1. Department Overview

1.1 Introduction

Nutritional science is now a field of growing importance in many aspects of healthcare, lifestyle, industry and policy development. Improved nutritional status is also key to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as it directly contributes to productivity, poverty reduction and economic development by improving physical and psychological health — thus laying the foundation of stable, secure and peaceful societies.

The primary goal of establishing the Department of Human Nutrition at KMU is to improve the nutritional status of the people of Pakistan in general, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in particular, through cutting-edge research, education and outreach programs. The department focuses on research targeted at understanding local nutritional problems and developing cost-effective nutritional strategies, and aims to be the national leader in producing highly skilled nutrition graduates from diverse backgrounds to overcome the scarcity of skilled human resources in this field.

The Human Nutrition Program endeavors to be a world-class academic and research program, providing quality education and advanced knowledge in Human Nutrition to those who seek excellence in the field.

1.2 Vision

To be a national center of excellence in Human Nutrition research and education.

1.3 Mission

The Human Nutrition Program endeavors to be a world-class academic and research program providing quality education and advanced knowledge in Human Nutrition to those who seek excellence in the field. The program aims to strengthen and continuously improve its postgraduate offerings through curriculum enhancement, research innovation, and academic diversification, while facilitating the development of competent nutrition scientists, researchers, and professionals capable of addressing national and global nutrition and public health challenges.

MPhil Human Nutrition

Our MPhil Human Nutrition program is the most appropriate qualification for future nutrition professionals. The Department of Human Nutrition at KMU aims to provide an MPhil program that is both educationally sound and directly relevant to the country's future needs in nutritional sciences. The overall aim is to produce quality nutrition professionals with vision, knowledge, creativity and leadership skills to improve the quality of nutritional care in the region and country as a whole.

PhD Human Nutrition

The PhD Human Nutrition program aims to produce scholars of high intellectual caliber who will be able to conduct scientifically rigorous research in the field of Human Nutrition. Through continuous professional development and advanced research, graduates of this program will contribute to innovation and evidence-based practices in the healthcare system of the country and to the well-being of society at large.

1.4 Objectives

Program Objectives:

• Develop advanced knowledge and critical understanding of human nutrition, nutritional sciences, and public health nutrition to address complex nutrition-related challenges at individual, community, and population levels.
• Equip graduates with advanced research competencies to design, conduct, analyze, and disseminate high-quality scientific research that contributes to evidence-based nutrition practice and policy development.
• Enhance professional and technical skills required for nutritional assessment, dietary planning, data analysis, and the application of contemporary technologies and research tools in nutrition and health sciences.
• Prepare graduates for leadership and interdisciplinary collaboration in academic, clinical, community, governmental, and research settings to improve nutrition and health outcomes.
• Promote ethical and professional conduct by fostering integrity, accountability, cultural sensitivity, and adherence to ethical principles in research, education, and nutrition practice.
• Develop effective communication and lifelong learning skills that enable graduates to disseminate scientific knowledge, engage diverse stakeholders, and continuously update their professional competencies.
• Cultivate commitment to community engagement and public service by enabling graduates to contribute to nutrition advocacy, disease prevention, health promotion, and sustainable solutions to national and global nutrition challenges.

2. Academic Information

2.1 Programs Offered

Programs

• PhD Human Nutrition
• MPhil Human Nutrition

Diploma

• Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Nutrition

Certifications

• Certificate course in Early Child Development (ECD)
• Certificate course in Chronic Disease Management
• Certificate course on Nutrition in Emergencies (NIE) / Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition

2.2 Curriculum

PhD Human Nutrition — Program Structure

The PhD Human Nutrition program aims to produce scholars of high intellectual caliber who will be able to conduct scientifically rigorous research in the field of Human Nutrition. Through continuous professional development and advanced research, graduates of this program will contribute to innovation and evidence-based practices in the healthcare system of the country and to the well-being of society at large.

The PhD Human Nutrition program consists of both coursework and research components. The coursework is designed to provide a strong foundation in various areas of Human Nutrition, including advanced topics in Research Ethics, Applied Biostatistics, Scientific Writing and Presentation Skills, Nutritional Epidemiology, Clinical Nutrition, Nutritional Biochemistry, Public Health Nutrition, and Advanced Research Methods.

The research component of the program focuses on the development of advanced research skills and the generation of original scientific knowledge in the field of human nutrition. The program encourages research in diverse areas such as clinical nutrition, public health nutrition, nutritional biochemistry, diet-related diseases, and community nutrition. Students are required to conduct an independent research project under the supervision of a faculty member and produce a dissertation based on their research findings. The dissertation must be defended publicly before a panel of experts in the field.

Program Structure

The PhD in Human Nutrition is a three-year program consisting of coursework, research training, and teaching experience.

During the first semester, students are required to complete core courses including Research Ethics, Research Methods, Applied Biostatistics, Scientific Writing and Presentation Skills, Review of Literature, and Biosafety and Biosecurity. A qualifying examination is conducted at the end of the semester.

In the second semester, students complete advanced courses in human nutrition including Clinical Nutrition, Public Health Nutrition, Nutritional Epidemiology, and Advanced Human Nutrition and Research Methods. Students will also assist in teaching undergraduate or allied health students to gain discipline-specific teaching experience and participate in lectures, practical sessions, and student mentoring.

