Nursing Degrees Online in Australia
Study for a nurse degree online with an Australian university. Bachelor of Nursing external courses are available and online masters degrees.
Explore external Bachelor of Nursing courses and 100% online postgraduate programs.
Online learning is available for bachelor and masters degrees in nursing. For a Bachelor of Nursing, courses are a blend of online study, occasional residential schools, and work placements. Masters degrees are available 100% online.
Being a registered nurse is a fulfilling and demanding profession requiring intellectual and ethical knowledge, skills, compassion and stamina. An online nursing degree prepares you for healthcare service. Nurse qualifications make you employable in a growth sector with high job security.
Study Nursing Online
Can you study nursing online in Australia? Yes, with some limitations. In distance education courses, academic coursework is delivered online. Practical aspects of nurse training happen through work placements at healthcare facilities and occasional residential schools on campus.
Online nurse education is well established and widely available in Australia. You don't have to live near the nursing school you study with.
Regular knowledge classes, where you might study anatomy, digital technology or pharmacology for example, are available fully online.
Hands-on training, when required, is performed in condensed blocks on campus. For a Bachelor of Nursing, you'll have occasional residential schools (also called clinical simulation blocks) where you attend classes for, say, four days in a row.
Training placements at clinical facilities of some 800 hours or more are required to become a registered nurse. These still happen with distance education courses.
Why study nursing online? Studying externally lets you gain a degree with minimal time away from work or family. You can do the academic parts of courses from home. Any hands-on training can be done during sim blocks on campus and at healthcare facilities near where you live.
Bachelor of Nursing Online
External Bachelor of Nursing degrees are available around the country, often from regional universities that have been delivering nursing courses for decades. Location matters since you'll need to attend clinical simulation residential schools at least occasionally. Here are featured example programs.
CSU - Bachelor of Nursing
Charles Sturt University's Bachelor of Nursing supports students to become registered nurses across regional New South Wales. The program is flexible, being available full-time or part-time. As well, you can study online, at a campus, or a mixture of both. Residential schools and clinical placements are essential components of the nursing degree. Students explore primary healthcare, health challenges, health optimisation, discipline of nursing, clinical practice, social justice, psychosocial science, and bioscience.
University of New England
The University of New England was the first Australian university to offer distance education for nurses. The bachelor-degree course involves 880 hours of supervised clinical practice over 6 trimesters. Field placements are normally organised in block placements of 2-4 weeks each trimester at health facilities across NSW. Clinical training is available by attending intensive residential schools at Armidale or regular sessions in Tamwworth.
University of Southern Queensland
The University of Southern Queensland's Bachelor of Nursing prepares you for practice as a registered nurse. The program consists of coursework, clinical simulation in campus laboratories and clinical experience (840 hours) in a variety of healthcare settings. Clinical experience is mainly in the Toowoomba and Fraser Coast Health Districts. For distance students, the on-campus part can be studied in intensive residential schools each semester.
Nurse Training Centre Locations
To enrol in an online nursing course, first locate the most convenient provider(s). You can use the map to help find the closest nurse training centres.
Universities with campuses or training centres to support online nursing studies include: CDU (Alice Springs, Darwin, Sydney), CQU (Rockhampton), CSU (Bathurst), FedUni (Ballarat, Berwick, Gippsland), UNE (Armidale), USQ (Ipswich, Toowoomba) and WSU (Sydney).
What You'll Study (Course Structure)
Nursing is an interesting and varied field of study and each nursing school has its own curriculum. Students study a combination of theory and practice, with clinical training and placements included. Subjects that make up a large portion of any program include human biology, health and disease, clinical decision-making, and professional practice.
A Bachelor of Nursing in Australia is a 3-year degree, though the timeframe can be different with distance learning. Accelerated (year-round) study may allow the course to be completed in two years full-time or four years part-time.
The 3-year BN at Charles Sturt University is made of 24 core subjects. A full-time load consists of four subjects at a time and eight subjects each year.
