postgraduate nursing courses australia

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Master of Nursing Studies

Learn everything you need to know to work as a registered nurse in Australia.

This program has been specifically designed to prepare you to work as a registered nurse in Australia within two years. You'll learn to work effectively in interprofessional teams to promote quality health outcomes through safe and effective nursing practice developed to meet Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia’s Registered Nurse Standards for Practice.

All teaching activities take place at the Translational Research Institute at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba. Throughout the program, you'll undertake more than 800 hours of supervised clinical placements in a range of settings, including hospitals and a variety of healthcare organisations. These clinical placements will take place at the Princess Alexandra Hospital and other clinical partner sites.

You'll learn the most relevant theories and the latest skills from health and nursing professionals, and you'll benefit from a program that takes a problem-based approach to learning and integrates classroom-based study with clinical practice. You'll develop clinical reasoning skills to provide high-quality, safe and effective care.

This two-year program is designed for applicants who have completed an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in any discipline within the past 10 years and who can meet minimum GPA requirements.

Program highlights

• Join the school ranked first in Queensland, fourth in Australia and 21st in the world for nursing.
• Prepare for a career with in-demand skills, ready for an industry experiencing high jobs growth.
• Undertake more than 880 hours of clinical practice in both supervised placements and clinical laboratories.

44 in the world for nursing

Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2024

How you'll learn

Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.

• Work placements
• Online study
• Research experience

Placements and work experience

Students will undertake approximately 800 hours of supervised clinical practice in a range of clinical settings that includes hospitals and a variety of health care organisations. During their placements, students will have the opportunity to apply their theoretical knowledge acquired through coursework to practice and develop their clinical skills in real life setting.Students will commence their clinical placements in week four of the program. During the first year students will normally complete approximately 38 x 8-hour shifts and in the final year students will complete approximately 86 x 8-hour shifts.Students may be required to undertake clinical placements outside of the Brisbane metropolitan area and students are required to fund their travel, accommodation and daily living expenses.Prior to applying, applicants should ensure they will be able to meet placement requirements outlined on this website.

What you'll study

At UQ, degrees are called 'programs' and subjects are called 'courses'. Here's a sample of the courses you could study in this program:

• Early lifespan nursing
• Musculoskeletal health and injury prevention
• Cardiovascular and respiratory nursing
• Neuroendocrine and MH nursing

See courses and program structure

Career possibilities

Postgraduate study can take you anywhere. Here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:

• Registered nurse
• Critical care nurse
• Paediatric nurse
• Perioperative nurse
• Remote area nurse
• Emergency care nurse
• Registered nurse (aged care)
• Oncology nurse
• Rehabilitation nurse
• Community nurse

Graduate salary

Nursing (postgraduate)

compared.edu.au

Professional memberships

When you graduate, you may be eligible for memberships with the following professional organisations. Contact the organisation to find out how to become a member.

• Australian College of Nursing

Professional registration

When you graduate, you may be eligible for registration with the following professional organisations. Contact the organisation to find out how to register.

• Nursing And Midwifery Board Of Australia. Please See The Nmba Website For Additional Mandatory Registration Requirements.

Program accreditation

The Master of Nursing Studies is accredited by:

• Australian Nursing And Midwifery Accreditation Council

I moved from Cairns to study at UQ because the master's program is unique, and I undertook rural placements at both Mareeba and Innisfail Hospitals in Far North Queensland. Working in a small country hospital was a fantastic experience.

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Entry requirements.

To be eligible for entry, you'll need:

• a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in any discipline

GPA equivalent

Select where you studied and your qualification to see the GPA equivalent you need to be considered for this program.

Use the GPA equivalent as a guide. When you apply, we’ll calculate your GPA using the UQ grading scale. Any failing grades will be included. Entry requirements are subject to change.

Equivalent subjects

English language requirements.

IELTS overall 7; reading 7; writing 7; speaking 7; listening 7. For other English Language Proficiency Tests and Scores approved for UQ

TOEFL iBT (including Paper Edition) - Overall 100, listening 25, reading 25, writing 27, speaking 23.

PTE Academic - Overall 72, sub bands minimum 72.

Bridging English (BE) results, CES, and BEP not accepted.

There are other ways to meet the English language requirements. For some programs, additional conditions apply.

Learn how to meet the English language requirements

Inherent requirements

To complete this degree, you have to meet its inherent requirements by demonstrating essential skills and attributes. Read the inherent requirements before you apply.

Learn about inherent requirements

Student visas

International students who are accepted into full-time study in the Master of Nursing Studies are eligible to apply for an Australian student visa (subclass 500).

There are a number of requirements you must satisfy before a visa is granted, including the Genuine Student (GS) requirement.

Learn more about student visas

Need help meeting the entry requirements?

We can help you meet the academic or English language requirements for your preferred program.

If you haven’t completed the prerequisites, we can help.

