Studies & Degrees in Human Nutrition and Dietetics
Human Nutrition and Dietetics Study Programs
Human nutrition and dietetics is the health science that studies food, nutrients and how the body uses them, and applies that knowledge to keep people healthy and to treat disease through diet. Nutrition is the scientific base; dietetics is its application to individuals and groups, from a hospital patient who needs a therapeutic diet to the menu of a school canteen or a public health campaign.
The degree combines basic sciences with food science and clinical practice. In Spain the content is set by law. Order CIN/730/2009 requires every degree that qualifies for the profession of dietitian-nutritionist to include modules in basic sciences (60 ECTS credits), food sciences (18), hygiene, food safety and quality management (18), nutrition, dietetics and health sciences (36), public health and community nutrition (18), and a practicum with a final degree project (30). The practicum takes place in hospitals, primary care centres, community organisations, the food industry and mass catering.
Qualifications and levels
In many countries the title of dietitian is regulated, so the choice of programme decides whether a graduate can practise. Check this before enrolling.
- Spain. Dietitian-nutritionist is a regulated profession that requires the official bachelor's degree (grado) in Nutrición Humana y Dietética, with 240 ECTS credits. At the Universidad de Murcia, for example, the degree lasts four years, is taught on campus in Spanish and offers 60 first-year places; the cut-off mark for 2025-26 was 7.324. The Universidad de Navarra teaches its 240-credit degree in Spanish in Pamplona, with 90 places, and states that it qualifies graduates for the regulated profession under Order CIN/730/2009.
- Vocational training in Spain. The higher-level FP qualification Técnico Superior en Dietética lasts 2,000 hours. It is a different qualification from the university degree.
- United Kingdom. "Dietitian" is a title protected by law: only people registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) can use it. According to the British Dietetic Association, the minimum requirement is a BSc Hons in Dietetics, or a related science degree followed by a postgraduate diploma or higher degree in Dietetics. London Metropolitan University, for example, states that its BSc (Hons) Dietetics and Nutrition makes graduates eligible to apply for HCPC registration and includes a 12-week placement in year three and an 11-week placement in year four.
- United States. Since 1 January 2024 a graduate degree is the minimum requirement to sit the registration examination for dietitians, according to the Commission on Dietetic Registration. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics adds that dietitians typically complete supervised training through an internship and that many states require a licence. The accreditation body ACEND reports more than 600 accredited programmes.
- Latin America. The usual qualification is a licenciatura of four to five years. The Universidad Abierta Interamericana in Argentina awards the title of Licenciado en Nutrición after four years. At the Universidad Bernardo O'Higgins in Chile the programme lasts 10 semesters and leads to the professional title of Nutricionista.
Where to study it
The SpainExchange directory lists 111 schools for this subject. Spain and the United States have 32 each, followed by the United Kingdom (7), Chile (5), Argentina (4) and Brazil, Canada, Australia and Colombia (3 each).
In Spain the degree is taught in Spanish at public universities such as the Universidad de Murcia and the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and at private ones such as the Universidad de Navarra. In the United Kingdom the directory includes London Metropolitan University and the University of Westminster, and in Latin America the Universidad de Guadalajara in Mexico and the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos in Peru, among others.
Students who plan to work in another country should ask the professional regulator there how a foreign degree is recognised, because a dietetics qualification does not transfer automatically.
Careers
Dietitians and nutritionists work in hospitals and clinics, private practice, the food industry, mass catering, public health, sports nutrition, teaching and research. The Universidad de Navarra lists the same range for its graduates, including dietetic consultancies, hospitals and care centres, the food industry and the public sector.
In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics counts about 86,300 jobs for dietitians and nutritionists in 2025, 27 per cent of them in hospitals. It projects employment to grow 8 per cent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist?
It depends on the country. In the United Kingdom only "dietitian" is protected by law and requires HCPC registration. In Spain the regulated profession is the single title of dietitian-nutritionist, which requires the official grado.
How long does the degree take in Spain?
Four years. The official grado in Nutrición Humana y Dietética has 240 ECTS credits, including a practicum and final degree project worth 30 credits.
Can I become a registered dietitian in the United States with a bachelor's degree?
Not if you become eligible now. Since 1 January 2024 the Commission on Dietetic Registration requires a graduate degree to sit the registration examination for dietitians.
Is the Spanish vocational qualification in dietetics the same as the degree?
No. The Técnico Superior en Dietética is a 2,000-hour higher vocational qualification; the regulated profession of dietitian-nutritionist requires the university grado.