International Medical University

Overview of Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Nutrition in International Medical University Malaysia

ABOUT THE NUTRITION DEGREE

Nutrition is the science that deals with the study of foods and nutrients, and their effect on an individual from an environmental, socio-cultural, psychological and behavioural perspective. Nutrition also addresses consumer concerns on food and water safety, food quality and regulations.

The Nutrition programme from IMU equips students to pursue careers in various fields including industry, education, health promotion, research and journalism.

The curriculum accords strong emphasis not only on core nutrition modules but also on key profession-supporting modules such as nutritional status assessment, diet-related non-communicable diseases, monitoring and evaluation of programmes, communication and marketing management.

IMU’s Nutrition programme provides students with a rigorous experience in research methodology and application for each stage of the research process and data management. Students will have the opportunity to showcase their completed research in scientific conferences and journals.

WHY STUDY NUTRITION AT IMU

An Established Private Healthcare University

IMU is Malaysia’s first and most established private medical and healthcare university with over 28 years of dedicated focus on healthcare education. IMU achieved the SETARA-2017 Tier 6 status (Outstanding) under the Mature University category.

Build Your Future Healthcare Professional Network

As IMU offers the widest range of healthcare programmes, our students are fully immersed in a vibrant community of students and practitioners from all healthcare fields. This allows for the development of strong friendships amongst peers that will be the foundation of an extensive healthcare professional network upon graduation.

Well-Known Faculty Members

The lecturers in the Division of Nutrition and Dietetics are recipients of research grants, high impact publications and key opinion leaders in the fi eld of nutrition and dietetics.

Training Future Leaders

Our curriculum provides an opportunity to develop leadership and team-working skills due to a strong emphasis on Interprofessional learning and group projects. The courses place great emphasis on building good communication skills through various oral presentation, case study discussions, training with simulated and real-life patients.

Opportunity for Work-Life Experience and Student Mobility

The innovative curriculum offers early exposure to work experience and hands-on opportunity to enhance skills through clinical and community projects. There are also opportunities for student mobility programmes in clinical and community setting which improves work preparedness of the graduates.

Entry Requirement of Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Nutrition in International Medical University Malaysia

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

# The duration of this programme must be a minimum of 1 year in the same accredited institution and foundation in other disciplines are accepted.

FOUNDATION IN SCIENCE

• Foundation in Science qualifications from other higher education institutions will be considered on a case by case basis for admission into the local IMU programmes.

• Students with IMU Foundation in Science can apply into IMU programmes and programmes with selected credit transfer options, upon meeting the entry requirement eligibility. ** (Please refer to IMU Foundation in Science brochure for more details)

FOR ADMISSIONS INTO THE IMU FOUNDATION IN SCIENCE PROGRAMME, STUDENTS WILL NEED TO HAVE:

• Pass SPM / O-Levels with minimum 5 credits in Mathematics, 2 Science subjects and 2 other subjects.
  Note: Specific SPM / O-Levels requirements may be needed for admissions into IMU programmes.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT

* ONLY applicable for those who are completing the entire degree at IMU, Malaysia.

FAQ of Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Nutrition in International Medical University Malaysia

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why choose this particular programme?

• Given the obesity epidemic and the rise in diet-related non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes, stroke, coronary heart disease, and cancers, there is a growing interest in healthy eating and disease prevention. Nutrition concerns have become an important factor in food choices.

• More people are turning to nutritionists for expert advice. Both government agencies and private companies are continually looking for qualified nutritionists for guidance in health promotion, nutrition education and communication.

• Join a profession that can bring about a direct impact on the nutritional wellbeing of individuals and society.

What is the structure of the programme?

Semester contents are available in the programme brochure [Download Brochure]

What are the key features of the programme?

• With the university’s strong emphasis on the problem-based learning model, nutrition students will also be trained to engage stimulating
  issues and work as a team toward resolving the challenges.

