Health Sciences

Bachelor of Food Nutrition and Dietetics

The Bachelor of Food Nutrition and Dietetics is a four-year programme that prepares students for nutrition practice, dietetics and food science. Students study human nutrition, food science, dietetics, community nutrition and food safety. The programme is offered by Kenyatta University, University of Nairobi, Egerton University and JKUAT.

Students develop competencies in nutritional assessment, diet planning, food analysis, community nutrition, food safety and nutrition education. They learn to assess nutritional status, plan therapeutic diets, manage food services and promote nutrition. The programme covers biochemistry, physiology, food science, nutrition and dietetics.

In Kenya, nutrition and dietetics is critical for addressing malnutrition, lifestyle diseases and food security. Kenya's double burden of malnutrition and rising non-communicable diseases creates demand. The Kenya Nutritionists and Dieticians Institute (KNDI) regulates the profession. Graduates find roles in hospitals, public health, food industry, NGOs and research institutions.

Teaching is delivered through lectures, laboratory sessions, clinical practicum, community attachment, industrial attachment and research projects. Students analyse food, assess patients, plan diets and undertake clinical and community attachment. The programme includes a final-year research project.

Graduates pursue careers as nutritionists, dieticians, public health nutrition officers, food quality officers and nutrition consultants. Some work for hospitals or public health programmes. Others join the food industry, NGOs or research institutions.

This programme is ideal for individuals with science aptitude, interest in health and nutrition and passion for improving wellbeing.

Duration: 4 years
Public, up to: Ksh 324,000
Private, up to: Ksh 162,000
Job market: High

The programme

What you study, how long it takes, and how it is delivered.

Practicalities

Study mode: Full-time
Attachment: 3 months
Average class: 50 students
Award: Bachelor

What you study

10 subjects

Human Nutrition and Metabolism
Food Science and Technology
Therapeutic Nutrition and Dietetics
Community and Public Health Nutrition
Food Chemistry and Analysis
Biochemistry and Physiology
Food Safety and Quality Assurance
Nutritional Assessment
Food Service Management
Research Methods and Biostatistics

Modules

12 in the programme

Introduction to Nutrition and Dietetics
Year 1Semester 13 creditsCore
Fundamentals of nutrition science and dietetics profession. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment te...
Biochemistry and Human Physiology
Year 1Semester 23 creditsCore
Biochemistry and Human Physiology: Biochemical processes and physiological systems relevant to nutrition Covers theoretical principles, laboratory techniques, and industrial applications.
Food Chemistry and Analysis
Year 1Semester 33 creditsCore
Chemical composition of foods and analytical methods. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, c...
Human Nutrition and Metabolism
Year 2Semester 13 creditsCore
Human Nutrition and Metabolism: Macronutrients, micronutrients, metabolism and nutritional requirements Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Food Science and Technology
Year 2Semester 23 creditsCore
Food processing, preservation and food product development. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment te...
Therapeutic Nutrition and Dietetics
Year 2Semester 33 creditsCore
Therapeutic Nutrition and Dietetics: Medical nutrition therapy for various diseases and conditions Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Community and Public Health Nutrition
Year 3Semester 13 creditsCore
Community and Public Health Nutrition: Community nutrition assessment, interventions and public health programmes Covers clinical principles, patient care protocols, and evidence-based practice.
Nutritional Assessment
Year 3Semester 23 creditsCore
Nutritional Assessment: Methods for assessing nutritional status of individuals and populations Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Food Safety and Quality Assurance
Year 3Semester 33 creditsCore
Food safety, hygiene, HACCP and quality management systems. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment te...
Food Service Management
Year 4Semester 13 creditsCore
Food Service Management: Management of food service operations in institutions and hospitals Covers planning, organising, leadership, and control in organisational contexts.
Nutrition Through the Lifecycle
Year 4Semester 23 creditsCore
Nutrition Through the Lifecycle: Nutrition requirements across lifecycle stages from pregnancy to elderly Covers theoretical foundations, practical applications, and industry-relevant skills.
Final Year Research Project
Year 4Semester 36 creditsCore
Independent research on nutrition or dietetics. The module covers theoretical foundations, practical applications and industry-relevant skills, assessed through continuous assessment tests, coursew...

Specialisations

Food Science and Technology
Specialization in Food Science and Technology, preparing graduates for careers such as nutritionist.
Public Health Nutrition
Specialization in Public Health Nutrition, preparing graduates for careers such as nutritionist. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Community Nutrition
Specialization in Community Nutrition, preparing graduates for careers such as nutritionist. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Clinical Dietetics
Specialization in Clinical Dietetics, preparing graduates for careers such as nutritionist. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Sports Nutrition
Specialization in Sports Nutrition, preparing graduates for careers such as nutritionist. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.
Food Service Management
Specialization in Food Service Management, preparing graduates for careers such as nutritionist. This specialisation equips graduates with discipline-specific competencies for professional practice in Kenya and the East African region, with pathways to postgraduate study and professional certification.

