What is BSc Nutrition and Dietetics?
The full form of BSc Nutrition and Dietetics is a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics. It is a popular three-year-long undergraduate program in India.
Also Read: MSc Nutrition and Dietetics
It focuses on the study of food, balanced diet, food management, nutrition, and its relationship with health and disease. The number of health-conscious individuals has grown drastically in the past few years, which has led to an increase in the demand for this course.
The eligibility criteria for BSc Nutrition and Dietetics is that a candidate must have cleared 10+2 or its equivalent in the science stream (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English are mandatory subjects) with a minimum of 50% marks.
BSc Nutrition and Dietetics admission is generally done through Merit with very few institutions opting for Entrance. The Entrance exams for this course are NPAT, SET, CUCET and CUET.
Also Read: BSc Courses after 12th
Some of the top colleges that offer BSc in Nutrition and Dietetics are Mount Carmel College, Lovely Professional University, Chandigarh University, RVS College of Arts and Science and Amity University.
The average fee for BSc Nutrition and Dietetics ranges anywhere from INR 50,000 to INR 2 LPA.
The syllabus of BSc Nutrition and Dietetics includes subjects such as Biochemistry, Food Microbiology, Clinical Nutrition, Food Safety and Quality Control, and Food Service Management.
BSc in Nutrition and Dietetics scope includes Postgraduate Diploma and Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics (M.Sc Nutrition and Dietetics) for further studies.
BSc Nutrition and Dietetics jobs include Clinical Nutritionist/Dietitian, Food Service Manager, Health and Wellness Coach, Nutrition Educator and Food Technologist. The average salary graduates earn after clearing this course is up to INR 5 LPA.
More BSc Courses:
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BSc Nutrition and Dietetics: Course Details
Details | Particulars |
Course Name | BSc Nutrition and Dietetics |
Course Level | Undergraduate |
Course Full Form | Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics |
Course Duration | 3 Years |
Course Types | Full-time and Distance Education |
Admission Process | Primarily Merit Based |
Eligibility Criteria | 10+2 or its equivalent in the science stream (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English are mandatory subjects) with a minimum of 50% marks. |
Entrance Exams | |
Course Fees | INR 50,000 – 2 LPA |
Top Colleges | Mount Carmel College, Lovely Professional University, Chandigarh University, RVS College of Arts and Science and Amity University. |
Average Salary in India | INR 2 – 5 LPA |
Job Profiles | Clinical Nutritionist/Dietitian, Food Service Manager, Food Quality Manager, Health and Wellness Coach, Nutrition Educator, and Food Technologist. |
Top Recruiters | Apollo Hospitals, Abbott, Max Healthcare, VLCC, Nestle and P&G. |
Why Should you pursue BSc Nutrition and Dietetics?
- Growing Demand: The demand for qualified nutritionists and dieticians is rapidly increasing as people are becoming more health-conscious and aware of the impact of their food choices on their overall well-being.
- Impactful Career: As a graduate in BSc Nutrition and Dietetics, an individual makes a significant impact on people's lives by helping them in eating healthy and managing conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
- Personal Health Benefits: This course is designed to provide a deeper understanding of food in maintaining health and preventing disease, which can be applied to a graduate's life and the lives of their loved ones.
Who Should pursue BSc Nutrition and Dietetics?
Anyone with a keen interest in food, nutrition and healthy living can pursue BSc Nutrition and Dietetics, however it's well suited for:
- Students who completed their 10+2 or its equivalent in the science stream (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English are mandatory subjects) with a minimum of 50% marks.
- Individuals interested in the field of nutrition and dietetics, such as becoming a dietitian, nutritionist, food quality manager, or health and wellness coach.
- Individuals who desire to work in the food and beverage or food processing companies.
BSc Nutrition and Dietetics: Course Types
BSc Nutrition and Dietetics is offered to students in two modes that can be pursued full-time or via distance education.
- Full-time BSc Nutrition and Dietetics: This course is designed in a systematic way and provides both theoretical and practical knowledge to the students. To build a strong foundation in BSc Nutrition and Dietetics, various aspects of nutrition and dietetics are taught such as clinical nutrition, food service management, community nutrition, and food science.
