Care for people, become a nurse
Pursue your passion for health care and helping people through nursing while developing your scientific knowledge of anatomy and physiology, drug therapy, comprehensive health assessment and evidence-based practice.
- 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 2025 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.
- 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.
Pursue your passion for health care and helping people through nursing while developing your scientific knowledge of anatomy and physiology, drug therapy, comprehensive health assessment and evidence-based practice.
You’ll receive plenty of hands-on experience, preparing you for work in the healthcare industry when you graduate.
After completing our program, you’ll be eligible to apply for registration as a nurse with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
In this program you will:
- Gain practical skills through 800 hours of nursing placement experience in clinical settings
- Learn about anatomy and physiology
- Understand the different health requirements for people of all ages and backgrounds
- Appreciate cultural differences in delivering health care
- Work with registered nurses, who will teach you latest techniques for health care
Post-admission requirements
Before undertaking a clinical placement, students must comply with the Pre-Clinical Mandatory Checks including:
- Hold a valid Blue Card (Working with Children Check) from QLD Government Blue Card Services throughout the duration of your program. You should allow 12 weeks for Blue Card Services to issue the card.
- Obtain a National Criminal History check through the Australian Federal Police
- Comply with QLD Health vaccination requirements
- A current First Aid and CPR certificate is required from an organisation recognised by the Australian Resuscitation Council, and a Mental Health First Aid online learning certificate, before commencing clinical practice
- Complete the QLD Health student orientation requirements
Refer to the Pre-Clinical Mandatory Checks for further information.
Career opportunities
Nurse in acute care, community, regional and remote, mental health, Indigenous health or aged care.
Graduates are eligible to become members of:
- Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA)
- Australian College of Nursing
Program structure
Introductory courses (9) 102 units
COR109 Introduction to Prosthetic and Orthotic Practice
HLT100 Functional Anatomy
LFS103 Motor Control and Learning
NUR104 Health Practicum
NUR111 Workplace Learning I
NUR116 Workplace Learning II
NUR117 Communication and Thought(6 units)
NUR121 Anatomy and Physiology
NUR131 Introductory Bioscience
Developing and Graduate courses (14) 162 units
HLT301 Contexts of Practice: The Older Person and FamilyΔ
NUR212 Practice Foundations
NUR222 Preparation for Practice 1
NUR226 Nursing Practice 1
NUR227 Health, Culture and Society(6 units)
NUR231 Research Foundations for Health Practice
NUR241 Contexts of Practice: Mental Health Care
NUR286 Contexts of practice: child, youth and family(6 units)
NUR287 Health Law and Ethics(6 units)
NUR300 Preparation for Practice 2Δ (24 units)
NUR311 Nursing Practice 2
NUR331 Drug Therapy
NUR332 Contexts of Practice: Health Alteration
PAR311 Preparation for Practice 3Δ
Elective course (2) 24 units
Select 2 courses (24 units) from:
NUR272 Nursing Practice 3Δ
NUR312 Nursing InternshipΔ
NUR322 Preparation and Nursing Practice 4Δ
OR another course with the approval of the Program Leader.
Δ refer to Program notes
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 288
Recommended study sequences
- (Sippy Downs) Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Sippy Downs) Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Gympie) Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Gympie) Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Fraser Coast) Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Fraser Coast) Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Sippy Downs) Enrolled Nurse pathway - Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Sippy Downs) Enrolled Nurse pathway - Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Caboolture) Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Caboolture) Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Caboolture) Enrolled Nurse pathway - Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Fraser Coast) Enrolled Nurse pathway - Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Gympie) Enrolled Nurse pathway - Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Caboolture) Enrolled Nurse pathway - Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Fraser Coast) Enrolled Nurse pathway - Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Gympie) Enrolled Nurse pathway - Semester 2 commencement (July)
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 288 units as outlined in the Program Structure
In order to commence clinical placement you must comply with the Pre-Clinical Mandatory Checks including:
- Hold a valid Blue Card (Working with Children Check) from QLD Government Blue Card Services throughout the duration of your program. You should allow 12 weeks for Blue Card Services to issue the card.
- Obtain a National Criminal History check through the Australian Federal Police
- Comply with QLD Health vaccination requirements
- A current First Aid and CPR certificate is required from an organisation recognised by the Australian Resuscitation Council before commencing clinical practice
- Complete the QLD Health student orientation requirements
- Travel to attend clinical placements
- Have a level of computer literacy, including word processing and email
Students who do not comply with these requirements will be unable to complete the clinical practice component of their program and will be unable to meet graduation requirements
Note: Students 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 12 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) and following the recommended study sequence
- The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
- It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
- For Sippy Downs students some courses in this program will be taught at the Sunshine Coast Health Institute
- HLT301 (if enrolling in Semester 1) MUST be completed at Sunshine Coast Health Institute, not the Sippy Downs campus.
- PAR311 is to be completed in Session 2 and is an online offering
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods which may include essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa
- International students on a Student visa please note:
- NUR300 Session 4 offering is only available to specific student cohorts
- Usual teaching periods include Semester 1, Semester 2, Session 8 and Session 4
- Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.