Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics

The Department of Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics at the Manipal College of Health Professions (MCHP), MAHE offers a comprehensive, hospital-integrated programme designed to meet both national and international standards in nutrition education. Built on an Outcome-Based Education (OBE) framework, it equips you with clinical skills, critical thinking, and evidence-based practice in medical nutrition therapy, with emphasis on the therapeutic application of nutrition science in disease prevention, management, and health promotion. Rigorous coursework is complemented by structured hospital rotations and laboratory kitchen experience, building proficiency in nutritional assessment, therapeutic diet planning, and patient counselling. Graduates are prepared for clinical dietetics, public health nutrition, research, and wellness consulting.

Highlights

Nationally accredited program — UGC-accredited and aligned with the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions (NCAHP) guidelines, via the Karnataka State Allied and Healthcare Council.

Hospital-integrated clinical training with hands-on experience in critical care nutrition, ICU diet planning, and real-time patient interactions.

Outcome-Based Education (OBE) framework fostering clinical decision-making and problem-solving.

Program standards meeting IDA, NIN, IAPEN, ICMR, FSSAI, and ESPEN benchmarks, taught by faculty experienced in both clinical practice and academia.

Advanced laboratory kitchens are fully equipped for therapeutic meal preparation, diet formulation, and food modification techniques.

Clinical skill development labs for nutritional assessment, anthropometry, and metabolic monitoring.

Comprehensive libraries and digital resources, including high-impact research journals, clinical databases, and e-learning platforms.

Students undertake a structured, supervised, stipend-supported internship at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, gaining hands-on experience in clinical nutrition, nutritional assessment, therapeutic diet planning and patient counselling.

Competencies developed across basic sciences, food science and safety, clinical nutrition, community nutrition, entrepreneurship and research, and practical hospital training.