- Distance BSc Nutrition and Dietetics: This option is available for students who cannot pursue this course on a full-time basis and require flexibility in choosing their study time. A candidate with this degree gets the same career opportunities as a regular student but this method of learning might not provide practical knowledge and focus heavily on theory.
BSc Nutrition and Dietetics: Course Fees
Some of the top Colleges/Universities offering BSc Nutrition and Dietetics full-time along with their fees is given below:
College/University Name | College Location | Average Course Fees |
Tamil Nadu | INR 1,11,000 | |
Karnataka | INR 1,26,000 | |
Tamil Nadu | INR 1,56,000 | |
Andhra Pradesh | INR 2,30,000 | |
Punjab | INR 2,86,000 | |
Haryana | INR 3,13,000 | |
Chandigarh | INR 3,14,000 | |
Himachal Pradesh | INR 3,48,000 | |
Haryana | INR 4,08,000 |
BSc Nutrition and Dietetics: Distance Education
Some of the top Colleges/Universities offering BSc Nutrition and Dietetics via distance education along with their fees is given below:
College/University Name | College Location | Average Course Fees |
Delhi NCR | INR 2,000 | |
Tamil Nadu | INR 4,350 | |
Tamil Nadu | INR 4,500 | |
Tamil Nadu | INR 8,350 |
BSc Nutrition and Dietetics: Admission Process
It is highly recommended that aspirants score well in their high school examinations because admission into this course is mainly done through merit lists as there are no recognized and specific entrance exams for BSc Nutrition and Dietetics. However, some universities do conduct one at their college level to select candidates.
The admission process for a BSc Nutrition and Dietetics degree in India may vary slightly from university to university. However, here is a general outline of the admission process a candidate can expect:
Application Procedure: The first step is applying to the desired college through their official website or by physically visiting the institution and filling out the application form. Make sure to check the eligibility criteria and have all the required documents (10th and 12th Certificates, Aadhar Card, Photographs etc.) in hand.
Merit Lists and Counselling: Merit lists are usually updated on the official website of the colleges and need to be checked regularly by the aspirant. Candidates must attend the counseling or orientation organised by the institution for further details, if selected from the merit list.
Document Verification and Payment of Fees: The next step would ideally be document verification which helps the college in verifying a candidate's credentials. Once the documents have been confirmed, the aspirant can pay the required fees and the admission process will be complete.
BSc Nutrition and Dietetics: Eligibility
To be eligible for this course, a candidate must fulfill the following mandatory criteria:
- 10+2 or its equivalent in the science stream (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English are mandatory subjects) with a minimum of 50% marks for BSc Nutrition and Dietetics full-time.
- 10+2 or its equivalent in the science stream (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English are mandatory subjects) with a minimum of 45% marks for BSc Nutrition and Dietetics distance education.
- The minimum age for this course is 17 years.
BSc Nutrition and Dietetics: Entrance Exams
There is no distinct entrance exam conducted for BSc Nutrition and Dietetics because admission into this course is done through merit taking into consideration the marks scored by candidates in their high school. Nevertheless, some universities conduct one at their level to filter out applicants.
