PhD Nutrition at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Programme overview

The doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) in the Department of Nutrition develops students' research and teaching skills through coursework, research, practice opportunities and preliminary doctoral examinations, and original research presented in a doctoral dissertation. Together, these experiences prepare graduates for careers in scientific research or teaching at universities, in federal or state agencies, and in industry or private research institutions. Students may minor in other fields, such as epidemiology. Doctoral program opportunities are available at the UNC–Chapel Hill campus and the Nutrition Research Institute (NRI).

Faculty: Gillings School of Global Public Health | Department: Nutrition | Study mode: full-time | Location: Chapel Hill, NC, United States

What you will study

Specialization Requirements (minimum of 25 credit hours): Core courses include SPHG 600 Foundations of Public Health; NUTR 714 Nutritional Biochemistry; NUTR 620 Human Metabolism: Macronutrients and Human Metabolism: Micronutrients; NUTR 770 Clinical Trials in Nutrition; NUTR 765 Foundations in Nutrition Epidemiology; NUTR 816 Applications in Nutrition Epidemiology.

Career pathways

Together, these experiences prepare graduates for careers in scientific research or teaching at universities, in federal or state agencies, and in industry or private research institutions. This degree is useful for students interested in nutrition research or in career in industry, as well as for students considering pursuit of a doctoral degree in medicine or in other areas of public health and biomedical sciences.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Graduate School minimum (applies to all graduate programmes): a four-year bachelor's degree (or international equivalent) from an accredited institution completed before graduate study begins and a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (B) or better; application via the Graduate School online application with transcripts, three recommendation letters, statement of purpose and CV, plus any programme-specific tests/materials; international applicants add a TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo English Test score; admission decisions are made by each programme.

Tuition is charged per credit, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Graduate applicants apply for a start term; fall is the main start term. Very few programmes admit new students for spring or summer terms.

Graduate applications and payment must be received by the deadline of the academic programme applied to, which varies by programme; the application closes at 11:59pm Eastern Time on the deadline date. The Graduate School recommends complete applications by December 15, 2026 for full fellowship consideration.

Apply through the official page: https://gradschool.unc.edu/admissions/instructions/

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