FOOD20003 Intro to Food Science & Human Nutrition
University of Melbourne · Level 2 · 12.5 points · Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- Final exam 40%: mostly coursework
- About 4 class hours a week
Is FOOD20003 hard?
FOOD20003: Easier. Makes it easier: Reviewers say it’s manageable (9 reviews). Makes it harder: 2 other hurdle tasks.
What you learn
The chemistry of carbs, proteins and fats, how the body digests and uses nutrients, and diet planning.
After it you can
- Assess a diet against nutrient guidelines
- Work out a person's energy needs
- Explain how processing changes food nutrients
What you need first
None
What it leads to
- BMEN30011 Introduction to MedTech Innovation
- FOOD30007 Food Processing & Preservation
- FOOD30008 Advanced Food Analysis
- FOOD30009 Food Research & Development
- NUTR30002 Monitoring Food and Nutrition Intake
- NUTR30003 Lifestage Nutrition
- NUTR30004 Advanced Topics in Nutrition
- NUTR30005 Nutritional Biochemistry and Genomics
Careers
Helps toward: Biochemist, Agricultural Scientist, Chemical engineer, Veterinarian, Food Technologist
How it’s assessed
Assignments 40%, Tests 20%, Final exam 40%
Student reviews and ratings
Summarised from 9 students on StudentVIP (2020–2026)
- Use the textbook: several reviewers say examinable content appears there that lectures do not cover.
- Coordination is often criticised: little feedback, few practice materials and no example answers.
- The vitamins and minerals section requires heavy rote memorisation for the exam.
- Content is not hard and assessments are spread out, so an H1 is reachable despite dull pre-recorded lectures.
A summary of public reviews, not scored here.
Taken this subject? Rate it anonymously (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Rate FOOD20003
Quick answers
- When is FOOD20003 offered?
- Runs in 2026: Semester 1.
- What do I need before taking FOOD20003?
- No prerequisites.
- Does FOOD20003 have a final exam?
- Yes, the final exam is 40% of the mark. Assessment: Assignments 40%, Tests 20%, Final exam 40%.
- Is FOOD20003 hard?
- From 9 student reviews on StudentVIP: Use the textbook: several reviewers say examinable content appears there that lectures do not cover.
- What do students say about FOOD20003?
- Use the textbook: several reviewers say examinable content appears there that lectures do not cover. Coordination is often criticised: little feedback, few practice materials and no example answers. The vitamins and minerals section requires heavy rote memorisation for the exam.
- How many class hours a week does FOOD20003 have?
- 4 h a week in class
- Can I take FOOD20003 as breadth?
- Yes, for: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of Design, Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre), Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art), Bachelor of Music.
- What can I take after FOOD20003?
- 8 subjects need it first, for example BMEN30011, FOOD30007, FOOD30008, FOOD30009.
- Can I rate FOOD20003?
- Yes. If you've taken it, rate it anonymously on this page (difficulty, workload, marking, would you recommend it) and leave a tip for next year's students. Averages show once 3 students have rated it; tips are checked before they appear.
Source: University of Melbourne Handbook 2026
Always confirm in the official Handbook.
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