Master of Nursing
Degree Level Postgraduate
Year 2025
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You're considered an Australian student if you are any of the following:
- Australian or New Zealand Citizen
- Australian Permanent Resident (including Permanent Humanitarian Visa holders)
Mode
On-campus/Online
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Entry requirements
Applicants are required to hold a completed Bachelor degree (or higher) in Nursing from a recognised higher education institution.
In addition, applicants must:
- hold current registration as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia; AND
- have completed a minimum of one year of clinical experience as a Registered Nurse.
The program is available on a part-time basis only and will normally be completed over 3 years part-time.
Degree overview
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Extend your skills in nursing practice, policy, leadership, research, education and management.
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Graduate confident to step into advanced practice or senior leadership roles.
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Choose to study a clinical pathway or research pathway, depending on your interests and career goals.
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Benefit from flexible learning, including online and part-time study options.
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Use your qualification as a pathway into further learning, including the Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) and doctoral studies.
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Study at a university ranked in the World Top 100 for nursing.1
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Learn from industry-experienced clinicians at a university with well above world-class research in nursing.2
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Study with South Australia’s No.1 university for teaching quality in nursing and midwifery.3
12024 QS Subject Rankings. 22018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA). 3ComparED (QILT) Student Experience Survey 2021-22, Nursing – Teaching Quality Indicator (Postgraduate). SA public universities.
Snapshot
Register for our free online information session on Wednesday 4 December, 2024.
The Master of Nursing is designed to inform and improve your knowledge, practical skills and understanding of evidence-based practice, grow your understanding of professional issues and extend your research capabilities.
Offered part-time over three years, this program is designed to complement and expand upon your existing clinical practice. The flexible curriculum and schedule enables you to choose between a clinical or a research pathway, alongside a range of electives tailored to your career goals.1
1Some course prerequisites apply. More information can be found on individual course pages.
What you'll learn
The Master of Nursing will give you the skills and knowledge to embrace a variety of advanced roles in nursing. The flexible curriculum allows you to study areas which will inform and improve your nursing practice, knowledge, and research capabilities.
During your studies, you will choose a variety of elective courses and one of two pathways: a clinical pathway or research pathway.
- By undertaking the clinical pathway, you will complete a small clinical project. This project enables you to negotiate and undertake a project for a specific issue you’re interested in that is relevant to your current practice.
- By undertaking the research pathway, you will complete a minor thesis. This thesis work enables you to investigate a small nursing research project under the guidance of your supervisors, and contribute advanced research to your field.
Our electives are aligned with key clinical areas and offer you flexibility to match to your interests and career goals. Choose from areas including mental health, education, leadership and management, and high acuity.1
You can start with your electives followed by your desired pathway, or you can begin studying your chosen pathway and then complete your electives if starting in February.
1Some course prerequisites apply. More information can be found on individual course pages.
Study hours
For each course you study, you will need to allocate time for planned learning activities. Depending on your study mode, these activities may include online discussion forums, virtual classroom sessions, lectures, tutorials, workshops, and seminars. You will also need to study in your own time to complete assignments, readings, and projects.
As a rule, most postgraduate study is completed part-time. If you are studying full-time, your studies should be treated like a full-time job, with approximately 35-40 hours of study per week. The full sum of these hours should balance your planned learning activities and your own independent study.
Assessment
Your studies will incorporate practical, professionally-focused and research-based learning, so assessment types will vary. You can expect them to include:
- presentations
- case studies
- online activities
- portfolios
- critical analysis
- discussion papers
- project or minor thesis
- research proposal.
Global opportunities
One of the key benefits of studying at the UniSA is our ability to attract and retain internationally renowned researchers. You’ll learn from researchers and academics who are directly connected to industry and all of our clinical teaching staff combine teaching with industry experience.
In addition, our diverse student population means you have the opportunity to gain global and cultural understanding, ideas and insights direct from your peers.
Why Master of Nursing
Further your career of care and make an advanced contribution to nursing practice.
You’ll learn from specialist postgraduate teaching staff, and your studies will be supported by internationally-renowned researchers, with our well-above world-class research in nursing1 focused on outcomes relevant to the clinical translation of national health priorities.
