UBC’s Dietetics program prepares you for entry into an in-demand profession that’s experiencing faster-than-average growth across Canada and internationally. As a registered dietitian, you’ll improve and promote health through optimized food and nutrition, and fill a variety of roles in nutrition care, management, or population and public health.
Why this program?
- Dietetics is a professional program designed to meet national accreditation standards for the dietetics profession.
- Graduates are highly employable in diverse roles, with the majority working in the health care system.
- UBC offers the only dietetics program in British Columbia.
- The program includes a standardized practice education component, which is required to enter the profession.
Program information
Send details- Campus: Vancouver
- Faculty: Faculty of Land and Food Systems
- Degree: Bachelor of Science in Food, Nutrition, and Health
- Length 5 yrs
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Co-op
No
You can combine your studies with full-time, paid work at top local and international organizations.
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Honours
No
You can study intense specialization in a single field.
Dietetics is a professional program planned to meet the accreditation standards for the dietetics profession in Canada, and is the only dietetics program offered in British Columbia. You’ll explore general biological and social sciences courses, as well as specialized dietetics courses like basic and applied human nutrition, food and food systems management, and professional dietetic practice.
The program involves five years of study: two prerequisite years and three program years (your fifth year is spent in practice education placements at various locations across B.C.). Once you graduate, you’ll be eligible to practice as a registered dietitian upon application to a provincial regulatory body and successful completion of a national registration examination.
Prospective applicants who are interested in working in dietetics internationally are advised to check registration requirements in the country where they intend to practice.
Experiential learning and research
The Dietetics major differs from other nutrition-related majors offered by Land and Food Systems in that it is a regulated health-profession training program. As such, it has specific courses and practice education placements to assist students to develop knowledge and skills for dietetic practice in the Canadian context.
Campus features
Vij’s Kitchen is a teaching and learning space in the Food, Nutrition, and Health Building. The space includes modern kitchen stations and a demo station that is used for both classroom learning and culinary technique classes. The culinary lab provides a great learning environment for students to learn basic food theory and food preparation, as well as multicultural culinary techniques and skills.
Send details
Life at UBC's Vancouver campus
Study on UBC’s Vancouver campus as you prepare yourself for entry into a growing profession with a diverse range of roles, many within the ever-expanding health care system. You’ll develop skills for professional practice as you gain the knowledge required to meet national accreditation standards.
Find out moreYour future
Many graduates of UBC’s Dietetics program have gone on to guide the food and nutritional choices of people through private practice. Other opportunities include advising government and industry, driving policy decisions, and directing nutrition programs for schools, hospitals, and food services.
Program requirements
English-language requirements
English is the language of instruction at UBC. All prospective students must demonstrate English-language competency prior to admission. There are numerous ways to meet the English Language Admission Standard.
General admission requirements
IB Diploma Programme
- Completed IB Diploma, including at least three Higher Level courses.
IB Certificate Courses
- IB Certificate courses (Standard and Higher Level) may be used in an admissions average if you are graduating from a recognized high school curriculum that can be used as your basis of admission.
- IB Math Applications and Interpretations SL, or IB Math Studies, do not satisfy the math requirement for admission to UBC’s science-based programs, the Faculty of Management, the UBC Sauder School of Business, or the Vancouver School of Economics.
Degree-specific requirements: Food, Nutrition, and Health
- IB Math Analysis and Approaches SL or HL, or IB Math Applications and Interpretations HL. (IB Math Applications and Interpretations SL, or IB Math Studies, are not acceptable.)
- One of IB Biology, IB Chemistry, or IB Physics
- Grade 11 or equivalent Chemistry, and
- Grade 11 or equivalent Physics (may be waived with grades of 5 in IB Chemistry and in your IB Mathematics course)
Note: Grade 11 Chemistry and Physics requirements listed are only relevant to students who are not completing the equivalent IB Diploma Chemistry and/or Physics courses.
For students studying outside of Canada, some examples of courses that may be accepted as Grade 11 equivalents are junior-level courses for American students, and IGCSE and O Level for those following British-patterned curricula.
Related courses
The following subject categories are particularly relevant for this degree. Consider taking courses in these areas in your junior year and senior year.
- Language Arts
- Mathematics and Computation
- Sciences
- Social Studies