Introductory
- Contexts of Nursing
- Human Anatomy and Physiology for Nurses 1
- Nursing Workplace Learning 1
- Clinical Reasoning in Nursing 1
Foundational
- Health Challenges 1 Acute Care A
- Human Anatomy and Physiology for Nurses 2
- Nursing Workplace Learning 2
- Clinical Reasoning in Nursing 2
- Health Challenges 2 Acute Care B
- Caring in Nursing
- Nursing Workplace Learning 3
- Clinical Reasoning in Nursing 3
Continuing
- Indigenous Health Care for Nurses
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics for Nurses
- Nursing Workplace Learning 4
- Clinical Reasoning in Nursing 4
- Health Challenges 3 Mental Health Care
- The Registered Nurse in Practice
- Nursing Workplace Learning 5
- Clinical Reasoning in Nursing 5
Capstone
- Health Challenges 4 Complex Care
- Health Challenges 5 Chronic Care
- Nursing Workplace Learning 6
- Clinical Reasoning in Nursing 6
Key Subjects
- Health Challenges 1 Acute Care A
- Clinical Reasoning in Nursing 2
- Nursing Workplace Learning 3
- Clinical Reasoning in Nursing 4
- Nursing Workplace Learning 5
The University of New England allows Bachelor of Nursing Students to do up to four subjects at a time and 12 subjects per year. That allows the degree to be potentially completed in just two years. Each individual ordinary subject provides 6 credit points towards the 144 credit points required.
Course subjects
- Science for Nurses 1 – 6 credit points
- Science for Nurses 2 – 6 credit points
- Information and Evidence in Health and Social Care – 6 credit points
- Interprofessional Practice in Health and Social Care – 6 credit points
- Communication for Health Professionals – 6 credit points
- The Context of the Health and Community Services – 6 credit points
- Frameworks for Nursing Practice – 6 credit points
- Fundamentals of Nursing Practice 1 – 6 credit points
- Fundamentals of Nursing Practice 2 – 6 credit points
- Integrated Nursing Practice 5: Primary and Community Health Care – 6 credit points
- Integrated Nursing Practice 1 – 6 credit points
- Integrated Nursing Practice 2 – 6 credit points
- Integrated Nursing Practice 4 – 6 credit points
- Integrated Nursing Practice 6 – 6 credit points
- Integrated Nursing Practice 3: Mental Health Nursing – 6 credit points
- Transforming Nursing Practice 1 – 6 credit points
- Transforming Nursing Practice 2 – 6 credit points
- Transforming Nursing Practice 3: Nursing Older People – 6 credit points
- Transitioning to Practice 1 – 12 credit points
- Clinical Leadership and Governance in Nursing – 6 credit points
- Transitioning to Practice 2 – 12 credit points
- Working with Aboriginal People – 6 credit points
The Bachelor of Nursing at Western Sydney University is run as an accelerated (year-round) part-time course. Students complete two subjects at a time typically, and six subjects each year. The degree consists of 240 credit points, with a single ordinary subject accounting for 10 points.
Year 1 subjects
- Becoming a Professional Nurse 10
- Primary Health Care in Action 10
- Bioscience 1 10
- Professional Practice Experience 1 10
- Person-centred Care Across the Lifespan 10
- Approaches to Professional Nursing Practice 10
Year 2 subjects
- Bioscience 2 10
- Professional Practice Experience 2 10
- Evidence-Based Practice for Nursing and Midwifery 10
- Pharmacology in Nursing 10
- Health Variations 1 - Introduction to Alterations in Health 10
- Professional Practice Experience 3 10
Year 3 subjects
- Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing 10
- Health Variations 2 - Chronic Conditions and Disability 10
- Health Variations 3 - Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Conditions 10
- Professional Practice Experience 4 10
- Indigenous Australian Health, Wellness and Culture 10
- Health Variations 5 - Palliative and End of Life Care 10
Year 4 subjects
- Health Variations 4 - Acute Life Threatening Conditions 10
- Professional Practice Experience 5 10
- Being a Professional Nurse or Midwife 10
- Select one of the following subjects: (10) Leadership in Clinical Practice; Mental Health Assessment and Application; Ageing in Place: Wellbeing and Sustainability
- Professional Experience Placement 20
Entry Requirements
If you believe you would make a good nurse, there is most likely a pathway for you to become one. The basic entry requirement for a nursing degree is a sufficient ATAR score, such as 65+ at some universities. Alternative pathways include certificate III, diploma and advanced diploma qualifications, as well as AHPRA registration as an enrolled nurse. Check individual nursing programs for entry options.
