Australian residents
International students
Intakes: 

2023: February, May

Duration: 
3 years
Location: 
St Albans
Fees: 

2023: A$17,600*
* fee per semester

Application due dates:
We are currently accepting applications for this course.
Apply

Overview

Pursue a stimulating and diverse career as a healthcare professional with a Bachelor of Nursing from Victoria University.

If you have great communication skills, show initiative, and are patient and tactful when dealing with people from all backgrounds and cultures, nursing could be the career for you.

Studying nursing at VU will equip you with a broad set of skills to work as a general or mental-health nurse. With a highly valued nursing degree, doors will open to a wide range of career opportunities in hospitals and health care.

Our Bachelor of Nursing will ensure that you have sound scientific knowledge and skills, as well as hands-on nursing experience. You'll participate in simulation learning using modern technology, practising your skills in a safe environment before you work with real patients.

Your practical experience alongside expert clinicians and nurses will have you ready to register and work as a Division 1 Registered Nurse. When you finish your degree, you'll join a respected cohort of VU graduates known for their extensive practical experience.

We have strong industry connections with Western Health and Werribee Mercy Hospital. We also have partnerships with over 200 clinical agencies. You’ll gain valuable industry experience in your practical placements at some of these agencies.

We also work with industry partners to regularly update course material so that it’s always relevant to current healthcare practice.

We place a strong emphasis on clinical and practical learning.

Graduate career-ready through our clinical-placement program which includes:

  • 800 professional practice hours
  • 140 clinical simulation hours.

VU has state-of-the-art simulation technology and interactive laboratories. You can practise what you learn in a safe, supported, high-tech learning environment.

During your clinical placement you will gain direct practical experience as a nurse alongside expert clinicians. These placements will provide you with confidence and a competitive advantage in the workforce.

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VU’s practical learning – Health Sciences - Transcript

Careers in nursing

Nursing is a diverse and flexible career choice. You’ll be equipped to work in metropolitan, regional and rural health agencies. According to Labour Market Insights, the number of job openings for registered nurses is expected to be high in the next five years.

VU Bachelor of Nursing graduates are employed at a variety of organisations such as Royal Children’s Hospital, Royal Women’s Hospital and Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Nurses can work in areas such as:

  • general practice
  • acute care
  • paediatric care
  • rehabilitation
  • aged care
  • mental health
  • residential care
  • emergency
  • research
  • health education.

Salary

See the average salary for registered nurses in Australia via Labour Market Insights. Starting salaries for graduates may be different.

Employment rates

Over 90% of nursing graduates were employed four months after graduation, with over 70% were employed full time (2020 Graduate Outcomes Survey).

Giving back

Giving back

Double scholarship recipient Jessica Bonello was driven to nursing by childhood experiences.

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Accreditation

You will graduate qualified to register as a Division 1 Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

This course is accredited by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC).

Course structure

To attain the Bachelor of Nursing students will be required to complete:

  • 288 credit points of Core studies.

Year 1, Semester 1

Year 1, Semester 2

Year 2, Semester 1

Year 2, Semester 2

Year 3, Semester 1

Year 3, Semester 2

We are the first Australian university to use a 'block' model of learning, where you study one unit at a time rather than juggling several at once.

Introduced in 2018, the VU Block Model has improved our student results and achievements, and has won awards for innovation and excellence. Initially for first-year students, it now applies to all students studying at our Melbourne campuses.

You'll study in short bursts, called blocks, of three 2-3 hour face-to-face teaching sessions per week.

Each block focuses on one unit (subject) and is only four weeks long, with up to four days between. Our two semesters have four blocks each, and there are optional blocks over winter and summer where you can catch up on a missed unit.

Some courses have labs and pracs too, and these are generally scheduled on the same days as teaching sessions. There are also workshops where you'll develop your study skills and prepare for your future career.

Find out more about the VU Block Model.

On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  1. Exhibit values, behaviours, attributes and professional knowledge congruent with quality, safe, ethical, legal and culturally appropriate provision of nursing practice in a range of health care settings across the domains of physical health, mental health and aged care to meet the Registered Nurse Standards of Practice;  
  2. Integrate knowledge of anatomy and physiology with scientific concepts underpinning nursing practice using clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills;  
  3. Contextualise comprehensive health assessment techniques to evaluate physical, psychosocial, sociological, spiritual, cultural and age appropriate elements taking a person-centred approach within an interprofessional framework whilst exhibiting accountability consistent with own nursing scope of practice;  
  4. Plan, implement and evaluate contemporary nursing practice within the context of evidence-based recommendations across the lifespan in primary, secondary and tertiary contexts in response to regional, national and global health priorities;  
  5. Exemplify cultural responsiveness, sensitivity and inclusive practice and promote the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and culturally diverse communities;  
  6. Exemplify therapeutic and interpersonal skills using face-to-face and digital health communication within professional nursing practice; and  
  7. Critically reflect on own nursing practice to identify professional needs and opportunities, to inform development, and support evaluation of self-directed and lifelong learning.  

What's a unit?

A unit or 'subject' is the actual class you'll attend in the process of completing a course.

Most courses have a mixture of compulsory 'core' units that you need to take and optional elective units that you can choose to take based on your area of interest, expertise or experience.

Credits

Each unit is worth a set amount of study credits based on the amount of time you study. Generally, 1 credit is equal to 1 hour of study per week.

Admissions

Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.

