Master of Nursing Degrees | Find a Postgraduate Course

Overview

The Master of Nursing degree is designed for Registered Nurses (RN) who wish to advance their career by developing the necessary knowledge to confidently operate in senior clinical, leadership, or research positions.

You will learn advanced nursing concepts and enhance your critical-thinking, leadership, communication, research and decision-making skills. Further, in most master qualifications you will focus on a chosen specialisation that aligns with your desired career goals.

 

Find a Master of Nursing

Considering studying a Master of Nursing? Find and compare masters degrees from around Australia below.

Master of Nursing | USYD
Master of Nursing | USYDSydney, Westmead |2 years full-time|Master's Degree

Throughout this two-year degree, you will learn how to work with other health professionals to provide the highest q ...

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Master of Nursing Online | USQ
Master of Nursing Online | USQ100% Online|1.5 years full-time|Master's Degree

Are you a Registered Nurse (RN) looking to upgrade your qualifications or become a leader in the health care sector? Our ...

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Master of Nursing Practice | Curtin
Master of Nursing Practice | CurtinPerth|2 years full-time, plus summer term|Master's Degree

The Master of Nursing Practice is a two-year graduate entry master degree that can lead you to be eligible for registrat ...

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Master of Nursing Science | The University of Melbourne
Master of Nursing Science | The University of MelbourneParkville, Melbourne|2 years full-time|Master's Degree

Overview The Master of Nursing Science (MNSc) from the University of Melbourne is a professional master’s degree that ...

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Master of Nursing | WSU
Master of Nursing | WSUParramatta South, Online|1.5 years full-time|Master's Degree

Overview The focus of the Master of Nursing is to provide the necessary skills for Registered Nurses to meet their prof ...

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Master of Advanced Nursing | UTS
Master of Advanced Nursing | UTS100% Online|2 years | Part-time|Master's Degree

Overview Australia’s ever-evolving health care system is under pressure with resource constraints, policy reform and  ...

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Master of Public Health | UTS
Master of Public Health | UTS100% Online|2 years | Part-time|Master's Degree

Overview The UTS Online Master of Public Health is designed for professionals who are passionate about creating positiv ...

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Master of Nursing | VU
Master of Nursing | VU100% Online||Master's Degree

Overview VU Online’s Master of Nursing, with specialisations in Chronic Disease and Aging and Nursing Leadership, is  ...

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Master of Mental Health Nursing | VU Online
Master of Mental Health Nursing | VU Online100% Online|2 years | Part-time|Master's Degree

Overview The demand for specialist nursing in mental health has never been greater. From early intervention to later li ...

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Master of Nursing Online | JCU
Master of Nursing Online | JCU100% Online|2 years | Part-time|Master's Degree

Overview With a rapidly ageing population, changes in technology, changes in management demands, and the evolution of n ...

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Why Study a Masters?

A Masters in Nursing allows you to expand on your current nursing skillset and achieve your professional goals. Whether you want to develop yourself within a specialised area, or take on a higher-level position, here are some common reasons for obtaining a nursing masters.

  • If you want to become a Nurse Practitioner, then you must have a relevant master’s level qualification in nursing.
  • Employers’ recruiting for senior nursing roles, look favourably on candidates with a master’s – enabling you to stand out from the pack or make a transition to a new specialisation
  • Postgraduate studies count towards your Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Making it a good way to meet your CPD requirements as a RN while broadening your future career opportunities.
  • You are passionate about developing your knowledge in your chosen specialisation, or are interested in pursuing a research-based pathway and continuing on to a PhD.
  • A master’s level qualification is linked to higher salaries and wages. Either through greater access to senior roles such as a nursing manager, or through your advanced knowledge and education.

What to expect

With each university in Australia offering a slightly different Master of Nursing degree, it can be difficult navigating through all the available information online to find the right course for you. To help with this, we have answered some of the most common questions you may have, to help you understand what to expect and the options available to you.

 

Most Master of Nursing degrees in Australia will take you 1.5 years of full-time or 3 years part-time to complete. However, some universities allow you to obtain your masters in as little as 1 year full-time or 1.5 years part-time.

In Australia, the total cost of a Master of Nursing can range anywhere between $5,000 and $65,000 for a domestic student, and can depend on a number of factors.

  • CSP Subsidies – If you are an Australian or New Zealand citizen, or an Australian permanent resident, then you most likely qualify for a governement subsidised program (Commonwealth Supported Place). This can reduce the tuition fee of a standard 1.5 year masters in nursing to as little as $6,000 – which is a considerable 70-80% discount! Unfortunately, not all universities offer CSPs (about half do) for their masters. So if price is an important factor in where you choose to study, be sure to check out which universities have CSP available first.
  • Institution– Although not always the case, prestigious universities (or those with a higher ranking) tend to charge a higher tuition fee for full-fee-paying students than smaller universities. For CSP students, the cost difference is quite negligible given the large subsidy each receive from the government.
  • Specialistion –  Certain specialisations, and/or subjects might cost you a little more than others. This varies greatly depending on the specific units you decide to study, each with a different price tag.
  • Program length – Some universities offer a 1-year Master of Nursing for registered nurses (RN) who have completed an honors year, or Graduate Certificate in Nursing. Reducing the number of units you need to study and pay for, by roughly a third. Similary, courses that support students without a Bachelor of Nursing will take longer, and cost more.

