Switch to a rewarding career in nursing.
If you’ve completed an undergraduate degree in another area, gain credit for your degree and make the career change to become a Registered Nurse.
- Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
- * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2023 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
- Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
- * Duration note: The February (semester 1) offering is only available on a part-time basis. The full-time program is two years full-time plus an eight-week block nursing internship.
- * Duration note: The February (semester 1) offering is only available on a part-time basis. The full-time program is two years full-time plus an eight-week block nursing internship.
If you’ve completed an undergraduate degree in another area, gain credit for your degree and make the career change to become a Registered Nurse.
Our program is designed to meet the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council Registered Nurse Standards for Practice and you’ll be eligible to apply for registration as a nurse with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
You’ll study courses including anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, assessment and care of people, mental health, and drug therapy. You will complete 800 hours of practical experience in clinical settings. Clinical placements are supervised by experienced clinicians in a variety of hospitals, aged care facilities, health agencies and community settings.
Choose to undertake Honours or further postgraduate study to specialise in midwifery or nursing.
Post-admission requirements
Before undertaking clinical placement, students must obtain and maintain a current first aid and CPR certificate, provide evidence of immunisations, undergo a criminal history check and obtain a Blue Card — Refer to Program requirements and notes.
Career opportunities
Nurse in acute care, armed forces, community, rural, mental health, Indigenous health, aged care and industry settings.
Membership
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA); Australian College of Nursing.
Registration
Graduates are eligible to apply for registration as nurses in Australia with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, which is a Board of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia has a number of registration standards that graduates must demonstrate in order to be eligible for registration. For example, graduates must demonstrate English language skills at IELTS level 7, with 7 in all subtests, or equivalent before being considered for professional registration. For full details of the AHPRA Registration Standards, visit the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia website.
Program structure
Introductory courses (3)
HLT100 Anatomy and Physiology
NUR104 Contexts of Practice: The Older Person and Family
NUR141 Introduction to Practice Competencies in Nursing
Advanced courses (14)
HLT301 Contexts of Practice: Mental Health Care
NUR212 Contexts of practice: child, youth and family
NUR222 Health Law and Ethics
NUR226 Preparation for Practice 2
NUR227 Nursing Practice 2(6 units)
NUR231 Drug Therapy
NUR241 Contexts of Practice: Health Alteration
NUR286 Preparation for Practice 3(6 units)
NUR287 Nursing Practice 3(6 units)
NUR300 Nursing Internship(24 units)
NUR311 Preparation and Nursing Practice 4
NUR331 Contexts of Practice: Complex Care
NUR332 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Cultural Safety
PAR311 Leadership in Clinical Practice
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 198
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 198 units as outlined in the Program Structure
In order to commence clinical placement you must:
- Hold a valid Blue Card from the Public Safety Business Agency (PSBA), throughout the duration of your program. You should allow 12 weeks for PSBA to issue the card. Note: students who do not possess a valid Blue Card will be unable to complete the clinical practice component of their program and will be unable to meet graduation requirements
- Have a National Criminal History check (by Queensland Police Service or other state/territory authority)
- Show evidence of complete Hepatitis B vaccination (3 inoculations over a period of six months)
- Hold a current First Aid and CPR certificate from an organisation recognised by the Australian Resuscitation Council
- Travel to attend clinical placements
- Have a level of computer literacy, including word processing and email
Note: You are required to commence action of the above requirements immediately after enrolling. Hepatitis B immunity can take up to six months to determine and the processing of your USC Blue Card Application Form can take up to 10 weeks. Visit Nursing and Midwifery - Clinical Placement for more information about these requirements before you apply.
Program notes
- For Sippy Downs students some courses in this program will be taught at the Sunshine Coast Heath Institute
- Studying part-time is the only option available to students who commence from Semester 1
- Most courses are valued at 12 units unless otherwise specified
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods which may include essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations
- Refer to the Planning your study page to manage your progression