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Postgraduate Coursework

Master of Nursing Practice (Pre-Registration)

Key details

Duration

2 year/s full-time
4 year/s part-time
2 year/s full-time

Intake

Semester 1
On campus - Semester 1
Online - No
Important Dates

Locations

CDU Sydney, Casuarina campus, Online
CDU Sydney, Casuarina campus

Credit points required

160

Course code

SNPPR1
SATAC codes

Overview

If you already hold a Bachelor's degree, the Master of Nursing Practice (Pre-Registration) enables you to become a registered nurse in as little as two years.

The Master of Nursing Practice (Pre-Registration) is a professionally accredited degree that will qualify you to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia as a Registered Nurse (Division 1). This degree is an accredited program of study recognised by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

At CDU, you can study a Master of Nursing Practice (Pre-Registration) online or on campus, part-time or full-time. During the course, you will learn critical thinking, to apply sound clinical reasoning, to undertake comprehensive health assessments and how to practice person-centred care. The focus is on care that is evidence-based and respectful of the diverse contexts, cultures and communities where people live, connect and experience health, well-being, illness and disability.

Practical training

In order to complete the Master of Nursing Practice (Pre-Registration) and qualify as a Registered Nurse, you are required to undertake two types of practical experience: simulation blocks and supervised placements.

You will complete three simulation blocks (96 hours) during your study that must be completed full-time and on campus at either Sydney or Casuarina campuses. To meet the requirements of a Registered Nurse (Division 1), you will complete at least 800 hours of supervised clinical placements across the two years of the course in a variety of health care settings in your state/territory of residency. Regardless of your study mode or pattern, you are required to complete clinical placement on a full-time basis, with rotating shifts across a seven-day week. These may include night, weekend and public holiday shifts.

Reasonable travel within the nursing course is an expectation. Travel time and distance can include up to 2 hours one-way for metropolitan or rural areas. Where possible, your PEP is sourced within 150 kilometres radius of where you are currently living.

English Language Requirements

In order to register as a nurse or midwife in Australia, you are required to meet the English language requirements laid out by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. This applies to all initial registrations, regardless of whether they qualified in Australia or overseas. Find out more: the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) at www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/. Applicants are required to meet the registration body English Language requirements.

Safe Practice

In order to study nursing and practice safely, you will need to have an inherent set of qualities. Nursing needs a degree of physical strength and mobility, endurance, communication and cognitive abilities. If you feel you may experience challenges in meeting these requirements, you are encouraged discuss these with the University before enrolling in the course.

Reporting obligations

Under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, CDU is required to register nursing students with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and to notify AHPRA if a student has or develops a health impairment that may place the public at substantial risk of harm. More information from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) at www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/.



Career opportunities

Graduating from this course may lead to career opportunities in public and private health settings and specialty areas such as mental health, community health, acute and chronic care.

Practical experience

This course includes a minimum of 800 hours of clinical placement.

Professional recognition

Graduates of the Master of Nursing (pre-registration) meet the education criterion to apply for registration as a Division 1 Nurse with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Credit transfers and advanced standing

Pathways


Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education

For information about credit transfer available to students with complete or incomplete study at this or other Institutions refer to Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education

Credit transfer

For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit ASK CDU

Credit transfers and advanced standing

Credit transfer

For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit ASK CDU

Fees

Commonwealth supported places

Commonwealth Supported places are available in this course to students who meet one of the following residency requirements:

(a) be an Australian citizen, who will complete some of your course of study while resident in Australia; or

(b) a New Zealand citizen; or an Australian permanent visa holder; or an eligible former permanent humanitarian visa holder; who studies the entire course while living in Australia.

Further information about fees and charges can be found at Fees and Payments.

International tuition fees

The annual tuition fee for full time study in 2024 is AUD $35,144.00. This equates to $ $4,393.00 per 10 credit point unit (0.125 EFTSL).
These fees are subject to increases annually, effective at the start of each calendar year.

You can find a list of International fees and payments you can expect to pay as part of your studies in Australia.

CDU offers a number of scholarships to international students to assist with the cost of study.

Nursing_CDU

Why study Nursing and Midwifery at CDU?

Future-proof your career in healthcare with a postgraduate nursing or midwifery degree at CDU. Delivered by passionate and expert lecturers, your learning will be guided by evidence, innovation and patient-centred care.

