Students at Parkville campus
Students at Parkville campus
Nursing, in the Melbourne School of Health Sciences, offers degrees to students seeking their first nursing qualification, and to qualified nurses seeking specialty or advanced practice qualifications. We also offer research opportunities for qualified nurses and other health care workers.
Whether you have no prior nursing qualifications or if you are a Registered Nurse or health care worker seeking further qualifications, it is helpful first to identify your current qualifications so that you can choose the best degree or diploma for you.
If your highest qualification is the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), Higher School Certificate (HSC), or equivalent, and you are interested in a nursing career you have a number of options to consider.
To study nursing at the University of Melbourne, you will need a prior bachelor degree (or equivalent) in any discipline.
The University offers a range of bachelor degrees that prepare you for your graduate nursing studies. Once you have completed your bachelor degree you can apply to study the Master of Nursing Science (MNSc) to gain your graduate nursing qualification for practice as a Division 1 Registered Nurse.
We encourage you to read more about the University's undergraduate degrees and the MNSc to see the benefits that the Melbourne Model offers you.
If you have completed a bachelor degree in any discipline, you can apply for the Master of Nursing Science. The Master of Nursing Science prepares you for registration as a Division 1 Registered Nurse with the Nurses Board of Victoria (NBV).
Applications will be considered for the Master of Nursing Science from graduates of the University of Melbourne and other universities, including international universities.
If you have an honours or masters degree in a health-related discipline and are interested in a research career, you may be interested in our Master of Philosophy (MPhil) or PhD programs.
If you are a Division 1 Registered Nurse with at least one year’s post-registration work experience you can apply for a specialist diploma or an advanced practice masters (coursework) degree.
Our suite of postgraduate specialty and advanced practice coursework programs is available to Registered Nurses who want to take a lead in their chosen specialty area. Available specialties include: anaesthetics; critical care; emergency; perioperative, rural critical care; paediatric critical care; cancer & palliative care; mental health; and paediatrics. You can apply for the Master of Advanced Nursing Practice, Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing Practice, or Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing Practice.
If you have an honours or masters degree in a health-related field, you may also be eligible to apply for the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) or PhD programs.
If you are a Registered Nurse in another country, your eligibility to apply for our programs may depend on recognition of your nursing qualification in Australia.
If your nursing qualification is recognised by the Nurses Board of Victoria (NBV) and you are allowed to work as a nurse in Victoria, Australia, you can apply for a specialty diploma or advanced practice masters degree. You can apply for the Master of Advanced Nursing Practice and the Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing Practice which include clinical components.
If your academic and nursing qualifications are recognised and you have an interest in research you may also be interest to read about our Graduate research programs.
If you are not registered to practice in Victoria, you may wish to apply for the Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing, which is a theory-only program (no clinical practice). Please contact us for further information about this option.
If you are a Division 2 Registered Nurse you have a number of options available to you if you wish to gain Division 1 registration; however, we do not offer a ‘conversion’ degree from Division 2 to Division 1.
If you are also a graduate of a degree in another discipline you may be eligible to apply for the Master of Nursing Science. Please see 'I am a graduate with a degree in a discipline other than nursing' above.
If you are not a graduate, the University offers a range of bachelor degrees that prepare you for your graduate nursing studies. Once you have completed a bachelor degree, you can apply to study the Master of Nursing Science to gain your graduate nursing qualification to practice as a Division 1 Registered Nurse.
Many Division 2 Registered Nurses find that this path may take longer than they wish to commit to study. Alternatives include mature-age entry schemes offered by some universities into bachelor degrees and the Division 2 entry pathway into a small range of Division 1 nursing programs. For information about providers of nursing courses for Division 2 nurses, please see the course search option on the Victoria Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) website or the list of education providers on the Nurses Board of Victoria website.
If you are interested in a nursing career but do not meet the academic requirements for the Master of Nursing Science, you may be eligible for Non-school leaver entry to one of the University's bachelor degrees. Once you have completed one of these degrees, or completed a recognised bachelor degree from another university, you can apply to study the Master of Nursing Science to gain your nursing qualification.
Please see the Graduate research admission requirements page for information.
We strongly encourage you to discuss your research aspirations and other entry requirements with our Student and Research Programs Manager, Dr Monica Wehner.
If none of the above apply to you, please contact us and we will guide you in choosing the right course for you.