You're viewing degree information for International students
You're considered an International student if you are:
- NOT an Australian or New Zealand citizen
- NOT an Australian Permanent Resident (including Humanitarian Visa holders)
Discipline info for International students
Interested in Nursing or Midwifery?
Nurses and midwives make up the largest sector in Australia's health workforce,1 delivering care at critical times in people's lives.
As trusted professionals working at the forefront of healthcare, Australia’s demand for nurses and midwives is expected to grow further over the next decade.1 The healthcare industry is constantly changing with new technologies and approaches to care, meeting the unique and ever-changing needs of individuals and communities. UniSA's nursing and midwifery programs are evolving with these changes, ensuring you'll graduate career ready and confident to step into all kinds of healthcare settings, while emphasising an approach to lifelong learning.
With industry opportunities in metropolitan, rural and regional hospitals, primary health care providers, aged care and specialist care areas, your unstoppable career in Nursing or Midwifery starts with SA’s number one university for graduate careers.2
Midwifery
Our Bachelor of Midwifery will develop your practice to work in partnership with women and other pregnant people by providing holistic care throughout pregnancy, labour, birth and the postnatal period. You will be actively involved in a minimum of 30 births, and assist with pre- and post-birth care across a variety of South Australian industry placements.
Your Continuity of Care Experience (COCE) will have you follow the antenatal, labour, birth, and postnatal journeys of 15 women and pregnant people. This valuable experience will deepen your understanding of the midwife's role within the childbirth journey, and offer opportunity to advocate for and compassionately meet the diverse health needs of families from varied backgrounds.
Nursing
UniSA’s Bachelor of Nursing offers you an industry-relevant, practical qualification, ensuring you graduate confident to step straight into clinical practice in a variety of settings as a Registered Nurse (RN). Engage with 1,000 hours of nursing placements from your first year of study with our extensive network of acclaimed industry partners, and build your confidence with 150 hours of on-campus simulated workshops in the clinician-led Horizon Hospital and Health Service.
Regional and Flexible Study
Both the Bachelor of Nursing and Bachelor of Midwifery are available to study on-campus at our City East, Mount Gambier, and Whyalla campuses, allowing you meet the growing demand for healthcare in a regional and remote areas across Australia. You can also study externally, allowing you to study the majority of your courses online and then participate in on-campus workshops and industry placements in a variety of healthcare settings.
Postgraduate Study
We offer postgraduate qualifications recognised Australia-wide, ranging from Graduate Certificates to Master degrees. Depending on your career goals, your further study may lead you to develop specialist clinical qualifications, expand your research capacities, or influence policy and practice in a senior leadership role.
No matter your stage of studies, you will be supported by and learn from internationally-renowned researchers. Our research is focused on outcomes relevant to the clinical translation of national health priorities and is ranked well above world-class in both nursing and midwifery3.
Studying a nursing or midwifery degree at UniSA is your opportunity to have a positive impact on health outcomes, advance your leadership skills, and to influence clinical practice and policy.
¹Commonwealth of Australia, Nurses and Midwives in Australia, 2020. 2ComparED (QILT) Graduate Outcomes Survey 2021-23– Full-time Employment Indicator (Domestic Undergraduate). SA public universities. 32018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA).
Key features
-
Study at a university ranked in the World Top 100 for nursing.1
- Join the No.1 university in South Australia for graduate careers in nursing2.
-
Put your studies into real-world practice with placements from your first year and experience what it’s like to work as a midwife or nurse in clinical settings throughout your studies.
-
Enjoy the flexibility of online and on-campus learning, with digital learning resources available to you 24/7.
-
Learn in our unique, clinician-led, authentic simulated hospital and health service on campus with guidance from expert clinical and academic staff.
- Learn from a curriculum ranked well above world-class in both nursing and midwifery and learn from internationally-renowned researchers.3
12025 QS Subject Rankings. 2ComparED (QILT) Graduate Outcomes Survey 2021-23 – Overall Employment Indicator (Domestic Undergraduate). SA public universities. 32018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA).