From the third to sixth semester, students focus primarily on their doctoral research project, including data collection, analysis, dissertation writing, and thesis defense. During this period, students may also serve as teaching assistants to further develop their academic and research skills.

PhD Review Committee Presentation

All PhD students are required to deliver an oral presentation at the end of each year before the PhD Review Committee. The presentation is followed by a discussion with committee members, including at least two subject experts, to evaluate the student's progress. Based on this evaluation, the committee decides on the student's continuation and registration for the next academic session.

Qualifying Examinations and Defense

End-of-Semester Examination

Upon completion of the core coursework, students must successfully pass end-of-semester examinations (Semesters 1 and 2) to assess their knowledge of the subject area, understanding of relevant literature, and ability to develop research hypotheses and experimental designs. These examinations may include written and oral components.

Comprehensive Examination

The comprehensive qualifying examination is designed to assess the student's fundamental knowledge of human nutrition, critical thinking ability, and capacity to develop an independent research proposal.

An ad hoc examination committee, constituted by the Director of the Institute or the PhD Coordinator, will include three graduate faculty members, at least two of whom will be subject specialists.

Students are allowed a maximum of two attempts to pass the qualifying examination. Failure to pass after two attempts may result in withdrawal from the PhD program, although the institute may offer the option of completing a terminal Master's degree.

After successfully passing the qualifying examination, the student must register for Dissertation Research. A minimum of 6 credit hours of dissertation research is required for degree completion, typically conducted over 2-3 academic years. The student must identify a research project under the supervision of a faculty member and present the proposal to the Graduate Studies Committee (GSC) and Advanced Studies and Research Board (ASRB) for approval.

MPhil Human Nutrition — Teaching & Learning Approach

In addition to theoretical lectures and workshops, journal club sessions place focus on mentoring sessions for scholars to enhance their research skills. Different learning methods are incorporated so that scholars have the opportunity to develop and deliver teaching to both small and large student groups. A portfolio of theoretical knowledge, observations, and practical experiences is collected at the conclusion of the academic year. The program incorporates training as a component of practical learning, enabling students to gain hands-on experience in relevant research, clinical, and community-based settings.

2.3 Courses Offered

Specialty Courses — MPhil Human Nutrition

• Fundamentals of Human Nutrition: Provides a broader understanding of human nutrition and the importance of macro- and micronutrients in human health. Covers dietary sources of key macro- and micronutrients, classification of foods into groups based on nutrient composition and production (organic vs non-organic, genetically modified), and methods for estimating energy requirements and adequate intake levels across the life cycle.
• Maternal, Infant, Young Child & Adolescent Nutrition (MICAN): Introduces nutritional assessment, nutrient requirements, and the special needs of mothers, infants, young children, and adolescents — including increased nutritional needs in pregnancy, breastfeeding promotion, introduction of complementary foods, and strategies to promote adequate nutrient intake in children and adolescents.
• Nutrition Counseling & Communication Skills: Aims to increase the effectiveness of nutrition counsellors as facilitators of behavioural change in the nutritional management of patients, involving dietitians/nutritionists and allied health professionals such as doctors, nurses, and psychologists.
• Nutrition Interventions: Focuses on strategies to promote a balanced diet and adequate nutrient intake among at-risk groups (e.g., pregnant and lactating women, young children), including supplementation, fortification, and dietary diversification.
• Clinical Nutrition: Focuses on the nutritional aspects of clinical diseases, integrating existing knowledge of biochemistry and physiology, and the role of nutrition in disease treatment and prevention.
• Nutritional Epidemiology: Introduces core epidemiological concepts linking food intake and health outcomes, including measures of disease frequency and association, research designs, causal inference, and hands-on data analysis using tools such as WHO Anthro/Anthro-Plus, R and SAS.
• Community and Public Health Nutrition: Provides an understanding of community-based nutrition research, programs, and policy at the population level, emphasizing top-down approaches to reduce nutrition-related disparities in Pakistan.

2.4 Academic Calendar

IBMS, Khyber Medical University Peshawar — Academic Year Calendar 2026–2027

Key dates — First Semester (Spring 2026): Orientation Week Feb 2–6, 2026; Commencement of Classes Feb 2, 2026; Midterm Exam Mar 30 – Apr 3, 2026; Last Day of Classes May 29, 2026; Terminal Examination Jun 1–5, 2026; Declaration of Results Jun 23, 2026.

Key dates — Second Semester (Fall 2026): Commencement of Classes Sep 1, 2026; Midterm Examination Nov 2–6, 2026; Last Day of Classes Dec 25, 2026; Terminal Examination Jan 4–8, 2027; Declaration of Results Jan 22, 2027.

2.5 Learning Outcomes

• Apply core concepts and techniques of human nutrition and related basic sciences effectively in practice.
• Identify, formulate, and address nutrition-related health problems at individual and community levels.
• Translate nutrition knowledge into practical dietary and clinical applications in professional settings.
• Develop and conduct independent research studies in the field of human nutrition.
• Conduct literature reviews and perform statistical analysis using appropriate software tools independently.
• Present and publish research findings at national and international conferences and peer-reviewed journals.
• Manage and coordinate nutrition research projects efficiently and professionally.
• Apply ethical principles and professional judgment in nutrition research and community-based practice.
• Understand the role of nutrition in addressing key public health challenges in Pakistan and globally.
• Demonstrate responsible professional practice with accountability in ethical decision-making in nutrition and health care.