• In keeping with the reputation of the university academic programmes, the nutrition curriculum is also driven by outcomesbased approaches to student learning. Students are trained to have the essential knowledge, skills and work ethics to meet market demands for nutritionists.

• Our nutrition curriculum was developed leveraging on the strengths of well-renowned nutrition programmes world-wide. It is structured to prepare students with the intellectual and functional competencies to cope with multiple demands of the nutritionist.

What are the teaching/learning approaches used?

The nutrition programme utilises a combination of teaching and learning approaches, including lectures, tutorials, practical classes, computer-aided learning (CAL), e-learning portal, seminars, debates, problem-based learning, field visits, group and individual assignments and presentations in the community.

Who are the teaching staff?

The faculty comprises well-qualified lecturers with vast experiences in teaching, research, publications, working in partnership with the government and industry in Malaysia and internationally. Expert research areas of the faculty include maternal and child nutrition, micronutrients, dietary lipids and diet-disease relationships. The nutrition programme also receives teaching support from experienced staff in IMU with respect to teaching basic sciences and
other modules.

How will I be assessed?

Students will be assessed through class tests, end of semester examinations, practical work, reports, assignments, problem-based learning, projects, presentations, and thesis for the final year projects.

Are there any industry placement?

Students are required to undergo industrial placements scheduled in the 6th semester. Students will be attached to appropriate community level in collaboration with the industry partners, government, private associations, non-governmental organisations or related international agencies.

What are the semester contents?

Semester contents are available in the programme brochure [Download Brochure]

What is the medium of instruction?

The medium of instruction is English. Students who come from a system of education in which the medium of instruction is not English are strongly recommended to improve their proficiency in English by making their own arrangements to attend additional English Language classes before entering IMU.

Who will award the nutrition degree?

The Bachelor of Science (Hons) Nutrition degree is awarded by IMU.

What sort of jobs/careers can be undertaken with this degree?

In the past decade, the government of Malaysia has substantially expanded its nutrition programmes and number of nutritionists to address diet-related challenges in the country. Increasing public interests in nutrition and health-promoting products have led the food and related industries and businesses to create more job opportunities for nutritionists. Nutritionists are well–placed to be employed in different settings in Malaysia and internationally.

Community Nutrition
Nutritionists are employed by government agencies and private organisations for community nutrition activities. These include assessment of nutritional status; formulation and evaluation of nutrition programmes; development of training manuals and guidelines, conduct of nutrition education and health promotion, undertake surveys and research, and coordinating nutrition intervention activities. Community settings include schools, work places (e.g. offices and factories), orphanages and homes, as well as rural and urban populations of concern.

Industry and Businesses
There are diverse roles for nutritionists in the food industry, ranging from regulatory roles to ensure nutritional claims and product labelling are appropriate, to being involved in nutrition research for supporting new product claims. The food industry also engages nutritionists for marketing, advertising, advisory and communication roles.
The wellness industry in Malaysia is growing rapidly in tandem with the increase in people becoming more health conscious. The wellness business offers career opportunities for nutritionists in providing healthcare services and products to individuals and corporates. The fitness industry and sports nutrition industry are also fast growing in Malaysia, as increasingly more fitness clubs and exercise facilities are set up. Nutritionists have advisory roles in these businesses on matters related to body composition, weight management, energy and nutrient requirements, and dietary supplements.

University / Research Institutions
A career in an academic institution is for those interested in teaching, research, scientific writing, giving presentations and building capacity
in training future nutritionists. For those who wish to focus on research, they may explore working in research institutions in the public sector (e.g. Institute for Medical Research, Institute of Public Health), or the private sector (e.g. food and healthcare industry).

Consultancy
Nutritionists with sufficient experience can offer consultancy in nutrition services, education and advocacy to the corporate and government sectors, professional societies and the mass media. Freelance nutritionists may be engaged to offer nutrition screenings, education, and healthy lifestyle management to individuals and in group settings.

When do i apply for a place in IMU?

You can apply using forecast or actual results.