Queensland University of Technology
Master of Nursing (Intensive Care Nursing)
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 18 months
Equips nurses with advanced clinical skills to provide expert care for critically ill patients in intensive care settings.
Course overview
Highlights
- Complete in 1.5 years full-time or three years part-time.
- Prepare for senior leadership and advanced practice nursing roles.
- Align your study with your career goals by selecting a coursework or dissertation stream.
- Choose to specialise in: acute care nursing; cancer nursing; emergency nursing; gastroenterology nursing; intensive care nursing; paediatric and adolescent nursing; primary health care.
The Master of Nursing course offers a variety of career pathways for nurses working in diverse settings and provides opportunities for in-depth study for advanced competence in selected areas of nursing practice. You will have the option to study either the coursework stream or the dissertation stream. The coursework stream is recommended for nurses wishing to pursue a career as nurse unit managers, clinical nurse consultants, directors of nursing or clinical nurse educators. Additional electives are available to students undertaking the coursework stream. The dissertation stream is recommended for nurses wishing to pursue a career as a nurse researcher, nurse academic, or progress to a PhD.
In the Master of Nursing (Intensive Care Nursing) program, students explore the theoretical, conceptual and practical knowledge required to provide effective nursing care for diverse and complex critically ill patients in the intensive care unit, an increasingly complex technological environment.
To qualify for this program, you must be currently working as a registered nurse at least 0.4 FTE (full-time equivalent) in a level II (two) or III (three) intensive care unit, as defined by the College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand (CICM), Minimum Standards for Intensive Care Units or as accredited by the CICM for training in intensive care medicine and have at least six months FTE (full-time equivalent) experience in an intensive care setting.
Flexible delivery
Whether you prefer to study full-time or part-time, online or on campus, QUT’s Master of Nursing offers you the flexibility to align your studies with your other personal and professional commitments. The university offers both February and July (mid-year) intakes.
QUT's programs offer students a supportive, flexible learning environment that integrates online technologies and promotes a socially collaborative community. External students are supported with an extensive learning package of electronic resources.
Key facts
July, 2026
What you will study
To complete the Master of Nursing (Intensive Care Nursing), students must fulfil 144 credit points. Students must choose a dissertation stream or a coursework stream. Unless otherwise indicated, each unit is worth 12 credit points.
Core units
- Leadership in Nursing
- Evidence-based Practice and Research Design
- Dissertation Preparation
- Dissertation (48 credit points)
Intensive care nursing specialisation units
- Contemporary Issues in Intensive Care
- Specialist Intensive Care Nursing
Electives
- Complete two units in research methods, totalling 24 credit points.
- Complete one unit in the postgraduate nursing list, totalling 12 credit points.
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).
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
The Master of Nursing prepares you for leadership roles in specialist areas of health care. Graduates will demonstrate leadership of teams, autonomy, expert judgement and the agility to improve healthcare outcomes and service delivery models.
Upon completion, you will:
- Be a leader who facilitates nursing and interprofessional team collaborations to deliver person-centred health care outcomes.
- Apply specialist knowledge and skills to initiate and improve sustainable, digitally enhanced health service delivery.
- Communicate effectively in various contexts and media, using your influence to advocate for ethical, evidence-based and culturally appropriate change.
- Critically reflect on your practice, integrating various perspectives and approaches to health care that embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and diverse perspectives.
In transitioning to be a nurse leader, you will develop skills to inform research, leadership, education and management of dynamic health care contexts.
Fees and FEE-HELP
Indicative 2026 fee: $27,900 per year full-time for 96 credit points (domestic full-fee paying 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.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students.
