Clinical Nutrition

The Clinical Nutrition master's program at the University of Tartu provides broad knowledge of biochemistry, physiology, and metabolism, which underpins clinical provision. After completing the program, you will become a specialist who can effectively combine clinical and basic scientific knowledge to create nutritional plans and optimise patient care. 

The program provides a broad knowledge of biochemistry, physiology, and metabolism, which underpins clinical provision. The study format includes lectures, seminars and practical work.

In the first year, you will get a good overview of almost all aspects of clinical nutrition, but the emphasis is on hospital practice with adult patients. We include the principles and methods of scientific research and discussion of medical ethics.

The main activity of the second year is a master's research project. This can be done in Tartu, in the student's hometown or another academic centre. There is also an internship where the student works in a recognised nutrition centre to gain practical experience related to their career. This can also be done either in Estonia or abroad.

Why study Clinical Nutrition at the University of Tartu ?

• The University of Tartu belongs to the top 350 of the world's universities (THE World University Rankings 2025).
• After completing the master's degree in Clinical Nutrition, you will become a specialist who can effectively combine clinical and basic scientific knowledge to create nutritional plans and optimise patient care.

• Anyone with a bachelor's degree or the equivalent in any health-related field and good English is eligible. Previous experience may be clinical, laboratory, public health or purely scientific.

• This program is the only one of its kind in the European Union.
• The university has modern, state-of-the-art facilities in various buildings in Tartu. Most of the courses take place on the medical campus, about 2 km from the city centre, in the Tartu University Hospital or the Biomeedikum research and education building. Occasionally there will be lectures and seminars in the more historic university buildings in the city centre.

Career opportunities

Malnutrition and the increasing problems associated with obesity indicate a growing clinical need for relevantly educated professionals. Completing the master's degree will provide the necessary knowledge and skills to develop clinical nutrition in hospitals, family practices, nursing homes, sports medicine, public health, and the food industry. There is currently a great need for academically certified specialists in much of Europe. Fulfilling the Clinical Nutrition master's program should be career-enhancing.

University of Tartu Institutional Accreditation 2022-2029: The Quality Assessment Council for Higher Education of the Estonian Quality Agency for Higher and Vocational Education decided to accredit the University of Tartu for seven years.

Examples of courses:

• Introduction to Clinical Nutrition
• Introduction to Clinical Science
• Metabolic Response to Stress
• Nutrition in Gastrointestinal Disorders
• Hypermetabolism
• Disordered Fluid Balance
• Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity, Sport and Nutrition, and Anorexia Nervosa
• Breaking News in Clinical Nutrition

Students must have a bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification in the field of health sciences.

The founder and lead lecturer of the program is Professor Alastair Forbes, who previously established a clinical nutrition course at UCL, London.