Course Overview

About This Course

ACU graduate nurses are held in high regard for their clinical skills, quick thinking and compassion. The university is connected to an extensive range of hospitals and health care partners, so students get strong opportunities for placements and future employment, and ACU also works with care facilities in a number of developed and developing countries for those wanting an overseas experience.

The Bachelor of Nursing requires 240 credit points: 60 credit points of interdisciplinary learning units, 20 credit points of University Core Curriculum units, 100 credit points of nursing theory units and 60 credit points of clinical nursing practice units. Lecture content is delivered as short online recordings of ten to fifteen minutes per module, so learning is self-paced, while tutorials of 26 to 30 students concentrate on the theoretical concepts that develop critical thinking and clinical reasoning. Simulation wards designed to mirror real-world environments are an important part of the course, with practical classes of 24 to 30 students taught by two academic registered nurses.

Students complete at least 800 hours of professional experience, undertaking clinical placements as part of a variety of clinical units in hospitals and community facilities, integrating theory with practical workplace experience. Units offered each year at ACU's Rome campus include NRSG265, NRSG266, NRSG267 (partial) and HLSC220, while NRSG373 (partial) can be studied in Cambodia, India, the USA, Timor Leste, Vanuatu, Fiji and Denmark. The Bachelor of Nursing is accredited by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council and approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, and eligible graduates can apply for registration as a nurse with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.

Where You Can Study

Available Locations

Melbourne

1200 Mair St, Ballarat, VIC 3350

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Student Information

Fees & Entry by Student Type

Tuition Fee

AUD $7,788

Duration

3 years full-time or equivalent part-time

Intakes

Semester 1 intake: Beginning March 2027 (Applications open August 2026) | Midyear (Semester 2) intake: Not offered this intake

Study Mode

Full-time or part-time

Eligibility

Entry Requirements

General Requirements

Domestic students

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:
- ACT: Assumed knowledge - Nil
- New South Wales: Assumed knowledge - Nil
- Queensland: Assumed knowledge - English (Units 3 & 4, C)
- Victoria: Units 3 and 4 - a study score of at least 25 in English as an Additional Language (EAL) or at least 25 in English other than EAL
Indicative ATAR: 62.85 (Ballarat), 60.00 (Blacktown), 65.00 (Brisbane), 68.00 (Canberra), 65.00 (Melbourne), 60.00 (North Sydney)
Applicants with higher education study must still meet the minimum entry requirements and subject prerequisites. Applicants who have completed at least two units of AQF-recognised study at bachelor level or above are assigned a new selection rank reflecting their study level, duration and grade point average, and prior study or relevant work experience may attract credit or recognition of prior learning.
ACU also assesses applicants on recent secondary education, prior VET study, and work and life experience.

Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2027 Admission. Refer to your relevant Tertiary Admission Centre website for future years' entry requirements.

International students

Applicants require the equivalent of an Australian Year 12 Certificate and must also comply with the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy. The two requirements ACU lists are a recognised international high school qualification and English Language Proficiency.
Applicants for Nursing courses should carefully review the details outlined in the Admission to Coursework Programs Policy to check how they must demonstrate their English Language Proficiency.

Disclaimer: The course entry requirements above are for 2027 Admission. Refer to your relevant Tertiary Admission Centre website for future years' entry requirements.

Career & Study Pathways

Where this takes you

Career Opportunities

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

Quality & Recognition

Accreditation & Migration

Academic Regulator

TEQSA

Professional Body

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC)

Accreditation Status

Accredited

Skills Assessor

ANMAC

Course Content

Units of Competency

All Units33 units

BIOL121

Human Biological Science 1

BIOL122

Human Biological Science 2

HLSC111

The Person, Health and Wellbeing

HLSC120

Indigenous Health and Culture

HLSC122

Evidence for Practice

HLSC220

Health Care Ethics

PHCC102

Being Human

PHCC104

Ethics and the Good Life

PHCC106

Making Sense: Practical Reasoning for Life and Career

THCC100

Revolutionary Values: Christianity in History

THCC101

People Matter: Catholic Social Thought

TPCC100

Life and Meaning: Imagining Ourselves through Art and Cinema

PHCC201

The Origins of the Sciences and Contemporary Challenges

THCC200

Justice in the World: Catholic Social Ethics in Global Perspective

THCC202

Sacred Land: Australian Indigenous Spiritualities and Catholic Thought

TPCC201

Ecology and Justice

TPCC202

Conflict, Violence and Peace-making

NRSG138

Transition into Nursing

NRSG258

Principles of Nursing: Surgical

NRSG263

Principles of Nursing: Mental Health

NRSG265

Principles of Nursing: Medical

NRSG266

Principles of Nursing: Contexts of Ageing

NRSG371

Building Healthy Communities

NRSG372

Principles of Nursing: Chronic Illness and Disability

NRSG374

Principles of Nursing: A Palliative Approach

NRSG377

Transition to Contemporary Nursing and Clinical Leadership

NRSG378

Principles of Nursing: Extended Clinical Reasoning

NRSG139

Integrating Practice 1: Assessment in Health

NRSG140

Integrating Practice 2

NRSG264

Integrating Practice 3

NRSG267

Integrating Practice 4

NRSG373

Integrating Practice 5

NRSG376

Integrating Practice 6

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the Bachelor of Nursing take to complete at Australian Catholic University?

The Bachelor of Nursing at Australian Catholic University has a duration of 156 weeks.

Does the Bachelor of Nursing include a practical work component?

Yes, the Bachelor of Nursing includes a mandatory work component totalling 800 hours, with 40 hours per week over 20 weeks.

At which campuses can I study the Bachelor of Nursing?

The Bachelor of Nursing is offered at six campuses: Canberra (ACT), Blacktown CBD and North Sydney (NSW), Brisbane (QLD), and Ballarat and Melbourne (VIC).

What is the total estimated cost of the Bachelor of Nursing for international students?

The estimated total tuition cost for international students is AU$119,016, based on ACU's indicative first-year fee of AU$39,672 across the three years of the course, with no additional non-tuition fees listed.

Is the Bachelor of Nursing eligible for extended Post-Study Work Rights?

The Bachelor of Nursing may be eligible for extended Post-Study Work Rights as it is a Skills Level 1 qualification (Bachelor Degree), has a duration greater than 92 weeks (156 weeks), and falls under the 06 - Health broad field of education (Nursing). Eligibility is reviewed yearly and requires at least one active enrolment at review time.

Application

How to Apply

Three simple steps to get enrolled

Step 01

Enquire

Click "Enquire Now" and tell us a little about yourself. It's free and takes 2 minutes.

Step 02

Submit Documents

Our team will guide you on exactly which documents to prepare and submit.

Step 03

Get Enrolled

Receive your offer letter and confirm your enrolment. Welcome to the course!

Course Snapshot

Salary, careers & skills

Typical Salary

Entry-level (0-2 years)AUD $67,000 to $80,000 per year

Early Career (2-5 years)AUD $80,000 to $95,000 per year

Mid-Level (5-10 years)AUD $95,000 to $110,000 per year

Career Paths

Graduate Registered NurseEnrolled NurseRegistered Nurse – General Medical / SurgicalEmergency Department NurseIntensive Care Unit (ICU) / Critical Care Nurse

Key Skills

Clinical assessment and patient observationMedication administration and pharmacology knowledgeWound care and infection control proceduresCritical thinking and clinical decision-makingPatient advocacy and person-centred care planning

Full Course Overview

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