SRH Hochschule für Gesundheit

Therapy Sciences in Leipzig or Leverkusen Nutrition(al) Therapy and Counselling, B. Sc.

  • Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
  • 6 Semesters
  • Practical study
  • 180 ECTS
  • Accredited (ZEVA)
  • without NC

You can study this bachelor's degree program at both the Gera Campus in Thuringia and the Rhineland Campus in Leverkusen in North Rhine-Westphalia.

  • German
  • winter semester
SRH University of Applied Health Sciences
Your course content

What you will learn

Did you know that in Germany alone, more than four million people are affected by malnutrition, undernutrition, under-nutrition or over-nutrition? Yet healthy eating and drinking support growth, development and performance as well as general mental and physical health. The topic of healthy eating has received widespread public interest for years, and prevention programs have been in demand for some time. However, the issue of a balanced diet is also becoming increasingly important in clinical care. In the treatment of cancer patients, nutrition plays a crucial role and makes professional nutrition planning and support indispensable.

Therefore, during your studies we will deal comprehensively with the composition and mode of action of our nutrition and you will learn to know, understand and treat nutrition-related diseases. As a nutritionist, you will be able to comprehensively evaluate the trends in the industry in order to provide your patients and clients with the best possible advice and therapy.

During your studies you will gain extensive experience and versatile methodological skills in the core areas of nutrition science, both in theory and in practice. After graduation, you will be able to face future questions and challenges in the field of nutritional sciences, both in clinical and preventive medicine.

To this end, we provide you with detailed medical and nutritional therapy knowledge based on the latest scientific and research findings. In addition, we involve you in numerous practical projects and give you important impulses for your work as a nutrition therapist.

Your career prospects

Our innovative approach that pays off

Your career opportunities could not be more diverse. With your degree, you can perform nutritional therapy and counseling roles in clinical and health care settings, as well as in schools, daycare centers and other public settings.

  • Nutrition teams in practice and clinic,
  • Nutrition therapy and counseling in clinics without nutrition teams and without previous specialization in nutrition therapy,
  • Oncology and diabetology focus practices,
  • Pharmacies with a nutrition therapy focus (production of individual preparations for parenteral nutrition and co-care of patients with artificial nutrition),
  • Palliative care facilities and hospices,
  • Patient:ing and consumer:ing associations,

Outpatient and clinical sites for nutrition counseling and health insurance companies.
Our bachelor's degree also qualifies you for further research-oriented master's degree programs - so teaching, research and academia are also possible career fields. A master's degree opens the way to a doctorate and an academic career. At our university, for example, you can get started with the master's program Health and social management.

Study program video

Focus on healthy nutrition

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Details about the study model and internship

You study with us in a full-time study model, but in a block structure typical for our university. This means that the attendance times at our university are compressed and you can already work in practice during your studies. This means that your studies can be ideally combined with a career and private requirements.

In concrete terms, this means that you will complete a total of 6 blocks per semester, each with 4 to 5 days of attendance at the university. The remaining time is available for the practical transfer with a practice partner or as a self-study phase. Our goal with this innovative, practice-integrated study model is to make it possible for you to combine your studies, professional activities and family very well, despite full-time study.

If you already have relevant work experience in this field, you can shorten your studies to 2 years / 4 semesters. You will then enter directly into the 3rd semester. We would be happy to check this possibility at any time on the basis of your application documents. Please do not hesitate to contact us.

Your elective focal points

During the course of your studies, you can choose between concentrations in nutrition therapy and nutrition counseling.

The nutrition therapy qualifies you to recognize a threatening deficiency, malnutrition, undernutrition or overnutrition at an early stage and to treat it preventively or, in the case of an existing disease, to initiate all necessary measures for an individual therapy and to coordinate the procedure at a scientifically high level of quality with the treating physicians.

This focus thus conveys all the important prerequisites for later being admitted to the recognized certification as a nutritionist with one of the associations (DGE, QUETHEB, VFED, VDOE).

