Bachelor of Nursing Science | UniSC | University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

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Bachelor of Nursing Science

Care for people and help them achieve good health with a rewarding nursing career.

Our program is designed to meet the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council National Competency Standards for the Registered Nurse and you’ll be eligible to apply for registration as a nurse with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

CRICOS code
078086M
Commence
Semester 1 or Semester 2 **
Program length (full-time)
3 years
Semester tuition fee 2016
A$11,100
Estimated total tuition fee *
A$66,600
Footnotes
  • Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
  • * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2023 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
  • Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
  • ** The minimum three-year duration of the program will be extended for students commencing in Semester 2, due to the requirement to complete a final eight-week internship.
  •  ^Subject to final approval of campus transfer and program accreditation.
Study locations QTAC code
  • Sunshine Coast 013401
  • Fraser Coast ^ 019101
  • Gympie 013501
Refer to the program footnotes
Minimum selection threshold
OP - 14 Rank - 69
UniSC program code
SC391
Commence
Semester 1 or Semester 2 **
Duration
3 years full time or equivalent part time
Recommended prior study
English; Maths A, B or C; at least one science subject
Other requirements
Applicants from a non-English speaking background must attain an IELTS score of at least 7.0 including at least 6.5 in each subtest. Refer to English language requirements.
Fee type 2016
  • What will I pay?
Total units
288
Footnotes
  • ¥ The option to study at Gympie is not available to international students on a Student visa.
  • ** The minimum three-year duration of the program will be extended for students commencing in Semester 2, due to the requirement to complete a final eight-week internship.
  •  ^Subject to final approval of campus transfer and program accreditation.

Our program is designed to meet the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council National Competency Standards for the Registered Nurse and you’ll be eligible to apply for registration as a nurse with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Pursue your passion for health care and develop your scientific knowledge of bioscience, anatomy and physiology, mental health, drug therapy and research. There is an option to complete a mental health major.

You’ll complete an eight week nursing internship to gain practical experience and it could even help you secure a job at the end of your degree. Clinical placements are supervised by experienced clinicians in a variety of hospitals, aged care facilities, health agencies and community settings.

If you are an Enrolled and Advanced Enrolled Nurse, this program also allows you to convert your qualifications to the current Registered Nurse level. Choose to take further postgraduate study to specialise in midwifery, mental health, or emergency advanced practice.

Post-admission requirements

Before undertaking a clinical placement, students must obtain and maintain a current first aid and CPR certificate, provide evidence of hepatitis B immunisation, undergo a criminal history check and obtain a Blue Card. Refer to Program requirements and notes.

Career opportunities

Nurse in acute care, armed forces, community, rural, mental health, Indigenous health, aged care or industry settings.

Membership

Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA); Australian College of Nursing.

Registration

Students in nursing and midwifery programs are required to be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) as students under the national law. USC arranges registration. Refer to the (AHPRA) website for detailed information.

Graduates are eligible to apply for registration as nurses in Australia with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, which is a Board of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia has a number of registration standards that graduates must demonstrate in order to be eligible for registration. For example, graduates must demonstrate English language skills at IELTS level 7, with 7 in all subtests, or equivalent before being considered for professional registration. For full details of the AHPRA Registration Standards, visit the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia website.

Program structure

For students commencing 2015. All other students please refer to previous handbooks.

Introductory courses (8)

COR109 Optics and Modern Physics
HLT100 Foundations of Sustainability
LFS103 Empowering Individuals for Sustainability
NUR103 Reorienting Society Towards Sustainability
NUR111 Sustainable Futures
NUR121 Plant Diversity and Ecology
NUR131 Animal Diversity and Ecology
NUR142 Introduction to Sustainable Energy Systems

Advanced courses (14)

HLT221 Environmental and Resource Economics
HLT301 Climate Change Adaptation
NUR202 Introduction to Climate Change Mitigation
NUR211 Integrated Environmental Management
NUR212 Integrated Marine Systems
NUR222 Environment and Health
NUR231 Environmental Health Risk Management
NUR241 Biodiversity and Ecology
NUR272 Economics for Business
NUR300 Planning and Environmental Law(24 units)
NUR311 Rural and Regional Sustainability
NUR331 Participation and Conflict Resolution
NUR332 International Community Development and Global Justice
NUR341 Green Justice: Environment and Social Issues

Elective course (1)

Select 1 course from:

NUR312 Tourism and Leisure Policy and Planning
NUR322 Sustainable Tourism, Leisure and Event Management

OR another course with the approval of the Program Leader.

Note: Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.

Total units: 288

Program requirements and notes

Program requirements

In order to graduate you must:

  • Complete all courses as listed below.
  • (Optional) Select a Mental Health Major, after consultation with the Program Leader.
  • Register any selected Majors with your Faculty.

In order to commence clinical placement you must:

  • Hold a valid Blue Card from the Public Safety Business Agency (PSBA), throughout the duration of your program. You should allow 12 weeks for PSBA to issue the card. Note: students who do not possess a valid Blue Card will be unable to complete the clinical practice component of their program and will be unable to meet graduation requirements.
  • Have a National Criminal History check (by Queensland Police Service or other state / territory authority).
  • Show evidence of complete Hepatitis B vaccination (3 inoculations over a period of six months).
  • A current First Aid and CPR certificate is required from an organisation recognised by the Australian Resuscitation Council before commencing clinical practice.
  • Travel to attend clinical placements.
  • Have a level of computer literacy, including word processing and email.

Note: You are required to commence action of the above requirements immediately after enrolling. Hepatitis B immunity can take up to six months to determine and the processing of your USC Blue Card Application Form can take up to 10 weeks. Visit Nursing and Midwifery - Clinical Placement for more information about these requirements before you apply.

Program notes
  • Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses).
  • Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods.
  • The Study Overseas Program is not currently available to nursing students.
  • Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa.
  • When enrolling, please refer to the Study Plan.