Q: What is the course code for the Master of Nursing Science?
A: J09 MM
Q: If I haven't finished my bachelor degree can I still apply?
A: If you are in the final year of your bachelor degree you can still apply. Your application will be considered pending the outcome and availability of your final results. You may be made a conditional offer in this circumstance pending the satisfactory completion of your bachelor degree.
Q: What if I completed my bachelor degree more than ten years ago?
A: All applications will be considered on academic merit regardless of when previous studies were undertaken. However, it will be necessary for you to demonstrate your capacity to study now.
Q: My bachelor degree was not related to nursing or health sciences. Can I still apply?
A: Yes, you can apply on the basis of a bachelor degree in any discipline.
Applicants are assumed to have knowledge of human anatomy. Students without such background are strongly encouraged to complete our Human Anatomy for Nursing Students subject, which is delivered online.
Q: What grade point average will I need to enter the MNSc?
A: This varies from year to year and is entirely dependent on the standard of the applicants for that year. As such, we do not publish a GPA requirement.
Q: How do I show that I have completed a bachelor degree?
A: You can demonstrate this with your degree testamur (certificate) or your transcript, provided the transcript states that the degree was completed and the date of completion.
Students who completed their bachelor degree at the University of Melbourne do not need to provide a testamur or transcript.
Q: Do I need to supply original copies of documents?
A: You may supply original or certified copies of documents with your application.
Q: What is a certified copy?
A certified copy is a photocopy of the original document which has the signature and official stamp of one of the following people, indicating that they have sighted the original document:
Barrister or solicitor, Police in Charge of Station, Pharmacist, Doctor, Dentist, Principal of School, Justice of Peace, Clerk of Court.
The signature and stamp must appear on every page of the document.
Q: Can I apply for credit on the basis of nursing subjects I've already completed at university level?
A: As the Master of Nursing Science is a graduate course, only nursing subjects undertaken at a graduate level will be considered for credit. Any subjects completed as part of a Bachelor of Nursing degree cannot be credited as part of the Master of Nursing Science degree.
Please refer to the Credit Application Guidelines for further information.
Q: What are admission rounds?
A: The admissions process for local applicants is divided into rounds which govern outcome dates. This means that the outcome date of your application will depend on which round you apply in. The dates of the admission rounds are published on the Applications page.
Admission rounds apply to local applicants only. International students are subject to the timeline requirements of International Admissions.
Q: Is there a mid-year intake for the Master of Nursing Science?
A: No. The course has been deliberately structured to commence at the beginning of each academic year. The next commencement date will be in the last week of February, 2010, as per the University's standard timetable for Semester 1.
Q: How long does the application process take?
A: For local applicants, this will depend on when you submit your application. We have designated application outcome dates on which notifications are sent to applicants, so your waiting time will depend on how closely you lodge your application to the closing date of your round.
We encourage you to apply as early as possible to maximise your chance of entry. There are a limited number of places in the course.
Applications from international students are not subject to admission rounds, and may take a month or more to process, particularly if overseas qualifications need to be assessed for equivalency.
Incomplete applications will always take longer to process.
We acknowledge receipt of applications by mail, and applicants are notified of the outcome by mail. The assessment process is complex and we do not supply progress updates prior to outcome notification.
Q: Can I do the course part-time?
A: As the course is structured to deliver new material in parallel progression with the clinical skills developed through placements, it normally cannot be undertaken part-time.
Q: Can I do the course externally?
A: No. The Master of Nursing Science is only delivered on campus.
Q: Once I successfully complete this degree, can I work as a Division 1 Nurse throughout Australia?
A: Currently, the successful completion of the Master of Nursing Science will result in a Division 1 accreditation with the Nursing Board of Victoria (NBV), which is transferrable across all Australian states. However, national and state regulations are subject to change, and if you would like further information, it is best to contact the NBV directly with your queries.
Please also refer to our section on The profession.
Q. Is there an undergraduate nursing course offered at the University of Melbourne that I can apply for instead of the Master of Nursing Science?
A: Nursing offers only graduate-level courses. Therefore, our only entry-to-practice nursing course is the Master of Nursing Science.