  • #2 in Australia for postgraduate nursing starting salary (GUG 2024)
  • #3 in Australia for postgraduate nursing employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
  • #3 in Australia for postgraduate learner engagement in nursing
  • Choose to study online, on campus, part-time or full-time as it suits you
Nursing_CDU

Why study Nursing and Midwifery at CDU?

Find a rewarding career in healthcare when you study nursing or midwifery at CDU. Our graduates have the academic knowledge and hands-on experience to confidently enter the workplace and deliver evidence-based care to their patients.

  • Gain practical experience through placements and state-of-the-art clinical simulation suites located around Australia
  • #2 in Australia for postgraduate nursing starting salary (GUG 2024)
  • #3 in Australia for postgraduate nursing employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
  • #3 in Australia for postgraduate learner engagement in nursing
Nursing_CDU

Why study Nursing and Midwifery at CDU?

Future-proof your career in healthcare with a postgraduate nursing or midwifery degree at CDU. Delivered by passionate and expert lecturers, your learning will be guided by evidence, innovation and patient-centred care.

  • #2 in Australia for postgraduate nursing starting salary (GUG 2024)
  • #3 in Australia for postgraduate nursing employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
  • #3 in Australia for postgraduate learner engagement in nursing
  • Choose to study online, on campus, part-time or full-time as it suits you
Nursing_CDU

Why study Nursing and Midwifery at CDU?

Find a rewarding career in healthcare when you study nursing or midwifery at CDU. Our graduates have the academic knowledge and hands-on experience to confidently enter the workplace and deliver evidence-based care to their patients.

  • Gain practical experience through placements and state-of-the-art clinical simulation suites located around Australia
  • #2 in Australia for postgraduate nursing starting salary (GUG 2024)
  • #3 in Australia for postgraduate nursing employment outcomes (GUG 2024)
  • #3 in Australia for postgraduate learner engagement in nursing

What will I study?

This 160-credit point course consists of fifteen core units.

Course structure


A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 160 credit points as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless indicated.

Unit typeCredit PointsSpecific requirements
Core

(15 units)
160cpCompulsory Core units totalling 160 credit points as detailed below:



NUR530 Science for Nursing Practice (simulation block)

NUR531 Indigenous Health and Social Justice

NUR532 Professional Practice

NUR533 Practice Experience 1

NUR534 Primary Health Care

NUR535 Bioscience for Nursing Practice

NUR536 Communication, Health Informatics and Technology

NUR537 Practice Experience 2

NUR538 Mental Health

NUR539 Contemporary Nursing Practice 1 (simulation block)

NUR540 Research for Healthcare Practice

NUR541 Practice Experience 3

NUR542 Contemporary Nursing Practice 2

NUR543 Leadership in Clinical Practice

NUR600 Practice Experience 4 (20 credit points)

 
Total160cpTotal credit points

Course Rules (unless otherwise indicated in the above course structure)

 

Study plan


Students commencing in Semester 1

The Recommended Study Plan provided below is suitable for a student commencing in semester 1 and enrolling in a standard full time and part time load. Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.

Full-time Study Plan

Legend:CO = Core Unit
Semester 1Semester 2
Year 1
NUR530 Science for Nursing Practice *CONUR534 Primary Health CareCO
NUR531 Indigenous Health and Social JusticeCONUR535 Bioscience for Nursing PracticeCO
NUR532 Professional PracticeCONUR536 Communication, Health Informatics and TechnologyCO
NUR533 Practice Experience 1 **CONUR537 Practice Experience 2**CO
Year 2
NUR538 Mental HealthCONUR542 Contemporary Nursing practice 2 *CO
NUR539 Contemporary Nursing Practice 1 *CONUR543 Leadership in Clinical PracticeCO
NUR540 Research for Healthcare PracticeCONUR600 Practice Experience 4 (20cp) **CO
NUR541 Practice Experience 3 **CO

 * Simulation block: Students are required to attend a 32 hour (4 days) on-campus simulation block as a part of this unit. 
 ** Work Integrated Learning: Students are required to attend the clinical placement hours as allocated by CDU Placement Office.

