University of Melbourne
Graduate Certificate in Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
Designed to equip neonatal nurses with advanced skills and knowledge to provide evidence-based care for sick neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Course overview
Care of newborn babies and neonates with complex medical and surgical conditions requires a multidisciplinary team with expert knowledge and skills specific to this vulnerable group of patients.
In this course, you will learn about neonatal conditions associated with preterm birth, congenital anomalies, respiratory diseases, birth trauma, peripartum hypoxia, brain injury and metabolic disorders. You will explore family-centred care and neonatal developmental care in the NICU environment. You will learn about end-of-life and palliative care and study the impact of life-threatening illnesses on parents and families.
Be guided to put theory into practice.
The Graduate Certificate in Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing is designed to be undertaken part-time to suit the needs of currently practising Registered Nurses. As part of the university's work-integrated learning (WIL) model, you will undertake online study and face-to-face classes and receive guided supervision at your employing hospital. This model is designed to maximise your learning, clinically and theoretically and enable you to apply your knowledge to practice confidently.
On completion, you will have the clinical knowledge and skills to practice neonatal nursing competently, benchmarked against Australian speciality practice competencies.
Key facts
What you will study
To earn the Graduate Certificate in Neonatal Intensive Care Nursing, students must complete four core subjects or 50 credit points.
Core subjects
Students must complete the following core subjects:
- Applied Pathophysiology
- Foundations in Neonatal Care
- Neonatal Intensive Care
- Neonatal Intensive Care Practice
Entry requirements
To be considered for entry into this course, you must have one of the following:
- A Master of Nursing Science.
- A Bachelor of Nursing (or equivalent qualification).
- A Bachelor of Midwifery (or equivalent qualification).
- A Bachelor of Nursing, Bachelor of Midwifery (BNBMID) double degree.
You must also have:
- At least one year of documented clinical experience as a Registered Nurse or Midwife working in an acute or sub-acute healthcare service within the preceding five years from the time of application.
- Current unrestricted registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (courses with clinical components only).
- Clinical support from a partnering health service will 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 Neonatal Intensive Care 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
As a student of this course, you will:
- Examine core pathophysiological concepts: Explore the underlying pathophysiology of neonatal diseases and develop knowledge and skills required to prioritise care of the neonate in the neonatal intensive care environment.
- Understand key theory and medical requirements: Broaden your knowledge and theory of neonatal care and learn how to assess and manage specific conditions. Develop specialist expertise in neonatal respiratory diseases, congenital anomalies, neonatal brain injury, common metabolic conditions, conditions unique to the very preterm infant, nutritional requirements and principles of growth and development.
- Be guided to apply theory to practice confidently: You will receive supervised training and be able to undertake an accurate assessment of neonatal patients by combining your understanding of core theory with your technical skills.
Career outcomes
On completion, you should have the clinical knowledge and skills to practice neonatal intensive care nursing competently as benchmarked against Australian speciality practice competencies.
Fees and FEE-HELP
Indicative total course fee in 2025: $12,992 (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 study load) commencing semester one of the listed year, except for courses with a duration of less than 1 EFTSL.
A student’s annual fee may vary per:
- 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.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee-paying domestic students with the cost of a university course.
