Nutritional and Nutraceutical Sciences

Why Nutritional and Nutraceutical Sciences?

"Let food be thy medicine, and let medicine be thy food.”
~ Hippocrates

Nutritional and Nutraceutical Sciences (NANS) is a unique major in Canada and focuses on understanding the contribution of food, beverage and nutritional supplement consumption to growth, development of optimal biological function, maintenance of health, and treatment of disease. The program explores how we can use foods and nutrients to develop innovative products that will benefit humans, animals and the environment.

After building a foundation in the biological sciences, students examine the biology of nutrition from a molecular and cellular level to the whole organism. In senior years, you will dive deeper, taking courses on the role of nutrients in maintaining health and preventing and treating disease, the connection between foods, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical drugs, and regulatory policies, among other courses.

To see all courses offered in this degree, visit our Academic Calendar.

What is Nutritional and Nutraceutical Sciences?

Nutritional and Nutraceutical Sciences is a specialized field of study that examines the connections between food, beverages, and supplements and their impact on human health. Are you interested in delving deeper into nutrients, dietary supplements, and functional foods?

Develop a Foundation in Human Health and Nutrition

Offered within the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, this major will provide you with a broad grounding in the biology of nutrition, physiology, pathology, pharmacology and nutraceuticals.

Help Solve Contemporary Nutrition Issues

Tackle current problems in the food, pharmaceutical and natural health product industries through a deep understanding of how nutrients, phytochemicals, toxins and food processing affect the human body.

Gain Hands-on Research Experience

Complete a research course with a faculty member in a discipline related to nutrition, food, nutraceuticals, health and disease to further your skills and experience in the field. Take advantage of cutting-edge research facilities, including the Human Nutraceutical Research Unit, the Health and Performance Centre and the Guelph Food Innovation Centre.

Top 5 Comprehensive University: in Canada (Macleans 2024)
Top 150 in the World: for Life Sciences (Times Higher Education 2024)
Top 20% in the World: for Biological Sciences (QS Top Universities 2024)
Top 15 in the World: for Nutrition and Food Science (EduRank 2024)

Gain Valuable Experience Through Co-op

The NANS co-op is a five-year program that includes five paid work terms. Apply what you’ve learned in the classroom to the real world, with hands-on work experiences available in private, non-profit, and governmental organizations. Benefits of co-op include:

Relevant work experience
Up to 2 years of work experience
Earning while learning
Career exploration
Professional networking

Students can apply for the co-op program directly from high school or later for in-course admission.

NANS Co-op Calendar

Laboratory Assistant
Product Developer
Quality Assurance Student
Research and Development Co-op in Sports Nutrition
Recipe Developer and Nutrition Expert
Research Assistant
Sensory Evaluator

What Can You Do with a Degree in Nutritional and Nutraceutical Sciences?

Our graduates find work in international health and nutrition organizations, government regulatory bodies and advisory agencies, or pursue related graduate studies. Students interested in becoming registered dietitians should learn more about the BASc Applied Human Nutrition program.

Here are a few careers our graduates have successfully pursued:

Brand Manager
Chiropractor
Clinical Biochemist
Clinical Research Coordinator
Family Physician
Formulation Specialist
Naturopathic Doctor
Paramedic
Pharmaceutical Research and Development
Product Development Specialist
Registered Nurse
Regulatory Specialist
Research & Development Scientist
Research Assistant
Scientific Project Coordinator

Hear From NANS Students and Graduates

What sets the NANS curriculum apart is the wide range of topics it covers, as students have the opportunity to explore topics of their interest in-depth through the support of a faculty with a broad range of expertise in the field. Additionally, the program provides a variety of other opportunities for students to take part in, including the NANS Student Association and fourth-year independent projects, both of which I benefitted from.

Emma Joiner, Alumni
NANS (BSc '23)

What sets the NANS program apart is its multifaceted approach that extends beyond its core focus on physiology and the intricate relationship between nutrition and the human body. We were equipped with a robust comprehension of important aspects such as food policy, intricacies of the food industry, and the skills to utilize existing research to formulate functional food products compliant with Canadian food regulations. The program also provided invaluable insights in the realm of nutrition research. The program's expansive scope has uniquely positioned me for diverse roles within the nutrition landscape, spanning industries, governmental sectors, and academia, affirming its exceptional value in shaping a versatile and impactful career trajectory.

Amar Laila, Alumni
NANS (BSc '18)

Enrolling in the NANS program at U of G has been a uniquely transformative experience, shaping my personal and academic development. From the moment I joined, I knew there was no other program that so effectively explored the world of nutrition in relation to biological health. Many unique courses emphasize hands-on learning, allowing me to apply what I’ve learned to real-world challenges. The program also went beyond clinical nutrition and highlighted important aspects such as food policy and regulatory affairs.