Part-time Study Plan

Legend:CO = Core Unit
Semester 1Semester 2
Year 1
NUR530 Science for Nursing Practice *CONUR534 Primary Health CareCO
NUR531 Indigenous Health and Social JusticeCONUR535 Bioscience for Nursing PracticeCO
Year 2
NUR532 Professional PracticeCONUR536 Communication, Health Informatics and TechnologyCO
NUR533 Practice Experience 1 **CONUR537 Practice Experience 2**CO
Year 3
NUR538 Mental HealthCONUR541 Practice Experience 3 **CO
NUR539 Contemporary Nursing Practice 1 *CONUR543 Leadership in Clinical PracticeCO
Year 4
NUR542 Contemporary Nursing Practice 2 *CONUR600 Practice Experience 4 (20cp) **CO
NUR540 Research for Healthcare PracticeCO

 * Simulation block: Students are required to attend a 32 hour (4 days) on-campus simulation block as a part of this unit. 
 ** Work Integrated Learning: Students are required to attend the clinical placement hours as allocated by CDU Placement Office.

 

Units with PrerequisitesPrerequisite
NUR534 Primary Health CareNUR530
NUR535 Bioscience for Nursing PracticeNUR530
NUR536 Communication, Health Informatics and TechnologyNUR532
NUR537 Practice Experience 2NUR530, NUR533
NUR538 Mental HealthNUR537, NUR533, NUR535
NUR539 Contemporary Nursing Practice 1NUR533, NUR537
NUR540 Research for Healthcare PracticeNUR532, NUR356
NUR541 Practice Experience 3NUR535, NUR537
NUR542 Contemporary Nursing Practice 2NUR539, NUR541
NUR543 Leadership in Clinical PracticeNUR536, NUR540
NUR600 Practice Experience 4NUR539, NUR538, NUR541

 

Entry requirements

Quota

The Master of Nursing Practice (Pre-Registration) is a highly competitive course with a limited number of places. This means that although you may meet the minimum entry requirement for the course, you may not be ranked high enough to receive an offer. Subquotas are in place for First Nation and NT Resident applicants. For on campus study at Casuarina Campus, priority will be given to NT Residents who have resided in the NT for at least the previous twelve months.

Places are limited.

Separate SATAC course codes have been assigned to the Master of Nursing Practice (Pre-Registration) for full-time and part-time places in 2024. Due to quota restrictions applicants must apply for either a full-time or part-time place using the code provided.


Delivery LocationModeAttendance TypeSATAC Code
Casuarina CampusInternalFull-time1CM161
Casuarina CampusInternalPart-time1CM164
CDU Sydney CampusInternalFull-time1CM162
CDU Sydney CampusInternalPart-time1CM165
Online (NSW Placements only)External Full-time1CM167
Online (NSW Placements only)External Part-time1CM168
Online External Full-time1CM163
Online External Part-time1CM166


Admission criteria

Successful completion of a recognised bachelor degree or equivalent international qualification in the discipline of health, science, business or law (excluding accounting).

Additional admission requirements

Nursing students must meet a specific level of English language proficiency before they start in a course.

You can show English language proficiency by:

  • completing a declaration that English is your primary language, or
  • sitting an English language proficiency test.

All applicants are required to meet the English Language Skills Registration Standard as outlined by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) at www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/.

Applicants will be required to submit the following via their application to demonstrate they meet the above standard prior to being included in offer rounds in one of the following ways:

1. PRIMARY LANGUAGE PATHWAY:

A signed English Language Declaration indicating the following:

  1. English is their primary language; and
  2. They have attended and satisfactorily completed at least six years of primary and secondary education taught and assessed solely in English in a recognised country*, including at least two years between years 7 and 12.


*Recognised countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom, and USA.

OR

2. ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEST PATHWAY

Applicants have achieved and can supply evidence of the required minimum scores in one of the following English language tests:

  • IELTS (Academic) Minimum Scores
    Band score of 7.0 in all bands
    (IELTS Indicator test is not accepted)

  • TOEFL Minimum Scores
    Internet-based: total score of 94 with a minimum of 27 in Writing, 23 in Speaking and 24 in Reading and Listening
    (TOEFL Home edition test is not accepted)

  • Pearson Test of English (Academic) Minimum Scores
    Overall score of 65 AND Skills profile of 65 in Writing, Speaking, Reading and Listening
    (PTE Online test is not accepted)

  • Occupational English Test (OET)
    A minimum result of B/score of 350 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking).


TOEFL Home edition, IELTS Indicator test, and PTE Online, are not accepted for entry to Nursing courses

Essential requirements



Pre-clinical requirements:



Students must provide proof that they have met all university and State/Territory pre-clinical requirements before they can undertake those units that include clinical placements. These requirements include, but are not limited to, immunisation requirements, Senior First Aid qualification, annual criminal record checks and/or working with children clearances and/or fitness-to-practice requirements.

