Masters (Coursework)
The Master of Nursing Science (MNSc) from the University of Melbourne is a professional master's degree that provides exceptional preparation for a nursing career. It is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (formerly Nurses Board of Victoria).
The Master of Nursing Science provides students a higher level degree with enhanced learning outcomes, while meeting the competencies identified by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council as necessary for practice as a registered nurse.
A master's degree in nursing is a portable qualification, whether you want to work locally, nationally or internationally.
We offer the only integrated curriculum where you learn clinical skills and theory concurrently. Clinical and bioscience topics are coordinated to enhance your understanding of theory in practice. Students will participate in 6 to 8 weeks of intensive teaching each semester, followed by three or four weeks of professional experience placement with partner hospitals.
Our clinical placements are in the largest major metropolitan teaching hospitals, ensuring best clinical practice opportunities and research collaborations with up-to-date medical mannequins and equipment, and dedicated laboratory staff to guide your practical skill development. The clinical skills labs are used for classes and you can book them for self-directed learning.
Students undertake a capstone subject in the final semester. This will enable you to apply your knowledge and seek innovative solutions to real clinical problems.
At the completion of the Master of Nursing Science graduates are expected to:
The Master of Nursing Science comprises 200 credit points over 5 semesters of full time study, including a seven-week summer semester. All subjects are compulsory. All classes are on campus and supported with online learning materials. Several subjects have associated clinical practice or procedural skills and laboratory requirements.
Upon graduating from the Master of Nursing Science, you will have a qualification to practice nursing Australia-wide. You can also apply to have this degree accredited internationally to practice nursing in the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland and elsewhere. This degree integrates theory and practice whilst developing student's critical thinking skills and problem-solving abilities. Through the development of skills needed to practice evidence-based nursing - such as clinical leadership, clinical decision-making and research - you will be strongly positioned to become a nursing leader of the future.
The Master of Nursing Science degree is approved by Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) and accredited by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMAC). Upon completion, you are eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioners Registering Authority (APHRA) as a registered Division 1 nurse.
Focused and immersive clinical opportunitiesWith a cohort of 150 students accepted into the Master of Nursing Science each year - a significantly smaller number compared to other Bachelor of Nursing courses - you are guaranteed an opportunity to engage in small group simulation work in your laboratory classes. The clinical placements provided are of high quality and are predominantly located in the Parkville precinct.
Following five to six intensive classes, you will experience three to four weeks of clinical placement with partner hospitals, ensuring the best clinical learning and practice for your study in nursing.
Students also have means to gain meaningful employment during their studies at the University of Melbourne as health assistants in nursing at Melbourne Health. This employment provides additional benefits, such as clinical management of patients with special needs, working to a flexible roster, and generally enhancing your CV for post-study employment opportunities.
A qualification with global potentialThe Master of Nursing Science gives you access to world-class clinical and theoretical study, leading to a globally recognised Australian nurse accreditation. This will ready you to register to practice in other countries (for example, the UK), enabling a truly global nursing career.
Graduates are well prepared to join the workforce in the field of nursing, with over 90 per cent of our latest Master of Nursing Science class securing graduate nurse employment upon graduation.