Dietitians link the findings of nutritional medicine with the personal and nutritional backgrounds of their patients. It is an ever-changing and fascinating process.
Profession and career prospects
What does a career as a dietitian entail?
Eating and drinking habits have a significant impact on our lives, as they determine how well we can maintain or restore our health. As a dietitian you inspire others to adopt a balanced and healthy diet.
In the field of health promotion or prophylaxis you advise clients with special dietary requirements such as pregnant women or athletes, as well as children and senior citizens. You raise awareness in your target groups and significantly contribute to improving general health care.
You also deal with clients affected by diet-related diseases in medical facilities such as hospitals, health clinics, nursing homes and homes for the elderly. Nutritional therapy and nutritional medical consultation is used to support and encourage patients to change their eating habits. During this whole process, you work with regard to your client's possibilities and their personal environment, as this is the only way to reach the main goal of improving the affected person's quality of life by raising their awareness of a healthy diet and healthy drinking habits.
Curriculum
What can you expect from the study programme?
Dietetic includes a wide range of topics from medicine to natural science and even cultural studies, and the study programme is equally diverse: Starting off with basic medical subjects, you will then delve deeper into the specialisations of dietetics such as metabolic diseases as well as nutrition-related communication and food safety. Over the course of six semesters you will get to know one topic and skill after another, all within the "dietetic process” that will be the focal point of your future work.
The programme starts off focussing on health promotion. Beginning with the third semester and above the focus moves towards treating diet-related diseases such as Diabetes mellitus or obesity. Developing communicative skills and advisory expertise is also among the top priorities. This will provide you with the necessary skills to face the challenges of health promotion and nutrition therapy by being able to spread your knowledge among any specific target group.
During your studies you will attend several lectures with students from other study programmes which will prepare you for working in an interdisciplinary team in the future. This demonstrates the importance of collaboration across all specialisations in order to think beyond the framework of your own professional background.
Selecting a topic of your choice for your Bachelor Papers in the fourth and fifth semesters allows you to acquire specialised knowledge in a field which is from personal interest.
Practical Training
What can you expect from the practical training?
The practical training includes 45 ECTS or 1.125 hours to be completed during your 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th semester. Our students usually complete their practical training in hospitals or in research facilities related to the food industry. Depending on the choice of institution, you will specialise in a specific field such as acute medicine, long-term care or rehabilitation and health promotion.
Duration and extent of the practical training:
- 3rd semester / 8,5 ECTS / 212,50 hours
- 4rd semester / 7,5 ECTS / 187,50 hours
- 5rd semester / 11,5 ECTS / 287,50 hours
- 6rd semester / 17,50 ECTS / 437,50 hours
Take the opportunity to do your practical training abroad with the Erasmus+ Programme.
Degree Programme - an overview
| Profession Dietitian Degree Bachelor of Science in Health Studies (BSc) Organisational form 6 semester, full-time, 180 ECTS Language of instruction German Number of study places 16 per admission cycle | Tuition fees € 363,36 per semester + contribution to study material € 88,00 per academic year + Austrian Student´s Union fee ÖH-Beitrag Admission cycle Biennial | Contact Studien-Service-Center Office 3rd floor/room 326 Beate Tholema T +43 512 5322-76710 Send E-Mail Verena Schaffenrath-Mayrhofer T +43 512 5322-76712 Send E-Mail Barbara Harrich T +43 512 5322-76716 Send E-Mail |