Graduate Diploma of Nursing (General)

What you will study

To earn this degree, students must complete eight units.

Core courses

• Contexts of Practice
• Research Design and Methodologies
• The Law and Health Care Practice or Culture as Determinant of Health

Specialisation courses

Complete the following course:

• Health Policy Analysis and Review

Choose four of the following approved courses:

• Foundations of Gerontology Practice
• Perspectives of Healthy Ageing
• Alzheimer's and Dementia: Contemporary Perspectives
• Perspectives on `End-of-Life'
• Culture as Determinant of Health
• Management in Health Care Practice
• Clinical Leadership in Contemporary Health Care Practice
• Introduction to Clinical Education

Entry requirements

• Completed a three-year bachelor's degree in nursing from an Australian university, or equivalent.
• Hold a current Professional Registration as a Division 1 nurse, or equivalent, with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) or a relevant regulatory body in the applicant's home country.

English language requirements

To meet the English language requirements for this degree, UniSQ accepts the minimum English language proficiency scores from one of the following tests. Your test must be completed within two years of applying to UniSQ.

• IELTS (Academic): Minimum overall score of 7.0 and a minimum score of 7.0 in the four components - listening, reading, writing and speaking.
• Pearson Test of English: Minimum overall score of 65 and a minimum score of 65 in each of the four communicative skills - listening, reading, writing and speaking.
• TOEFL iBT: Minimum total score of 94 and minimum score in each test section: 24 for listening and reading; 27 for writing; 23 for speaking.

Recognition of Prior Learning

If you have previously studied or have relevant work experience, you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning. This will help reduce the number of courses you must take to finish your program. Contact the university for more information.

Outcomes

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

• Apply specialised knowledge, skills and technical competencies across various health contexts.
• Communicate professionally and ethically in interpersonal, interprofessional and intercultural situations with people of diverse ages, backgrounds and needs.
• Collaborate with various healthcare professionals to provide patient care that meets and exceeds the national standards for nursing practice and achieve common goals.
• Reflect on practice to facilitate awareness and knowledge of one’s cognition and abilities, establishing a mechanism for lifelong learning.
• Critically analyse, synthesise and evaluate a range of data and evidence to provide solutions to complex nursing problems.

Career outcomes

Graduates can choose to practice in varying healthcare settings, such as a private health facility, a public hospital, or a community.

Fees and CSP

Indicative annual fee in 2025: $8,948 (Commonwealth Supported Place)

Indicative annual fee in 2025:  $26,640 (domestic full-fee paying place)

A student’s annual fee may vary depending on:

• The number of courses studied.
• The choice of major or specialisation.
• Choice of courses.
• 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.

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 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 unit 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.