Bachelor of Dietetics [BDietetics]

Bachelor of Dietetics

The Bachelor of Dietetics degree is a four-year, full-time structured and integrated programme that includes both theory and practical training. An outcomes-based and problem-oriented healthcare team approach in a clinical and a community environment is followed.

The programme aims to improve health and nutrition of communities through advocacy and policy development.

The effective delivery of this professional service requires scientific knowledge of the following:

Foods and nutrients
The nutritional needs of ill and healthy people
The biochemical and physiological foundations of nutrition
The role of nutrition in the cause, progress and management of diseases
Nutrition education and counselling
Nutrition advocacy

Clinical dietetics (medical nutrition therapy) focuses on individuals' nutrition, either preventative in terms of lifestyle-related diseases, or therapeutic in the treatment of a disease. For example, a person with diabetes will have a specific dietary lifestyle that will be designed and monitored by the dietitian.

Community-based dietetics aims to educate and train communities or groups of people to improve their health through nutrition. An example of this is when communities are trained about the food they need, to maintain a healthy lifestyle. They advocate for improved nutrition through input into policy development and liaising with relevant stakeholders and communities, for example sugar tax and malnutrition prevention.

The management of large-scale food service units, where clients' nutritional needs are considered when planning regular and therapeutic menus of high quality.

Who is the ideal candidate?

The ideal candidate is someone who has good communication and people skills, is disciplined and hard working, has passion for helping individuals and communities and has good problem solving skills.
Candidates with a passion for nutrition and its role in the management of diseases

The qualification is outcomes based, problem oriented and accredited by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). The high standard of training is recognised locally and internationally.

For more information, please consult the Faculty webpage.

Career Opportunities

Dietitian

Programme Code

10139003

Closing Dates

SA – 30/06/2025
Non-SA – 30/06/2025

Admission Requirements

Important information for all prospective students for 2026

The admission requirements below apply to all who apply for admission to the University of Pretoria with a National Senior Certificate (NSC) and Independent Examination Board (IEB) qualifications. Click here for this Faculty Brochure.

Minimum requirements
Achievement level
English Home Language or English First Additional Language	Mathematics	Physical Sciences	APS
NSC/IEB	NSC/IEB	NSC/IEB	APS
4	4	4	28

For advice on a second-choice programme, please consult a Student Advisor. To make an appointment, send an email to [email protected].

Life Orientation is excluded when calculating the APS.

Applicants currently in Grade 12 must apply with their final Grade 11 (or equivalent) results.

Applicants who have completed Grade 12 must apply with their final NSC or equivalent qualification results.

Please note that meeting the minimum academic requirements does not guarantee admission.

Successful candidates will be notified once admitted or conditionally admitted.

Applicants should check their application status regularly on the UP Student Portal at click here.

Applicants with qualifications other than the abovementioned should refer to the International undergraduate prospectus 2026: Applicants with a school leaving certificate not issued by Umalusi (South Africa), available at click here.

International students: Click here

A limited number of places are made available to citizens from countries other than South Africa (applicants who are not South African citizens), with those from SADC countries being given preference. Applicants who have multiple citizenships, including South African citizenship, will be considered to be South African.

?Transferring students

A transferring student is a student who, at the time of applying at the University of Pretoria (UP)is/was a registered student at another tertiary institution. A transferring student will be considered for admission based on NSC or equivalent qualification and previous academic performance. Students who have been dismissed from other institutions due to poor academic performance will not be considered for admission to UP.

Closing dates: Same as above

Returning students

A returning student is a student who, at the time of application for a degree programme is/was a registered student at UP, and wants to transfer to another degree at UP. A returning student will be considered for admission based on NSC or equivalent qualification and previous academic performance.

Students who have been excluded/dismissed from a faculty due to poor academic performance may be considered for admission to another programme at UP, as per faculty-specific requirements.
Only ONE transfer between UP faculties and TWO transfers within a faculty will be allowed.
Admission of returning students will always depend on the faculty concerned and the availability of space in the programmes for which they apply.

Closing date for applications from returning students is the same as the above

Note: Any deliberate ommission of information, or false information provided by an applicant in the application may result in the immediate cancellation of the apllication, admission or registration.

Selection Process

Selection criteria are available on the faculty's webpage at: click here.

Fifty (50) first-year students are selected annually.
First choice candidates will be considered and second choice candidates may be considered in certain categories.

Minimum duration of study

4 years, full-time

Faculty Notes

Modules will be presented only in English, which is the University's official language of tuition, communication and correspondence.

The Faculty of Health Sciences continues to exemplify and build on the University of Pretoria’s vision of being a leading research-intensive university in Africa: it is recognised internationally for its quality, relevance and impact, as well as for creating knowledge, developing people and making a difference locally and globally.

The Faculty is home to 5 500 undergraduate and 1 500 postgraduate students, including medical and dental fellowship training in more than 40 disciplines.

The Faculty’s research output has grown, in response to the need for research that is relevant to the improvement of health and health care and advancing medicine in South Africa, Africa and globally.

Disclaimer: This publication contains information about regulations and programmes of the University of Pretoria. Amendments to or updating of the information may be effected from time to time without prior notification. The accuracy, correctness or validity of the information contained here is therefore not guaranteed by the University at any given time and is always subject to verification. The user is kindly requested to verify the correctness of the information with the University at all times. Failure to do so will not give rise to any claim or action of any nature against the University by any party whatsoever.

Enquiries about the programme

Click Here

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