Care for people and help them achieve good health.
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).
- 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.
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).
Pursue your passion for health care and develop your scientific knowledge of bioscience, anatomy and physiology, mental health, drug therapy and research.
You’ll 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.
If you are an Enrolled and Advanced Enrolled Nurse, this program also allows you to convert your qualifications to the current Registered Nurse level. Choose to undertake Honours or further postgraduate study to specialise in midwifery or nursing.
Post-admission requirements
Before undertaking a clinical placement, students must comply with the Pre-Clinical Mandatory Checks including:
- Hold a valid Blue Card (Working with Children Check) from QLD Government Blue Card Services throughout the duration of your program. You should allow 12 weeks for Blue Card Services to issue the card.
- Obtain a National Criminal History check through the Australian Federal Police
- Comply with QLD Health vaccination requirements
- A current First Aid and CPR certificate is required from an organisation recognised by the Australian Resuscitation Council before commencing clinical practice
- Complete the QLD Health student orientation requirements
Refer to the Pre-Clinical Mandatory Checks for further information
Career opportunities
Nurse in acute care, armed forces, community, rural, mental health, Indigenous health, aged care or 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 (9)
COR109 Creative Writing for the Illustrated Book
HLT100 Creativity and Literature: Chaucer to Romantics
LFS103 Creativity and Literature: Victorians to Moderns
NUR104 Reality Bites: An Exploration of Non-Fiction
NUR111 Wonderworlds: An Exploration of English Literature
NUR116 Introduction to Creative Writing
NUR117 Creative Writing D: Paperback Hero(6 units)
NUR121 Creative Writing B: Novel Ideas
NUR131 Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults
Advanced courses (14)
HLT301 Creative Writing for the Illustrated Book
NUR212 Communication and Thought
NUR222 Anatomy and Physiology
NUR226 Introductory Bioscience
NUR227 Contexts of Practice: The Older Person and Family(6 units)
NUR231 Practice Foundations
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
Elective course (2)
Select 2 courses from:
NUR272 End of Life Care
NUR312 Life Crisis
NUR322 The Child Client
OR another course with the approval of the Program Leader.
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 288
Recommended study sequences
- (Sippy Downs) Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Sippy Downs) Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Gympie) Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Gympie) Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Fraser Coast) Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Fraser Coast) Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Sippy Downs) Enrolled Nurse pathway - Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Sippy Downs) Enrolled Nurse pathway - Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Caboolture) Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Caboolture) Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Caboolture) Enrolled Nurse pathway - Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Fraser Coast) Enrolled Nurse pathway - Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Gympie) Enrolled Nurse pathway - Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Caboolture) Enrolled Nurse pathway - Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Fraser Coast) Enrolled Nurse pathway - Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Gympie) Enrolled Nurse pathway - Semester 2 commencement (July)
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 288 units as outlined in the Program Structure
In order to commence clinical placement you must comply with the Pre-Clinical Mandatory Checks including:
- Hold a valid Blue Card (Working with Children Check) from QLD Government Blue Card Services throughout the duration of your program. You should allow 12 weeks for Blue Card Services to issue the card.
- Obtain a National Criminal History check through the Australian Federal Police
- Comply with QLD Health vaccination requirements
- A current First Aid and CPR certificate is required from an organisation recognised by the Australian Resuscitation Council before commencing clinical practice
- Complete the QLD Health student orientation requirements
- Travel to attend clinical placements
- Have a level of computer literacy, including word processing and email
Students who do not comply with these requirements will be unable to complete the clinical practice component of their program and will be unable to meet graduation requirements
Note: Students 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 12 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
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses) and following the recommended study sequence
- 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
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa
- International students on a Student visa please note:
- Usual teaching periods include Semester 1, Semester 2, Session 8 and Session 4
- Refer to the Planning your study page to manage your progression