Queensland University of Technology
Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Acute Care Nursing)
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 12 months
Equips nurses with advanced clinical expertise and critical decision-making skills to thrive in fast-paced, high-acuity healthcare environments.
Course overview
The Graduate Certificate in Nursing offers a short, focused program of study for professionals looking to upgrade their qualifications. This flexible course design means you can shape your course to suit your interests and career aspirations. QUT's programs offer students a supportive, flexible learning environment that integrates online technologies and promotes a socially collaborative community.
In the Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Acute Care Nursing) program, students will complete studies in advanced health assessment and nursing practice, as well as issues and trends in acute care nursing and critically analyse the advanced concepts that underpin this specialist area. Students will initiate plans of care to address common needs/problems experienced by acute patients.
You must have three months FTE (full-time equivalent) of recent registered nursing experience (within two years). Examples include but are not limited to acute medical-surgical, rehabilitation, orthopaedic, community and residential, general practice, renal and chronic care settings.
This particular course is delivered part-time. External students are supported with an extensive learning package of electronic resources.
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
July, 2026
What you will study
To complete the Graduate Certificate in Nursing (Acute Care Nursing), students must earn 48 credit points (four units).
Core units
- Leadership in Nursing
- Contemporary Issues in Acute Nursing
- Specialist Acute Nursing Practice
Elective units
Complete one unit from the following:
- Principles of Education for Health Professionals
- Education Design for Health Professionals
- Contemporary Issues in Acute Nursing
- Contemporary Issues in Primary Health Care
- Specialist Primary Health Care
- Foundations of Digital Health
- Ageing and Health Assessment
- Skin and Wound Care
- Dementia
- Complex Care for the Older Person
- Palliative and End of Life Care
- Or other 12 credit point units approved by the Postgraduate Nursing Course Coordinator
Entry requirements
You must have:
- A recognised bachelor's degree (or higher) in nursing.
- Current registration as a Nurse with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Study area requirements
In some study areas, applicants must comply with specific clinical requirements.
You will be asked to confirm your professional experience before enrolling in units requiring workplace-based clinical practice. You will also need to maintain access to the relevant practice setting for the duration of the course. Suppose you do not confirm your professional experience or maintain access to a relevant practice setting. In that case, you cannot complete the clinical assessment components required to complete units in the study area.
Contact the university for more information.
Recognition of Prior Learning
You may be able to have your past studies or work experience count as credit towards your QUT course. QUT call this ‘advanced standing’. That means you might not have to complete all the units in your course structure. You may be able to graduate sooner. Exemptions are assessed individually - talk to QUT's Course Consultant for more information.
Outcomes
Career outcomes
Possible careers:
- Clinical Nurse
- Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Domain Specialist Nurse
- Nurse Case Manager
- Specialist Nurse
Fees and CSP
Indicative 2026 fee: $2,500 per year full-time for 48 credit points (Commonwealth Supported Place)
Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. QUT reviews fees annually. They may be subject to increases.
You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.
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 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.
