Course overview
Gain the ethical understanding, knowledge and skills you need to become a successful registered nurse with Deakin's Bachelor of Nursing – launching you into a career where you make a real difference. Ranked #16 in the world for nursing*, this course prepares you to provide high-quality, safe, patient-centred care in a range of settings. Our state-of-the-art Clinical Simulation Centres, replicating real-world health service facilities, prepare you for your professional experience placements.
Professional experience placements begin in Trimester 1 of first year and throughout every trimester of the course, totalling 800 hours. Supported by qualified and experienced clinicians, you will care for people from diverse cultural backgrounds in various metropolitan, regional and rural healthcare settings, enabling application of knowledge and further skill development. Join Victoria's #1 university for nursing teaching practices, facilities and support services.^
Ready to get hands-on experience in a clinical setting as soon as you begin studying?
Under the supervision of registered nurses, you will gain real-world experience by working with multidisciplinary healthcare teams across areas including:
- acute/sub-acute care
- medical and surgical care
- aged care
- rehabilitation
- paediatrics
- community health settings
- mental health care settings.
Secure your future career, with registered nurse job opportunities expected to grow by 12.2% by 2028.#
Healthcare is one of the most important priorities for populations worldwide, with nurses playing a pivotal role in delivering quality and safe services. Thanks to our extensive clinical partnership network with many of Victoria’s major healthcare providers, this course is designed to ensure you gain the leadership knowledge and hands-on skills that are most relevant to employers in the healthcare sector.
Ranked #16* in the world, our School of Nursing and Midwifery is one of Australia’s most research-active schools and boasts some of the best facilities and resources available. Our Clinical Simulation Centres provide a safe, supportive and realistic environment for you to develop and hone essential nursing skills. At the centres (based on every campus) you will use case-based scenarios that will become more complex as your nursing degree progresses.
Deakin’s Bachelor of Nursing is developed in consultation with our healthcare partners, ensuring you’re always connected to those at the forefront of industry. The course is accredited by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) and approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), enabling clear career outcomes upon graduation.
Would you like to enhance your leadership potential? You may be interested in our Bachelor of Nursing (Clinical Leadership) - the only undergraduate degree of its kind in Victoria. A specialist degree that matches the structure of all the core units from our Bachelor of Nursing but with three additional core units focused on developing and enhancing your leadership potential. You will also receive unique mentored learning experiences in clinical settings, observing and working alongside nurse leaders from our partner organisations, and experienced academics from our School of Nursing and Midwifery.
Discover our nursing and midwifery courses.
*2023 ShanghaiRankings Global Ranking of Academic Subjects
^Student Experience Survey 2021-2022 based on undergraduate nursing students. Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT).
#2023 Occupation Projections - for the ten years to 2033, Australian Government, Jobs and Skills Australia
Current Deakin Students
To access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook
Course information
- Award granted
- Bachelor of Nursing
- Year
2025 course information
- VTAC code
- 1400414351 - Waterfront (Geelong), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
1400514351 - Burwood (Melbourne), Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
1400714351 - Warrnambool, Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS) - Deakin code
- H326
- CRICOS code?
- 018327G Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong), Warrnambool
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7
Course structure
To complete the Bachelor of Nursing students must pass 24 credit points. Units (think of units as 'subjects') may be worth 1 or 2 credit points - select each unit to check its credit point value in the course structure below. Most students choose to study 4 credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters each year.
The course comprises a total of 24 credit points which must include:
- 17 core units worth 21 credit points (these are compulsory)
- 3 elective units (you can choose which ones to study) worth 3 credit points
- 1 elective must be a course elective unit from the School of Nursing and Midwifery approved list.
There is an expectation that you are available to undertake professional experience placements outside of trimester dates. All expenses associated with professional experience placements are your responsibility.