The focus here is on prevention: You show people how a healthy diet, exercise and a conscious lifestyle can prevent the development of diseases or positively influence their course. In addition, you give nutritional recommendations to people in different life situations and deal with questions about the nutritional behavior of the individual.

Thus, this focus provides all the important prerequisites to later be admitted to the recognized certification as a nutritionist at one of the associations (DGE, QUETHEB, VFED, VDOE).

Your modules in the study

6 Semester 180 ECTS
1. Semester

First Semester

  • Basics of chemistry, biology, genetics, biochemistry and microbiology

    5
  • Nutritional anatomy, physiology, pathology and pathophysiology.

    5
  • Basics of nutrition therapy and nutrition counseling

    5
  • Dietetics and nutrition education

    5
  • Food Science

    5
  • Orientation internship nutrition therapy and nutrition counseling

    5
2. Semester

Second Semester

  • Basics of chemistry, biology, genetics, biochemistry and microbiology

    5
  • Basics of nutrition therapy and nutrition counseling

    5
  • Nutritional physiology and biochemistry of nutrition, regulation of energy balance.

    5
  • Nutritional diseases and metabolic disorders I

    5
  • Nutritional therapy and dietetics in practice

    5
  • Orientation internship nutrition therapy and nutrition counseling

    5
3. Semester

Third Semester

  • Food technology and food hygiene

    5
  • Nutritional diseases and metabolic disorders II

    5
  • Applied Nutritional Medicine I - Nutritional Therapy and Counseling in Diabetology and Metabolic Syndrome.

    5
  • Scientific work

    5

Beginning in the 3rd semester, you can choose between our two concentrations of nutrition therapy and nutrition counseling:

  • Elective Emphasis Nutrition Therapy:
    • Applied nutritional medicine II - Nutritional therapy of diseases in internal medicine and metabolic disorders (5 ECTS)
    • Practical course in nutritional medicine (5 ECTS)
  • Elective specialization in nutrition counseling:
    • Nutritional psychology and communication (5 ECTS)
    • Internship in nutritional counseling/ meal preparation/ meal planning (5 ECTS)
4. Semester

Fourth Semester

  • Nutrition in different life stages or life situations, nutrition of different cultures.

    5
  • Nutritional Pharmacology and Nutritional Toxicology.

    5
  • Clinical trials, statistics and evidence-based practice.

    5
  • Elective focus on nutrition therapy:
    • Applied Nutritional Medicine II - Nutritional therapy of diseases in internal medicine and metabolic disorders (5 ECTS).
    • Applied nutritional medicine III - Nutritional therapy of cancer, HIV infection and AIDS and in palliative medicine (5 ECTS)
    • Practical course in nutritional medicine (5 ECTS)
  • Elective specialization in nutritional counseling:
    • Counseling and interviewing (5 ECTS)
    • Quality management/ quality assurance in health care companies (5 ECTS)
      • Internship in nutritional counseling/ meal preparation/ meal planning (5 ECTS)
5. Semester

Fifth Semester

  • Pharmaceutical, food, socio-legal and ethical aspects of nutrition.

    5
  • Immunology, food intolerances and food allergies

    5
  • Clinical chemistry and nutritional medicine diagnostics

    5
  • Elective focus on nutrition therapy:
    • Applied nutritional medicine III - Nutritional therapy of cancer, HIV infection and AIDS and in palliative care (5 ECTS)
    • Clinical nutrition and infusion therapy (5 ECTS)
    • Practical course in nutritional medicine (5 ECTS)
  • Elective specialization in nutritional counseling:
    • Counseling and interviewing (5 ECTS)
    • Entrepreneurship in health care companies (5 ECTS)
    • Internship in nutritional counseling/ meal preparation/ meal planning (5 ECTS)
6. Semester

Sixth Semester

  • Public Health Nutrition, Informationssysteme im Gesundheitswesen und Präventivmedizin sowie Rehabilitation

