Postgraduate Nursing Courses

The program is open to Registered Nurses who have a previous degree, or to those who do not have a degree but who have accumulated a wealth of experience in nursing.

English Language Requirements

You must be able to demonstrate two years of full-time secondary, vocational or tertiary level of study in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom or the United States of America. If you do not meet these requirements you will need to sit the Academic IELTS exam and achieve a score of at least 7.0 overall and 7.0 in each sub-section (reading, writing, listening and speaking) to qualify for entry into the Master of Nursing (Forensics). This applies to Permanent Residents and Australian citizens whose first language is not English and have not completed two years full-time academic study in Australia. IELTS results will need to be verified by the Admissions Office before an offer of a place can be made. The Admissions Office reserves the right to ask for IELTS results from any applicant. For more information, please visit www.ielts.org

The following entry requirements apply to this program:

• Current license to practice as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia or provisional registration, whichever is applicable at the time of commencement
• Nursing or other appropriate degree or the equivalent

Admission requirements you'll need to meet for this course.

• The following course-specific admission requirements are mandatory and must be satisfied by all applicants. These requirements are in addition to or supersede the minimum requirements outlined within the Academic admission requirements band section below.

  All applicants are required to have a Bachelor degree in nursing. Applicants with equivalent prior learning must have two years full-time (or equivalent) post registration professional practice, and submit a current curriculum vitae.

  Academic admission requirements (Band 8) may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

  • Bachelor degree in a cognate discipline; or
  • Where accepted, equivalent prior learning, including at least five years relevant professional experience.

• English competency requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

  • IELTS Academic Overall band minimum score of 6.5 (no individual band less than 6.0);
  • Bachelor degree from a country specified on the English Proficiency Bands page;
  • Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at postgraduate level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent);
  • Where accepted, equivalent prior learning, including at least five years relevant professional experience; or
  • Other tests, courses or programs defined on the English Proficiency Bands page.

The program is open to you if you are a Registered Nurse who has a previous degree in Nursing or equivalent, and have a minimum of one-year relevant post-registration nursing experience.

Students must seek permission from the Head of Course to be enrolled in full-time study. Part-time study does not require approval.

It is strongly recommended that students have computer literacy skills and can write in English at an academic level. Prior experience of online learning will be of benefit to students enrolled in this course.

Students are expected to commit to 12.5 hours per week, per unit, therefore, students who have multiple time commitments are strongly encouraged to study part-time.

The Pro Vice Chancellor-Research, on the advice of the Dean of the School, determines admission to the Doctor of Nursing Award.

Applicants to the doctoral program are expected to satisfy the following criteria:

• Possession of a research Masters degree by thesis or dissertation appropriate to the professional field of the applicant; or
• Possession of a Masters degree by coursework appropriate to the professional field of the applicant completed at a superior standard; or
• Possession of a Bachelor's degree with Honours (typically 1st Class or Class 2A Honours level or equivalent); or
• Possession of a Master of Philosophy; or
• In exceptional circumstances, an equivalent academic or professional background that is considered by the Dean of the School to be an appropriate preparation for independent study and research work at doctoral level.

An applicant may be required to satisfy the Dean of the School of the ability to understand and communicate in both written and spoken English at a level adequate for the purpose of pursuing the program of study. In addition to the academic criteria listed above, applicants are normally expected to satisfy the following:

• have a minimum of 3 years of relevant professional practice;
• have the support of an industry or professional mentor.