Graduate Studies in Applied Human Nutrition | MSc | PhD
Investigate the role of nutrition in human health and wellbeing
Our thesis-based master of science (MSc) and PhD programs in Applied Human Nutrition integrate perspectives from behavioural, biological, and social sciences to help our students create new knowledge to improve the health of Canadians and people around the world.
Applied Human Nutrition is a field of study offered by the Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition. We are a unique, interdisciplinary academic unit focused on integrating research and practice.
Our faculty members conduct applied research that encompasses the continuum of the life cycle in diverse settings, including public health, the community, and clinical settings.
What is Applied Human Nutrition?
Applied Human Nutrition (AHN) researchers seek to understand when, where, why, and how people get or don't get the nutrition they need to survive and thrive, and how those factors impact health at the individual, group, and population levels. Our faculty members specialize in a wide range of research areas, including:
- Community nutrition
- Body composition
- Prenatal nutrition
- Infant and child nutrition
- Nutritional epidemiology
- Chronic disease risk
- Clinical nutrition
- Food parenting practices
- Sports nutrition
- Food security
- Sustainable diets
If any of the above interest you, a research-based graduate degree in AHN could be for you! We welcome applicants with AHN backgrounds, as well as backgrounds in related fields like nutritional sciences, food science, biomedical science, health promotion, psychology, and kinesiology.
Program Format and Courses
Our graduate programs in Applied Human Nutrition are delivered in-person at the University of Guelph's main campus.
The core courses you'll complete in the master of science program are:
- Quantitative Research Methods
- Applied Statistics
- Qualitative Research Methods
- Research Seminar
You'll also complete:
- An elective course related to nutrition
- A research thesis
The program starts in September and typically takes 6 consecutive semesters to complete.
As a PhD student in Applied Human Nutrition, you'll work with your advisory committee to develop an individualized course of study.
In addition to the required Research Seminar, your course selection might include:
- Applied Factor Analysis & Structural Equation Modelling
- Advances in Clinical Nutrition
- Nutrition in the Community
You'll also complete:
- Readings and a qualifying exam
- A research thesis
The program starts in September and typically takes 12 consecutive semesters to complete.
Meet the Faculty
I am a Registered Dietitian and have been the Director of the University of Guelph Body Composition Lab since 2007. As a co-investigator of the Guelph Family Health Study, my research interests relate to predictors and outcomes of childhood and adult obesity. I am especially interested in the associations between lifestyle behaviours (particularly diet), body composition, and cardiometabolic risk in families with young children.
My research has two main areas of focus. One is nutrition during pregnancy. Current projects focus on the health effects of dietary sugar intake during pregnancy, gestational weight gain, and long-term impact of nutrition during pregnancy. I also conduct practice-based research in dietetics, including identification of cancer patients with malnutrition, body composition in kidney disease patients, and enteral feeding strategies in the ICU.
AHN Career Outcomes
Master of science and doctoral graduates are highly successful in attaining employment in diverse fields. Here are just a few of the careers that our graduate students have successfully attained:
MSc Graduates
- Public Health Nutritionist, Peel Region
- Executive Director of the Learning Disabilities Association of Wellington County
- Knowledge Mobilization and Communications Coordinator, University of Guelph
PhD Graduates
- Postdoctoral Fellow, Stockholm Resiliency Center
- Assistant Professor, University of Guelph
- Children's Early Years Research Analyst, County of Wellington
- Program Manager, Roche
Can I become a Registered Dietitian?
If you would like to pursue a career as a Registered Dietitian, check out our Master of Applied Nutrition dietetic training program.
In Canada, Registered Dietitians (RDs) are regulated health professionals. To become an RD, you need to complete an accredited dietetic practical training program or an internship at a teaching hospital and pass the Canadian Dietetic Registration Exam before you can register with a provincial regulatory body. Our MSc and PhD programs in Applied Human Nutrition do not provide practicum experience, so they will not make you eligible to become an RD.
Meet our Students & Alumni
After completing her bachelor's degree in AHN in 2024, Manahil decided to continue her education through a prestigious Arrell Food Institute scholarship and is now enrolled in the master of science program. Manahil is leading a project to co-design tools to support adolescents to eat more plant-based foods.
Katherine completed her PhD in 2025 and is now a postdoctoral scholar in our department. During her PhD, Katherine held an Arrell Food Institute scholarship, led two projects related to perceptions of sustainable eating, and developed and tested a novel online program to promote sustainable eating among families with children.
Applying to Grad Studies in Applied Human Nutrition
Admission to AHN is competitive. We consider applicants who meet the following minimum requirements:
MSc program:
- Honours bachelor's degree with a minimum 75% average in the last two years of study
- One-semester course in applied statistics with minimum grade of 75%
- One-semester course in research methods with minimum grade of 75%
PhD program:
- Master's degree with a research thesis in human nutrition or a closely related field and a minimum 75% average in the last two years of study.
- One-semester course in applied statistics with minimum grade of 75%
- One-semester course in research methods with minimum grade of 75%
Note: The requirements may be in progress at the time of application but must be completed by April 30 of the entrance year.
Visit the Student Financial Services website for full details on domestic and international tuition per semester.
Applicants are encouraged to apply for external scholarships in the fall of the year before entering the program. External award opportunities include, but are not limited to:
- Canadian Home Economics Foundation
- Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program
- Canada Graduate Scholarships – Master's program
- Canada Graduate Scholarships – Doctoral program
Applicants can also browse scholarships available to graduate students in the Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition.
Learn more about funding your graduate studies.
Get in Touch
Questions about graduate programs in Applied Human Nutrition? Contact:
Shauna Porter
Graduate Program Assistant
Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition
Email: fran.graduate@uoguelph.ca