University of Melbourne
Master of Nursing Science
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 24 months
Transforms graduates from diverse backgrounds into highly skilled, compassionate registered nurses through an intensive, evidence-based program that fuses clinical excellence with human-centred care.
Course overview
The Master of Nursing Science (MNSc) from the University of Melbourne is a professional master’s degree that provides exceptional preparation for a nursing career. It is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (formerly the Nurses Board of Victoria). This program will provide students with a higher-level degree with enhanced learning outcomes while meeting the competencies identified by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council necessary for practice as a registered nurse.
The University of Melbourne offers the only integrated curriculum where you learn clinical skills and theory concurrently. Clinical and bioscience topics are coordinated to enhance your understanding of theory in practice. Students will participate in 6 to 8 weeks of intensive teaching each semester, followed by three or four weeks of professional experience placement with partner hospitals.
The university's clinical placements are in the largest major metropolitan teaching hospitals, ensuring the best clinical practice opportunities, research collaborations with up-to-date medical mannequins and equipment and dedicated laboratory staff to guide your practical skill development. The clinical skills labs are used for classes and can be booked for self-directed learning.
CSP Subsidised Fees Available
This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.
Key facts
What you will study
Students must complete 200 credit points to earn the Master of Nursing Science. Unless otherwise indicated, each subject is worth 12.5 credit points.
Students must complete the following core subjects:
- Foundations of Nursing (6.25 credit points)
- Indigenous Health and Nursing (6.25 credit points)
- Nursing of Acute Health Conditions (25 credit points)
- Foundations of Nursing Practice (25 credit points)
- Human Anatomy and Physiology
- Evidence in Practice
- Human Pathophysiology
- Nursing of Chronic Health Conditions
- Transition to Nursing Practice (25 credit points)
- Nursing Research
- Foundations of Mental Health Nursing
- Applied Pathophysiology
- Applications of Clinical Pharmacology
Entry requirements
To be considered for entry into this course, you must have one of the following:
- Have an undergraduate degree (or equivalent) in any discipline, completed not more than 10 years before the date of application.
- An older undergraduate degree and a more recent graduate study, demonstrating current capacity for graduate study or five years of documented relevant work experience.
- Work experience relevant to this course may include roles in the healthcare sector.
Weighted Average Mark (WAM)
The university encourages all applicants with a WAM of 65 or above to apply. This WAM is an indication only and may vary year to year depending on the applicant pool; achieving this WAM does not guarantee entry. Domestic applicants with exceptional circumstances are encouraged to apply through Graduate Access Melbourne to increase their eligibility.
English language requirements
All applicants to the University of Melbourne must satisfy the English language requirements. This may be achieved in a number of ways, including recognised previous studies 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 – 7.0, with no band less than 7.0
- TOEFL – 94+, with writing 27; speaking 24; reading 24; listening 24
- Pearson – 72+, with a written communicative skill of 75 and no other communicative skill below 72
- Cambridge – N/A
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).
Please note that the Master of Nursing Science is a graduate course, so only nursing subjects undertaken at a graduate level will be considered for credit. Subjects completed as part of a Bachelor of Nursing degree cannot be credited as part of the Master of Nursing Science degree.
Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Career outcomes
Upon graduating with a Master of Nursing Science, you will be qualified to practice nursing Australia-wide. You can also apply for this degree, which is accredited internationally, to practice nursing in the USA, Canada, the UK, Ireland and elsewhere. This degree integrates theory and practice while developing students’ critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. By developing the skills needed to practice evidence-based nursing, such as clinical leadership, clinical decision-making and research, you will be strongly positioned to become a future nursing leader.
The Master of Nursing Science degree is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) and accredited by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMAC). Upon completion, you are eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioners Registration Authority (AHPRA) as a registered Division 1 nurse.
Fees and CSP
Estimated total course fee in 2025: From $9,541 (Commonwealth Supported Place)
Indicative total course fee in 2025: $54,567 (domestic full-fee paying place)
Student fees 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 will also need to pay the student services and amenities fee. Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP)
The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPS to 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 subject you're enrolled in.
- Depending 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.