UniSA is an unstoppable university for unstoppable people. As one of the World’s Top Young Universities,1 we’ll ensure you get the experience your future profession demands so it’ll feel like you’re studying one minute and in your career the next.
Hands-On Learning
You’ll do much of your learning in UniSA's clinician-led, simulated hospital and health services on campus, allowing you to build your confidence and skills in a safe learning environment modelled on real-world facilities.
You'll also benefit from UniSA's extensive clinical alliances with local health networks, major hospitals, private health providers, rural health networks, aged care services and mental health services, including the not-for-profit sector.
Industry Research
Our enterprising spirit has made UniSA a renowned centre of innovation in Australia’s future industry. UniSA’s nursing and midwifery qualifications prepare you to deliver the highest quality care to a variety of individuals and groups, as well as meet and respond to Australian and international health challenges and priorities.
One of the benefits of our strong nursing history is the ability to attract and retain internationally renowned researchers. Our well above world-class research in midwifery and nursing2 focuses on outcomes relevant to the clinical translation of national health priority areas, where we can demonstrate improved health outcomes, consumer satisfaction, and economic savings.
UniSA is home to the Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre and the Suicide Prevention Research and Education Group. Both pioneer the important role of the nursing and midwifery professions in the health system to improve lives across the health continuum.
1Ranked #43, 2024 THE Young University Rankings. 22018 Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA).
UniSA offers the following Nursing or Midwifery degrees
Choose your level of study
Professional Certificates and Short Courses
Refresh your skills and explore new areas of interest with a short course.
Designed in collaboration with expert academics, our professional certificates and short program content equips you you industry-relevant and up-to-date knowledge that is directly applicable into your workplace. Current short programs include:
World-class partners for a world-class university
We are a globally connected university with over 2,500 industry and professional relationships that support student internships, research and community engagement.
Registered Nurses contribute to the patient care imperative to a wide variety of healthcare settings, such as:
- hospitals
- primary health and community support services
- residential and rehabilitative care
- schools
- home care
- drug and alcohol treatment centres
- community health organisations
- mental health services
- international aid agencies
- corrections facilities
- management
- research
Further postgraduate study can further your career of care in key specialist areas including mental health, critical care, health and ageing, nurse education, leadership and management, Nurse Practitioner roles, and more.
Midwives are at the forefront of maternal care in Australia, working in multidisciplinary healthcare teams in settings, such as:
- community services
- public or private hospitals
- rural and remote healthcare
- home-based services
- health agencies
- midwifery education
- research
Further postgraduate study can help you make advanced contribution to midwifery practice, build important industry relationships, and step into leadership roles to better shape natal care.
Global networks
As a globally connected university, our staff and students come from over 90 countries. We have more than 2,500 industry and professional relationships that support student internships, research and community engagement. You may build your professional networks while studying and complete placements and internships with organisations like:
- Royal Adelaide Hospital
- Calvary Health Care SA
- Flinders Medical Centre
- Women’s and Children’s Health Network
- Lyell McEwin Hospital
- Adelaide and Country Mental Health Services
- Helping Hand Residential Care Homes
- Disability SA
- Local health networks across South Australia
Industry facts
Thinking of studying soon?
2025
Ready to start your studies in 2025? You can apply to the University of Adelaide or UniSA now before continuing on to the new Adelaide University in 2026.
When the time comes to transfer, we’ll be here at every step, ensuring you’re well supported with personalised advice and a detailed study plan.
2026
Planning to start your studies in 2026? You can apply to Adelaide University directly.
Applications are currently open for international students and will open for Australian students in August 2025.
Have any questions? We're here to help! Contact Adelaide University's Future Student Enquiries Team.
Ask UniSA
-
How do I apply?
There are a number of ways to apply to study UniSA's undergraduate and postgraduate coursework degrees.
