Master's in Nutrition and Health

In the first year of the master’s programme Nutrition and Health (MNH), you’ll lay the essential theoretical foundation across multiple scales—from rom biochemical, molecular and physiological mechanisms to population-level dietary issues. This includes a multidisciplinary range of core courses that delve into nutrition science, metabolism, public health, epidemiology, and behavior. Concurrently, you'll begin to specialize in one of several available focus areas—such as Nutritional Physiology, Molecular Nutrition, Sensory Science, Epidemiology & Public Health, Food Digestion, or Sustainable Healthy Diets—allowing you to tailor your academic journey to your interests.

The second year emphasises practical application and professional development. During this period, you undertake a significant academic thesis project (about six months), where you will engage directly with a research question grounded in nutrition research, demonstrating capabilities in research design, execution, and critical interpretation. In addition, you complete a four-month internship, applying your knowledge and research skills in real-world settings such as health care institutions, industry, or policy environments. 

Within the master's programme, you can choose one of the following specialisations to meet your personal interests. More information on these specialisations can be found in the Study Handbook.  

• Nutritional and Public Health Epidemiology  
  Study how diet, nutrition, lifestyle, and public health relate to disease prevention at the population level. This specialisation is aimed at those interested in improving population health and reducing disease burden through epidemiological research.
• Nutritional Physiology and Health Status  
  This specialisation focuses on how food consumption affects the human body across different ages and situations, such as growth, pregnancy, sports, and disease. It is ideal for those interested in nutrition’s impact on individual health and in designing and interpreting intervention studies.
• Molecular Nutrition and Toxicology  
  Focus on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of nutrition and their impact on human health. This specialisation is suited for those interested in proteins, genomics, immunology, bioinformatics, and the effects of food components at a molecular level.
• Sensory Science  
  This specialisation focuses on how humans perceive and respond to the sensory aspects of food, including perception, cognition, eating behaviour, food preferences, and satisfaction. It is ideal for those interested in the psychology and physiology of food perception, as well as food product properties.
• Systems Approach for Sustainable and Healthy Diets  
  This specialisation focuses on transforming food systems to be healthy, sustainable, affordable, and culturally appropriate. It emphasises understanding the interplay of nutrition, environmental impact, economics, and cultural factors in shaping diets.
• Food Digestion and Health  
  Study the interactions between the gastrointestinal tract, gut microbiota, and the food matrix, exploring how digestion and nutrient absorption affect health. This specialisation is ideal for those interested in the digestive process, microbiome, and developing foods with health benefits. 

• Lectures: you attend classes where the lecturer explains the course topics.
• Tutorials: tasks are carried out individually or in small groups.
• Labs: practical sessions for applying statistical models, dietary and nutritional assessment methods, and laboratory techniques including in vivo and in vitro experiments.
• Problem-Based Learning: collaborative group work under a supervisor to solve a case study.
• Self-study: periods are built into your schedule, with the option to study further on your own. 

Multidisciplinary field of expertise

The Nutrition & Health programme at Wageningen University has been running for over 50 years; it is considered to be one of the best and most innovative programmes in its field in Europe. Human nutrition is a multidisciplinary field of expertise. Solving problems in this domain requires multidisciplinary biomedical knowledge and skills as well as an interdisciplinary approach to communication with experts in human nutrition and other fields.

Cooperation with other disciplines

Moreover, close co-operation with other MSc-programmes in Wageningen, allow students to operate on the interface of Nutrition with other disciplines. Examples can be found in master's-theses supervised in collaboration between the divisions of Human Nutrition and Communication Sciences. Cooperation between the Laboratory of biochemistry and the molecular nutrition group is another example. Furthermore, the Alliance Nutrition is formed between the Human Nutrition department of Wageningen University and the hospital in Ede, "Gelderse Vallei". This alliance performs research in the field of clinical nutrition.

Research

Research in Nutrition and Health in Wageningen covers all areas within the field: from advanced nutrigenomics research to trials to epidemiological research at the (sub)cellular, individual and population level. These fields of interest are represented by the different specialisations of the MSc. 

The master's Nutrition and Health studies the relationship between food and health and how we can influence that. This is done from the perspectives of large groups, at individual level, or cellular and gene levels. What causes a disease, what facilitates a cure and what role does food play? All aspects of nutrition and lifestyle factors’ are reviewed in this study programme: the choice of food, the manner by which it is consumed, the way the body processes food, to get a better understanding of the molecular mechanism, and the effect of nutrition on our health. 

You are offered a choice of specialisations within Nutrition and Health: Epidemiology and Public Health, Nutritional Physiology and Health Status, Molecular Nutrition and Toxicology, Sensory Science, Food Digestion and Health, and Systems Approach for Sustainable and Healthy Diets. You will graduate as a nutrition scientist upon completion of this two-year programme.

• Master's in Food Safety
  The master's Food Safety focuses on the safety of food, not on health. Food Safety takes a short-term approach to the food production chain, whereas Nutrition and Health studies the effects of NUTRITION on human health from a long-term perspective.
• The Master's in Food Quality Management and Food Technology study the production of food and food ingredients, not health.
• The Master's in Nutritional Epidemiology and Public Health is online and part-time.
• The Master's in Data Science for Food and Health focusses on measuring and understanding what and how people eat. 

Check for more information on Studiekeuze123.nl.

Once you have finished the master's in Nutrition and Health, you are ready to start your career, whether it is in science or in the private sector. Get access to stories of some of our graduates to give you an idea of your career and job opportunities in the Career Booklet of MSc Nutrition and Health. 

Applicants with a BSc in Nutrition and Health from WUR or a Dutch BSc in Biomedical Sciences are admitted without additional GPA or English requirements.  

Dutch BSc Nutrition and Dietetics graduates are admitted if their GPA is 7.0 or higher and English proficiency is sufficient. Admission ensures students have a strong foundation in human biology, nutrition, and research methodology to complete the MSc in two years.  

The Admission Board evaluates transcripts and CVs and may allow minor knowledge gaps to be compensated by GPA or a short pre-master programme.  

Graduates from related programmes such as Nutrition Sciences, Human Biology, Biomedical Sciences, Health Sciences, or Medicine are generally eligible, while others may require additional coursework. Applicants with other degrees are considered case by case; inquiries can be sent to bvg.mnh@wur.nl. 

You can apply for this Master's here.

The Admission Board may allow and/or suggest compensation of knowledge gaps by:

• a GPA≥7.0* for the previous education for small discrepancies as new knowledge is sufficiently easily acquired;
• a GPA≥7.0* and an individual pre-master's programme for larger discrepancies that can be compensated in ≤30 ECTS and one year of study.

*Check the general admissions page for the International credentials evaluation guide for international equivalencies to a Dutch GPA>7.0. This guide includes compensating factors for a slightly lower GPA the Admission Board may include in their judgement.

Contact us to discuss the possibilities of a pre-master or how to mitigate knowledge gaps if you are still in the process of obtaining your degree.

Find out more about enrolment and fees of a pre-master's programme. 

All information about the costs of this programme can be found on this page. 

Wageningen boasts a vibrant, welcoming, and diverse student community. Although it’s a small town, Wageningen University & Research attracts people from around the globe, creating a truly international atmosphere. The town is easy to explore by bicycle, and the campus itself is modern, green, and inviting. Whether you’re attending a sports match, a lively party, or a relaxed evening with friends at a student association, there’s always something happening. Nature lovers will also appreciate the nearby parks, forests, and river, offering plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors. It’s the perfect blend of academic life, social connections, and beautiful surroundings. 

All information about student life in Wageningen can be found on this page.