Victoria University
Master of Nursing (Chronic Disease and Ageing)
- Delivery: Online
- Commitment: 15 - 20 hours/week
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 24 months
Improve care across the later years of life. Strengthen your ability to support older people with chronic and complex conditions through advanced nursing study in coordinated care, healthy ageing, evidence-based practice and innovative models that protect independence, wellbeing and quality of life.
Course overview
Designed for registered nurses seeking to influence the quality and coordination of care for older people, this specialisation combines advanced nursing knowledge with a close examination of chronic disease and ageing. You will consider how cultural context, mental health, health literacy and complex care needs shape experiences and outcomes across later life.
The specialist units explore the physical, psychological and social dimensions of ageing, approaches to self-management and evidence-based care for people living with multiple long-term conditions. You will examine innovative models of aged care, collaboration with families and multidisciplinary teams and ways to support independence, choice and quality of life. A research project allows you to investigate a significant issue within the field.
The course is delivered online through VU’s Block Model, with one seven-week unit completed at a time. Work-based assessments connect learning with a current or recent nursing role, while personalised academic and non-academic support is available seven days a week, including evenings.
Key facts
26th October, 2026
What you will study
To attain the Master of Nursing (Chronic Disease and Aging), students must complete 12 units.
Core units
- Promoting Cultural Competence and Community Health
- Care Coordination in Practice
- Leading Improvement and Innovation
- Evidence and Research for Practice
- Complex Care Coordination
- Nursing Informatics
- Professional Development in Practice
- Mental Health Nursing
Specialisation units
- Innovation in Aged Care Practice
- Ageing and Chronic Disease
- Health and Wellbeing for the Older Person
- Research Project: Chronic Disease and Ageing
Entry requirements
Applicants are required to have the following:
- Completed an AQF Level 7 Bachelor of Nursing, or equivalent qualification.
- Current Registration as a Registered Nurse (Division 1) with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
- Applicants without an AQF 7 Bachelor's Degree of Nursing or equivalent qualification who hold a current Registered Nurse (Division 1) Registration with the Australian Practitioner Regulation Agency (APHRA) will be considered for the Graduate Certificate in Nursing. Upon completing the Graduate Certificate, applicants will be eligible for admission to the Master's in Nursing with credit granted for completed units.
Recognition of Prior Learning
You may be eligible to enter the master's with credit for past skills and/or study, known as advanced standing.
You may be eligible for advanced standing if you've already completed any of the units in the course you are enrolling in, or their equivalent.
For more information, contact the university or visit its website.
Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Assess and apply current WHO and Australian Health priorities and cultural competency principles to promote community health.
- Formulate and lead quality and safety innovations for improved patient outcomes.
- Assume leadership for complex care coordination for clients.
- Provide leadership in informatics and its applications to digital healthcare.
- Contribute to advancing nursing knowledge, practice and design through research evaluation.
- Develop, implement and assess professional development programs for clinical settings.
- Lead or influence nursing care in a chosen speciality area.
- Design and undertake primary research in a specialist area.
Fees and FEE-HELP
Cost per unit in 2025: $2,950 (domestic full-fee paying place)
Total cost for 12 units in 2025: $35,400 (domestic full-fee paying place)
The total cost of completing your degree at Victoria University (VU) Online depends on the number of units you study and the amount of advanced standing you receive, which is assessed after you apply.
A student’s fee may vary depending on:
- The number of units studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
You may also need to pay the student services and amenities fee.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students.
