Bachelor of Nursing (External), University of South Australia (UniSA). 2025 information for Australian students

This degree is only available to Australian students

You're considered an Australian student if you are any of the following:

Australian or New Zealand Citizen
Australian Permanent Resident (including Humanitarian Visa holders)

Australian students

Start Date
February

Campus
City East

Duration
3 year(s) full-time

Mode
On-campus/Online

Program Code
IBNU

SATAC Code
414145 (External)

Study as
Full-time or part-time

Fees
Commonwealth Supported

Entry Requirements
Selection Rank (Internal): 70.00 (for 2024)
Selection Rank (Guaranteed): 70.00 (for 2025)
TAFE/RTO Note: Enrolled Nurse Certificate IV or Diploma in Nursing - both with current registration with NMBA
View full entry requirements

Prerequisites
None

Assumed Knowledge
None

Entry requirements

Admission criteria

The admission criteria have been grouped to assist you to easily find the information most relevant to your circumstances. However, you may fit into more than one and the university will consider applicants against each of the relevant criteria.

Certain conditions apply. For more information refer to Appendix 4 of the University's Selection and Entry policy.

Applicants are required to meet one of the following criteria with a competitive result, and demonstrate that they fulfil any prerequisite requirements and essential requirements for admission:

Recent secondary education
Meet any prerequisite requirements with a minimum grade of C- or equivalent
AND
- Qualify for the South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE), and achieved a competitive Selection Rank (ATAR), or
- Complete secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE, or
- Complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma with a minimum score of 24 points
Applicants who have not achieved the Selection Rank required for automatic selection may be selected for any remaining places based on the grades of their year 12 subjects.

OR
Higher education study
- Complete or partly complete a recognised higher education program at a recognised higher education institution, or
- Complete at least four Open Universities Australia (OUA) courses at undergraduate level or above.
OR

Vocational Education and Training (VET)
- Complete an award from a registered training organisation at Diploma or above
OR
Work and life experience
- Qualify for Special Entry, or
- Complete a 12-month UniSA Foundation Studies program or equivalent, or
- Hold completed secondary qualifications equivalent to SACE obtained more than 2 years in the past, or
- Hold current registration as an Enrolled Nursing without conditions or restrictions to license with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).
Essential requirements for admission

To meet entry requirements, applicants must consider the professional registration requirements, including the English Language Skills standard and complete a declaration stating how they will demonstrate their English language competency, as determined by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).

All students must confirm that they meet the "Fitness to Practice in Clinical Placements" requirements upon entry to the program.
Prerequisites
None

Assumed Knowledge
None
View full entry requirements Hide full entry requirements

Aim

The program prepares graduates to meet the standards required for registration and practice as informed by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Registered Nurse Standards for Practice.

Content & Structure

The Bachelor of Nursing program provides students with extensive clinical practice and assists them in engaging with contemporary nursing theory, research and evidence for practice. The curriculum is based on identified needs and competencies defined by industry, the University and the nursing profession and students progressively build on knowledge and skills integral to developing the range of Graduate Qualities and professional skills required for competent unsupervised contemporary nursing practice.
The program is designed to prepare nurses to meet healthcare delivery requirements for the 21st century and respond to Australian and international healthcare priorities and trends. The principle of safety of the public underpins the curriculum framework. Five integrating themes (Cultural Safety, Evidence Based Practice, Professional Communication, Consumers as Partners in Care and Teamwork) are woven throughout the curriculum and represent core approaches that inform contemporary nursing practice.

Courses provide students with an understanding of the bio-psychosocial determinants of health and illness and integrate the concept of person centred nursing care. Students will develop an understanding of person centred care as applied to the Registered Nurse role while undertaking courses in the areas of child, adult and health of older adults. In addition to the inclusion of a range of theory content, students undertake experiential learning activities within the University and health care delivery settings. These experiential learning activities are designed to assist students to progressively develop the requisite nursing skills for professional practice and include a range of work integrated placements in metropolitan, rural and potentially international settings.
All courses are supported by a range of experiential learning activities engaging students in problem solving and project activities, including professional placements. The professional placements in this program are designed to enhance students’ work integrated learning practices and prepare them for both the immediate and long term demands of Registered Nurse practice.

This program requires successful completion of 108 units.

Study at the new Adelaide University in 2026

The University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia are combining their strengths to create a new university for the future, Adelaide University, opening in January 2026.

From 4 August 2025, the University of Adelaide and University of South Australia will no longer be accepting applications for new students.

Apply now to study with Adelaide University in 2026.