We’re home to the Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre, where leading researchers are working to strengthen the role of the nursing and midwifery professions across the health system.
As Australia’s University of Enterprise, we’re:
- No.1 in Australia for research impact and engagement.2
- One of the World's Top Young Universities.3
Our flexible suite of postgraduate nursing qualifications are designed to recognise your prior learning and advance your career. Upon successful completion of a postgraduate qualification, you may then be eligible to gain credit into higher level qualifications and reduce the overall duration of your study.
This degree is offered online and can be studied on a part-time or full-time basis. Some attendance required at on-campus workshops.
12018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA). 22018 ARC Engagement and Impact Assessment (EI), Combined Impact – Approach to Impact and Engagement on Assessed Fields. 3Ranked #43, 2024 THE Young University Rankings.
Real-world connections
Learn from award-winning teaching staff, academics and health professionals via our online forums and virtual classrooms and workshops, offering you the opportunity to learn from experienced clinicians in the field and build valuable industry networks and relationships.
We also host regular University-wide alumni events, employee master classes and employment expos in Australia and overseas.
Online study
This qualification can be studied online. With interactive online course materials and a 24/7 learning environment, you can organise your study to suit your lifestyle. You can:
- access videos and course resources online
- participate in an interactive online learning environment
- submit your assignments and get feedback online
- use discussion forums for teamwork and communication
Some on-campus workshop attendance is required at UniSA’s City East campus. These requirements are detailed on individual course pages.
Advance your Nursing Career with Postgraduate Study
Hear from Dr. Allison Roderick, UniSA's Program Director of Postgraduate Nursing and Midwifery Programs, on how postgraduate study can take your career as an Registered Nurse even further.
Your career
Graduates are qualified to step into advanced practice and senior leadership roles and senior roles across a wide variety of settings, such as:
- hospitals
- community services
- healthcare policy
- research
- education
- management.
Students who complete the clinical pathway and embark on a career in advanced practice may be eligible to apply for credit into the Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner).
Industry facts
Scholarships
Every year, over 2,500 UniSA students are supported in their studies through scholarships and grants worth millions of dollars. Check out the scholarships below. One of them may be perfect for you. Visit our scholarships page for more.
Scholarship for student leadership
Available for students who are interested in undertaking specified activities with the aim of enhancing the overall student experience at UniSA.
International travel grants
Travel Grants are available to participate in our Study Overseas Programs. UniSA has agreement with over 80 institutions globally.
Your study experience and support
Our campuses have fantastic facilities including modern lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, tech zones, and spaces that simulate real work environments. You’ll also find student gyms and campus sport activities to keep you active. We also offer flexible study options, with online resources available for accessing lecture recordings, virtual classrooms, library resources and learning support.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit different requirements and budgets. Options include dedicated student accommodation and private rentals. See our long-term accommodation pages, or explore our student accommodation by Scape on Bank Street in Adelaide’s lively cultural precinct, an ideal location for students. It is within easy reach of UniSA’s city and metropolitan campuses, Rundle Mall shopping, the Central Market, Chinatown, and the West End’s vibrant nightlife. It is also across the road from the Adelaide train station, and on bus and tram routes.
Student services
Our student services provide you with all the support you need at university. You can access a full range of support services including academic and personal counselling, career advice, social support services, as well as those through our student association, USASA. When you become a UniSA student, you can also contact Campus Central for help with anything related to your degree. They will help you with your enrolment, ID cards, fees, timetables and more.
24/7 digital environment
Our learnonline facilities include a personal learning environment with virtual classrooms, lecture recordings, emails, learning support, administration, library access and results. The environment is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so you can tailor your learning to your life. We are continually investing in innovative digital technologies for a high-quality student learning experience.
Your program director
I have a strong background in intensive care and infection control, gained from working in public and private ICUs in Australia and overseas. As a former graduate of UniSA’s Nursing program and now Program Director of the postgraduate suite of Nursing and Midwifery programs, I greatly benefitted from real-world experiences in my studies, and understand how important it is to help students achieve their career goals. In addition to hands-on learning, I also ensure my teaching is closely informed by industry, where I have close connections with key groups including education, ICU, perioperative, and more.
