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Deutsch Who is the part-time Master's degree programme in Nutritional Therapy suitable for?
The Master's degree programme in Nutritional Therapy at Anhalt University is aimed at individuals with a completed degree in nutritional or health sciences as well as related disciplines. It is particularly suitable for those who have already gained initial professional experience in a nutritional medical, health-related, or therapeutic field and now wish to work in senior or responsible positions at the interface of medicine, nutrition, and psychology. The programme also appeals to graduates from fields such as sports, nursing, pharmacy, or psychology who want to specialise in nutritional therapy.
What requirements must you meet?
To be admitted to the Master's programme in Nutritional Therapy, you need the following formal qualifications:
- A completed university degree of at least three years (at least a Bachelor's) in a nutrition-related, health-related, or comparable course of study, for example, Nutritional Science, Nutritional Sciences, Medicine, Sports Sciences, Nursing Sciences, Pharmacy, or Psychology.
- At least one year of qualified, relevant professional experience after the first university degree.
- For international applicants: Sufficient German language skills, proven by accepted language certificates (e.g. DSH-2, TestDaF with four times TDN 4 or comparable certificates).
Additionally, you should bring the following personal requirements in order to successfully complete the programme:
- Interest in interdisciplinary collaboration and scientific work
- Independent working style and motivation for part-time learning
- Willingness to apply and further develop scientific findings in practice
- Communication skills to competently manage counselling and therapy situations in the field of nutrition
- Reflective understanding of prevention and therapy of nutrition-associated diseases
What content and skills does the Master's programme in Nutritional Therapy offer?
In the part-time Master’s programme in Nutritional Therapy at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, you engage intensively with the interface between nutritional science, medicine, and psychology. The programme focuses on current findings in nutritional medicine as well as on nutritional psychological aspects and imparts practice-oriented methods for nutritional therapy in clinical, outpatient, and preventive settings.
- Nutritional Medicine: Current guidelines, nutritional therapeutic strategies, disease patterns with nutrition-relevant aspects
- Nutritional Psychology and Nutrition Communication: Counselling techniques, target group approach, psychological basics of eating behaviour and motivation
- Practical Applications: Building on the medical and psychological content, targeted application in various therapy contexts
- Scientific Competence: Training in scientific work, critical evaluation of studies, implementation of evidence-based recommendations
- Interdisciplinarity and Practice Orientation: Collaboration with various professional groups, practice-related case studies and project work
In the elective area, you can deepen your knowledge in specialised topics such as nutritional education, sociology of nutrition, corporate health management, applied sports nutrition, naturopathy, or the therapy of eating disorders. After completion, you will be able to independently analyse and implement complex nutritional therapeutic issues.
How is the study process organised in the distance learning Master’s in Nutritional Therapy?
The Master’s programme in Nutritional Therapy is designed to be part-time and lasts five semesters. You primarily learn online via a digital platform and regularly participate in online seminars. Individual seminars take place in person at the Bernburg location to promote exchange with lecturers and fellow students.
- Standard period of study: 5 semesters (120 ECTS)
- Start of studies: winter semester or summer semester
- Language of instruction: German
- Structure: Core modules (nutritional medicine, communication, psychology), elective modules, practice-related project work, final Master's thesis
- Examinations: each semester as specified, mostly online or in person
- Support: individual supervision by lecturers, additionally tutorials and introductory reading if required
The combination of independent online study and application-oriented face-to-face phases ensures flexible and practice-oriented further education that can be ideally integrated into the work routine of professionals.
What career opportunities are opened up by the Master’s in Nutritional Therapy?
With the successful completion of the Master of Science, you open up a variety of perspectives in the growing field of nutritional therapy and related disciplines:
- Independent and managerial positions in nutritional therapy and dietary counselling, for example in clinics, rehabilitation centres, or outpatient facilities
- Professional positions in nutrition communication and health management
- Participation in scientific projects and research institutes
- Activities in prevention and health promotion, including in the corporate context
- The Master’s degree qualifies you for doctoral studies and thus an academic career
With additional qualifications (e.g. DGE nutritional counselling), collaboration with statutory health insurance funds is also possible. The interdisciplinary orientation makes you a sought-after specialist at the interface between medicine, nutrition, and psychology.