Learn about pathway options

Additional application information

Prior to applying, applicants should ensure they will be able to meet placement requirements outlined on this website. English Language Requirements You must have attended and satisfactorily completed at least 6 years of primary and secondary education taught and assessed solely in English. At least two years of this education must have been between grades 7 and 12. This education must have been completed in one of the following countries: AustraliaCanadaNew ZealandRepublic of IrelandSouth AfricaUnited KingdomUnited States of America Applicants who do not meet the above language requirements will need to provide evidence of meeting the program specific higher English language requirements outlined under the 'Meeting the higher requirements' section on the following website.

This program has limited intake capacity.<10><10>Prior to applying, applicants should ensure they will be able to meet placement requirements outlined on this website.<10><10>English Language Requirements<10>You must have attended and satisfactorily completed at least 6 years of primary and secondary education taught and assessed solely in English. At least two years of this education must have been between grades 7 and 12. This education must have been completed in one of the following countries:<10>AustraliaCanadaNew ZealandRepublic of IrelandSouth AfricaUnited KingdomUnited States of America<10><10>Applicants who do not meet the above language requirements will need to provide evidence of meeting the program specific higher English language requirements outlined under the `Meeting the higher requirements¿ section on the following website.

Fees and Scholarships

Indicative annual fee.

Approximate yearly cost of tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your selected courses and study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.

Learn more about postgraduate fees

Approximate yearly cost of full-time tuition (16 units). Your fees will vary according to your study load. Fees are reviewed each year and may increase.

AUD $43,200

Additional costs.

• Annual CPR re-certification (approximately $80 per year)
• First Aid Certificate (including CPR) (approximately $130 renewed every 3 years)
• Police check for criminal history ($45)
• A clinical uniform shirt is required and may be purchased through the School.
• Costs for vaccinations and serology are the responsibility of the student and will vary based on individual and program requirements.

Government assistance

Financial aid.

As an international student, you might be eligible for financial aid – either from your home country, or from the Australian Government.

Learn more about financial aid

Domestic places in the Master of Nursing Studies are Commonwealth Supported. This means the cost of your education is shared between you and the Australian Government.

Instead of tuition fees, Commonwealth Supported students pay what are called student contribution amounts.

HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme to assist eligible students with the cost of their student contribution amounts.

Learn more about HECS-HELP

Centrelink support

The Australian Government has approved this master's program for income support payments to be made to eligible students.

Learn about Centrelink payments for students

Scholarships

You may be eligible for more than 100 scholarships, including:

Applying online

All international applications should be submitted to UQ. If you prefer, you can use an  approved UQ agent in your country .

The program code for the Master of Nursing Studies is  5491 .

Find out more about applying for postgraduate coursework study

Applying through QTAC

All domestic applications should be submitted to the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC).

The QTAC code for the Master of Nursing Studies is 720202 .

Find out more about applying for postgraduate study

Important dates

The closing date for this program is:

• Places have now been filled for this program in the next intake. Applications are welcome for future intakes.

To learn more about UQ dates, including semester start dates, view the Academic Calendar .

To check the closing date for this program, go to the QTAC website .

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants

For support with applying – or if you have any questions about university life – get in touch with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Unit.

Contact the ATSIS Unit

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Postgraduate programs for nurses and other health professionals

The School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedicine spans six campuses - Ballarat, Blacktown, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and North Sydney. We have developed thousands of compassionate caregivers who are helping to improve the health of individuals, families, and communities with their expertise and passion.

Along with researchers, lecturers, and clinical supervisors, the school has four joint research appointments with public and private health services.

Introduction to postgraduate programs in Health at ACU

Research in the school focuses on five major national health priority areas:

• chronic and palliative care
• innovative health care delivery systems
• implementation research translating evidence into practice
• vulnerable communities.

Our institutes, centres and faculties boast internationally renowned scholars and produce world-leading research. In the latest Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA) assessment, ACU ranked first or equal first for ten fields of research in Australia including in:

• cardiorespiratory medicine and haematology
• clinical sciences
• cognitive sciences
• human movement and sports science
• nutrition and dietetics
• public health and health services

Coursework programs

We are recognised globally as a leader in a range of subject specialisations including nursing for which we are ranked 14 th in the world and fourth in Australia (Shanghai Ranking, Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2023).

Clinical Nursing

Commonwealth Supported Places are available for these programs.

Cardiac Care

Through the lens of a person- and family-centred focus you will explore critical care concepts within the cardiac specialisation. Modules explore acute coronary syndromes, heart failure and cardiogenic shock. Rhythm interpretation and common dysrhythmias through normal 12 lead ECG and interpretation of abnormal findings are also embedded within the specialty modules. Other topics such as Cardiomyopathy & cardiac valves, Implantable devices, Cardiothoracic surgery, Cardiac Rehabilitation and Palliative care in Cardiac Nursing Care are embedded in this specialty module.

Correctional health

ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing – Correctional health specialty involves the completion of four units. It is now offered on  t he exciting new platform, CANVAS, via ACU Online .