As well, you'll need to satisfy English language requirements. You're also expected to have some high school English and Science units to your credit.
Additionally, nurse degrees have inherent requirements. These are course components where you demonstrate abilities, knowledge and skills to achieve core learning outcomes. Some examples are the abilities to work with others cooperatively, communicate well in spoken English, and complete tasks with auditory requirements.
Advanced standing means you gain academic credit for prior learning and experience. Enrolled nurses can benefit from this to shorten the length of their studies.
If you're an enrolled nurse and have an unrestricted Enrolled Nurse qualification with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, you may be able to enter a Bachelor of Nursing degree with eight subjects (a full year) of Advanced Standing. In other words, enrolled nurses may be able to start in Year 2 of a BN degree.
A nursing bachelor degree is intended for students who plan to work as nurses in Australia. You'll need to live in Australia to do the course even with distance learning. The programs also prepare students to work in Australian healthcare settings.
English language proficiency requirements are set by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC).
Some postgraduate nursing online courses are available to international students who are qualified nurses and intend to study from abroad.
For postgraduate courses, entry requirements are normally that you're a Registered Nurse (Division 1) with at least a year of clinical experience. Some programs for registered nurses also require you to work in a health setting related to the course while studying.
Experienced nurses have a wide selection of postgraduate courses available to them, including for advanced nursing, mental health nursing and other specialist roles, nurse education, and leadership and management. Check graduate certificate course details to see the minimum admission standards for the nursing school. Graduate certificates provide pathways into longer graduate diploma and master's programs.
Tuition fees for Bachelor of Nursing degrees are modest for Australian students. The tuition fee is generally around $7k per year and loans are automatically available from the Australian Government.
- As a domestic student, you study for a BN under a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP). CSP just means tuition fees are highly subsidised by the Australian Government, making the fee you pay lower.
- HECS-HELP loans are also available to Australian students when you do an undergraduate degree. Tuition fees are covered up-front and you only pay the loans back gradually based on your annual income.
International students who don't quality for a CSP, however, face a much higher tuition fee that may exceed $30k annually. In addition, HECS-HELPS loans are unavailable.
For postgraduate courses, the fees aren't subsidised in the same way and Australian and international students may pay the same or similar amounts. FEE-HELP loans are, however, available to domestic students to cover up-front costs.
After you've become a registered nurse, continue your professional development with a four-subject Graduate Certificate in Nursing. Different specialisations are available, such as advanced nursing, clinical care, leadership and management, mental health and nurse education.
Graduate certificate courses are embedded in masters programs usually. You can choose to continue studying to earn a graduate diploma or master's degree.
Postgraduate online courses are designed for working professionals. Combine part-time study with full-time employment... READ MORE
A Graduate Diploma in Nursing is a postgraduate qualification that builds on a registered nurse's prior learning and experience. It is designed for RNs seeking to advance their clinical knowledge, skills, and expertise.
The 8-subject program offers specialisation in specific areas, such as advanced practice, leadership and management, and nurse education.
Students cover their major in significant depth, with the option to continue to complete a masters. Graduates can expect to gain enhanced career prospects, including access to specialist roles and higher pay scales... READ MORE
To further your nursing career, Masters in Nursing online programs are available. These can be completed part-time online while you work full time, taking potentially just two years of part-time study.
