The Bachelor of Science in Dietetics at the University of Limpopo is a four-year professional degree that qualifies graduates for registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as dietitians. Students study nutritional biochemistry, medical nutrition therapy, community and public health nutrition, food service management, and clinical dietetics practice, with structured internships in healthcare settings. South Africa's double burden of malnutrition — combining undernutrition in rural communities with obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases in urban populations — makes registered dietitians essential across both public and private health sectors.
English Home Language or English First Additional Language: 50%
Mathematics: 50%
Physical Sciences: 60%
Life Sciences: 60%
APS: 26
Clinical Dietitian (HPCSA Registered) – Provides medical nutrition therapy to patients with diabetes, renal disease, HIV, cancer, and other conditions in public hospitals and private healthcare settings across South Africa.
Community Nutrition and Dietetics Specialist – Designs and implements nutrition interventions targeting food insecurity, stunting, and micronutrient deficiency in rural communities for the DoH, NGOs, and UNICEF-supported programmes.
Public Health Nutritionist – Develops national and provincial nutrition policies, guidelines, and programmes for the Department of Health and international nutrition organisations working in South Africa.
Food Service Dietitian – Manages the nutritional quality, safety, and cost-effectiveness of food production in hospital catering, school feeding schemes, and contract catering operations.
Sports and Performance Dietitian – Provides nutrition support to athletes and physically active individuals to optimise performance and recovery for professional sports teams and high-performance sport programmes.
