Master of Nursing (Graduate Entry)

What you will study

The course has 12 units of study. Each unit is valued at 20 credit points.

Year 1 - Semester 1

• Nursing Bioscience 1
• Nursing Practice 1
• Fundamentals of Nursing

Year 1 - Semester 2

• Nursing Bioscience
• Nursing Practice 2
• Nursing Cultural Studies

Year 2 - Semester 1

• Nursing Bioscience 3
• Nursing Practice 3
• Mental Health Disorders

Year 2 - Semester 2

• Evidence-based Practice and Research Design
• Child, Adolescent and Family Nursing Practice
• Nursing Practice Capstone

Entry requirements

Academic Admission Requirements (Band 6)

The following course-specific admission requirements are mandatory and must be satisfied by all applicants. These requirements are in addition to or supersede the minimum requirements outlined within the Academic Admission Requirements band section below.

All applicants must have a bachelor's or master's degree, with a course weighted average mark of at least 60%, or equivalent as recognised by the University. A health science-based degree is desirable; all applicants must have a tertiary-level unit in human biology (students who do not meet this requirement will be required to undertake a Health Science Preparation program at ECU).

Prospective applicants must submit a curriculum vitae and a personal statement as part of their application. This is a competitive entry program, and applications are assessed on academic merit.

Academic admission requirements (Band 6) may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

• Bachelor's degree.
• Equivalent prior learning, including at least five years of relevant professional experience.

English Language Requirements (Band 5)

In addition to satisfying ECU's minimum English standard requirements for this course, all applicants must demonstrate English language proficiency as specified in the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) English language skills registration standard. (https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Registration-Standards/English-language-skills).

These requirements are as follows:

• IELTS Academic with a minimum overall score of 7.0, a minimum score of 7.0 in listening, reading, and speaking, and a minimum score of 6.5 in the writing component. This includes IELTS One Skill Retake (OSR).

Note: Test results must be from one test sitting or two test sittings in a 12-month period. When using two test sittings, no score in any component of the test(s) for either test sitting can be below 6.5.

• Occupational English Test (OET) with a minimum score of B in the three components of listening, reading, and speaking and a minimum score of C+ in the writing component from any profession-specific OET.

Note: Test results must be from one test sitting or two test sittings in a 12-month period. When using two test sittings, no score in any component of the test(s) for either test sitting can be below C+.

• Pearson English Test (PTE) Academic with a minimum overall score of 66 and a minimum score of 66 in each of the three communicative skills of listening, reading, and speaking, and a minimum score of 56 in the communicative skill of writing.

Note: Test results must be from one test sitting or two test sittings in a 12-month period. When using two test sittings, no score in any component of the test(s) for either test sitting can be below 56.

• TOEFL ibt.
• Cambridge C1 Advanced or Cambridge C2 Proficiency.

Please refer to the School of Nursing and Midwifery Band 5 English Proficiency Band requirements for details of the required individual test scores and test validity periods at https://www.ecu.edu.au/future-students/course-entry/english-proficiency-bands.

Alternatively, if English is your primary language and you have completed your education in English in a recognised country, this may be accepted.  Please refer to the School of Nursing and Midwifery Band 5 English Proficiency Band requirements for details of the approved combined prior education pathways and recognised countries at https://www.ecu.edu.au/future-students/course-entry/english-proficiency-bands.

ECU’s minimum English standard requirements for this course may be satisfied with one of the following:

• Bachelor's degree from an approved country.
• I completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at the postgraduate level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent).
• Where accepted, equivalent prior learning, including at least five years of relevant professional experience.

Recognition of Prior Learning

You can get credit for your course based on prior formal, non-formal or informal learning. To apply, you must provide supporting documentation outlined by the university. Please reach out to the university for more information.

Outcomes

Learning outcomes

• Demonstrate application of evidence-based nursing practice to address local, regional, national and global health priorities, incorporating contemporary technologies.
• Apply effective communication and collaborative skills to establish and maintain culturally safe, therapeutic and professional relationships.
• Demonstrate responsibility and accountability for determining and achieving ongoing professional development.
• Integrate knowledge and skills to assess, plan, implement and evaluate safe, quality nursing care that is responsive to the needs of people and communities across the lifespan.
• Incorporate cultural safety and competence within all aspects of professional practice when working collaboratively with patients/clients.
• Apply research principles and methods to critically appraise evidence-based literature and design research studies and/or research scholarship.

Career outcomes

• Registered Nurse

Fees and CSP

Indicative first-year tuition fee in 2025: $4,650 (Commonwealth Supported Place)

A student’s annual fee may vary by:

• 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. Could you 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. The student contribution amount is 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.