Shape the future of clinical healthcare.
If you are a degree-qualified nurse who is eligible to register (Division 1), this master’s program equips you with the skills and knowledge you need to shape the development and delivery of healthcare services.
In this degree you will:
- 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.
- ^ The Paediatric and Child Health specialisation cannot be completed in the recommended duration and is not available to International students on a Student visa.
If you are a degree-qualified nurse who is eligible to register (Division 1), this master’s program equips you with the skills and knowledge you need to shape the development and delivery of healthcare services.
In this degree you will:
- Choose to specialise in acute and emergency care, community and primary healthcare, clinical practice education, or paediatric and child health
- Prepare for clinical leadership, research and advanced practice roles
- Participate in continuing professional development
This degree is delivered in blended mode using a combination of online and on-campus learning, and can be completed entirely online by domestic students (subject to course availability).
Note: Students who have completed four courses may choose to exit the master’s program, and may be awarded a Graduate Certificate in Nursing. Students must have completed all the requirements of the Graduate Certificate in Nursing to be awarded this program.
Admission requirements
Applicants are required to have successfully completed a Bachelor qualification (AQF level 7) in nursing from a recognised tertiary education provider. Applicants who are Registered Nurses registered in Australia with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) who do not have a Bachelor qualification may be considered for admission based on extensive industry experience and will require approval by the Program Leader.
The Master of Nursing (Clinical Leadership) offers a limited number of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) as well as domestic fee paying places. Offers for both CSP and fee paying places will be made after the application due date for the program.
CSP will be allocated on the basis of your Grade Point Average in the degree used to meet admission requirements and/or your industry experience. Applicants falling below the demand-driven cut-off for a CSP may be offered a domestic fee paying place subject to capacity limitations.
Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens and permanent visa holders enrolled in a fee paying place will have the option of applying for a CSP in subsequent semesters if one becomes available. In these cases, the student’s current GPA in the Master of Nursing (Clinical Leadership) will be used to assess eligibility for a CSP place using the same entry cut-off applied for new CPS entrants during that admission period.
International students on a Student visa must demonstrate English language skills at an IELTS level of 7 with no subtest less than 7 or equivalent. Refer to the University's English language requirements.
How to apply
To apply for the Master of Nursing (Clinical Leadership), submit the completed application form to USC. For more information visit Application forms.
Applications for Semester 1, 2021 close on 30 November 2020.
Program structure
Required courses (4) 48 units
NUR704 Psychology of Health and Wellbeing
NUR708 Adult Development and Ageing
NUR721 Leadership in Clinical Practice
PLUS select 1 course (12 units) from:
HLT701 Learning and Teaching in the Practice Environment
PUB708 Research in Health Care
Complete either Option 1 or Option 2, 48 units
Option 1
HLT703 Qualitative Research: Approaches and Practice(24 units)
HLT704 Quantitative Research Methods(24 units)
Option 2
NUR731A Special Project: Evaluating Practice Knowledge
NUR731B Special Project: Translating Knowledge into Practice
NUR731C Research Project A
NUR731F Research Project B
Specialisation courses (4) 48 units
Select 1 specialisation from the following:
- Emergency and Acute Care
- Community and Primary Health Care
- Clinical Education Practice
- Paediatric and Child Health *
- Advanced Nursing Studies
* The Paediatric and Child Health specialisation cannot be completed in the recommended duration and is not available to International students on a Student visa.
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 144
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 144 units as outlined in the Program Structure
Program notes
- 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
- The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
- It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
- Exit points. Students may be eligible to exit with a Graduate Certificate in Nursing based on completion of four courses (48 units) from the Master of Nursing (Clinical Leadership) if those courses are also available in the Graduate Certificate in Nursing program.
- International students on a Student Visa please note, you may enrol in no more than 3 courses (36 units) via online mode (25 percent of your program). NUR713 is only offered via online mode. You must also ensure that you are enrolled in at least one on-campus course in each semester
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa
- Some courses in this program require project work and/or independent study and therefore have limited on-campus contact. Please refer to individual course descriptions
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Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.