Megan Stacey, Undergraduate Student
NANS (BSc '25)

The NANS program taught me how nutrients can help prevent and treat diseases and gave me the chance to explore how bioactives in food can be used to create innovative products. I really value the understanding I gained about the steps involved in bringing such products to market, as it's something I can now apply in my current role.

Lori Grossett, Alumni
NANS (BSc '22)

I chose the University of Guelph’s NANS program due to the unique academic training it provides, alongside practical experiential learning opportunities. This degree program allowed me to go beyond clinical nutrition and explore nutrition in relation to biochemistry, public health, food product development, regulatory affairs, and much more. With diverse departmental research and industry-related projects, I gained a rich set of analytical, research, and professional skills that propelled my professional and academic careers.

Taylor Morrison, Alumni
NANS (BSc '20)

Being in the NANS program allowed me to gain relevant hands-on experience through many unique group projects. This program covered various topics in human health and nutritional science and provided me with relevant knowledge to apply to various careers. Being in a smaller program also allowed me to get to know other students and form a sense of community. It also allowed me to form relationships with professors. These relationships turned into many opportunities, such as completing upper-year research projects and finding a professor to work with for my master's degree.

Kate Kartusch, Alumni
NANS (BSc '24)

What sets the NANS curriculum apart is the wide range of topics it covers, as students have the opportunity to explore topics of their interest in-depth through the support of a faculty with a broad range of expertise in the field. Additionally, the program provides a variety of other opportunities for students to take part in, including the NANS Student Association and fourth-year independent projects, both of which I benefitted from.

Emma Joiner, Alumni
NANS (BSc '23)

What sets the NANS program apart is its multifaceted approach that extends beyond its core focus on physiology and the intricate relationship between nutrition and the human body. We were equipped with a robust comprehension of important aspects such as food policy, intricacies of the food industry, and the skills to utilize existing research to formulate functional food products compliant with Canadian food regulations. The program also provided invaluable insights in the realm of nutrition research. The program's expansive scope has uniquely positioned me for diverse roles within the nutrition landscape, spanning industries, governmental sectors, and academia, affirming its exceptional value in shaping a versatile and impactful career trajectory.

Amar Laila, Alumni
NANS (BSc '18)

Enrolling in the NANS program at U of G has been a uniquely transformative experience, shaping my personal and academic development. From the moment I joined, I knew there was no other program that so effectively explored the world of nutrition in relation to biological health. Many unique courses emphasize hands-on learning, allowing me to apply what I’ve learned to real-world challenges. The program also went beyond clinical nutrition and highlighted important aspects such as food policy and regulatory affairs.

Megan Stacey, Undergraduate Student
NANS (BSc '25)

I chose the University of Guelph’s NANS program due to the unique academic training it provides, alongside practical experiential learning opportunities. This degree program allowed me to go beyond clinical nutrition and explore nutrition in relation to biochemistry, public health, food product development, regulatory affairs, and much more. With diverse departmental research and industry-related projects, I gained a rich set of analytical, research, and professional skills that propelled my professional and academic careers.

Taylor Morrison, Alumni
NANS (BSc '20)

Being in the NANS program allowed me to gain relevant hands-on experience through many unique group projects. This program covered various topics in human health and nutritional science and provided me with relevant knowledge to apply to various careers. Being in a smaller program also allowed me to get to know other students and form a sense of community. It also allowed me to form relationships with professors. These relationships turned into many opportunities, such as completing upper-year research projects and finding a professor to work with for my master's degree.

Kate Kartusch, Alumni
NANS (BSc '24)

What sets the NANS curriculum apart is the wide range of topics it covers, as students have the opportunity to explore topics of their interest in-depth through the support of a faculty with a broad range of expertise in the field. Additionally, the program provides a variety of other opportunities for students to take part in, including the NANS Student Association and fourth-year independent projects, both of which I benefitted from.

Emma Joiner, Alumni
NANS (BSc '23)

What sets the NANS program apart is its multifaceted approach that extends beyond its core focus on physiology and the intricate relationship between nutrition and the human body. We were equipped with a robust comprehension of important aspects such as food policy, intricacies of the food industry, and the skills to utilize existing research to formulate functional food products compliant with Canadian food regulations. The program also provided invaluable insights in the realm of nutrition research. The program's expansive scope has uniquely positioned me for diverse roles within the nutrition landscape, spanning industries, governmental sectors, and academia, affirming its exceptional value in shaping a versatile and impactful career trajectory.

Amar Laila, Alumni
NANS (BSc '18)

Discover More Options

Students considering studying Nutritional and Nutraceutical Sciences may also be interested in Food Science, Applied Human Nutrition, or other majors.