    5
  • Bachelor thesis and colloquium

    15
  • Elective focus on nutrition therapy:
    • Clinical nutrition and infusion therapy (5 ECTS)
    • Practical course in nutritional medicine (5 ECTS)
  • Elective focus on nutritional counseling:
    • Free study (5 ECTS)
    • Internship in nutritional counseling/ meal preparation/ meal planning (5 ECTS)
We are able to not only prevent but also fight disease and promote healthy aging through proper nutrition. Our body has an enormous capacity to heal itself.
Prof. Dr. Dorothea Portius, Director of Studies Campus Gera
Avoid cooking stress

Health Impulses

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I am grateful for the high-quality and scientifically sound lectures and the opportunity to critically question the content. The interaction with the lecturers and the students are very helpful to be prepared in the best possible way for our professional future.
Sophie Jurtz, Student

Confirmed study quality

The hallmark of the Central Evaluation and Accreditation Agency (ZEvA) is the evaluation and accreditation of study programs, university control and management. ZEvA came to very good results in all areas.

The quality of our Bachelor's program Nutrition Therapy and Counseling was successfully confirmed by ZEvA.

About our quality promise

Admission requirements and application

It's so easy to start your dream studies with us!

To ensure a smooth and stress-free start to your dream studies, we recommend that you apply online for the winter semester by September 10.

Apply now!

Access requirements

You can apply at any time without obligation via our Online-Portal. We will then review your application documents and invite you to a personal interview.

For admission to the bachelor's program in nutrition therapy and counseling, we require the following documents from you:

  • General university entrance qualification, university of applied sciences entrance qualification or an equivalent university entrance qualification or university entrance qualification for qualified professionals according to § 70 ThürHG*.
  • Proof of German language level B2 (for international applicants)

Students have the possibility to prove up to 50 CP through a placement exam as well as another 10 CP through recognition of the internship and thus acquire the entrance qualification for the second stage of studies. Students can thus reduce their standard period of study to 4 semesters.


*ThürHG § 70 (2) Vocationally qualified persons without a university entrance qualification who have completed vocational training and have been employed full-time for at least three years are also entitled to study in a specific degree program by passing an entrance examination.

If you have the necessary entrance requirements, we are already looking forward to your application, which should then include the following documents:

  • Curriculum vitae in tabular form with passport photo
  • Proof of your university entrance qualification
  • Proof of your completed vocational training in a health or related profession (if you would like to have your studies shortened)
  • A copy of your identity card (front and back), for foreign students the National Identity Card.

For the online application process you have to register once. This gives you the opportunity to add information and files later before sending us your documents.

Health needs smart people. Be one of them and apply for your dream study program at our university. We look forward to receiving your application.

Costs and financing

Here you will find all the information you need to realize your studies.

Your financing

As a state-recognized, private university, the SRH Hochschule für Gesundheit is financed by tuition fees. These revenues are used for the equipment of our campus, the service for our students and the quality assurance. In this way, we ensure that you receive the best possible education under optimal study conditions. 

Tuition fees  

  • Campus Gera 490 € monthly (total: 18.090 €)
  • Rhineland Campus 490€ monthly (Total: 18.090 €)

The monthly fee remains the same throughout the entire study period. The one-time enrollment fee is €450.00 and is due 4 weeks before the start of studies. Except for the placement, aptitude or equivalency exam, if applicable, no separate exam fees or similar are charged, not even for repeat exams. This gives you maximum cost transparency during your studies. If you extend your studies beyond the standard period of study, fees will also be charged, as the university's offer will continue to be used. If only the final thesis of the course is still outstanding, the fees are reduced by 50%. 

In addition to efficient organization, a goal-oriented course of study also requires a solid financial basis to be able to pay rent, living expenses and tuition fees. There are various financing options, such as BAföG, educational loans or scholarship programs.

We have compiled a list of all financing options for you here.

Take off together now Health needs smart people. Be one of them and apply now!
  • Here you learn step by step
  • You study in practical tasks in small teams
  • You can concentrate on the essentials in our competence-oriented lectures
  • You receive continuous performance feedback
Apply now!