Nursing in Australia
Australia has 24 Nursing programmes listed across 12 universities, offering pathways from undergraduate entry to postgraduate specialisation. Well-regarded institutions such as Flinders University of South Australia, La Trobe University, Australian Catholic University, and Curtin University are among those offering these programmes.
Tuition information is not centrally listed and varies by institution and student status. James Cook University of North Queensland and Charles Darwin University are further options in this catalogue, particularly appealing for students interested in rural and remote health contexts. Nursing graduates in Australia are eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).
Bachelor of Nursing
The Bachelor of Nursing at the University of New England (UNE) prepares you for a rewarding career as a Registered Nurse in Australia and internationally. With a growing demand for healthcare professionals, this program equips you with essential skills and knowledge to make a direct impact on patient care. UNE offers flexible study options, allowing you to study online or on campus at Armidale. The curriculum is evidence-based, incorporating the latest research and clinical guidelines, and includes hands-on experience through simulations and professional placements. UNE is recognised for its commitment to student success, with high ratings for overall experience and student support. The program is designed to be accessible, with various entry pathways for different backgrounds. Graduates are eligible to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). For those already working as Enrolled Nurses, there is an opportunity to receive advanced standing and fast-track your degree.
Bachelor of Nursing
The Bachelor of Nursing program prepares students for a career as a Registered Nurse, equipping them with essential assessment and clinical decision-making skills. The curriculum emphasizes a person-centred, professional approach to patient care and is designed to enable graduates to work in diverse healthcare, industry, and community settings. Delivered over three years, the program combines foundational knowledge in human biology and research with critical clinical skills. Students will gain practical experience through an on-campus simulation hospital environment and 800 hours of mandatory clinical placements, preparing them for professional registration and confident practice.
Bachelor of Nursing
The Bachelor of Nursing program is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, preparing graduates for registration as Registered Nurses (Division 1). This degree equips you with the necessary skills to provide safe, collaborative, and ethical care, responding to healthcare needs at local, national, and global levels. The curriculum includes intensive simulation blocks and extensive professional experience placements, which are mandatory components for qualification. Students are expected to cover their own travel and accommodation costs for placements. The program also emphasizes the importance of inherent qualities for safe nursing practice, such as physical and cognitive abilities, and encourages students with concerns to discuss them with the university before applying. Additionally, all students must comply with mandatory preclinical requirements and reporting obligations to regulatory bodies.
Bachelor of Nursing
The Bachelor of Nursing program at the University of Wollongong (UOW) is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become registered nurses. Registered nurses play a vital role in the healthcare system, providing care and support to individuals, families, and communities facing acute, chronic, and complex health conditions. This program emphasizes understanding the social, cultural, economic, legal, political, and ethical factors influencing nursing and healthcare. A significant component of the degree involves practical experience, with 21 weeks of professional workplace placements in hospitals, aged care facilities, and community settings, ensuring a smooth transition into professional practice. Graduates of UOW's nursing program have strong employment prospects, with a high percentage securing full-time employment shortly after graduation. The curriculum is designed to immerse students in all aspects of nursing, preparing them for diverse roles within the healthcare sector. For those with a Diploma of Nursing, there is a pathway to receive credit for prior learning, potentially allowing direct entry into the second year of the Bachelor of Nursing degree.
Bachelor of Nursing
Bachelor of Nursing
Bachelor of Nursing
This Bachelor of Nursing program prepares graduates with strong clinical skills, critical thinking abilities, and a compassionate approach to patient care. Through extensive connections with hospitals and healthcare partners, you will gain valuable industry placements and be well-prepared for future employment. The curriculum is designed to integrate theoretical knowledge with practical experience, ensuring you are ready to meet the demands of the nursing profession. The program also offers opportunities for international experience in various healthcare settings abroad.
Bachelor of Nursing (Enrolled Nurses)
This two-year, diploma-to-degree conversion course is designed for enrolled nurses looking to upgrade their qualifications. ACU graduates are recognised for their strong clinical skills, compassionate approach, and ability to think critically. The program offers extensive connections to hospitals and healthcare partners, providing valuable opportunities for industry placements and future employment. The Australian government offers the Commonwealth Prac Payment (CPP) to eligible students to help cover costs during mandatory placements, potentially providing $331.65 per week.