Although each university program has their own admissions criteria, typically you will be expected to demonstrate the following:

  • Completion of a bachelor’s degree in nursing or a postgraduate qualification in nursing (almost always required)
  • AHPRA registration as a Division 1 Registered Nurse (almost always required)
  • At least one-year of experience as a Registered Nurse (often required)

Note: You can still study a Master of Nursing without a Bachelor of Nursing. Some univerisities offer a specific ‘graduate entry’ program, than accept students who have completed any undergraduate degree. However, note that some of these don’t involve placement and therefore don’t provide you the practical skills needed to become a RN.

Each Master of Nursing course consists of 12 units of study that are completed over several semesters. The program will often include both core and elective units, plus a capstone project or thesis.

Universities tend to provide their own unique selection of specialisations that you can major in. Each with their own corresponding core subject areas. In some cases, these may involve practical placement or a learning component within the work setting.

In most cases, the answer is yes. Many universities in Australia offer a Master of Nursing 100% online. Unlike the Bachelor or Diploma of Nursing qualifications, the masters degree places a greater emphasis on learning advanced theoretical knowledge and nursing principles in clinical, leadership, or research settings.

Of course, a Masters in Nursing course can also be found on-campus, or in a blended format should that be your preference.

If you are looking to progress into more senior roles, a masters degree may be the key to unlocking your future, or it may just provide you with the confidence to be a more effective leader in a rapidly evolving nusing industry. It’s also a great way to meet your CPD requirements as a RN.

According to the Australian Goverment’s Labour Market Insights a substantial chunk of senior nurses hold a postgraduate qualification.

  • 50% of Nurse Educators
  • 40% of Nursing Directors
  • 33% of Nursing Managers

At the same time, it’s not alway a requirement to have a masters qualification in these senior roles (with some exceptions). If you are comfortable where you are in your career and the progress you are making towards your goals, a nursing masters may not be the right pathway for you.

 

Progressive Qualifications

Although a relatively new concept, many universities today offer a ‘nested’ qualification pathway, that enables students to work towards a master’s by first completing a 4-unit Graduate Certificate, or 8-unit Graduate Diploma in Nursing. This provides students the option to break up their masters program into more digestible chunks and qualify for the next level qualification as they go. This appeals to many students as they can obtain an initial postgraduate qualification sooner, but still have the option to continue their learning as their career also progresses.

 

 

Career Pathways

After completing a Master of Nursing, you will have gained advanced knowledge and competencies in nursing practice, that will enable you to operate confidently at a higher-level. You may leverage your newfound skills to secure a leadership role, specialise in a focal area, or further your studies with a PhD.

Job Opportunities

  • Nurse Practitioner – A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a RN with an advanced clinical role in speciality areas such as mental health, paediatrics and women’s health.
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist – A clinical nurse (CN) specialist is a senior RN with advanced skills and knowledge within a particular area of acute care.
  • Nurse Unit Manager – A Nurse Unit Manager (NUM) oversees the nurses within a specific hospital or clinic unit. They are a critical role in upholding the required nusing standards and ensuring a high-level of care is maintained.
  • Nurse Educator – Nurse Educators are responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of nurse education and staff development programs.
  • Director of Nursing – In addition to overseeing the nursing department, this senior role is focused on managing the policies, processes and programs to ensure the highest standards of nursing care is delivered.

Specialisations

There are wide range specialisations for the Master of Nursing to choose from, each with their own dedicated career path. Here are few of the most popular nursing specialisations.

Clinical Nurse

A clinical nurse is part of the senior nursing staff that work within the acute care sector.

Neonatal Nurse

A neonatal nurse specialises in providing supportive health care to newborn infants up to four-weeks-old

Perioperative Nurse

Provide nursing care for patients before, during and after they undergo surgery or a non-surgical procedure

Emergency Nurse

ER nurses treat patients who require immediate medical attention, such as those with severe injury or trauma.

Intensive Care Nurse

An ICU nurse care for patients experiencing high-dependency, or life threatening conditions.

Mental Health Nurse

A mental health nurse focuses on proving special healthcare to a patient who suffers from mental health problems.

Paediatric Nurse

Paediatric nurses care specifically for babies and children under 18.

Nurse Practitioner

Registered nurse with advanced training that provide higher levels of care.

Aged Care Nurse

An aged care nurse is primarily concerned with providing care to elderly people.

Nursing Industry Outlook

As Australia’s population continues to age at a rapid rate, the demand for qualified senior nurses is also on the rise. It is projected by the Department of Health, that by 2025 there will be nurse deficit of approximately 85,000 nurses. And by 2030, that will increase to 123,000.

In this post-COVID era, nurses are the most in demand profession in 2022, and account for 19% of all healthcare jobs. Employers will be seeking out qualified senior nurses to lead their workforce, making it a good time to invest in your future.