Programme Objectives

The programmes are designed to equip health care and related professionals/workers for more in-depth understanding of nutrition, diet and their relationship with family health and community health, and to prepare them for more advanced roles in health care service and practice.

Special features

Two programmes are being offered.

Certificate Programme

The Certificate Programme provides a comprehensive theoretical background and application base of nutritional science in disease prevention and health promotion. The programme will also examine a wide variety of nutritional issue, diet management of common health problems in both individual and family perspectives.

Diploma Programme

The Diploma Programme is an extension of the Certificate Programme. It will expand the basic training with broader and in-depth perspective in the application of nutritional and health knowledge in family and in the community. At the end of the diploma course, graduates will be in stronger position to benefit their professions as well as the community.

The Certificate Programme is structured on a part-time basis comprising 6 modules. Additional symposia/seminars will be held to increase exposure and to enhance the knowledge base of the participants. The duration of the Certificate Programme is normally 7 months. The credits are equivalent to the modules in the Diploma Programme in Applied Nutrition and Family Health and are transferable. The programme fees paid for Certificate Programme could be credited toward the Diploma Programme fees.

The Diploma Programme comprising 10 modules, is also structured on a part-time basis. Participants will be required to undertake a project on a nutrition-related topics.

Additional symposia/seminars will be arranged to broaden the view of nutrition of participants. The duration of the Diploma Programme normally is 10 months from September to July of the next year. Participants must complete all Diploma requirements within 36 months for obtaining the Diploma.

The courses are organized as part-time modular courses. Participants will normally be required to attend classes two to three hours per week, with an equivalent amount of time spent in self-directed learning.

Classes of Certificate/Diploma programmes are usually conducted on Thursday evenings from 6:30 pm to either 8:30pm or 9:30pm. Classroom sessions will normally be held at the School of Public Health of Prince of Wales Hospital.

Certificate Programme: From September to March/April each year

Diploma Programme: From September to July each year

Mainly in Chinese (Cantonese), supplemented with teaching materials in English

Experienced dietitians and related professionals from CUHK, HA hospitals, government and non-government organizations.

Certificate Programme :HK$14,700 per year payable in one installment

Diploma Programme : HK$27,300 per year payable in two installments

An application fee of HK$120 is required.

*All paid fees are non-refundable and non-transferable

Module 1 Basic Nutrition

Module 2 Family Health and Special Nutrition Requirements throughout the Lifespan

Module 3 Physical Activity

Module 4 Diet-related Chronic Diseases and Diet Management

Module 5 Nutritional Therapy for Common Diseases

Module 6 Food Safety and Food-borne Illnesses

Module 7 Communication and Counseling (Diploma Only)

Module 8 Basic Research and Evidence-based Health Care (Diploma Only)

Module 9 Community Nutrition (Diploma Only)

Module 10 Writing up a Project (Diploma Only)

Module 1 Basic Nutrition

• Macronutrients: carbohydrates, proteins and lipids
• Micronutrients: vitamins and minerals
• Dietary assessment and healthy eating guidelines
• Introduction of food supplements
• Infection, immunity and nutrition

Module 2 Family Health and Special Nutrition Requirements throughout Lifespan

• Nutritional requirements of different stages throughout lifespan
• Special nutritional needs for men, women and vegetarian

Module 3 Physical Activity

• Physical activity for general population
• Nutrition for exercise and sport

Module 4 Common Diet-related Chronic Diseases and Diet Management

• Obesity and eating disorders
• Cancer prevention and dietary management
• Cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke
• Diabetes mellitus
• Osteoporosis
• Anemia, gout and food allergy
• Interactive case study I

Module 5 Nutritional Therapy for Common Diseases

• Gastrointestinal disorders and enteral feeding
• Liver diseases
• Renal diseases
• Interactive case study II

Module 6 Food Safety and Food-borne Illnesses

• Food-borne illnesses and food hygiene
• Food safety and food labeling

Module 7 Communication and Counseling (For Diploma Only)

• Introduction of behavioural studies
• Communication and counseling
• Practical nutrition

Module 8 Basic Research and Evidence-based Health Care (For Diploma Only)

• Introduction of nutritional studies and methods
• Data interpretation for diet-disease relationship
• Development and evaluation of nutritional materials and sources of data

Module 9 Community Nutrition (For Diploma Only)

• Introduction of community nutrition
• Food policy and global nutrition
• Media influence on diet and nutrition
• Programme planning evaluation

Module 10 Writing up a Project (For Diploma Only)

• Development of project proposal and Literature search in related database
• Discussion with supervisor and tutorial
• Presentation of project

Applicants should have qualification of Form 7 or above , and preferably have basic knowledge in human biological sciences.

Certificate Programme

Participants must pass the examination and overall assessment, complete the necessary course requirements and attend at least 80% of the lectures, practical sessions and interactive case studies of Modules 1 to 6.

Diploma Programme

Participants must pass the examinations and the overall assessment, complete the necessary course requirements and attend at least 80% of the lectures, practical sessions, interactive case studies and tutorials of Modules 1 to 10.

From Certificate to Diploma Programme

The credits of the Certificate programme are equivalent and transferable to the Diploma programme in Applied Nutrition and Family Health. The tuition fees for the Certificate programme can be credited towards the Diploma programme. According to the university guideline, an administration fee of HK$1,500 would be charged for the transfer procedure.

Application for the transfer from Certificate to Diploma Programme must be filed within 36 months after completion of the Certificate programme.

Centre of Research and Promotion of Women's Health are accredited as a Provider of Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) by the Nursing Council of Hong Kong.  

* Please note that graduates of the Diploma and Certificate Programmes in Applied Nutrition and Family Health are not considered as registered dietitian.

Download application form:

Click to Download: Application Form

Completed application form should be returned to:

Ms Michelle Li

 4/F, School of Public Health, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, N.T., no later than 31 May 2011

Please attach copies of certificates for academic/professional qualifications and a cheque for the application fee of HK$120, made payable to "The Chinese University of Hong Kong".

Information Session 2012

29 February 2012 (Wed) at CUHK School of Public Health, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin

Time : 7 :00pm - 9 :00pm

29 March 2012 (Thu) at Hong Kong Scout Centre, Austin Road, Kowloon

Time : 7 :00pm - 9 :00pm

5 May 2012 (Sat) at CUHK School of Public Health, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin

Time : 3 :00pm - 5 :00pm

For registration, please contact Ms Michelle Li at 2635 0106 or email to nutrition@cuhk.edu.hk

For further programme details, please contact:

Ms Michelle Li

Programme Administrator

Certificate/Diploma Programme in Applied Nutrition and Family Health

Room 427, 4th Floor, School of Public Health,

Prince of Wales Hospital,

Shatin, N.T. Hong Kong.

Tel : 2635 0106

Fax: 2602 4360

Email: nutrition@cuhk.edu.hk

Course Information Request Form