Bachelor of Nursing (Graduate Entry Pathway)
This program allows individuals with an existing degree or diploma to transition into a career as a registered nurse (RN) in just two years. You will gain practical experience through hands-on learning in advanced simulation labs and complete clinical placements in major metropolitan and regional hospitals from your first year. The course aims to build essential employability skills such as leadership, time management, critical thinking, and communication, preparing you for a dynamic healthcare sector.
Bachelor of Nursing (Preregistration)
Embark on a rewarding journey to become a registered nurse with Flinders University. This Bachelor of Nursing (Preregistration) program is built on over 50 years of internationally recognised nursing education and research. It offers extensive industry experience and practical placement opportunities, equipping you with hands-on skills across various healthcare settings. The program focuses on developing reflective practitioners with strong clinical reasoning abilities and a commitment to lifelong learning, preparing you to make a significant difference in people's lives.
Bachelor of Nursing Science (Honours)
This honours program focuses on developing your research capabilities within a strong clinical practice framework. You will investigate a contemporary health issue of your choice, explore areas like maternal and child health, acute and complex adult care, and health professional education. The program is designed for registered nurses looking to transition into academic or professional research roles, and is delivered through a blend of coursework and a significant research project.
Bachelor of Nursing Science [Pre-Registration]
This Bachelor of Nursing Science (Pre-Registration) degree prepares you to become a registered nurse, with a special focus on providing effective healthcare in rural and remote settings. You will learn to communicate with diverse populations, plan and deliver contemporary care at individual and community levels, and gain eligibility to apply for Registered Nurse (Division 1) registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. The program emphasizes hands-on learning, with extensive supervised professional practice and clinical experience integrated from your first year.
Graduate Certificate of Nursing
The Graduate Certificate of Nursing is designed for registered nurses seeking to advance their skills and knowledge in specialized areas. This program offers flexible online study options, allowing you to balance professional development with your existing commitments. Upon completion, you will gain advanced competencies applicable to various healthcare settings, including rural, remote, and Indigenous communities.
Graduate Diploma of Nursing
Master of Mental Health Nursing
The Master of Mental Health Nursing is designed for registered nurses seeking to advance their careers. This fully online program enhances your expertise in providing recovery-based care for individuals with mental health conditions. Developed in partnership with Mental Health Clinical Services, the course equips you with the skills to deliver evidence-based mental health care across various health settings. You will learn to work with diverse age groups and address specific areas like addiction, eating disorders, depression, and anxiety, preparing you to improve health outcomes in both hospital and community environments. The curriculum focuses on building critical thinking skills for assessing and diagnosing mental illness, along with high-level clinical decision-making. You will develop effective communication strategies for working with colleagues, patients, and families. The program explores a range of therapeutic approaches, including pharmacological and recovery-oriented therapies, and emphasizes a problem-solving approach for mental health care, allowing you to apply learning directly to your current practice. The flexible online format accommodates work commitments, with study structured across four six-week terms per year, allowing focus on two subjects per semester.
Master of Nurse Practitioner
This Master of Nurse Practitioner program is designed for experienced nurses aiming to advance their clinical practice and leadership skills within their chosen specialty. The course focuses on developing advanced clinical assessment, person-centred care, and leadership capabilities, incorporating professional competencies set by the Nurse and Midwifery Board of Australia. You will learn to utilize digital tools and informatics for therapeutic medication management, holistic health assessment, and diagnostic interpretation. The program emphasizes a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to patient care, preparing graduates for advanced practice roles.
Master of Nursing
The Master of Nursing is a coursework Master's degree designed for registered nurses seeking to advance their expertise. This program offers specialisation through majors in Advanced Practice, Education, or Leadership and Management. Graduates will develop advanced knowledge and skills to critically analyse complex nursing problems, generate evidence, and lead practice improvements in various healthcare settings, including tropical, rural, remote, and Indigenous communities. The degree can also serve as a pathway to a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma of Nursing.
