Master of Palliative Care

What you will study

Students must complete 72 credit points of 54 credit points of core subjects and 18 credit points of electives. Unless otherwise indicated, each subject is worth six credit points.

Entry requirements

Applicants must have the following:

• Completed an Australian bachelor's degree or higher qualification, or overseas equivalent.
• Current registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (APHRA) as a health professional in Australia.
• Concurrent employment in or access to the clinical area of study.
• A minimum of one year full-time, or equivalent part-time, post-registration clinical experience.

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (APHRA) confirms applicants' current nursing registration. Applicants should ensure that their registration details are current on this register.

Supporting documentation to be submitted with the application

Curriculum Vitae and Statement of Service in one of the following formats:

• A 'Statement of Service' provided by the employer.
• A completed 'UTS statement of service’ signed by the employer.
• A statutory declaration confirming work experience (for Australian Residents only).
• An official letter from the applicant’s accountant or solicitor on their company letterhead confirming the applicant’s work experience or engagement with the business, duration of operations and the nature of the business.
• A business certificate of registration in the original language and English (e.g. provision of ASIC documentation, ABN or similar documentation for Australian Businesses).

Eligibility for admission does not guarantee the offer of a place.

English language requirements

IELTS Academic: overall 6.5, writing 6.0 TOEFL iBT: overall 79, writing 21 UTS College AE5: Pass Pearson PTE: overall 58, writing 50 Cambridge C1A/C2P: overall 176, writing 169.

Recognition of Prior Learning

UTS acknowledge your formal qualifications and the wealth of informal learning you've accumulated. This personalised RPL process not only recognises your hard work but also streamlines the duration and cost of your course, ensuring you reach your future goals faster.

Your previous education or employment must be evaluated to be equivalent to a UTS subject as per the Admissions and Recognition of Prior Learning Policy and Procedures. This assessment considers:

• Currency of knowledge
• Relevance of your previous learning
• Learning outcomes
• Volume of learning
• Content of the study
• Learning and assessment approaches

Prior learning can be recognised only once within any individual UTS course. It cannot be recognised again for another subject or component in that course.

Alternatively, subject substitution might be offered. This is where an alternative subject(s) of equivalent credit point value is added to your study plan.

It’s important to note that UTS assesses RPL only after an enrolment offer is accepted.

Contact the university for more information.

Outcomes

Learning outcomes

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

• Develop approaches to optimise person-centred care, facilitating participation of patients and their families within enabling health and policy environments.
• Formulate effective communication strategies to ensure optimal palliative care with patients, their families and interprofessional teams in complex contexts.
• Integrate collaborative learning and lead change to advocate for the highest quality inter-professional care across populations and settings.
• Demonstrate ability to practice effective and responsive leadership in palliative care through critical analysis and reflection, using evidence and professional health service frameworks.
• Critically reflect on and apply culturally safe principles and ethical work practices to work effectively with and for Indigenous Australians as reflective health practitioners.

Career outcomes

This course will prepare you to be a future leader in palliative care, driving reforms to improve end-of-life care experiences for patients and families.  You’ll graduate ready to take on leadership roles in the sector, or policy at a local, national or international level, advocating for others and pushing for change. 

Working in palliative care is wide-ranging and meaningful. From focusing on pain management, overseeing treatment plans, and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to helping families navigate the emotional and practical challenges of serious illness, the work is varied and rewarding. 

Career options:

• Palliative Care Specialist
• Community Care Manager
• Residential Support Officer
• Palliative Care Researcher
• Emergency Care Officer
• Senior Policy Advisor
• Aged Care Worker
• Palliative Care Consultant
• Mental Health Support Officer
• Clinic Manager

Fees and CSP

Indicative total tuition fee in 2025: $14,093 (Commonwealth Supported Place)

Indicative total tuition fee in 2025: $33,724 (domestic full-fee paying place)

A student’s annual 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.

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.