University of Sydney
Master of Intensive Care Nursing
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 18 months
Develops expert critical care nurses through advanced clinical training and research-driven learning, preparing them to lead and innovate in high-acuity healthcare environments.
Course overview
This course aims to provide nurses with a sound theoretical underpinning of clinical practice skills to deliver comprehensive care and advice to critically ill patients and their families, as well as work across complex medical environments that demand rapid, advanced and challenging decision making.
The Master of Intensive Care Nursing is designed for registered nurses working in the intensive care environment who are looking to become an expert and advance to clinical leadership roles or build professional practice capabilities.
Key facts
What you will study
To earn the Master of Intensive Care Nursing, students must complete 60 credit points comprising:
- 36 credit points of core units of study
- 12 credit points of elective units of study
- 12 credit point capstone core unit of study
Unless otherwise indicated, each unit is worth six credit points.
Students must undertake the following units for 36 credit points:
- Assessment and Clinical Judgement
- Foundations of Clinical Practice
- Evidence and Knowledge Translation
- Expanding Nursing Practice
- Intensive Care Nursing Practice
- Complexity of Critical Illness and Injury
Entry requirements
Admission to this course requires:
- A pre-registration nursing degree from the University of Sydney or equivalent qualification with a credit average; OR
- A graduate diploma or graduate certificate in this discipline from the University of Sydney or equivalent qualification; AND
- To be a registered nurse in Australia or overseas; AND
- Domestic applicants are required to have a minimum of one year's experience as a registered nurse, be working in intensive care nursing and provide a statement of support from their supervisor or manager in order to undertake the required clinical assessments. Students who already hold a graduate certificate in intensive care nursing are not required to provide a statement of support.
English language requirements
You can meet the English language requirements if you complete one of the following English language tests within two years of the course commencement date:
- IELTS score: A minimum result of 7.0 overall and a minimum result of 7.0 in each band.
- TOEFL - IBT score: A minimum result of 96 overall, including a minimum result of 23 in Reading, Listening and Speaking and 25 in Writing.
- Pearson's Test of English: A minimum result of 72 overall and a minimum result of 72 in each band.
Contact the university or visit their website for more details.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Related study may be credited towards your degree. This may also include relevant work experience for some postgraduate courses. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
As a Master of Intensive Care Nursing student:
- You will learn to work across complex environments that often demand rapid, sophisticated and challenging decisions as you help patients and their families understand their illness and deliver high-quality care.
- You will be led by leading researchers as you build upon your individual clinical experience.
- You will learn to provide sophisticated care and advice to critically ill patients and their families.
Career outcomes
Graduates of the Master of Intensive Care Nursing will be recognised as:
- Having advanced knowledge relevant to intensive care nursing.
- Highly capable of working in nursing administration, consultancy, education and research.
Fees and FEE-HELP
Indicative amount to complete the first 48 credit points in 2026: $26,300 (domestic full-fee paying place)
The indicative amount is calculated based on your first-year and full-time study load.
A student’s fee may vary depending on:
- 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.
