Foods and Nutrition

Master of Science in Foods and Nutrition (MScFN)



Meet Tess Zanatta, MScFN candidate in Foods and Nutrition

“I came to Western for my graduate degree because of the reputation of the school, my connection to Brescia from my undergraduate degree, and the top-notch professors that teach at Western.”

Supervisor: Dr. Colleen O’Connor

What is it about your grad program that enables you to thrive and be successful?
The professors are invested in seeing us succeed in our careers, therefore we all feel the enormous support behind us. My advisor has always provided me with incredible support and is willing to share her own personal experiences and knowledge of when she went through grad school and she had to juggle work, life and school. The professors are relatable and very resourceful. I feel my voice is heard and respected as a student at Western.

Where’s your favourite place on campus?
I really enjoy studying at the Beryl Ivey Library on the Brescia campus. At exam time it is a very quiet space to read and study.

Describe your research.
My research involves assessing the risk for malnutrition in individuals who have suffered an acute stroke and are admitted to the hospital. Currently, there is no validated malnutrition screening tool within the acute stroke population and I am interested in assessing the effectiveness of a particular malnutrition screening tool with this particular population group.

Where is “home” for you?
I was born in Queretaro, Mexico, but I have lived in London, Ontario since the age of 12.

What idea, suggestion, or comment would you like to share with the Western graduate community?
I really appreciate the effort that the Western graduate community puts into communicating events and opportunities for furthering our careers.

Program Websites


Program Contact

fnsgrad@uwo.ca
Graduate Program Coordinator

School of Food and Nutritional Sciences

Western University
Brescia University College
1285 Western Road
Ursuline Hall Rm 110
London, Ontario N6G 1H2

t. 519-432-8353 ext. 28047
f. 519-858-5168

The Master's degree in Foods and Nutrition (MScFN) project-based (practicum) program at Western University will provide you with a combination of challenging course work, advanced research opportunities and practical training experiences with placements across southwestern Ontario and beyond.

Graduates of this program earn a Master of Science in Foods & Nutrition degree and complete a practicum which is recognized by the Accreditation Canada, preparing students to write the Canadian Dietetic Registration Examination (CDRE) which is required to become a Registered Dietitian in Canada.

PLEASE NOTE: As of September 2025, the thesis-based program is moving to the field of “Food, Nutrition, and Human Ecology” within Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at Western University. Please visit the program’s website for details and instructions on how to apply.

Program Length

  • 5 Terms (Project-based)

Program Design

  • Full-time
  • Project-based

Funding Information

Applicants are encouraged to apply for the following scholarships (if eligible):

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fee schedules (per term) are posted on the Office of the Registrar's website at http://www.registrar.uwo.ca/student_finances/fees_refunds/fee_schedules.html

Graduate Student Affordability Calculator

Use this helpful tool to estimate how much money you will need to pay for your tuition, fees, housing, food, and other necessities for a 12-month (three term) academic year.

Admission Requirements

  • Honours BSc in Foods and Nutrition from a Canadian undergraduate program accredited by Partnership for Dietetic Education and Practice. For a complete list of accredited undergraduate Foods and Nutrition programs, please see the Partnership for Dietetic Education and Practice website. Must have graduated within the last three years.
  • Undergraduate courses in research methodology and statistics.
  • Minimum undergraduate GPA of 78%.
  • Relevant volunteer or work experience.

Please refer to the website which outlines the additional responsibilities and requirements that must be met before students begin the practicum portion of the program.

IMPORTANT: Before applying to this program, all potential applicants should review details about the admission requirements for the multi-step application process which are outlined on the MScFN project-based (practicum) admissions website.

English Language Proficiency

Applicants whose first language is not English must furnish evidence of their proficiency in the use of the English language:

Application Deadline