Master of Nursing Practice

What you will study

To earn the Master of Nursing Practice, you must successfully complete units totalling 400 credit points, as detailed below. Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth 25 credit points.

Core units Year 1

• Behavioural Responses to Illness
• Nursing Bioscience for Acute Conditions
• Nursing Professional Practice 2
• Inquiry for Ethical and Legal Contexts in Health
• Nursing Bioscience for Chronic Conditions
• Nursing Professional Practice 1
• Research and Evaluation in Health
• Indigenous Perspectives for Clinical Practice

Core units Year 2

• Leadership for the Clinical Context
• Nursing Professional Practice Capstone (50 credit points)
• Practice Improvement Research Project
• Behavioural Perspectives of Mental Health
• Mental Health Nursing Professional Practice
• Nursing Bioscience for Complex Care
• Nursing Professional Practice 3

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

To be eligible for this course, you must:

• Hold a recognised bachelor’s degree or graduate degree.
• Have successfully completed a tertiary-level human biology unit with a focus on anatomy and physiology.
• Meet Curtin’s English-language requirements.
• Submit the required supporting documents.

Applicants who have not completed the required human biology unit may be able to complete it through Curtin’s Health Sciences Graduate Entry Foundation course.

Entry is competitive and places are limited. Applicants are ranked using the published entry requirements and their complete academic record. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an offer.

Supporting documents

Applicants must submit:

• An academic transcript and award certificate.
• A current résumé.
• A completed prerequisite-unit template identifying the tertiary unit or units used to satisfy the human biology, anatomy and physiology prerequisite.
• Unit outlines for any prerequisite units completed outside Curtin. These must include the syllabus, learning outcomes and assessment requirements.

Fieldwork requirements

This course includes compulsory professional practice experience. To participate in clinical practice, students must meet and maintain requirements relating to:

• Department of Health criminal record screening.
• National Police screening.
• A Working with Children Check.
• Immunisation and communicable disease requirements.
• Basic Life Support certification.
• Manual handling certification.

Manual Handling and Basic Life Support certificates must be obtained before the course commences and renewed annually. Students are responsible for the associated screening, vaccination and certification costs.

Students must be available to undertake full-time clinical practice blocks during or outside standard semester periods. Placements may extend over several weeks and involve rotational shifts, including night duty.

English language requirements

Applicants must demonstrate English-language proficiency. The published English test requirement is:

• IELTS Academic overall band score of 7.0, with a minimum score of 7.0 in reading, writing, listening and speaking.

Alternative accepted tests, eligible previous education or other pathways may be considered where Curtin’s Nursing and Midwifery English-language requirements are satisfied.

Applicants must also submit Curtin’s English Language Declaration Form with their application.

Contact the university or visit its website for more information.

Recognition of Prior Learning

You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help reduce the number of units you need to study to finish your course. Contact the university for more information.

Outcomes

Learning outcomes

• Apply nursing knowledge within a framework of registered nursing practice with a commitment to evidence based practice and demonstrate a high level of clinical proficiency to ensure optimum outcomes for individuals, families and communities
• Apply critical thinking and reflection to problem solving and clinical decision making for health improvement
• Critically analyse scientific literature and health standards in order to reflect on and synthesise complex information and integrate this into patient care while ensuring the ethical management of information
• Communicate effectively and establish collegial relationships with intra and interprofessional teams
• Use technology proficiently and appropriately to support informed decision makings on therapeutic interventions and clinical practice; proactively seek new information and technologies
• Recognise the values intrinsic to registered nurse practice and demonstrate commitment to lifelong learning through critical reflection and the ability to enhance the professional development of self and others
• Recognise, evaluate and apply appropriate international and national standards of practice within a local nursing and healthcare context
• Recognise the significance of cultural diversity in patient care and articulate and demonstrate respect for individuals’ rights to determine their own journey through healthcare through advocacy and culturally safe practice
• Demonstrate a sound understanding of current nursing and health legislation which is relevant to the registered nurse role and work in an autonomous and accountable practice framework as a member of intra and interprofessional teams and demonstrate leadership skills in an ethical, moral and professional manner, as expected by the wider community in the interests of public safety

Career outcomes

Work as a registered nurses in a variety of health settings such as public and private hospitals, community centres, nursing homes, home-based services and international organisations. Opportunities also exist in clinical education, research and management areas.

This course is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and satisfies the requirements of an approved program of study. If you are seeking registration as a registered nurse (division one), you must meet the core registration standards.

Fees and CSP

Indicative annual fee in 2026: $8,400 (Commonwealth Supported Place).

Indicative annual fees are based on your first year of study.

A student’s annual fee may vary by:

• The number of units studied.
• 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 the course you're enrolled in.
• Dependent on the study areas they relate to.
• Reviewed and adjusted each year.

Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.

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.