Graduate Certificate in Critical Care Nursing

What you will study

The Graduate Certificate in Critical Care Nursing is a 50-credit-point clinical coursework program designed to be undertaken part-time over 12 months. It is delivered in a mixed mode and through work-integrated learning in supervised clinical practice at your employing hospital. Unless otherwise indicated, each subject is worth 12.5 credit points.

Entry requirements

To be considered for entry into this course, you must:

• Have completed a Bachelor of Nursing (or equivalent).
• Provide documented evidence of clinical practice within the preceding five years from application.
• Hold unrestricted registration as a Division 1 Registered Nurse with AHPRA (or equivalent) with an international health practitioner regulation agency.
• Receive clinical support from a partnering health service and be employed at least three (3) days or 24 hours per week for the standard course duration in a clinical setting that will provide the relevant clinical experience to meet course learning outcomes.

Please note: Applicants for the Graduate Certificate in Critical Care Nursing must be employed by a Centre of Excellence (COE) or a partnering hospital to undertake this course. Applicants not used by a Centre of Excellence (COE) or a partnering hospital must provide evidence of current clinical employment and support from their employing hospital.

English language requirements

All applicants to the University of Melbourne must satisfy the English language requirements. This may be achieved in several ways, including a recognised previous study taught and assessed entirely in English or an approved English language test. If you are from a non-English speaking background, the required standard of English for this degree is one of the following English proficiency test scores:

• IELTS – 6.5, with no band less than 6.0
• TOEFL – 79+, with writing 21; speaking 18; reading 13; listening 13
• Pearson – 64+, with no communicative skill below 60
• Cambridge – 176+, with no skill less than 169

Contact the university or visit their website for more information.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Prior studies may be credited towards your degree and potentially reduce the duration of your course. This is known as Advanced Standing (also known as credit or recognition of prior learning).

Outcomes

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the Graduate Certificate in Critical Care Nursing, you will be able to:

• Apply advanced knowledge of the scientific and research-based evidence that underpins critical care nursing with the competency standards for specialist essential nurses of care.
• Assess, review and analyse patient health data to identify and explain the rationale for solving complex critical care problems.
• Employ practical specialised technical skills in the delivery of specialist critical care.
• Communicate effectively with other members of the interprofessional healthcare team and people who are acutely or critically ill to facilitate effective individualised plans for care.
• Apply skills to critically appraise critical care nursing practice and integrate relevant research evidence into effective individualised plans for acutely and critically ill people.
• Apply knowledge of human pathophysiology across the continuum of care to safely and effectively provide critical care that addresses actual and potential disease and treatment-related health needs.
• Planned and delivered specialist critical care that met the specific supportive care needs and experiences of people affected by acute illness or trauma.
• Initiate, plan, implement and evaluate an individualised, patient-centred, coordinated care plan in collaboration with the interprofessional healthcare team.
• Act to promote teamwork, well-being and collaboration with the interprofessional team and achieve desired patient outcomes.

Career outcomes

On completion of this course, you should have the clinical competencies to practice as a critical care nurse at a beginning competency level as benchmarked against Australian speciality practice competencies.

Fees and FEE-HELP

Indicative first-year and total course fee in 2026: $14,000 (domestic full-fee paying place)

Unless otherwise noted, the indicative total course fee shown above assumes a study load of 1 EFTSL (equivalent full-time student load) commencing semester one of the listed year, except for courses with a duration of less than 1 EFTSL.

Fees are subject to annual review by the University, with any new rates effective from the beginning of each calendar year.

A student’s fee may vary depending on:

• The number of subjects studied per term.
• The choice of major or specialisation.
• Choice of subjects.
• Credit from previous study or work experience.
• Eligibility for government-funded loans.

You may also need to pay the student services and amenities fee.

FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students.