A Master of Nursing degree is a way to develop advanced practice skills or move into less hands-on roles such as nursing unit manager, nurse educator, health services director and nursing consultant.
Holding a masters makes you highly competitive for any relevant jobs since it's generally regarded as the premier nursing qualification... READ MORE
Career Opportunities
As a group, nursing graduates enjoy consistently high employment rates and strong median salaries after graduating. The nursing field is a growing one and nurses are in high demand. An estimated 320,000 registered nurses are employed in Australia, with jobs projected to grow by 13.9% over the five years to 2027 (Source: Labour Marketing Insights).
Registered Nurses are involved in assessing, treating and caring for patients. They monitor patient responses to treatment or pain, administer some medications, and provide advice. RNs may also do health promotion and education, and supervise enrolled nurses or other health care workers.
FAQs
Postgraduate nursing courses are often available fully online. You study online from home or work and never have to make an appearance on campus or anywhere else. These are professional development courses for experienced nurses who have completed their nurse training.
With Bachelor of Nursing degrees, the programs are never fully online and could be considered blended learning or distance learning.
A. Online learning with regular attendance
For some "online nursing degrees", you actually need to live close to the nursing school. While much of the academic parts of the course may be available through online learning, you still attend hands-classes quite often – once each week for example. By studying online, you get to stay home often but must still be on hand to attend the nursing school as required.
B. Distance learning bachelor degrees
True distance learning nurse degrees allow you to spend many weeks at a time without attending a campus or nurse training centre. The hands-on parts of the course are concentrated into intensive residential schools. You may, for example, only be required to attend training two or three times in a year even if you study full time.
Clinical placements
To become a registered nurse in Australia, you need to gain professional experience in different healthcare settings. Every BN degree includes this component. However, clinical placements are tied to healthcare facilities rather than the nursing school. You may be able to complete them close to where you live, especially if you're in a city offering a wide range of healthcare services.
In Australia, the easiest degree to get in nursing is the Diploma of Nursing (HLT54121), which is a vocational education and training (VET) course that can be completed in as little as 18 months. This diploma program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills required to work as an enrolled nurse in a variety of healthcare settings, such as hospitals, aged care facilities, and community health centers.
To be eligible for the Diploma of Nursing, students must have completed Year 12 (or equivalent) and meet any prerequisites specified by the institution offering the course. Some institutions may also require applicants to have completed certain prerequisite subjects or have relevant work experience in a healthcare setting.
In addition to the Diploma of Nursing, there are also several other nursing programs available at the undergraduate level in Australia, including the Bachelor of Nursing and the Bachelor of Midwifery. These programs typically take three to four years to complete and provide students with a more comprehensive education in nursing and midwifery. However, they may be more challenging to complete than the Diploma of Nursing due to the more advanced coursework and clinical placements required.
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) lists all approved programs of study (here). The courses lead to registration, endorsement and notation of applicants for registration as an enrolled nurse (EN), registered nurse (RN) or midwife.
Registered nurse
To become a registered nurse, you need to complete a 3-year Bachelor of Nursing or equivalent degree. Australian universities allow you to do this externally through a combination of distance learning, residential schools and clinical placements.
Online nursing degrees equip you with the theoretical, research and practical knowledge required to be a nursing professional. In terms of logistics, it helps to live in the same state as the campus of the nursing school. This makes it easier to get to residential schools and can help with organising clinical placements.
Enrolled nurse
The qualification to become an enrolled nurse is a Diploma of Nursing (Enrolled Nurse). This program takes 18-24 months to complete if you study full-time. Registered Training Organisation (RTOs) offer the course at many locations around the country. Increasingly, you can study for a diploma using blended (online and on-campus) learning.
To register as an enrolled nurse, you must meet registration standards set out by the NMBA.
A Diploma of Nursing can be used as credit towards an online nursing degree. Universities may also allow Endorsed Enrolled Nurses to enter online Bachelor of Nursing degrees in the 2nd year.
