Shape the future of clinical healthcare.
The Master of Nursing (Clinical Leadership) is designed for degree qualified Nurses who are eligible to register (Division 1) to enable you to shape the development and delivery of health care services. It prepares you for clinical leadership, research and advanced practice roles and provides opportunity for continuing professional development. Choose a specialisation in acute and emergency care, community and primary health care, clinical practice education and paediatric and child health. The program 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).
- 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 Master of Nursing (Clinical Leadership) is designed for degree qualified Nurses who are eligible to register (Division 1) to enable you to shape the development and delivery of health care services. It prepares you for clinical leadership, research and advanced practice roles and provides opportunity for continuing professional development. Choose a specialisation in acute and emergency care, community and primary health care, clinical practice education and paediatric and child health. The program 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).
Students may choose to exit the masters program after completing four courses, and may be awarded a Graduate Certificate in Nursing. Students must have completed all the requirements of the Graduate Certificate to be awarded this program. Please note that there is no direct entry into the Graduate Certificate.
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.
Career opportunities
Graduates will extend their career pathways in clinical leadership in administration, education, research and practice roles. These roles are enacted in a range of private and public, primary, secondary and tertiary, health care services, in institutional and community settings. In addition, graduates will potentially have increased opportunities in higher education career pathways.
Professional recognition
Graduates may apply for membership with eligible clinical nursing organisations.
Program structure
Program Structure
Required courses (4) 48 units
NUR704 Leadership in Clinical Practice
NUR708 Learning and Teaching in the Practice Environment
NUR721 Research in Health Care
PLUS select 1 course (12 units) from:
HLT701 Qualitative Research: Approaches and Practice
PUB708 Quantitative Research Methods
PLUS complete either Option 1 or Option 2 of 48 units:
Option 1
HLT703 Special Project: Evaluating Practice Knowledge(24 units)
HLT704 Special Project: Translating Knowledge into Practice(24 units)
Option 2
NUR731A Research Project A
NUR731B Research Project B
NUR731C Research Project C
NUR731F Research Project F
PLUS complete either Option A or Option B of 48 units:
Option A
Select 4 courses (48 units) from:
HLT702 Simulation in Practice Education
NUR551 Community and Primary Health Care
NUR552 Co-ordinating Care in Community and Primary Care Contexts
NUR703 Infant Care
NUR705 Responding in the Emergency Context
NUR706 Coordinating Complex Emergency Situations
NUR707 Global Emergency Issues
NUR709 Professional Internship
NUR713 Independent Study
NUR720 Mental Health Contexts of Care
NUR722 Assessment in Mental Health
NUR751 Advanced Health Assessment
1 x postgraduate level (700 coded) elective course may be chosen from either Faculty (Arts, Business and Law or Science, Health, Education and Engineering)
Option B
OR select 1 specialisation from:
- Emergency and Acute Care
- Community and Primary Health Care
- Clinical Education Practice
- Paediatric and Child Health
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 144
Recommended study sequences
- (Sippy Downs) Emergency and Acute Care specialisation - Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Sippy Downs) Community and Primary Health Care specialisation - Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Sippy Downs) Clinical Education Practice specialisation - Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Sippy Downs) no specialisation - Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Sippy Downs) Paediatric and Child Health specialisation - Semester 1 commencement (February)
- Sippy Downs Semester 1
- (Sippy Downs) Special Project - Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Sippy Downs) Special Project - Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Sippy Downs) Research Project - Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Sippy Downs) Research Project - Semester 1 commencement (February)
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 unable to complete the Master of Nursing (Clinical Leadership) may exit via this program with a Graduate Certificate in Nursing by completing any 4 courses (48 units) from the Master of Nursing (Clinical Leadership)
- 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.