Applicants for this course will need to have met the academic requirements and prerequisites for this course outlined below.

Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.

Inherent Requirements

'Inherent requirements' are the abilities, attributes, skills and behaviours needed to meet the learning outcomes of a course. These should be met while preserving the academic integrity of the university’s learning, assessment and accreditation processes.

You need to be able to demonstrate that you hold, or can acquire, the inherent requirements for this degree.

We may be able to make reasonable adjustments to help you manage circumstances that impact your studies – provided these don't fundamentally change the academic integrity of the degree.

Read more about inherent requirements.

Entry requirements

Completion of an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (VCE or equivalent) including Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or 25 in any other English (or equivalent).
AND
Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 20 in one of Biology, Chemistry, Health And Human Development, any Mathematics or Psychology.
OR
Completion of an Australian Advanced Diploma or Diploma (or equivalent) in Nursing, Health Sciences or similar.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR ALL INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ON NURSING AND MIDWIFERY BOARD OF AUSTRALIA (NMBA) ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS REGISTRATION STANDARDS
Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they meet the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) English language skills registration standard. Applicants can obtain further information about the Standard and sitting requirements for the English Language Tests at: http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Registration-Standards/English-language-skills.aspx
As part of this standard, applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have evidence of completing:
• At least 5 years (full time equivalent) continuous education taught and assessed in English, in any of the recognised countries (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, United States of America, Canada, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom).
OR
• IELTS with a minimum IELTS (academic module) overall score of 7 and a minimum score of 7 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking).
OR
• OET with a minimum score of B in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking).
OR
• PTE Academic with a minimum overall score of 65 and a minimum score of 65 in each of the four communicative skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking).
OR
• TOEFL iBT with a minimum total score of 94 and the following minimum score in each section of the test: 24 for listening, 24 for reading, 27 for writing, and 23 for speaking.

Police check: Students must complete a National Police Records or Fit-2-Work check on admission to the course and on an annual basis.

Working with Children Check: Students must complete a Working with Children Check on admission to the course.

Specified DoH Immunisations with serology testing valid for completion of course. Flu vax to be completed yearly.

Fitness for Practice: Students must be prepared to declare their fitness for practice on admission and prior to undertaking hospital/agency placements by completing the Fitness for Practice Declaration Form on inPlace.

The University has a duty of care to ensure that students who undertake professional experience placements are both physically and mentally able, in a sustained manner, to engage in the experience.

Early identification of fitness to practice concerns allows the University to discuss with students potential reasonable adjustments to assist them to undertake their placement. Any agreed adjustments must not compromise the safety and wellbeing of the student and must ensure safety of the public.

For further information refer to the Nursing Inherent Requirements.

Find out if you meet the entry requirements, including English language and academic requirements.

Additional information

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR ALL DOMESTIC STUDENTS ON NURSING AND MIDWIFERY BOARD OF AUSTRALIA (NMBA) ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS REGISTRATION STANDARDS
Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they meet the requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia's (NMBA) English language skills registration standard. Proof of this English language competency can be achieved via ONE of the following three pathways:

Primary Language Pathway

Applicants must be able to demonstrate that their primary language is English and they have satisfactorily completed at least six years of primary and secondary education taught and assessed in English in either Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom or United States of America, including at least two years between years 7 and 12.

Extended Education Pathway

Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have satisfactorily completed three years (full-time equivalent) of education taught and assessed in English, in either Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom or United States of America.

Note: It is a requirement of the NMBA English language skills registration standard, for registration as an Enrolled Nurse via this pathway, that five years (full-time equivalent) continuous education in total is completed.

English Language Test Pathway

Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have achieved the required minimum scores in one of the following English language tests and meet the requirements for test results specified in NMBA's English language skills registration standard:
• IELTS (Academic): minimum overall band of 7.0 (with no individual band less than 7.0);
OR
• OET: minimum score of B in each of the four bands;
OR
• TOEFL iBT: minimum overall score of 94 (with minimum score of 24 in listening and reading, 27 in writing and 23 in speaking)
OR
• PTE (A): minimum score of 65 (with no communication band less than 65)

Applicants can obtain further information about the Standard at: http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Registration-Standards/English-l...

Pathways & credits

There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.

If you have completed any of the following course(s), you will be guaranteed a place in this course. In some cases you may receive credit for your previous study, reducing the time it takes to complete your course.

Diploma of Nursing HLT54121

You will be credited for up to 96 credit points of study.

International Foundations at VU (Extended) JQAH

You will be guaranteed entry only.

International Foundations at VU JQAG

You will be guaranteed entry only.

Find out more about pathways and credits.

Use our credit calculator to find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

If you have completed study with another university or institution and believe you are eligible to receive credit for skills and past study, you can apply for advanced standing.

Applications for advanced standing can be made after a discussion with your course chair or academic adviser.

Credit Calculator

Find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

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How to apply

We are currently accepting international applications, and we welcome you to apply for this course.

Click 'apply' to begin, and we will guide you through the application process.

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If you have questions, please get in touch:

Information and fees listed above are for non-resident students. Fees are accurate at the time of viewing and will be subject to annual increases. Some courses require students to purchase equipment or clothing that they will need in the course. These equipment or clothing costs are not included in the course fees listed above – check your Letter of Offer for an estimate on non-tuition-fee-related expenses.

VU takes care to ensure the accuracy of this course information, but reserves the right to change or withdraw courses offered at any time. Please check that course information is current with the Student Contact Centre.