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) 102 units
COR109 Introduction to Pharmacology
HLT100 Immunology
LFS103 Systemic Physiology I
NUR104 Systemic Physiology II
NUR111 Molecular Biology
NUR116 Pathophysiology
NUR117 Clinical Biochemistry(6 units)
NUR121 Introduction to Clinical Trial Management
NUR131 Immunohaematology
Developing and Graduate courses (14) 162 units
HLT301 Biochemical PharmacologyΔ
NUR212 Organic Chemistry
NUR222 Medical Microbiology
NUR226 Pharmaceutical and Food Microbiology
NUR227 Molecular Biotechnology(6 units)
NUR231 Microbial Pathogenesis
NUR241 Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
NUR286 Genetics(6 units)
NUR287 Advanced Instrumental Techniques(6 units)
NUR300 Functional Anatomy(24 units)
NUR311 Exercise Physiology I
NUR331 Cardiorespiratory Health and Rehabilitation
NUR332 Communication and Thought
PAR311 Anatomy and PhysiologyΔ
Elective course (2) 24 units
Select 2 courses (24 units) from:
NUR272 Introductory BioscienceΔ
NUR312 Contexts of Practice: The Older Person and FamilyΔ
NUR322 Practice FoundationsΔ
OR another course with the approval of the Program Leader.
Δ refer to Program notes
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
- 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
- For Sippy Downs students some courses in this program will be taught at the Sunshine Coast Heath Institute
- 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 Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.