Nursing

Nurses promote health and well-being and look after the healthcare needs of people of all ages and cultures.

A career in nursing offers:

• an ability to make a difference in your community.
• highly sought-after skills that allow you to work in the city, country or overseas.
• opportunities to work in a variety of settings within the healthcare, education or government sectors.

Why choose La Trobe?

Our nursing graduates are highly-skilled, professional and well respected in the health sector. In 2018, our Bachelor of Nursing ranked in the top 100 of the 2018 QS World University Rankings.

We also have an excellent track record for graduate recruitment. In 2017, 96% of our regional nursing cohort were offered a first round graduate position.¹ Two-thirds of participating metropolitan students were offered employment at a La Trobe Clinical School hospital.²

We were the first nursing university course in Australia - our first course commencing in 1974.

¹ Nursematch data combined with direct graduate feedback to the department.

² Graduate Nurse/Midwifery Program Computer Match 2016-Postgraduate Medical Council of Victoria (PMCV).

Our undergraduate courses:

• give you real-world experience to prepare you for the workplace. On each campus teaching begins in our world-class clinical learning environments. Hospital placements begin in first year.
• offer metropolitan students placements with one of our Clinical School partner hospitals.
• offer regional students clinical placements across Victoria, Southern NSW and ACT with some of our 100+ industry partners including; Albury Wodonga Health, Bendigo Health, Mildura Base Hospital and Goulburn Valley Health.
• prepare you for the global workplace. In your second or third year you can study overseas as part of your degree.

Our Postgraduate courses:

• help you develop specialised nursing skills.
• are structured to support your career aspirations. Study a full degree, or just one subject. Build your skills at a pace that suits you.
• provide online learning, so you can study when and wherever you need to. Clinical subjects combine online and face-to-face teaching.
• provide credit for industry-based learning experience.

Career opportunities in Nursing

Our courses are designed with your future career in mind and are partnered with a range of professional organisations for accreditation and registration. Refer to each course below to see what professional registration and membership options are available, or see registration standards.

Short courses

We also offer single subject study. Visit our short courses page to find out more.

Your study experience

Alternative pathways

Domestic

We offer the following pathways (timeframes approximate):

• Three-year (360 credit point) undergraduate nursing degree for applicants with a VCE or approved equivalent.
• Two-year (240 credit point) graduate entry program for students with an Australian Bachelor degree qualification or approved international equivalent
• Two-year (240 credit point) enrolled nurse course for Australian enrolled nurses with an Australian Certificate IV in Nursing
• 18 month (195 credit point) enrolled nurse course for Australian enrolled nurses with an Australian Diploma in Nursing
• One-year (120 credit point) internationally Registered Nursing pathway for Internationally Registered Nurses holding a minimum three-year Diploma of Nursing with a B grade average, and one year work experience as a registered nurse.
• Two-year (240 credit point) internationally Registered Nursing pathway for Internationally Registered Nurses holding a minimum three-year Diploma of Nursing, with less than a B grade average and/or less than one year work experience.

Students who complete the 18-month, 1 and 2 year pathways must also complete the Transition to the Bachelor of Nursing subject.

Students who successfully complete any of the above pathways are eligible to apply for registration with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

International

We offer the following pathways (timeframes approximate):

• Three-year (360 credit point) undergraduate nursing degree for applicants with a VCE or approved equivalent
• Two-year (240 credit point) graduate entry program for students with a relevant Australian Bachelor degree qualification or approved international equivalent
• Two-year (240 credit point) enrolled nurse course for Australian enrolled nurses with an Australian Certificate IV in Nursing
• 18 month (195 credit point) enrolled nurse course for Australian enrolled nurses with an Australian Diploma in Nursing
• One-year (120 credit point) internationally Registered Nursing pathway for Internationally Registered Nurses holding  a minimum three-year  Diploma of Nursing with a B grade average, and 1  year work experience as a registered nurse.
• Two-year (240 credit point) internationally Registered Nursing pathway for Internationally Registered Nurses holding a minimum three-year Diploma of Nursing, with less than a B grade average and/or less than 1 year work experience.

Students who complete the 18-month, 1 and 2 year pathways must also complete the Transition to the Bachelor of Nursing subject within their study plan.

Students who successfully complete any of the above pathways are eligible to apply for registration with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Clinical Schools

A considerable proportion of a nurse's undergraduate education is spent in the clinical setting and the Division has established clinical schools at four different hospitals around Victoria.

Nursing placements

Students studying nursing and midwifery will undertake placements throughout the course. These may be located in metropolitan or rural areas, interstate, and sometimes overseas. It should be noted that students may be required to complete clinical placements outside of university semester time.

Australian College of Nursing Scholarships

The Australian College of Nursing Australia has a Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship and Support Scheme available which is funded by the Australian Government. For details, eligibility and applications visit the ACN web site.

Nursing International Programs

The Bachelor of Nursing (Post-registration) is also conducted in Singapore in conjunction with the Singapore Nurses Association and in Hong Kong in collaboration with the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, The Chinese University of Hong Kong. La Trobe designs its courses with your future career in mind and partners with a range of professional organisations for accreditation and registration in Australia and overseas. Refer to the detail for each course to see what professional registration and membership options exist.

For further information about the Hong Kong Bachelor of Nursing program please visit the Chinese University of Hong Kong web site.

For further information about the Singapore Bachelor of Nursing program please visit the Singapore Nursing Association web site.

Overseas study opportunities

You may be eligible for our student exchange program.

About the academic staff

View all the staff from the College of Science, Health and Engineering.