Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education: Admission 2025, Top Colleges, Syllabus, Scope, Salary

Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education is typically a 1 year diploma for undergraduates. However, open universities such as IGNOU and MPBOU allow extension by a maximum duration of 3 years for flexibility, being amongst some well known institutes. The most focused Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education topics are public health nutrition, therapeutic nutrition, institutional food administration. Eligibility criteria is met if they have passed class 12 or any other equivalent qualifying exam in any stream with a minimum 50% aggregate marks from any recognized board.

Most colleges offering a Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education admission give it on merit and no entrance exam is conducted. Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education course fees range between INR 6,000 and INR 25,000 annually. The job profiles after completion of a Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education are health educator, food quality controller, nutritionist/diet assistant etc. The average annual salaries for freshers are INR 2 lakhs to INR 4 lakhs, depending on skills and expertise.

Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education: Course Highlights

Feature	Details
Course Name	Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education
Duration	Typically 1 year (can extend up to 3 years in IGNOU)
Eligibility	10+2 (any stream) from a recognized board
Admission Process	Merit-based
Top Institutes	IGNOU, Madhya Pradesh Bhoj Open University, Lady Irwin College
Subjects Covered	Fundamentals of Nutrition, Public Health & Hygiene, Diet Planning, Food Safety & Quality Control, Community Health Education
Career Options	Nutritionist, Health Educator, Food Quality Controller, Wellness Coach, Community Health Worker
Starting Salary	INR 2-4 LPA
Job Sectors	Hospitals, NGOs, Wellness Centers, Government Health Programs, Food Industry

What is a Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education?

Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education is a 1-year diploma in nutrition, health, and wellbeing. Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education specializes in healthy eating education, diet planning, public health, and food safety. A Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education is dedicated to diet planning, food safety, and public health policy. It is ideal for students who want to become health educationists and wellness consultants and work in NGOs, hospitals, gyms or as independent consultants.

Why choose a Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education?

Given below are the benefits of choosing a Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education:

The demand for nutritionists and dietitians is high as people are looking for professional advice on management of their lifestyle with opportunities for high paying salaries.
The industry is also constantly creating new ways of preserving and processing healthy food so that there can be long-term career opportunities.
Such individuals can pursue a graduate, master's, or Ph.D. in nutrition and other related fields to gain deeper expertise.
Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education graduates may set up diet clinics and provide customized meal plans with proper licensure.

Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education: Eligibility

To fulfill Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education eligibility, students must have completed Class 12 or any other equivalent qualifying exam from a recognized board to be eligible. While no specific subject specialization is required, candidates with a background or interest in food and its impact on health may be given preference. Additionally, some institutes may conduct personal interviews as part of the admission process. The selection criteria may vary depending on the institute and its specific requirements.

Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education: Admission

The admission procedure for a Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education involves a series of steps that may vary depending on the institute’s selection criteria. Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education admission process at IGNOU is given below:

Submission of Application Form: Offline/online submission of application form to the desired institute.
Merit-Based Selection: Institutes provide direct admission based on marks.
Declaration of list of selected students in official college website.

Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education:Colleges in India

Given below is a list of colleges that offer a Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education along with their mode of education and course fees. All these colleges accept admissions on merit basis for Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education:

College Name	Location	Mode of Education	Application Last Date	Fees
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)	New Delhi	Distance Learning	February 28, 2025	INR 6,000
Madhya Pradesh Bhoj (Open) University (MPBOU)	Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh	Distance Learning	March 15, 2025	INR 6,000
Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women	Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu	Regular	March 22, 2025	INR 22,000
University of Mysore	Mysuru, Karnataka	Regular	Feb 10, 2025	INR 4,800
Tamil Nadu Open University (TNOU)	Chennai, Tamil Nadu	Distance Learning	March 30, 2025	INR 4,000
Uttar Pradesh Rajarshi Tandon Open University	Allahabad, UP	Distance Learning	17 March, 2025	INR 6,000

Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education: Syllabus

The Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education syllabus at IGNOU consists of two semesters, detailed syllabus of which is given below:

Semester	Course Name
Semester 1	Fundamentals of Nutrition
	Nutritional Needs for Different Age Groups
	Food Groups and Nutrient Sources
	Balanced Diet and Meal Planning
Semester 2	Public Health and Hygiene
	Methods of Nutrition and Health Education
	Communication Strategies in Health Education
	Project Work (Practical Application)

Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education v/s Diploma in Dietetics & Nutrition: Course Comparison

Below tabulated is the comparison between Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education and Diploma in Diabetics and Nutrition to help students make a better informed decision:

Criteria	Diploma in Nutrition & Health Education	Diploma in Dietetics & Nutrition
Duration	1 Year (Extendable up to 3 years in some universities such as IGNOU)	1 – 2 Years
Eligibility	10+2 (Any Stream)	10+2 (Preferably Science)
Mode of Education	Distance (IGNOU) + Some Universities Offer Regular	Mostly Regular Mode
Core Subjects	Community Nutrition, Public Health, Health Education, Communication Strategies	Human Nutrition, Diet Planning, Food Science, Clinical Nutrition
Career Opportunities	Nutrition Educator, Health Consultant, NGO Worker, Public Health Advisor	Dietitian, Clinical Nutritionist, Food Consultant, Sports Nutritionist
Average Salary (Freshers)	₹2 - ₹4 LPA	₹3 - ₹6 LPA

Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education: Job Profiles

This table provides an overview of career opportunities and salary ranges for professionals post the completion of a Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education:

Job Title	Description	Average Salary p.a. for freshers
Health & Wellness Coach	Guides clients on lifestyle changes, diet, and fitness.	INR 3 - 4 L
Dietetic Assistant	Assists dietitians in meal planning, nutrition counseling, and patient support.	INR 3.5 - 4 L
Nutrition Educator	Conducts workshops and awareness programs on healthy eating and nutrition.	INR 3 - 3.5 L
Food & Nutrition Sales Executive	Sells nutritional products, supplements, or health foods.	INR 3.5 - 4 L
Community Health Worker	Works with NGOs, government health programs, and schools to promote nutrition awareness.	INR 2 - 2.5 L
Weight Management Consultant	Designs diet plans and advises on weight loss/gain.	INR 2 - 3 L
Food Safety Officer (Entry-level, with Certification)	Ensures food hygiene and safety regulations in food industries.	INR 3 - 4 L

Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education: Future Scope

Upon the completion of Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education, students can follow the below given career paths:

One can pursue a Bachelor’s degree followed by a Master’s degree in the same field.
For further specialisation, one can also proceed with a PhD with specialisation in the same field.
There are also several short term certifications available such as CNS, or PG Diploma in Clinical or sports nutrition.

Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education: Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a scholarship for a Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education?

Yes, some universities and government programs offer scholarships for a Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education based on merit or need. One may also approach NGO and private sources of funding.

Is it possible to set up his/her own consultancy in nutrition after a Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education?

One cannot initiate a consultancy on Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education. Special certificates or BSc or MSc in Nutrition are needed.

Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education, is it for Government jobs?

Post Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education, then it can be sought in government career streams such as Community Health Worker or job posts based on public health programs. The qualification would be based on the field and the organization, though.

Can further study be done after Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education?

Yes, there is room for further studies such as a BSc in Nutrition, Public Health, or Dietetics after a Diploma in Nutrition and Health Education. Career growth with better research and clinical facilities may be the horizon.