Given below are the details of some of the entrance exams conducted by various universities along with their details:
Name of the Exam | Registration Date | Exam Dates |
December 10 – April 12, 2023 | May 06, 2023 (Test 1) | |
November 28 - May 30, 2023 | November 28 - May 30, 2023 | |
April 2023 | May 21 – 31, 2023 | |
December 01, 2022 – May 21, 2023 | January 04, 2023 – May 31, 2023 |
BSc Nutrition and Dietetics: Subjects
The course is divided into 6 Semesters and the list of the various subjects in the course, is listed below:
BSc Nutrition and Dietetics: 1st Year Subjects | |
Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
Soft Skills and Communication Skills | Public Health and Nutrition |
Human Physiology | Human Nutrition |
Food and Nutrition | Mother and Child Health |
Food Chemistry | Nutritional Biochemistry |
BSc Nutrition and Dietetics Subjects: 2nd Year Subjects | |
Semester 3 | Semester 4 |
Food Microbiology | Introduction to Food Science |
Family Meal and Diet Planning | Science of Bakery and Confectionery |
Food Quality Analysis | Introduction to Food Preservation |
Food Industry Management | - |
BSc Nutrition and Dietetics Subjects: 3rd Year Subjects | |
Semester 5 | Semester 6 |
Nutritional Ethics | Food Biotechnology |
Introduction to Dietetics | Dietetics 2 |
Food Packaging and Marketing Management | Food Service Management |
Food Processing Operations and Management | Diet and Patient Counseling |
BSc Nutrition and Dietetics: Recommend Books
Given below are the names of some recognized books along with their authors in the field of Nutrition and Dietetics that a candidate must read to gain further knowledge in the course:
Name of the Book | Author's Name |
Nutrition and Dietetics: Principles and Practice | B. Srilakshmi |
Practical Dietetics | B. Srilakshmi |
Clinical Nutrition | P. L. Malhotra |
Human Nutrition | Catherine Geissler and Hilary Powers |
Clinical Nutrition: An Indian Perspective | Jyoti Bhatt and Pooja Jaiswal |
Nutritional Biochemistry | Tom Brody |
Manual of Dietetic Practice | Briony Thomas and Jacki Bishop |
Indian Dietetics and Nutrition | N. N. Mathur |
Nutrition and Dietetics for Health Care Professionals | Anjana Bhargava |
Foods and Nutrition | M. Swaminathan |
BSc Nutrition and Dietetics: Scope
The scope of BSc Nutrition and Dietetics is immense,, as this field is currently growing at a fast pace because more and more individuals are understanding the importance of health and fitness through balanced eating habits. This gives aspirants various fields to pursue such as:
Job Profile | Description |
Clinical Nutritionist/Dietician | Clinical Nutritionist/Dieticians work in hospitals, clinics, and healthcare institutions to assess patients' nutritional needs and develop meal plans to help them manage their various conditions. |
Food Scientist | Food scientists work in the food industry to develop and test new food products, as well as ensure that the products meet nutritional and safety standards. |
Sports Nutritionist | Sports nutritionists work with athletes to design dietary plans to optimize their performance and promote recovery after training or injury. |
Public Health Specialist | Public health specialists work with government health departments to develop and implement public health policies related to nutrition and dietetics. |
Food Quality Manager | Food quality managers are responsible for ensuring that the food products meet the safety and quality standards set by the Indian government. |
BSc Nutrition and Dietetics: Jobs
Graduates in BSc Nutrition and Dietetics are eligible and can apply to both private and government sectors after the completion of their course. A detailed list of some of the recruiters in both the areas is given below:
BSc Nutrition and Dietetics: Government Jobs
There are various government agencies that graduates can apply to once the course is over. These agencies employ nutritionists and dietitians to develop policies and programs related to nutrition, healthy living, fitness programs, managing sickness and diseases, food safety, and the overall quality of food in India. Candidates should regularly check the official websites of each agency for further details.
Name of the Government Agency | Average Salary |
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare | INR 6.8 - 9 LPA |
State Public Health Departments | INR 9 LPA |
Food Safety and Standards Authority of India | INR 5.2 LPA |
National Institute of Nutrition | INR 4.4 LPA |
BSc Nutrition and Dietetics: Private Jobs
There are numerous private companies that hire fresh graduates who have a BSc Nutrition and Dietetics degree. Given below is a list of top recruiters in the private sector:
Name of the Company | Average Salary |
VLCC Health Care Ltd. | INR 2 – 3 LPA |
Fortis Hospitals | INR 2 – 4 LPA |
Apollo Hospitals | INR 2.8 – 4 LPA |
Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) | INR 3 – 5 LPA |
Pfizer India | INR 2 – 5 LPA |
GlaxoSmithKline Consumer | INR 3 – 5 LPA |
Nestle India | INR 2.3 – 6 LPA |
Max Healthcare | INR 2 – 3 LPA |
BSc Nutrition and Dietetics: Salary in India
Some of the top job profiles for graduates in this field along with respective salaries is given below:
Job Profile | Average Annual Salary |
Food Service Manager | INR 1.5 – 2 LPA |
Food Quality Manager | INR 1.5 – 3 LPA |
Clinical Nutritionist/Dietitian | INR 2– 3 LPA |
Nutrition Educator | INR 2 – 3 LPA |
Marketing Manager | INR 4 – 6 LPA |
Research and Development Manager | INR 4 – 6 LPA |
Further Reading: Jobs and Salary after BSc Course