Key details
Duration
Locations
Entry requirements
View full entry requirementsCredit points required
160Course code
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 at the Sydney (NSW), Darwin (NT) or Brisbane (QLD) simulation sites. 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 2025 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.
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
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
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
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 (cp) as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless otherwise indicated.
| Unit type | Credit Points | Specific requirements |
| Core (15 units) | 160cp | Compulsory Core units totalling 160 credit points as detailed below: NUR530 Science for Nursing Practice (simulation block) NUR531 Australian First Nations People-s Health and Social Justice (unit title change 2025) 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) |
| Total | 160cp | Total credit points |
Course Rules (unless otherwise indicated in the above course structure)
- See the Higher Education Course Rules (Award Requirements) in the Units and Courses Policy.
Study plan
STUDENTS COMMENCING IN SEMESTER 1
The Recommended Study Plans provided below are suitable for students enrolling in a full-time or part-time study 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.
When designing an individual study plan:
- maintain the basic order in which units are to be attempted; and
- check the prerequisite and assumed knowledge for each unit as some units assume you have completed foundation unit/s in the unit area at a lower level.
| Legend: | CO = Core Unit |
Full-Time Study Plan
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| NUR530 Science for Nursing Practice * | CO | NUR534 Primary Health Care | CO |
| NUR531 Australian First Nations People-s Health and Social Justice | CO | NUR535 Bioscience for Nursing Practice | CO |
| NUR532 Professional Practice | CO | NUR536 Communication, Health Informatics and Technology | CO |
| NUR533 Practice Experience 1 ** | CO | NUR537 Practice Experience 2** | CO |
| Year 2 | |||
| NUR538 Mental Health | CO | NUR542 Contemporary Nursing practice 2 * | CO |
| NUR539 Contemporary Nursing Practice 1 * | CO | NUR543 Leadership in Clinical Practice | CO |
| NUR540 Research for Healthcare Practice | CO | NUR600 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.
| Legend: | CO = Core Unit |
Part-Time Study Plan
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| NUR530 Science for Nursing Practice * | CO | NUR534 Primary Health Care | CO |
| NUR531 Australian First Nations People-s Health and Social Justice | CO | NUR535 Bioscience for Nursing Practice | CO |
| Year 2 | |||
| NUR532 Professional Practice | CO | NUR536 Communication, Health Informatics and Technology | CO |
| NUR533 Practice Experience 1 ** | CO | NUR537 Practice Experience 2** | CO |
| Year 3 | |||
| NUR538 Mental Health | CO | NUR541 Practice Experience 3 ** | CO |
| NUR539 Contemporary Nursing Practice 1 * | CO | NUR543 Leadership in Clinical Practice | CO |
| Year 4 | |||
| NUR542 Contemporary Nursing Practice 2 * | CO | NUR600 Practice Experience 4 (20cp) ** | CO |
| NUR540 Research for Healthcare Practice | 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.
| Units with Prerequisites | Prerequisite |
| NUR534 Primary Health Care | NUR530 |
| NUR535 Bioscience for Nursing Practice | NUR530 |
| NUR536 Communication, Health Informatics and Technology | NUR532 |
| NUR537 Practice Experience 2 | NUR530, NUR533 |
| NUR538 Mental Health | NUR537, NUR533, NUR535 |
| NUR539 Contemporary Nursing Practice 1 | NUR533, NUR537 |
| NUR540 Research for Healthcare Practice | NUR532, NUR356 |
| NUR541 Practice Experience 3 | NUR535, NUR537 |
| NUR542 Contemporary Nursing Practice 2 | NUR539, NUR541 |
| NUR543 Leadership in Clinical Practice | NUR536, NUR540 |
| NUR600 Practice Experience 4 | NUR539, 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 2025. Due to quota restrictions applicants must apply for either a full-time or part-time place using the code provided.
| Delivery Location | Mode | Attendance Type | SATAC Code |
| Casuarina Campus | Internal | Full-time | 1CM161 |
| Casuarina Campus | Internal | Part-time | 1CM164 |
| CDU Sydney Campus | Internal | Full-time | 1CM162 |
| CDU Sydney Campus | Internal | Part-time | 1CM165 |
| Online (NSW Placements only) | External | Full-time | 1CM167 |
| Online (NSW Placements only) | External | Part-time | 1CM168 |
| Online | External | Full-time | 1CM163 |
| Online | External | Part-time | 1CM166 |
Admission criteria
Successful completion of a recognised bachelor degree or equivalent international qualification.
Please note that credit will not be permitted for any units completed as part of the recognised bachelor degree (or equivalent international qualification) used as the basis of admission.
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:
- English is their primary language; and
- 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
DOMESTIC STUDENTS
All applicants to nursing and midwifery courses 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/and will be required to supply evidence of this at the time of application.
English language proficiency can be evidenced for this course by one of the following:
- completing a declaration that English is your primary language, or
- sitting an English language proficiency test
Primary language pathway
A signed English Language Declaration indicating the following:
- English is your primary language: and
- You 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
English test pathway
Applicants have achieved and can supply evidence of the required minimum scores in one of the following English language tests:
| Minimum score requirements | Test information | |
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic test | Overall minimum: 7.0 No band below: 7.0 | IELTS Indicator Test is not accepted. |
| Pearson Tests of English (PTE) Academic | Overall minimum: 65 No score below 65 | PTE Online is not accepted |
| Test of English as a Foreign language (TOEFL) | Overall minimum: 94 Minimum writing score: 27 Minimum speaking score: 23 Minimum reading score: 24 Minimum listening score: 24 | TOEFL Home Edition is not accepted |
| Occupational English Test (OET) | Overall minimum: B Minimum score of 350 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking) |
Further information
For further details on the English requirements for CDU courses, please refer to the CDU English Language Proficiency Policy.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
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.
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 in 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 Module | A 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 Proficiency | Test not accepted for this course. |
| Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic module | A 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
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
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
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
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
Contact details
For further information about the course, enrolment procedures, closing dates and other administrative issues please contact Student Central on:
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.
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