Human Nutrition

About Human Nutrition

In the School of Human Nutrition, cutting-edge nutrition research is conducted by tenure-track professors and six faculty lecturers in all areas recommended by North American Nutrition Societies. These areas include clinical, community, and international nutrition as well as molecular and cellular nutrition. Research at the School emphasizes the following domains:

• nutritional biochemistry and metabolism;
• nutrigenomics and lifestyle behaviours;
• global food security;
• fetal, perinatal, and childhood origins of health and disease;
• clinical and epidemiological studies addressing health outcomes in at-risk populations including Indigenous Peoples, mothers and children, and older adults; and
• nutritional management and development of novel nutritional approaches to optimize health during chronic diseases and for treatment during surgery and recovery from disease.

Research is conducted in our on-site research labs, the Centre for Indigenous Peoples' Nutrition and Environment (CINE), the McGill Institute for Global Food Security, the Clinical Nutrition Research Unit (CNRU), and the MUHC teaching hospitals. Students can conduct research or participate in clinical rotations in Ghana and field sites in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.

Human Nutrition Admission Requirements and Application Procedures

Admission Requirements

M.Sc. Thesis and M.Sc. Applied (Project, Practicum, and Dietetics Credentialing)

Applicants must be graduates of a university of recognized reputation and hold a B.Sc. degree equivalent to a McGill degree in a subject closely related to the one selected for graduate work. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) in McGill University’s credit equivalency of 3.3/4.0 (high second class–upper division) for the M.Sc. Thesis and M.Sc. Applied during their bachelor's degree program. Eligible candidates to the M.Sc. (Applied) program may select one of three options:

1. The project option;
2. The practicum option, which is reserved for those who have completed a dietetics internship and six months of work experience and are members of the ODNQ and wish to further develop their skills in a particular area of practice through an advanced internship;
3. The dietetics credentialing option, for those who wish to follow a program combining courses and internship, leading to licensure as a dietitian. This program has a specific entrance CGPA requirement of 3.5/4.0 and French proficiency (minimum level B2) requirement.

Ph.D.

Applicants must be graduates of a university of recognized reputation and hold a B.Sc. and M.Sc. degree equivalent to a McGill degree in a subject closely related to the one selected for graduate work. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative grade point average (CGPA) in McGill University's credit equivalency of 3.3/4.0 (high second class–upper division) during their bachelor's and master's degree programs. Exceptional students may apply to transfer to the Ph.D. program after one year of study in the M.Sc. (Thesis) program.

Qualifying Students

Some applicants whose academic degrees and standing entitle them to serious consideration for admission to graduate studies, but who are considered inadequately prepared in the subject selected may be admitted to a Qualifying program if they have met the School's minimum CGPA of 3.3 out of 4.0. The courses to be taken in a Qualifying program will be prescribed by the academic unit. Qualifying students are registered in graduate studies, but not as candidates for a degree. Only one Qualifying year (two terms) is permitted. Successful completion of a Qualifying program does not guarantee admission to a degree program. Students must re-apply for admission to a degree program.

Financial Aid

Graduate students pursuing thesis-based programs within the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (AES) benefit from diverse funding sources throughout their studies at McGill University. Financial support may come from a combination of guaranteed funding, prospective funding, and employment salary.

Upon admission to a thesis-based program in the School of Human Nutrition, a student will be offered a funding package which will include a certain amount of guaranteed funding and may include additional prospective funding. The proposed funding arrangement will be outlined in a departmental funding letter addressed to the student, in supplement to the offer of admission from the University.

Students admitted to non-thesis graduate programs in the School of Human Nutrition are responsible for procuring funding (e.g., scholarship or personal funds) to cover their tuition, fees, and living expenses for the duration of their program. Students should give serious consideration to financial planning before submitting an application. You can find tuition and fee information on McGill’s Student Accounts Graduate Fee Calculator or you may contact the Graduate Program Coordinator for your program of interest. Applicants may wish to consult the Fund your Studies web page for financial aid or external scholarship possibilities.

English Language Proficiency

For graduate applicants whose mother tongue is not English, and who have not completed an undergraduate or graduate degree from a recognized Canadian or American (English or French) institution or from a recognized foreign institution where English is the language of instruction, documented proof of English proficiency is required prior to admission. For a list of acceptable test scores and minimum requirements, visit mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/international/proficiency.