In the correction health specialisation, the mental health of prisoners is comprehensively and extensively covered. Modules include the importance of physical health, healthcare management, and consequences of accelerated ageing of the prison population. Furthermore, you will be educated in identifying and caring for vulnerable prisoner groups and their health needs as well as caring for prisoners with chronic health conditions such as asthma and diabetes. Communicable diseases, harm minimisation and palliation and pain management will also be addressed.

Gerontological Nursing

ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing – Gerontological nursing specialty involves the completion of four units. It is now offered on the exciting new platform, CANVAS, via ACU Online.

Through the lens of a person and family centred focus you will explore acute and chronic medical conditions across multiple biological systems. Older persons require a multi-faceted approach to care and the gerontological specialisation will support you to undertake risk assessment, clinical decision-making and to implement risk mitigation strategies to ensure the delivery of quality and safe person-centred care to older persons. Key concepts of health and wellness, aged related health conditions, pain, pharmacotherapy and comprehensive risk assessment, as well as concepts of patient’s rights, governance frameworks, continuous improvement systems, loss and grief, elder abuse and behaviours and perceptions of older persons will be explored to enable you to practice inclusive, respectful, person-centred care in the gerontological setting.

Intensive Care

ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing – Medical specialty involves the completion of four units.  It is now offered on the exciting new platform, CANVAS, via ACU Online.

This specialty explores acute and chronic medical conditions across multiple biological systems. The medical specialty modules cover integral anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and the significance of polypharmacy in our ageing population. There is a focus on common respiratory conditions including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, pneumonia, and bronchitis; as well as the significance of infection control and the implications of hospital acquired infections. Furthermore, the medical specialty modules cover neurological conditions including stroke, movement disorders such as Parkinson’s Disease multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia with discussions centred around common clinical risks such as falls and pressure injury assessment and management. Through the lens of a person and family centred focus you will also explore the family and self-implications around living with a medical illness, as well as withdrawal of treatment and palliative care. ACU is proud to partner with Northern Health, St Vincent’s Melbourne (Public) and the Prince Charles Hospital for the delivery of this speciality.

Neuroscience

Perioperative.

ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing – Renal, involves the completion of four units.  It is now offered on the exciting new platform, CANVAS, via ACU Online.

The renal specialty explores acute renal conditions as well as living with renal disease and the role of the nurse in primary health care for people suffering chronic renal disease. During your studies you will cover topics such as: renal pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics; GIT complications including constipation; the effects of renal insufficiency on oral health; and renal pathology. Furthermore, students enrolled in this specialty will engage in module content that discusses the role of vascular access devices in the care of the person with Renal disease and infection control considerations, haemo and peritoneal dialysis. Students will have opportunity to consider diabetic nephropathy with a specific focus on Indigenous Australians diagnosed with the condition. Through the lens of a person and family centred focus you will also explore the family and self-implications around living with a chronic illness, end-stage renal disease, organ transplantation as well as withdrawal of treatment and palliative care.

ACU’s Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing – Surgical specialty involves the completion of four units.  It is now offered on the exciting new platform, CANVAS, via ACU Online.

The surgical specialty modules cover integral anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and the significance of polypharmacy in the context of pain assessment, and management and surgical risk models. Pre-operative and post-operative implications to surgical outcomes will be explored along with detection and management of post-operative deterioration, surgical co-morbidities, and rehabilitation.  Surgical specialities explored include orthopaedics; neurosurgical; cardiothoracic and vascular; breast and reconstructive surgery; head, neck and ophthalmic surgery; gynaecological and urology; gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary; trauma; and finally, aesthetics surgery for cancer of the face, neck and breast. Through the lens of a person and family centred focus you will also explore the family and self-implications around living with a medical illness, as well as withdrawal of treatment and palliative care.

ACU is proud to partner with Austin Health, Northern Health and the Prince Charles Hospital for the delivery of this speciality.

Digital health

Commonwealth Supported Places are available for this program.

Master of Digital Health Graduate Diploma in Digital Health --> Graduate Certificate in Digital Health

Health professional education

Master of Health Professional Education Graduate Diploma in Health Professional Education Graduate Certificate in Health Professional Education

Immunisation

National Immunisation Education Program for Health Professionals

Mental health

Master of Mental Health Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Graduate Certificate in Mental Health

Mental health nursing

Master of Mental Health Nursing Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing Graduate Certificate in Mental Health Nursing

Commonwealth Supported Places are available for this program

Bachelor of Midwifery (Graduate Entry)

Offered in Blacktown, Brisbane and Melbourne.

Leadership and management in health care

Master of Leadership and Management in Health Care Graduate Diploma in Leadership and Management in Health Care Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Management in Health Care

Public health

Commonwealth Supported Places are available for the Master of Public Health, and the Master of Public Health (Global Health & Advocacy).

Master of Public Health Master of Public Health (Global Health and Advocacy) Graduate Diploma in Public Health Graduate Certificate in Public Health Graduate Certificate in Global Health

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