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Charles Sturt University

Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Leadership and Management)

  • Delivery: Online
  • Study Level: Postgraduate
  • Duration: 12 months

Enhance your knowledge, skills and behaviors to become a successful nurse leader in the rapidly changing healthcare environment.

Course overview

Created for clinicians, leaders, and managers at all levels of healthcare with a focus on practice improvement and transformative leadership, the Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Leadership and Management) course is delivered 100 percent online, so you can upskill while you work. And you can gain a postgraduate nursing qualification in as little as eight months of part-time study. Advance your practice at the university with more than 40 years of experience delivering nursing education.

Key facts

Delivery
Online
Study level
Postgraduate
Course type
Graduate Certificate
Duration
More Information
Can be studied part time
12 months (Full time)
Units
4
Fees
More Information
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.
FEE-HELP, HECS
Price per unit
From $3,458
More Information
Fees are indicative only, based on full-time study. Check the course duration and graduation requirements to determine your study load for this course.
Intake
14th July, 2025

What will you study

To complete the Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Leadership and Management), a student must fulfil 32 points consisting of four core subjects.

Core subjects

  • Innovation and Change Management
  • Advanced Nursing Practice
  • Quality and Safety in Healthcare
  • Foundations of Health Management and Leadership

Entry requirements

  • Applicants must hold a Bachelor of Nursing degree or professional qualification which leads to registration as a Registered Nurse Division 1 with the Australian Health Professional Regulation Agency or equivalent.
  • Applicants must have at least 12 months full-time experience as a registered nurse.

English language requirements

For postgraduate coursework courses, applicants must have obtained an Academic IELTS within the last two years with:

  • A minimum overall score of 6.0.
  • No individual score below 6.0.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Your previous studies can be acknowledged as credit towards your postgraduate studies, provided that they meet the relevant course requirements.

If you receive an offer of enrolment and you’ve undertaken prior learning, you may be eligible to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning. The procedure is governed by the university Recognition of Prior Learning policy. Contact the university for more details.

Outcomes

Career outcomes

With a nursing graduate certificate, you'll be able to demonstrate the clinical and decision-making skills you need to provide high-level care in complex circumstances. You'll collaborate with other health professionals as you work to improve health outcomes and you'll influence all levels of care while promoting quality health outcomes for individuals, families, communities and healthcare systems through strong leadership and sound research. Utilize your critical-thinking skills and ability to apply evidence to practice so you can transition into diverse and challenging nursing roles. These could include:

  • Leadership and advanced nursing positions
  • Clinical Nurse Specialist 
  • Clinical Nurse Educator 
  • Nurse Educator 
  • Clinical Nurse Consultant 
  • Nurse Manager

Fees and CSP

One year full-time equivalent fee in 2025: TBA (Commonwealth Supported Places).

One year full-time equivalent fee in 2025: $13,832 (domestic full-fee paying place).

Student fees may vary in accordance with:

  • 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.

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'll only need to pay a portion 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.
  • Dependent 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.