments, some organisations may also request students to meet immunisation requirements. It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that the correct documentation is obtained prior to commencing work-integrated learning projects.

English language requirements

The minimum English language requirement for this course can be met by evidence of one of the following:

  • Successful completion of Year 12 within Australia or an equivalent qualification from an approved country where English is the official language.
  • Successful completion of at least 0.5FTE of higher education study from Australia or an approved country where English is the official language (refer to our approved standard and extended lists included below). If studies were completed from a country on the extended list, they must have been completed within the past five (5) years.
  • Successful completion of a Charles Darwin University enabling program of at least 0.5 FTE (40 credit points).
  • Successfully completing a recognised TAFE qualification at a Certificate III level or higher from Australia.
  • Current AHPRA registration as a Division 1 or Division 2 nurse. Registration must be current at the time of course commencement.
  • Completion of an approved English test within two years of commencement, meeting the minimum scores.

Contact the university or visit their website for more information.

Recognition of Prior Learning

If you have previously studied or have relevant work experience, you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning. If your application is successful, you can reduce the number of courses you need to study, saving you time and money. Contact the university for more information.

Outcomes

Career outcomes

The qualification prepares you for a rewarding career in dietetics. Dietitians have the skills to develop and deliver nutrition and dietetic programs to improve health of individuals, communities and populations. Potential employment opportunities are endless and include roles in hospitals as clinical dietitians, community and public health-focused roles addressing the prevention of disease, working in food supply and food industry to improve healthy food access, availability and affordability, working in food services in hospitals, or settings such as aged care or childcare; through to improving performance through improved nutrition in sport.

Fees and CSP

Estimated total fee in 2026: $19,072 (Commonwealth Supported Places).

Estimated total fee in 2026: $58,352 (domestic full-fee paying place).

Student fees may vary depending on:

  • The number of units studied per term.
  • The choice of major or specialisation.
  • Choice of units.
  • Credit from previous study or work experience.
  • Eligibility for government-funded loans.

Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.

Commonwealth Supported Places

The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.

If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you only need to pay some of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.

Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.

Your student contribution amount is:

  • Calculated per unit you're enrolled in.
  • Depending on the study areas they relate to.
  • Reviewed and adjusted each year.

HECS-HELP loans are available to CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.

FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee-paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.