Nursing Courses, Degrees, & Diploma in Adelaide SA

The typical entry requirements for students wishing to study a Bachelor of Nursing include:

1. Completion of your senior secondary schooling qualification (i.e QCE in QLD, or HSC in NSW) or international equivalent
2. A minimum ATAR score or international equivalent (ATAR scores are used to rank students in Australia based on their performance in their final year of secondary school)
3. Depending on the univesity, completion of prerequisite subjects such as biology, chemistry, and mathematics during secondary school.
4. Depending on the univesity, you may be required to attend an interview or assessment

If you have not completed your primary and secondary schooling in Australia, you might also need to demonstrate your English language proficiency via IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE.

On top of assessing your suitability for the course, universities will also request:

• a Working With Children Check
• a Police Record Check
• a declaration of your immunisation status
• and in some cases completion of a first aid course

If you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, you will be eligible for the government’s Commonwealth Supported Place subsidy. Meaning for the majority, and undergraduate degree in nursing will cost you around $12,000-$20,000 in tuition fees. Price will vary depending on the institution you decide to study with. With more prestigious universities demanding a higher price tag. Your actual tuition fee will be based on the individual units you select and enrol in, as each will have a slightly different price point. If fees is a determining factor for you, it is also important to consider the supporting costs such as living expenses, study equipment and any loss of employment hours. But don’t worry, there are many ways to gain help paying your fees, including a wide range of scholarships

The cost of a nursing diploma can vary greatly between institutions and across states. Due to the growing demand for health professionals, and in light of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, most state governments are offering substantial subsidies on nursing qualifications. In fact, in some states, you can even study a Diploma of Nursing absolutely free!

Unsubsidised, an enrolled nurse course would cost you anywhere between $15,000 – $35,000 – with universities tending to charge a higher fee, than RTO’s and TAFE. With the various subsidies available, you will find that in most states, you can study a diplom in nursing for less than $15,000, if not for free. Note, this obviously depends on the educator you choose.

General 

The requirements for entering a Diploma of Nursing will vary by institution. However, there are some consistent admissions criteria set across most education providers.

• You must be at least 17 years old when commencing, or be 18 when you graduate.
• You must:
  • have successfuly completed Year 12, or equivalent, OR;
  • hold a relevant Certificate III or higher qualification, OR;
  • be 21 years or older (for students wanting to apply for mature age entry).
• You must be eligible to obtain a Blue Card if required.
• You must meet specific immunisation requirements (i.e. COVID-19).

English Language Standards
To practice safely in Australia, nurses must have strong English language skills. It is essential that a nurse can communicate effectively with patients and other health professionals to ensure accurate information is conveyed and clear health records are kept. To demonstrate your proficiency with the English language, most education providers will ask you to either

1. Submit a declaration stating that your primary language is English, and that you have completed a minimum of 2 years between grades 7 and 12. This education must be completed in a country that natively speaks English, such as Australia, New Zealand, UK, USA etc.
2. Achieve the minimum English language standards set by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).

Selection Criteria

Some nursing institutions will only accept a limited number of students into their program each term or year. This means that it can get quite competitive amongst those wishing to gain entry to the most popular nursing courses. For this reason, although you may meet the entry criteria and language requirements for your chosen course, you must still be selected by the institution from the pool of applicants. Generally speaking, selection criteria is predominantly based on your academic performance (i.e. your ATAR score). With those scoring higher more likely to be selected for the program first.

Traditionally, a nursing diploma is completed on-campus or in a workplace setting as part of mandatory placement. That said, more and more nursing educators are now offering a mixed format where students can study a portion of their Diploma of Nursing online. Unfortunately, there are no enrolled nursing courses that are 100% online, as it is a very practical course that requires field training and experience.

The Diploma of Nursing can be studied as a full-time or part-time course, although options for the latter are more limited.

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.