Bachelor of Nursing
Course information for - 2023 entry
Offered at 6 locations
- Study mode
- Multi-mode
- Duration
- 3 years full-time or equivalent part-time
- VTAC code
- 1200112201
- ATAR
- 58.50 for Ballarat
- Fees (first year)*
$6019 CSP
- Start dates
-
Semester 1 intake: Beginning February 2023Applications open August 2022Midyear (Semester 2) intake: Not available
For Victorian Students Only:
The Bachelor of Nursing - First Year Entry is aimed at school leavers and other students with no previous nursing qualifications.
The Bachelor of Nursing - Later Year Entry is aimed at applicants with previous nursing qualifications.
Overview
ACU graduate nurses are held in high regard for their clinical skills, quick thinking, and compassion. We’re connected to an extensive range of hospitals and health care partners, so you will get the best opportunities for industry placements and future employment. If you’re after an overseas experience, we also work with care facilities in a number of developed and developing countries.
There has never been a better time to study Nursing, with the Victorian Government offering up to 10,000 scholarships for nursing and midwifery students in Victoria in 2023 and 2024. Learn more https://www.health.vic.gov.au/nursing-and-midwifery/undergraduate-nursing-and-midwifery-scholarships.
Professional experience
You will be required to complete at least 800 hours.
Work placement
Students will undertake clinical placements as part of a variety of clinical units throughout the course in hospitals and community facilities. As part of your course, you will be placed in a range of organisations to integrate the theory you learn with practical workplace experiences (placements).
Professional recognition
Eligible graduates can apply for registration as a nurse with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra). Please refer to the Registration Standards for Nursing and Midwifery on the Ahpra website .
Careers
Our graduates have pursued careers in:
- public hospitals
- private hospitals
- disability services
- rehabilitation services
- specialist centres
- community health
- residential aged care facilities
- hospital emergency departments
- local and state government health departments
- not-for-profit organisations
- mental health services
- rural health services
Course details
Course structure
To complete the Bachelor of Nursing, a student must complete 240 credit points (cp).
Sample program map
| Year - Study period | Unit 1 | Unit 2 | Unit 3 | Unit 4 | Unit 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 - Semester 1 | HLSC120 Indigenous Health and Culture | HLSC122 Evidence for Practice | NRSG138 Transition into Nursing | NRSG139 Integrating Practice 1: Assessment in Health | |
| Year 1 - Semester 2 | BIOL121 Human Biological Science 1 | UNCC100 Self and Community: Exploring the Anatomy of Modern Society or PHCC102 Being Human or PHCC104 Ethics and the Good Life | HLSC111 The Person, Health and Wellbeing | NRSG140 Integrating Practice 2 | |
| Year 2 - Semester 1 | BIOL122 Human Biological Science 2 | NRSG263 Principles of Nursing Mental Health | NRSG258 Principles of Nursing: Surgical | NRSG264 Integrating Practice 3 | |
| Year 2 - Semester 2 | NRSG265 Principles of Nursing: Medical | NRSG266 Principles of Nursing: Contexts of Ageing | HLSC220 Health Care Ethics | NRSG267 Integrating Practice 4 | |
| Year 3 - Semester 1 | UNCC300 Justice and Change in a Global World or PHCC320 The Just Society | NRSG378 Principles of Nursing: Extended Clinical Reasoning | NRSG372 Principles of Nursing: Chronic Illness and Disability | NRSG373 Integrating Practice 5 | |
| Year 3 - Semester 2 | NRSG371 Building Healthy Communities | NRSG374 Principles of Nursing: A Palliative Approach | NRSG376 Integrating Practice 6 | NRSG377 Transition to Contemporary Nursing and Clinical Leadership |
This is a sample program only and units will vary depending on your campus and mode of study. Please refer to the handbook for the prerequisite units and the current listing.
AQF framework
Overseas study available
A number of units are offered each year at our Rome Campus, including NRSG265, NRSG266, and HLSC220 while NRSG373 Professional Practice can be studied in Cambodia, India, USA, Singapore, Timor Leste, Vanuatu or Chile.
Entry requirements
An applicant must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
All students need to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements as defined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy.
To be eligible for admission to the course, an applicant must have completed the following prerequisites at year 12 level, or equivalent.
| State | Prerequisites |
|---|---|
| ACT | Assumed knowledge: Nil |
New South Wales | Assumed knowledge: Nil |
Queensland | Prerequisites: English (Units 3 & 4, C) |
Victoria | Prerequisites: Units 3 and 4 – a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or at least 25 in English other than EAL. |
Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2023 Admission. Refer to your relevant Tertiary Admission Centre website for future years' entry requirements.
View transparency admission information
Applicants with recent secondary education
You’ll need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course.
If your school result was affected by circumstances outside of your control, such as financial hardship, illness, disability or a challenging home environment, you may qualify for an access scheme. You can apply through your TAC as part of your application process.
Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study
You’ll need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course.
For current year 12 students
If you’re a current Year 12 applicant you can be given a selection rank separate from, and in addition to, your ATAR if you’ve completed a competency-based and graded AQF Certificate III or above.
For non-school leavers
If you’ve completed, or are completing a competency-based AQF Certificate IV or AQF diploma you will be assigned a selection rank by your local Tertiary Admission Centre (TAC). This is an entry score based on your individual qualifications and achievements.