English language requirements

To gain entry into Charles Darwin University, all Higher Education applicants must satisfy the University's English Language Proficiency requirements for their chosen course of study. From 2025 ALL applicants will be required to supply evidence of this at the time of application. For further details on the English requirements for CDU courses, please refer to CDU English Language Proficiency Policy.

DOMESTIC STUDENTS   
English language proficiency requirements - Domestic students

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS   
English language proficiency requirements - International students   
Course specific English language proficiency requirements for International students are included below.

The minimum English language requirement for this course is met by either:

  • providing a declaration that English is your primary language and you have attended and satisfactorily completed at least six (6) years of continuous education that is equivalent to secondary education taught and assessed in English from one of the recognised countries*, including at least two years between years 7 and 12.  
    (*recognised countries include Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom or United States of America)
  • undertaking one of the following English language tests and obtaining the minimum requirements listed below.
IELTS Academic ModuleA minimum overall score of 7.0 with no band less than 7.0.
Cambridge Advanced English (CAE)Test not accepted for this course.
Common European Framework Certificate of English ProficiencyTest not accepted for this course.
Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic moduleA minimum overall pass of 65 and 65 across all modules (reading, writing, speaking and listening).
TOEFL Internet-based Test (iBT)A minimum overall score of 94 and a minimum 24 for listening, 24 for reading, 27 for writing and 23 for speaking.

* All tests are valid for two years from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU, unless otherwise specified. 
* Where applicable, international applicants must also satisfy the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) English language requirements for student visa applications.

Do you have a question regarding English requirements at CDU? Please email: international@cdu.edu.au.

 

The people-first approach to flexibility and supportive learning environment at CDU meant I could find a balance with study, work and family life.

Nikki

CDU student

Nikki Govan

It’s a two-way education, educators here listen to us as much as we listen to them, so classroom experiences are amazing. I’ve also made a lot of friends through our regular group assignments or projects.

Farhana

CDU student

Farhana Waterfront

The people-first approach to flexibility and supportive learning environment at CDU meant I could find a balance with study, work and family life.

Nikki

CDU student

Nikki Govan

It’s a two-way education, educators here listen to us as much as we listen to them, so classroom experiences are amazing. I’ve also made a lot of friends through our regular group assignments or projects.

Farhana

CDU student

Farhana Waterfront

Course details

Accreditation

This course is accredited by the University in accordance with the Higher Education Standards.

Australian qualification framework

This course is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9.

Additional information

Can offers be deferred?
No
Award
Master of Nursing Practice (Pre-Registration)
Faculty/College
Faculty of Health
Sector
HE
Area of study
Nursing and Midwifery, Health

Contact details

For further information about the course, enrolment procedures, closing dates and other administrative issues please contact Student Central on:

Email:Student.Central@cdu.edu.auPhone:1800 061 963 (free call)

You make CDU

Together we are a positive force for change in our communities and the world.

Learn about nursing at CDU

Reeya is from Nepal studying a Bachelor of Nursing at CDU. Hear more about her experience of studying, living, working and playing in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.

You make CDU

Together we are a positive force for change in our communities and the world.

Learn about nursing at CDU

Reeya is from Nepal studying a Bachelor of Nursing at CDU. Hear more about her experience of studying, living, working and playing in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.

How to apply

There are many ways to apply to CDU. The method you use depends on your course type, where you live and whether you are a new or returning student to CDU.

Remember to apply early for your best chance at securing an offer to study with us.

SATAC

SATAC is the application channel for residents of NT, ACT, SA, WA, QLD, VIC, NSW or TAS.

International applications

Applications must be submitted online through our application portal, Studylink. You'll need a valid email address to create your online account. Once you have started your application, you will be able to save it and resume it later. There is no application fee when you apply online.

You may be able to lodge a direct application; however, there may be restrictions on your geographic location. If you cannot submit a direct application via the application portal, please apply through one of our registered agents.

Apply through StudyLink or through an Agent.

SATAC codes

Location
SATAC Code
CDU Sydney (CSP)
1CM162
CDU Sydney (CSP)
1CM165
Casuarina campus (CSP)
1CM161
Casuarina campus (CSP)
1CM164
Online (CSP)
1CM168
Online (CSP)
1CM166
Online (CSP)
1CM163
Online (CSP)
1CM167
* CSP = Commonwealth supported place
FF = Full fee

CRICOS codes

Location
CRICOS Code
CDU Sydney
103124J
Casuarina campus
103124J

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