Application Procedures

McGill’s online application form for graduate program candidates is available at mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/how-apply.

See University Regulations & Resources > Graduate > Graduate Admissions and Application Procedures > Application Procedures for detailed application procedures.

Additional Requirements

The items and clarifications below are additional requirements set by this department:

• Final acceptance to the M.Sc. (Thesis) and Ph.D. programs depends on a faculty member agreeing to serve as the student's supervisor. A supervisor is not required for acceptance to the M.Sc. (Applied) program.
• Graduate Record Exam (GRE) – The GRE is required for all Ph.D. applicants to the School of Human Nutrition who are submitting non-Canadian or non-U.S. transcripts.

Application Dates and Deadlines

Application opening dates are set by Enrolment Services in consultation with Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (GPS), while application deadlines are set by the School of Human Nutrition and may be revised at any time. Applicants must verify all deadlines and documentation requirements well in advance on the appropriate McGill departmental website; please consult the list at mcgill.ca/gps/contact/graduate-program.

Information on application deadlines is available at mcgill.ca/gradapplicants/how-apply/application-steps/application-deadlines.

Admission to graduate studies is competitive; accordingly, late applications are considered only as time and space permit.

Available Programs

Program Overview

Master of Science (M.Sc.) Human Nutrition (Thesis)

A master’s degree in Human Nutrition offers advanced Nutrition courses in a broad range of research areas. The program is suitable for students with an undergraduate degree in nutritional sciences, exercise physiology, kinesiology, food science, biochemistry, medicine, or another closely related field. Students are required to complete advanced nutrition coursework and activities related to their thesis research. Graduates of our M.Sc. thesis degree have pursued successful careers in research, international health agencies, government agencies, and industry.

Master of Science, Applied (M.Sc.A.) Human Nutrition (Non-Thesis): Practicum and
Master of Science, Applied (M.Sc.A.) Human Nutrition (Non-Thesis): Project 

The M.Sc. Applied program is a course-based master’s program. It allows students to further develop knowledge and expertise in nutrition. Students are required to complete advanced Nutrition courses and activities related to a research project or an advanced practicum (reserved for registered dietitians). Careers include managerial positions for practising dietitians, and careers in nutrition programs, government, and industry.

Master of Science, Applied (M.Sc.A.) Human Nutrition (Non-Thesis): Dietetics Credentialing

The M.Sc. Applied program in Dietetics Credentialing is a course-based master's program with a dietetics Stage (internship) included. At the end of the program, students are qualified to be licensed with one of the provincial regulatory bodies in Canada, as well as in other countries, and practise in the areas of clinical nutrition, community nutrition, and foodservice management; French competency is a requirement for the program and for the licensing with l’Ordre des diététistes-nutritionnistes du Québec (ODNQ). The program is preceded by a Qualifying year, if necessary, to complete certain courses required for licensure. This is followed by three semesters of graduate-level courses and three semesters of Stage, which include a practice-based graduate project.

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) Human Nutrition

A Ph.D. degree in Human Nutrition is suitable for students with an M.Sc. degree in Nutritional Sciences or related areas who wish to become independent researchers and/or leaders in the field of nutritional sciences. The School offers a stimulating research environment with opportunities in a wide range of areas of basic science, clinical research with our many hospital clinicians, as well as population health in Canada and abroad. Careers include academic, senior government, and industry positions within Canada and internationally.

Graduate Diploma (Gr. Dip.) Registered Dietitian Credentialing

In the School of Human Nutrition at McGill, students pursuing a Ph.D. in human nutrition have the opportunity to apply to our Graduate Diploma in R.D. Credentialing, upon completion of the Ph.D. program and upon completion of the undergraduate courses required by l’Ordre des diététistes-nutritionnistes du Québec (ODNQ). Additional preparatory courses for Stages (internships) are NUTR 513 Course NUTR 513 Not Found, NUTR 515 Dietetics French Examination., NUTR 607 Counselling in Professional Practice ., and NUTR 611 Graduate Professional Practice 1.. This Diploma consists of two semesters of Stage (internship) in clinical nutrition, community nutrition, and foodservice management. Upon completion of the Diploma, the recipient is eligible to register and practice as a Dietitian in Quebec (professional French is a requirement), as well as in other Canadian provinces and other countries.

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