ACU has partnerships with ACU College, TAFE, and many private education providers. If you have completed a qualification with one of these partners, you may be eligible for guaranteed entry and/or credit into a related ACU degree. Please apply through your local TAC and then submit a credit application for your previous study.
Applicants with higher education study
You’ll need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course.
If you have completed at least two units of AQF-recognised study at bachelor level or above, you’ll be assigned a selection rank based on your study level, duration and grade point average that will be applied during the admission process.
If your previous study has equipped you with knowledge, skills or experiences that align with the learning outcomes of units in your new course you may be able to apply for recognition of prior learning and you may be able to complete your course sooner.
Applicants with work and life experience
You’ll need to meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites for your chosen course.
If you have no formal education qualifications you may be eligible for a selection rank based on your work, life or service experience.
- If you’ve been in paid employment, relevant to the course you’re applying for, for a minimum of six months full-time (or equivalent), this work may be assessed for your selection rank.
- If you’re 21 years or older you can sit the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) through your local TAC.
- You can apply for an ACU bridging course. Our bridging courses allow you to transition back into studying and can give you a head start on the relevant undergraduate degree.
- If you have served in the defence force, your rank and time in service may contribute to your selection rank.
English language requirements
Demonstrate English language proficiency either by providing a written declaration that English is their primary language or evidence that they have achieved the minimum English Language test results as specified in the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) English language skills registration standards.
Applicants for Nursing courses should carefully review the details outlined in Schedule 3, Section 3b of the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy to check how they must demonstrate their English Language Proficiency.
** Please note that from 2021 this course requires all applicants to provide evidence of English Language Proficiency which is above the ACU minimum. More detail is available in ACU's Admission to Coursework Programs Policy, Schedule 3, Section 3b. **
Adjustment factors
If you’re currently completing Year 12 you may be eligible for adjustment factors that can boost your rank and help you get into your desired course.
Adjustment factors may be applied to your TAC application if you study particular subjects, attend schools geographically close to our campuses or in certain regional areas, apply as an elite athlete or performer or meet certain other criteria.
Inherent requirement
There are essential components of a course or unit that demonstrate the capabilities, knowledge and skills to achieve the core learning outcomes of that course or unit. You will need to be able to meet these inherent requirements to complete your course.
Learn more about inherent requirements for your course and how they affect you
Pathways
Pathways into course for current or recent Year 12 students
If you can’t meet the ATAR requirement for your choice of course and you’re currently completing Year 12 or finished Year 12 in the two years previously, we have entry programs to get you where you want to be.
Pathways into course for applicants with previous study and/or life experience
Are you applying to ACU as a non-school leaver?
By that we mean, you’re not currently completing Year 12 and haven’t completed it in the two years previously. If the answer is yes and your selection rank isn’t enough to meet the requirements for your desired course you still have a number of options to help you achieve your study goals.
If you’re over 21, you can sit the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT), or you can complete a diploma or bridging course relevant to your desired course.
Further study
An honours year is available to meritorious students, with a grade point average of 5.5, who meet the admission requirements for the Bachelor of Nursing (Honours).
The Faculty of Health Sciences also offers a suite of postgraduate coursework degrees in nursing. Specialties include mental health nursing, clinical nursing, clinical education, health administration as well as leadership and management in health care.
Fees
Course costs
$6019 CSP
All costs are calculated using current rates and are based on a full-time study load of 40 credit points (normally 4 units) per semester.
A student’s annual fee may vary in accordance with:
- the number of units studied per semester;
- the choice of major or specialisation; and
- elective units.
The University reviews fees annually.
Payment options
You should be able to concentrate on getting good marks instead of worrying about how you’ll pay your fees. We have a number of options that can help you ease the financial burden, including government assistance, scholarships and income support.
Scholarships
You could be eligible for one of the hundreds of scholarships we award each year to help students from across the university with the cost of studying, accommodation or overseas study opportunities. Some of our scholarships are awarded on the basis of merit, but these aren’t just for the academically gifted; ACU also recognises excellence in community engagement and leadership. We also offer a range of scholarships for those who may be struggling financially or who have faced other barriers to accessing education.
How to apply
Domestic applicants
Deferment
Deferment is available for one year. Find out more about deferment: Deferment Information.
Staff Profile
Dr Jacqui Young
Course Coordinator, Bachelor of Nursing, Brisbane campus
Dr Jacqui Young is a Registered Nurse with extensive experience in clinical, education, management & research domains. She has worked as a nurse in emergency and intensive care units in major hospitals within Australia and Saudi Arabia. Jacqui has extensive education experience in the hospital sector, working as a clinical facilitator with undergraduate students; a clinical coordinator with new graduate nurses; a clinical educator for coronary/intensive care in a Saudi Arabian hospital, and a nurse re-entry program coordinator for nurses returning to the workforce in a major area health service in Sydney. She brings this extensive experience along with 16 years of tertiary academic experience to the nursing curriculum at Australian Catholic University. Jacqui’s teaching interests relate to primary health care nursing, health promotion and nursing management of chronic diseases.
Testimonial
“Throughout my course I had the opportunity to complete my clinical placements in some of Australia’s top hospitals, specialising in lifesaving organ transplants and caring for palliative patients. Due to a very diverse number of placements throughout my time at ACU, I felt confident to enter my professional field after university.