Consider a career move into nursing and earn credit for your completed degree.
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 2025 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 National Competency Standards for the Registered Nurse 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. There are fantastic opportunities to complete clinical placements supervised by experienced clinicians in a variety of hospitals, aged care facilities, health agencies and community settings.
Choose to take further postgraduate study to specialise in midwifery, mental health, or emergency advanced practice.
Post-admission requirements
Before undertaking clinical placement, students must obtain and maintain a current first aid and CPR certificate, provide evidence of hepatitis B immunisation, 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
Students in nursing and midwifery programs are required to be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) as students under the national law. USC arranges registration. Refer to the (AHPRA) website for detailed information.
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
For students commencing 2015. All other students please refer to previous handbooks.
Introductory courses (2)
HLT100 Anatomy and Physiology
NUR141 Nursing, Assessment and Technology
Advanced courses (13)
HLT221 Human Pathophysiology
HLT301 Challenges to Mental Health
NUR202 Nursing Practicum 3
NUR211 Nursing Practicum 2
NUR212 Caring for Child, Youth and Family
NUR222 Health Law and Ethics
NUR231 Drug Therapy
NUR241 Health Alteration
NUR300 Nursing Internship
NUR311 Nursing Practicum 4
NUR331 Acute Health Alteration
NUR332 Cultural Diversity in Nursing and Midwifery
NUR341 Caring for the Older Client
Note: Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 192
Recommended study sequences
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Complete all courses as listed below.
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
- Studying part-time is the only option available to students who commence from Semester 1.
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods.
- Study Overseas is not currently available to Nursing students.
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa.
- When enrolling, please refer to the Study Plan.