You can access our online International Application System through our How to Apply page. The International Application System is an easy and secure online application and acceptance process. You will have visibility of your application through the secure online portal with the ability to download offer documents, submit your acceptance and make a payment.
Alternatively you can submit an application through one of the University's registered Education Agents.
If you are completing an Australian year 12 qualification in Australia or overseas, or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme in Australia, you must apply through SATAC http://www.satac.edu.au/.
If you are applying for the UniSA Study Abroad or Study Abroad Plus program, you can submit your application online here.
Postgraduate study by research
For information on applying to do postgraduate study by research, including Masters by Research, PhDs or Doctorates, please visit http://unisa.edu.au/resdegrees. -
Is there a closing date for applications?
There is no closing date for submitting your application however the admissions process takes between one and three weeks from the date that we receive your application and all required supporting documentation.
If you are completing an Australian year 12 qualification in Australia or overseas, or the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme in Australia, you must apply through SATAC. Key dates for applications can be found here.
-
What credit can I receive for previous studies?
You may be eligible to receive credit or advanced standing for your chosen UniSA degree based on your previous studies, if they are in a related area at an equivalent or higher level. Receiving credit will reduce the number of courses you undertake within the degree, and may also reduce the overall duration of your degree.
The amount of credit you may be eligible to receive is assessed on a case-by-case basis by the Admissions team.
The best way to determine your eligibility to receive credit or advanced standing is to apply using our International Application System which can be found on our How to Apply page. You will need to supply detailed syllabus documents with your application.
-
Can I speak to someone regarding my study options?
UniSA welcomes the opportunity to speak with you regarding your study options. Our staff are able to talk to you about degree information, career outcomes and pathways, entry requirements, applications, and student life, so that you are able to make the best study decision for your future.
Click here to book a 1:1 appointment with one of our enquiries team.
We also have many events throughout the year in Australia and overseas where you can speak with UniSA representatives about your area of interest. View our calendar of events in your home country by selecting the 'International' filter.
Study at UniSA
In this Career Snapshot for Nursing and Midwifery, hear from our industry partners and two of our graduates about their experience studying at UniSA and moving into their career in clinical practice.
What others are saying
The authentic simulated settings are great because you are able to put theoretical knowledge into practice in a clinical setting.
Robyn Warner-Todd
Bachelor of Nursing
I loved learning from Registered Nurses who taught from experience, not just books. They demonstrated first-hand how the profession is progressing.
Ella Head
Bachelor of Nursing
Being a nurse allows me to build bonds with patients and their relatives and gives me a sense of achievement and satisfaction by helping improve patients’ health conditions.
Amber Jenkins
Bachelor of Nursing
My involvement in the rural health club at university provided me with a different view into the health care system and offered great networking opportunities around Australia.
Martins Strikis, Registered Nurse, Mount Gambier Community Mental Health Service
Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Nursing
I am the inaugural recipient of the Gwendoline Dinah Henderson Annual Midwifery Scholarship, named in honour of a highly decorated WW2 nurse who hoped to support regional and rural nurses to undertake midwifery training. This scholarship has helped me cover costs whilst on clinical placements, being placed in both metropolitan and regional hospitals where I gained a wonderful insight into a range of incredible experiences.
Rosie Wallace
Bachelor of Nursing, Bachelor of Midwifery
Registered Nurse | Port Pirie Hospital
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
Why study at UniSA?
As one of the most innovative universities in Australia and Asia, there are many reasons to study with us. Here are just three:
Accessible, helpful and flexible
We have six campuses, a 24/7 online learning environment, and we offer flexible study options like online and evening courses.
Graduate success
UniSA is South Australia's number one university for graduate careers.*
*ComparED (QILT) Graduate Outcomes Survey 2019-21 – Full-time Employment Indicator (Undergraduate). SA public universities.
A five star university
Five stars for research, employability, teaching, facilities, internationalisation, inclusiveness and innovation*
*2023 QS Stars Ratings
