University of Canberra
Master of Nursing Practice
- Delivery: Face to Face
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 24 months
Allows students with any undergraduate degree to graduate as a Registered Nurse (RN) in Australia.
Course overview
This two-year Master's degree is flexible in design. You’ll study in intensive blocks of theory and clinical placements supported through interactive online content. Experience technology-enhanced learning and innovative teaching to provide contemporary, relevant and flexible content.
Grow through hands-on learning, simulation, exploration of essential theory and complete clinical placements in various rural and urban settings appropriate to the level of study. Apply your experience to your research and graduate as a curious, dynamic thinker who provides safe, quality, evidence-based care and can adapt to an ever-changing health environment.
Study a Master of Nursing Practice at UC and you will:
- Explore a wide range of nursing practices and contexts, including primary health care and health promotion, long-term and residential care, mental health, acute and critical care, rural and remote services and policy development.
- Acquire foundational knowledge and skills to provide safe, sensitive, effective and holistic nursing care to people of all ages and backgrounds.
- Participate in clinical laboratories, tutorials, lectures and seminars with face-to-face and online teaching.
- Understand, apply and develop nursing leadership management skills in a range of settings.
- Acquire in-depth knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and torres strait islander health.
- Develop and broaden your knowledge, skills and attitude to work and prepare for real-world clinical practice.
- Undertake professional practice to ensure readiness for employment as a beginning nurse clinician..
Key facts
15th February, 2027
14th February, 2026
What you will study
To earn the Master of Nursing Practice course, students must complete 48 credit points. Unless otherwise indicated, each unit is worth three credit points.
Students must pass 45 credit points as follows:
- Nursing Practice 1
- Nursing Practice 2
- Nursing Practice 3
- Nursing Practice 4 (six credit points)
- Pathophysiology and Pharmacology for Nursing Practice 1
- Pathophysiology and Pharmacology for Nursing Practice 2
- Professional and Therapeutic Communication
- Mental Health: Contemporary Nursing Practice
- Ethics and Law for Health Professionals
- Digital Health Systems and Nursing
- Foundations of Nursing Practice
- Contextualising Nursing Practice 1
- Contextualising Nursing Practice 2
- Contextualising Interprofessional Learning in Practice
Entry requirements
Applicants must have:
- A completed Australian bachelor's degree (or recognised International equivalent) in any discipline, completed within 10 years of application.
- For domestic students, whose bachelor's degree was completed more than 10 years prior to application, evidence of higher education, e.g. a post-graduate certificate or diploma, within a 10-year period can be considered.
English language requirements
There are non-standard English language requirements for admission to this course that must be met by all candidates. To be eligible, candidates must demonstrate English language proficiency.
Contact the university or visit its website for more information.
Recognition of Prior Learning
If you have previous studies or professional work experience that is relevant to your intended field of study at UC, you can gain credit towards your degree. This reduces the number of units you must take to complete your course, meaning you could finish your studies sooner and save money too.
For more information, please get in touch with the university or visit its website.
Outcomes
Learning outcomes
- Critically review and evaluate digital health systems and analyse the advancement of technology in delivering person-centred care across the lifespan and healthcare practices.
- Critically evaluate protocols and practices to professional identity and the skills, knowledge and personal attributes necessary to meet the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Registered Nurse Standards for practice.
- Develop and apply nursing knowledge and skills to actively support all interactions with empathy and kindness in a culturally safe, respectful manner where cultural understanding and reconciliation are valued, ensuring that all feel safe.
- Formulate nursing assessments to establish priorities and inform planning; provide skilful nursing interventions for people across the lifespan within the scope of a registered nurse; and critically evaluate responses to determine effectiveness.
- Integrate sciences, appraise research and apply and evaluate evidence and strength-based best practice approaches; think critically and inform safe clinical decision-making for quality person-centred nursing care.
- Demonstrate and synthesise professional communication and therapeutic relationships consistent with ethical strengths-based approaches to person-centred nursing care and relevant legal frameworks that govern healthcare practice.
Career outcomes
Career opportunities:
There are many career opportunities for registered nurses who can work in all aspects of nursing, including Emergency departments, medical and surgical wards, operating departments, primary health care, rehabilitation and mental health.
This course also fosters digital health and leadership skills and graduates will be ideally placed to work towards clinical leadership and management positions.
Fees and CSP
Average full-course fee in 2026: From $9,472 (Commonwealth Supported Place)
The average full-course fee shown is calculated based on a full-time study load of 48 credit points.
Student fees may vary in accordance with:
- 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.
You may 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
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 the 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.