What courses you'll study

Course name	Area and cat no.	Units	Reference
STAGE 1 - Knowledge, skills and attitudes for understanding
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3)
Foundations of Nursing Practice	NURS 1072	4.5	Note(s): 3
Experiential Learning Activity: Preparation for Clinical Practice Practicum 1	NURS 1061	4.5	Note(s): 2,3,4	Rule(s): 6,7,8
Global and National Health	HLTH 1036	4.5	Note(s): 3
Human Body 1	BIOL 1047	4.5
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6)
First Peoples' Health	HLTH 1047	4.5
Human Body 2	BIOL 1048	4.5
Health of Older People	NURS 1073	4.5		Rule(s): 3
Experiential Learning Activity: Aged Care Practicum 2	NURS 1071	4.5	Note(s): 2,3,4	Rule(s): 6,7,8
STAGE 2 - Knowledge, skills and attitudes for intervention
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3)
Health of Adults	NURS 2023	9	Note(s): 3
Scientific Basis of Clinical Practice	BIOL 2058	4.5
Experiential Learning Activity: Acute Care Practicum 3	NURS 2033	4.5	Note(s): 2,3,4	Rule(s): 6,7,8
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6)
Health of Infants, Children and Adolescents	NURS 2022	4.5	Note(s): 3
Assessment, Diagnostics and Pharmacotherapeutics	NURS 2040	9	Note(s): 3
Mental Health Nursing	NURS 2041	4.5	Note(s): 3
STAGE 3 - Knowledge, skills and attitudes for professional practice
First Semester (Study Period 1, 2 or 3)
Evidence Based Nursing Practice	NURS 3055	4.5
Nursing Context of Practice: Primary Health Care	NURS 3045	4.5	Note(s): 3
Experiential Learning Activity: Extension to Practice Practicum 4	NURS 3042	9	Note(s): 2,3,4	Rule(s): 6,7,8
Second Semester (Study Period 4, 5 or 6)
Transition to Professional Practice	NURS 3056	9	Note(s): 3
Experiential Learning Activity: Transition to Practice Practicum 5	NURS 3043	9	Note(s): 2,3,4	Rule(s): 6,7,8

Rules & notes

Rules

1. The Bachelor of Nursing is an undergraduate degree accredited by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) as a qualification leading to entry to the Register of Nurses with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). The program accreditation requires students to complete the program in three years full-time or up to six years part-time.

2. All students must confirm that they meet the "Fitness to Practice in Clinical Placements" requirements upon entry to the program, on each reenrolment, and as may be required by the Program Director.

3. Students in this program are required to be registered with the NMBA. Students who are refused registration, or who have their registration rescinded, will be unable to continue in the program.

4. Students who are subject to an investigation by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulatory Agency (AHPRA) under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act cannot participate in Clinical Placements until the investigation is complete and the University is notified of the outcome.

5. Upon entry to the program, students must provide a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check issued within the prior 12 month period from an ACIC Accredited provider.

6. Students must demonstrate full compliance with the program's Compulsory Conditional Evidence Requirements prior to allocation of a Clinical Placement. The requirements, which are updated regularly, are published on the program homepage and include a Working With Children Check (WWCC), NDIS worker check, evidence of immunisation/vaccination status, and professional training.

7. Clinical placements are an integral component of the program and are normally undertaken in health agencies in South Australia. Interstate students who accept an offer will be required to acknowledge that their placements will be based in South Australia.

8. All students are required to complete placements in diverse settings, including metropolitan, regional, and rural/remote areas. Regardless of study mode, whether full-time, part-time, internal, or external, all students must attend clinical placements full-time. This includes participating in shift work according to a 24-hour, 7-day roster, which covers early, late, and night shifts.

9. Students must practice in accordance with all UniSA policies and procedures and NMBA professional standards. When undertaking Clinical Placement outside of Australia students must also comply with any local standards for practice.

10. Students are required to satisfy the standard of dress, behaviour and fitness for practice as prescribed by institutions in which clinical placements are undertaken. This also applies to students undertaking Horizon Hospital and Health Service (HHHS) activities.

11. Students who have completed a leave of absence and/or not engaged in a Experiential Learning Activity (ELA) course in the previous 12 month period will be required to undertake an 'IBNU Compulsory Module' for which a fee will be charged.

12. Diploma of Nursing (Enrolled/Division 2 Nursing) graduates, registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) without restrictions on their license and with a current practicing certificate will be eligible for 36 units of block credit transfer into the Bachelor of Nursing.

Notes

1. Students with a disability or chronic health condition may be able to have reasonable adjustments made to teaching and learning, assessment, clinical placement, and other activities. Reasonable adjustments should not fundamentally change the nature of the "Fitness to Practice in Clinical Placements" requirements.

2. Where a clinical placement provider requests that a student be assessed directly by a University staff member, the student may be required to attend a placement in metropolitan Adelaide.

3. Students are required to attend compulsory on-campus workshops/seminars for these courses.

4. Attendance requirements apply to the clinical components of the program. Students enrolled in courses with a clinical component will need to attend on a full-time basis for the duration of the placement.