Australian Catholic University
Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing (Surgical Nursing)
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
Explore acute and chronic health conditions that require surgical intervention.
Course overview
ACU Online offers the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing (Surgical Nursing). By specialising, you will develop your holistic care skills in speciality practice, including a person- and family-centred health promotion. Specific knowledge in the areas of bioscience, pharmacology, and lifespan development relevant to your chosen speciality will also be explored and applied to your clinical nursing practice.
The surgical specialisation explores principles and management of nursing care across the pre-operative, post-operative and discharge surgical care continuum. Content related to surgical comorbidities, common surgical procedures, surgical safety, risk assessment and the early recognition and timely escalation of deterioration to mitigate patient harm is extensively covered. The impact that pre-operative and post-operative complications have on surgical patient outcomes and discharge planning will also be detailed.
CSP Subsidised Fees Available
This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.
Key facts
From $578 (CSP)
13th October, 2025
What you will study
To qualify for the degree, a student must complete 40 credit points, consisting of:
- 20 credit points from specified units
- 20 credit points from specialisation
Specified units
- Advanced Pathophysiology for Specialty Nursing Practice (10 credit points)
- Evidence-based, Person-centred Family Care in Specialty Nursing Practice (10 credit points)
Specialisation
- Surgical: Comprehensive Care for Surgical Patients (10 credit points)
- Surgical: Advanced and Complex Surgical Nursing (10 credit points)
Entry requirements
To be eligible for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing, an applicant must have the following:
- Have completed a Bachelor of Nursing degree or equivalent.
- Hold current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra).
Outcomes
Career outcomes
Studying this specialisation can lead to a career as a:
- Specialist in surgical nursing
- Nursing educator - surgical specialty
Fees and CSP
Average first-year fee in 2025: $2,312 (Commonwealth Supported Place)
Average first-year fee in 2025: $11,800 (domestic full-fee paying place)
Fees are calculated based on a full-time study load of 40 credit points.
A student’s annual fee may vary per:
- The number of units studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- Choice of units.
- Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
Commonwealth Supported Places
The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.
If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you only need to pay some of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.
Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.
Your student contribution amount is:
- Calculated per unit you're enrolled in.
- Depending on the study areas they relate to.
- Reviewed and adjusted each year.
HECS-HELP loans are available to CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee-paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.
