Bachelor of Nursing

The Bachelor of Nursing at the University of Tasmania is a three-year degree that prepares you to register and work as a nurse in Australia. It's an accredited programme, so you graduate eligible to apply for registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia through AHPRA. The degree mixes classroom study with supervised clinical practice in hospitals, community health settings and aged care, and you'll spend a substantial part of the course on placement rather than in a lecture theatre.

How the degree is structured

Australian bachelor degrees are built on units of study, each worth a set number of credit points. You complete a required set of units across the three years, usually full-time, with semesters running through the year. The nursing curriculum covers anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, mental health nursing, aged care, community and primary health, Indigenous health, legal and ethical responsibilities, and research methods. Later units focus on complex care and clinical decision-making.

Because nursing is a regulated profession, the clinical placement hours are part of the accreditation requirement, not an optional extra. You'll be assessed on your practical skills as well as your written work. The final year often includes a transition-to-practice placement where you work more independently under supervision, which is the closest thing to a capstone before you register.

What you'll learn and who it suits

You'll learn to assess patients, administer medications, interpret observations, communicate with families and work in a team under pressure. You'll also learn how to look at evidence and question practice, because nurses are expected to keep learning after graduation. The degree suits people who want a hands-on health career with clear registration at the end, and who are comfortable with shift work, direct patient contact and continuing study. It also suits school leavers and mature-age students changing careers.

Entry requirements, English language standards and tuition are set by the university and published on the CRICOS register. Nursing sits at the higher end of English requirements, so check the current IELTS or equivalent score before you apply. International students on a Student visa can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while studying, and graduates may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. Confirm all details on the official University of Tasmania page and the CRICOS listing for course code 102253H.

• Registered Nurse in public and private hospitals across Australia, including medical, surgical, emergency and critical care wards.
• Aged care nurse in residential facilities and community aged care providers.
• Mental health nurse in inpatient units, community mental health teams and crisis services.
• Community and primary health nurse in general practice, Aboriginal community controlled health organisations and outreach services.
• Paediatric or maternal health nurse in hospitals, child health services and family support programmes.
• Rural and remote area nurse, a common pathway in Tasmania and mainland regional health services.
• Further study towards postgraduate nursing, midwifery, nurse practitioner or research roles.