What costs can you expect for the Master’s in Nutritional Therapy?
The tuition fees amount to 1,500 euros per semester, a total of 7,500 euros for the standard study duration of five semesters. Examination fees and learning materials are included in the fees. Additional costs for individual face-to-face phases (such as travel or accommodation) must be considered individually.
- Total costs: 7,500 euros (for standard period of study)
- Payment: possible per semester
- Funding options: depending on individual circumstances, support from the employer, tax deductibility as work-related expenses, or funding via an educational loan is possible
The programme is designed as an investment in a secure and specialised career in the health sector. Individual advice on financing options is offered by the university.
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is the Master’s in Nutritional Therapy at Anhalt University open to applicants without a bachelor’s in nutrition itself? I work in the health sector and only had a couple of nutrition modules during my degree, so I’m wondering if that kind of background is enough for part-time admission. How strictly is the first degree requirement usually checked?
Hi indigo07, you do not necessarily need a Bachelor’s degree specifically called “Nutrition” for the M.Sc. Nutritional Therapy at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences.
The formal requirement is a completed first university degree of at least 3 years in a nutrition-related, health-related or comparable field, plus at least one year of qualified relevant work experience after that first degree.
So in your case:
If your degree is clearly health-related and your current work in the health sector is relevant, you may fit the target group even without a full nutrition Bachelor.
If your degree is only loosely connected to health or nutrition, the university will need to decide whether it counts as “comparable”. A few nutrition modules can support your case, but they do not automatically replace the formal first-degree requirement.
The programme is taught in German. International applicants usually need to prove sufficient German language skills, for example DSH-2, TestDaF 4xTDN4 or an equivalent certificate.
How strictly is it checked? In a German public university, this is normally checked quite formally: degree certificate, transcript, module content and proof of professional experience. It is not just a general motivation-based admission decision.
At the same time, the programme is designed for applicants from different related backgrounds, including health-related fields such as medicine, nursing, pharmacy, sports science or psychology. If you are unsure, the safest route is to send your degree title, transcript/module list and work-experience proof to the programme coordination before applying.
One extra point: if your long-term goal is recognised nutrition counselling or therapy work in Germany, your previous nutrition-related study content may matter later for DGE/GKV-related certification. If some required content is missing, Anhalt states that additional modules from the part-time Bachelor’s in Nutritional Therapy may be possible.
Hi precode94 — I can answer both points, and for the exam retakes it’s best to rely on the university’s current rules.
1) Retaking key exams (MSc Nutrition Therapy, Anhalt UAS)
According to Anhalt University of Applied Sciences’ official FAQ for the programme, you generally have a total of three attempts per module exam.
Also, resits are typically only possible when the module is offered again (i.e., usually in the same semester cycle), which can mean the next chance is about a year later if the module runs annually.
So in practice:
Up to 3 exam attempts per module.
If you fail, the next attempt may only be available when that module/exam is scheduled again.
2) Semester abroad / time abroad in this distance-learning programme
From the programme profile you shared, the course is mainly online, but it includes occasional on-campus (Bernburg) face-to-face seminars. That usually means:
You can often spend time abroad during the self-study/online phases.
A classic “semester abroad” (as a built-in exchange term) isn’t typically part of a part-time distance master unless the programme explicitly offers it.
You’d still need to be available for any compulsory in-person dates and for any exams that must be taken on-site.
If you want, I can help you judge how realistic “time abroad” is with a full-time healthcare job.
Two quick questions so I can give you a concrete recommendation:
1) Are you aiming for a full Erasmus-style semester abroad (partner university), or mainly the flexibility to live/work abroad for a few weeks/months while studying?
2) Would you be able to travel to Bernburg a few times per semester if required?