Master of Nursing
Advance your nursing career with a Master of Nursing at La Trobe University. This program is designed for registered nurses who wish to develop specialized clinical skills or transition into leadership, education, or research roles. You will learn to plan, implement, and evaluate complex nursing practices within multidisciplinary teams, building advanced skills relevant to your chosen specialization. The course offers a flexible, blended learning approach, allowing for face-to-face or fully online study options to accommodate your professional commitments.
Master of Nursing (Research)
The Master of Nursing (Research) is a graduate research degree designed for nurses who wish to pursue advanced research in specialized areas of nursing. This program offers a pathway to developing in-depth research skills and contributing to the body of nursing knowledge. The qualification awarded is recognized in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) as a Masters Degree by Research (Level 9).
Master of Nursing Practice
This Master of Nursing Practice program is designed for graduates of any bachelor's degree discipline who wish to transition into a career as a registered nurse. The course provides a comprehensive pathway to develop essential clinical nursing skills and theoretical knowledge. Over two years of full-time study, you will gain practical experience through 800 hours of clinical placements in diverse healthcare settings, including metropolitan, regional, and rural hospitals and healthcare providers. The curriculum covers crucial areas such as acute and chronic illness care, Indigenous health, mental health, rehabilitation, and community care. Students will have the opportunity to hone their skills in advanced nursing simulation labs located at La Trobe's Melbourne, Albury-Wodonga, Bendigo, and Mildura campuses. The qualification awarded is recognised as a Level 9 Master's Degree under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
Master of Nursing Practice (Pre-Registration)
The Master of Nursing Practice (Pre-Registration) is an accredited degree that qualifies you to apply for registration as a Registered Nurse (Division 1) with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. You can choose to study this program online or on campus, full-time or part-time. The course focuses on developing essential critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills for registered nursing, emphasizing evidence-based care and respect for diverse patient contexts, cultures, and communities. It prepares you to provide care within various health, well-being, illness, and disability settings. To complete the degree and become a registered nurse, you will undertake practical training, including three simulation blocks (96 hours in total) and at least 800 hours of supervised clinical placements. These placements occur across diverse healthcare settings and require full-time commitment, including potential night, weekend, and public holiday shifts. Students are responsible for costs associated with clinical placements and simulation blocks, such as travel and accommodation. Reasonable travel to placements is expected, and placements are typically sourced within a 150-kilometre radius of your residence.
Nursing (Diploma of Health Sciences)
This Diploma of Health Sciences (Nursing) program is designed for individuals with a strong desire to care for others and make a positive impact on people's lives through a rewarding career in nursing. The program provides a comprehensive study of nursing, incorporating simulated practice, fieldwork, inter-professional learning, contemporary blended learning methods, and advanced clinical development. Please note that some Stage 2 units may commence earlier than the standard semester dates, requiring availability from the first week of January for clinical placements. From 2024, the nursing program will have a February intake only. This diploma serves as a pathway to Curtin University's Bachelor of Science (Advanced Nursing) and is not an Enrolled Nursing qualification. It is important to review Curtin University's inherent requirements for nursing courses.
Nursing and Midwifery Programs
The School of Nursing and Midwifery at Western Sydney University is dedicated to advancing research that positively impacts the health and well-being of individuals, families, and communities, both locally and globally. Our research aligns with key health priorities and is undertaken in collaboration with government bodies, health services, and professional organisations. We offer a range of programs within nursing and midwifery.
Frequently asked questions
How much do Nursing programmes cost in Australia?
+
Tuition varies by institution and programme level — check each university's fee schedule directly for international and domestic student rates.
Which universities offer Nursing programmes in Australia?
+
There are 12 universities in this catalogue, including Flinders University of South Australia, La Trobe University, Australian Catholic University, and Curtin University.
Can international students study Nursing in Australia?
+
Yes, Australian universities welcome international nursing students. You will need to meet English proficiency requirements and should check if your qualification will be recognised in your home country.
What are typical entry requirements for Nursing programmes in Australia?
+
Undergraduate nursing programmes typically require a secondary school certificate with satisfactory grades. Postgraduate programmes require a prior nursing qualification and current or recent registration.
How do I apply for a Nursing programme in Australia?
+
Undergraduate applications go through state admissions centres (UAC, VTAC, etc.) or directly to the university. Postgraduate applications are submitted via each university's portal. Check programme pages for specific deadlines.