Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion

The Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion at Deakin University is designed for those who wish to build a strong foundation in nursing while also gaining expertise in public health and health promotion. Over four years of full-time study, students undertake a broad and balanced curriculum that integrates the science, theory and practice of nursing with core principles in public health, disease prevention, and health education. The program allows students to develop clinical competence while understanding the interplay between individual care and community health strategies.

Australian bachelor's degrees are typically divided into multiple semesters, and this double degree is structured accordingly, comprising both core nursing units and public health and health promotion units. Students accumulate credit points through successful completion of the required subjects, and benefit from a curriculum that blends academic learning with extensive professional experience. A significant feature is work-integrated learning, particularly in nursing, where students participate in supervised clinical placements in hospitals and community settings across Australia.

The curriculum covers essential nursing skills (such as acute care, mental health nursing, and chronic disease management), alongside public health subjects exploring epidemiology, policy, health behaviour change, and promotion methods. Students also develop evidence-based research and communication skills, which are central to both nursing practice and effective health promotion. This course is ideal for individuals committed to improving health outcomes at both personal and population levels, who value both one-on-one patient care and broader public health initiatives. Entry for international students requires demonstration of English proficiency, commonly through IELTS Academic 7.0; other accepted tests include TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and Cambridge C1 Advanced. More details can be found on the official course page.

• Registered Nurse in acute, community, or specialist health settings
• Health Promotion Officer in government, non-profit, or private sector
• Community Health Worker
• Public Health Project Officer or Policy Adviser
• Health Educator or Program Coordinator
• Roles in health advocacy or chronic disease prevention organisations

Australian graduates can seek professional recognition for nursing and may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485). Nursing and public health professionals are in demand in healthcare services, aged care, government departments, public health agencies and community welfare organisations. International students are permitted to work 48 hours per fortnight while studying in Australia.