This is your time to shine by helping athletes rise to their best through diet and nutrition.
In this program you develop the necessary research skills to work within a broad sports population that strives for peak fitness and elite athletic performance. Choose a topic in which application of the principles of nutrition will have a positive outcome on health, wellbeing and physical performance.
- Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
- * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2025 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
- Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
In this program you develop the necessary research skills to work within a broad sports population that strives for peak fitness and elite athletic performance. Choose a topic in which application of the principles of nutrition will have a positive outcome on health, wellbeing and physical performance.
Develop high level critical thinking, independent research capabilities, and organisational skills to help you work in either clinical or research settings in the future. Examples of research topics show the calibre of work already undertaken in this program:
- Supplementation practices of elite Australian swimmers
- Validity of field based indices of sweat composition
- Factors influencing food choices of triathletes
Admission requirements
To be eligible for admission to Master of Sports Nutrition by Research candidature, applicants are normally required to hold an undergraduate degree in Nutrition and/or Dietetics or Exercise and Sports Science and have completed a diploma in sports nutrition (eg The IOC Diploma in Sports Nutrition) or have suitable industry experience, and are wishing to gain a higher degree through undertaking practice-based research.
Applicants must show that they have successfully completed or are currently enrolled in a course on research design and methodology (eg RES401 Assessment: Principles and Practices or equivalent).
Program coordinator
School HDR Coordinator
Dr Hattie Wright
Tel: +61 7 5459 4775
Email: hwright@usc.edu.au
Program structure
As a candidate you are required to conduct research that can be written up as a scholarly thesis.
You must demonstrate research competency and the ability to make a significant and original contribution to the body of knowledge in your chosen area of specialisation.
You must clearly articulate in the research outline, the topic, background, rationale, research question, aim and objectives, methodology, research methods and techniques, and timeframe.
Your research outline is to include a literature review that relates to the research question and objectives.
The results of your research activities should be presented succinctly and accurately and as necessary could be supported by more detailed annexures.
Your syntheses analysis and discussion must clearly focus on the research question and the objectives of the work.
Conclusions and recommendations must be drawn from your analysis and discussion and reflect the attainment of the aim and the way in which the research question is addressed.
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements and notes
- Prospective applicants wishing to undertake this program will need to find a suitable supervisor by contacting the Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering.
- For further information, refer to the Higher Degrees by Research - Academic Policy.
- Refer to related policies, rules, plans and procedures.
- Refer to the research areas for the Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering.
- Refer to the University's English language proficiency requirements.
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa.
- External mode not available to international students on a Student Visa.
Enrolment and fees
- Domestic candidates: Australian and New Zealand citizens and permanent residents are not required to pay tuition fees for the standard duration of their HDR program. The Australian Government's Research Training Scheme (RTS) covers the cost of HDR tuition fees for these candidates. Research Master candidates are entitled to a maximum of two years full-time equivalent study. Candidates who do not complete their degree within the maximum RTS allowable completion times may be required to pay fees for any additional periods of enrolment. Please refer to Higher Degree by Research fees.
- International candidates: tuition fees apply. Refer to International HDR tuition fees.
- In any semester, full-time enrolment comprises 0.500 EFTSL.*
- In any semester, part-time enrolment comprises 0.250 EFTSL.*
- The census date for withdrawal without financial penalty or academic penalty is the Semester 1 or 2 census date.
# External mode is not available to international students on a Student Visa.
* EFTSL - Equivalent Full-Time Student Load. One year of full-time study equates to 1.000 EFTSL.