Ask UniSA
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How do I apply?
The way you apply for UniSA will depend on the undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree you're interested in studying.
The majority of applications are made via the South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC). Check out more information on the SATAC website and follow the appropriate process for your degree of interest.
There are a small number of degrees that you need to apply for through direct application processes. The process you need to follow will be listed on the 'How to Apply' section of the degree homepage, but you'll also be taken to where you need to go if you hit the 'apply' button.
If you are interested in studying one of our 100% online degrees you'll need to apply directly to UniSA Online.
You can find more information about the application processes for UniSA on our How to Apply webpage.
If you're more interested in applying for a postgraduate degree by research, check out and follow the information in our step by step guide to applying. -
Is there a closing date for applications?
Applications for all degrees will close ahead of study commencing, but the timelines may vary for undergraduate and postgraduate degrees.
Undergraduate
The deadline to apply to study a degree at UniSA for semester one (commencing late February) and be guaranteed equal consideration is generally in very late November or early December. While you may be able to apply after this date, you are not guaranteed to be considered equally with other applicants and your application may not be assessed in time for the main round of offers. More competitive degrees may not make any offers after the main offer round. Find more information on the Key Dates section of the SATAC website, but you can also call the Future Student Enquiries team for more information on 08 8302 376.
Postgraduate
Many postgraduate by coursework degrees do not have set closing dates. The exceptions are highly competitive degrees, so it is best to check – either on the degree homepage on the SATAC website or by checking with our Future Student Enquiries team.
As most postgraduate applications are assessed as they are submitted and offers are continuous, there are no set closing dates for applications. Degrees can be filled and closed with little notice so it is best to apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out on a place. For more information, please contact our Future Student Enquires team on (08) 8302 2376 or submit an enquiry.
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What credit can I receive for previous studies?
You may be eligible for credit or advanced standing for your chosen UniSA degree based on your previous studies, if they are in a related area and completed within a certain timeframe. Receiving credit or RPL will reduce the number of courses you undertake within the degree, and may also reduce the overall duration of your degree. You can read more about our pre-existing credit agreements through our online Credit Assessor. If you have related industry experience, you may also be eligible to receive recognised prior learning (RPL) for this experience. Credit and RPL is assessed by the Program Director once you've received an offer, and you apply through UniSA's current student experts, Campus Central.
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Can I speak to someone regarding my study options?
Future Student Enquiries welcomes the opportunity to meet with you to discuss your study options at UniSA. We can discuss degree information, entry requirements and pathways, applications, general career outcomes and student life, so you have the information to make the best study decision for your future. Head to our Book an Appointment webpage to find a date and time to speak with us, and take your next steps on journey to university study.
What others are saying
UniSA teaching staff have a broad range of knowledge and experience, they help develop confident nurses who are able to contribute to the ongoing learning and change that the nursing profession needs. The staff welcomed questions that challenged age-old concepts and practices that brought about change to better practice and patient outcomes.
Nina Collyer
Master of Nursing
The Masters studies further developed my confidence in my ability to think critically and to conceptualise at a strategic level. It was directly applicable to my work, especially in the areas of operational nursing leadership, management and leading state-wide projects. In my role I feel very privileged to provide advice and to have the opportunity to influence on matters related to nursing and midwifery at a state and national level.
Julie Brown
Master of Nursing (Leadership and Management)* Now Master of Nursing
Senior Nursing and Midwifery Policy Advisor | SA Department for Health and Wellbeing
Staff who have upskilled with postgraduate study really shine through as motivated workers. We often employ people with postgraduate qualifications in our managerial positions as they have equipped themselves with those extra specialised skills.
Jo Boylan
Director of Operations | Southern Cross Care
The University of South Australia understands that quality teaching in nursing and midwifery goes hand-in-hand with industry partnerships. They work collaboratively across all health care services to design industry-informed curriculum.
Jennifer Fereday
Executive Director | Women’s and Children’s Health Network
