Adelaide University
Graduate Certificate in Nursing Specialising in Critical Care
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
Enhance clinical decision-making skills for complex and urgent situations.
Course overview
The Graduate Certificate in Nursing specialising in Critical Care at Adelaide University is designed for registered nurses who want to advance their expertise in acute health care. You will develop specialised skills in assessing, monitoring and supporting patients with life-threatening conditions, while also learning to work effectively in high-pressure environments.
This program blends theory with clinical application, ensuring that what you learn can be applied directly in practice. Topics cover advanced pathophysiology, critical care interventions, pharmacology and evidence-based nursing practice. You will also strengthen your ability to collaborate with medical teams, support families and respond to urgent care needs with confidence.
Graduates will be prepared to take on expanded roles in intensive care or emergency across hospitals and health services. With increasing demand for skilled critical care nurses, this qualification offers both professional growth and a chance to make a real difference to patient outcomes.
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
What you will study
To complete the study for the Graduate Certificate in Nursing with a specialisation in Critical Care, students must complete 24 units from one of the following options:
Either:
- 24 units from Discipline courses.
- 24 units for Electives.
- 24 units for one Specialisation from Specialisation.
Core unit
- Essentials in Critical Care Nursing
Critical Care Nursing
Electives
- Primary Health Care (12 credit points)
- Leadership and Management in Nursing and Midwifery (12 credit points)
- Prescribing for Clinicians
- Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Clinical Practice (12 credit points)
- Infection Prevention and Control in Practice (12 credit points)
- Advanced Lactation and Breastfeeding
- Maternal, Child and Family Health (12 credit points)
- Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health
- Comprehensive Care of the Older Person (12 credit points)
- Decision-Making for Midwifery and Nursing Practice (12 credit points)
- Advanced Health Assessment, Diagnostics and Investigations (12 credit points)
- Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Nursing Practice (12 credit points)
Entry requirements
To be eligible, an applicant must have achieved the following minimum entry requirements and demonstrate that they fulfil any prerequisite and essential criteria for admission. In cases where there are more eligible applicants than available places, admission will be competitive with ranks based on the entry criteria.
- A completed bachelor's degree (AQF level 7) or higher from a recognised higher education institution.
- Hold or be eligible to hold registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).
Outcomes
Career outcomes
Graduates of this program are well-positioned for career progression in critical and acute care. You could take on roles in intensive care units, high dependency units or emergency departments. Or perhaps you see yourself leading clinical practice improvements or mentoring early-career nurses. You might also use this qualification as a pathway into more advanced postgraduate study or leadership positions within health services.
Other career options include:
- Critical Care Nurse
- Intensive Care Nurse
- Emergency Department Nurse
Fees and CSP
Estimated student contribution amount per 1.0 EFTSL (48 units) in 2026: $4,738 (Commonwealth Supported Place).
Commonwealth-supported students are charged a portion of the cost of their higher education through a student contribution. Where the duration of the program is less than one year, the total cost of the program is displayed.
Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP)
A Commonwealth Supported Place is a higher education place where the Australian Government subsidises your fees so that you only pay a portion through a student contribution amount.
The amount of student contribution you’ll pay depends on:
- Number of courses you are enrolled in.
- Unit value of courses.
- Funding cluster your courses fall under.
A HECS-HELP loan allows students to borrow from the Australian Government to cover some or all of their student contribution. To be eligible for HECS-HELP, you must be studying in a Commonwealth Supported Place.