A day as a student

A typical day combines morning lectures on nutrition or food science with afternoon laboratory sessions, clinical practicum or community attachment. Students may analyse food samples, assess nutritional status, plan diets or work on community nutrition projects.

The trade offs

In its favour

High demand due to Kenya's nutrition and health challenges
Diverse career paths in health, food industry and public health
Opportunity to improve public health through nutrition
Growing awareness of nutrition and lifestyle diseases

Against it

KNDI registration is required for professional practice
Clinical practicum can be emotionally demanding
Laboratory and clinical work requires attention to detail
Some positions may require postgraduate specialisation

What it costs

Tuition at both ends of the market, and how to pay for it.

What it costs, and where

Against 349 health sciences courses

Public307k to 324k

307k at Egerton University324k at University of Nairobi

Private125k to 162k

125k at Mount Kenya University162k at Kenya Methodist University

Annual tuition in Kenyan shillings, rounded. The upright tick is the median for this field, so a bar sitting entirely to its right is an expensive programme by the standards of its own subject.

The fine print

Egerton 307.3K (educationnewshub), UoN 324K tuition (uonbi.ac.ke). KeMU 162K, MKU 125K/yr (official sites).

Students may access HELB loans and county bursaries. Some hospitals and food companies offer internship stipends.

Funding options

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
LoanKsh 60,000
National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF)
Bursary
County Government Bursaries
Bursary

Scholarships

5 recorded

Higher Education Fund (HEF)
BursaryKenyan
Kenyan undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS in public universities
AMREF International University Scholarships
ScholarshipKenyan
Health sciences students demonstrating financial need
Ministry of Health Kenya Scholarships
ScholarshipKenyan
Healthcare workers sponsored by national or county governments
TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship at Egerton University
ScholarshipKenyan
Students admitted to agriculture, natural resources and food science programmes at Egerton University
County Government Bursaries
BursaryKenyan
Residents of respective counties

Getting in

The grades, the alternatives, and who accredits the award.

What you need

KCSE mean grade: C+
Alternative entry: Relevant diploma or equivalent qualification

Mathematics A/B or any Group II
C+
Biology
C+
Chemistry
C+
English or Kiswahili
C+

How you are assessed

4 components

Final Examination
Coursework40% of the mark
Laboratory Practicals and Clinical Attachment
Coursework20% of the mark
Industrial Attachment Report
Coursework20% of the mark
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs)
Coursework20% of the mark

Accreditation

Accredited by the Commission for University Education (CUE). KNDI registration is required for professional nutrition and dietetics practice in Kenya.

Accredited by

Commission for University Education (CUE)
InstitutionalRequired
Kenya Nutritionists and Dieticians Institute (KNDI)
InstitutionalRequired

Where it leads

The roles it opens, and what you leave with.

Where graduates go

5 roles

Food Quality Officer
Moderate demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 180,000
Manages food quality and safety in food industry
Nutritionist
High demandKsh 55,000 to Ksh 180,000
Provides nutrition assessment, counselling and education
Public Health Nutrition Officer
Moderate demandKsh 50,000 to Ksh 170,000
Implements public health nutrition programmes
Nutrition Consultant
Moderate demandKsh 70,000 to Ksh 300,000
Provides nutrition consulting to organisations and individuals
Dietician
High demandKsh 60,000 to Ksh 200,000
Plans therapeutic diets and manages medical nutrition therapy

Graduate outcomes

Graduates work as nutritionists, dieticians, public health nutrition officers, food quality officers and nutrition consultants in hospitals, public health, food industry, NGOs and research institutions.

Where these fields lead

8 careers

Tools you will learn

Stethoscope
Medical equipmentPrimary
Primary diagnostic tool.
KenyaEMR
Health is
Electronic medical records.
Surgical Instruments
Medical equipmentPrimary
Surgical tools and equipment.
Laparoscopic Equipment
Medical equipment
Minimally invasive surgery systems.
PACS
Imaging systemPrimary
Picture Archiving and Communication System.

Certifications

Industry links

Common misconceptions

Nutrition is just about eating balanced meals
Nutrition and dietetics involves biochemistry, physiology, clinical dietetics and public health.
Dieticians only work in hospitals
Dieticians work in hospitals, public health, food industry, sports, NGOs and private practice.
There are no jobs in nutrition
Kenya's malnutrition and lifestyle disease challenges create demand for nutrition professionals.
Nutrition and dietetics is the same as food science
Nutrition focuses on human nutrition and health while food science focuses on food processing and safety.