All commencing Faculty of Health Undergraduate and Postgraduate course work students are required to complete DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first trimester of study.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Core units
Course structure applies for students who commenced in 2022 onwards. Students who commenced prior to 2022 should contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
Level 1 - Trimester 1
Level 1 - Trimester 2
Level 2 - Trimester 1
Students must complete HNN215 and HNN227 in the same trimester
plus one elective/course elective unit
Level 2 - Trimester 2
plus one elective/course elective unit
Students must complete HNN217 and HNN222 in the same trimester
Level 3 - Trimester 1
plus one elective/course elective unit
Level 3 - Trimester 2
Course Elective Units
Students must undertake one elective unit from the list below. For the two other elective units, students may take electives from any School of the University provided that prerequisites are met. At least one of the three electives must be taken at level two or three. Students must select units in consultation a Student Adviser in Student Central.
International study tour course elective:
Inter Professional Education (IPE) course elective:
Other course elective units:
Intakes by location
The availability of a course varies across locations and intakes. This means that a course offered in Trimester 1 may not be offered in the same location for Trimester 2 or 3. Check each intake for up-to-date information on when and where you can commence your studies.
Trimester 1 - March
- Start date: March
- Available at:
- Burwood (Melbourne)
- Waterfront (Geelong)
- Warrnambool
Deakin splits the academic year into three terms, known as trimesters. Most students usually undertake two trimesters each year (March-June, July-November).
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students can apply directly through the NIKERI Institute.
Course duration
Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.
Mandatory student checks
Department of Health – Safety Screening Requirements - Police Record Check, Working With Children Check and Immunisation Status
Police Record Check
In accordance with the Department of Health policy, all students are required to undertake a Police Record Check prior to professional experience placements in each calendar year of their course. Students who fail to obtain a Police Record Check prior to the commencement of professional experience placement will not be able to undertake professional experience placement and this will impede progress in the course.
Working With Children Check
In accordance with the Worker Screening Act 2020, all students are required to undertake a Working with Children Check at the commencement of their course. Students who fail to obtain a Working with Children Check prior to the commencement of professional experience placement will not be able to undertake professional experience placement and this will impede progress in the course.
Immunisation Status
Students are required to declare their immunisation status to satisfy the requirements of health organisations where they will be undertaking their clinical learning experience. A health organisation may refuse to accept a student for placement if the student’s immunisation status is not satisfactory to the health organisation.
Workload
As a student in the Faculty of Health you can expect to participate in a range of learning activities each week. This may include lectures, seminars, simulations, and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.
Participation requirements
Professional experience placement can occur at any time, including during the standard holiday breaks.
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability.
Inherent requirements
A number of inherent requirements are essential to safely perform the skills and functions of the nursing role and consequently to undertake and successfully complete the course. Learn more about the School of Nursing and Midwifery's Undergraduate Courses Inherent Requirements.
Work experience
Professional experience practice
Professional experience placements are conducted throughout your course beginning in Trimester 1 of your first year. This early exposure to the clinical environment gives you extensive opportunities to develop clinical skills under the supervision of registered nurses and enables you to experience being part of a multidisciplinary health care team. You will gain clinical experience in a variety of settings including acute/sub-acute care, medical and surgical care, aged care, rehabilitation, community nursing and mental health nursing. These may be undertaken in hospitals and community health care centres in metropolitan, rural and regional areas.
To be eligible to undertake placements, you are required to supply mandatory documents (prerequisites) including police checks, working with children check and immunisation status.
Entry requirements
Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements, and individual circumstances. You will need to meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.
Please note, there are limited places in this course and entry is competitive. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.
If you don't meet the academic entry requirements as outlined in the tabs below, or haven't completed Year 12, or don't hold any relevant qualifications, the STAT (Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test) Multiple Choice (MC) may be an option for you to meet course entry requirements.
Academic requirements
Current or recent secondary education
If you're currently studying Year 12, or completed Year 12 in the last two years, you will need to meet all the following criteria to be considered for admission to this degree:
Year 12 prerequisite subjects
- Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 30 in English EAL (English as an Additional Language) or at least 25 in English other than EAL
ATAR
- Senior Secondary Certificate of Education with an unadjusted ATAR of at least 50 or equivalent
Higher education
If you have undertaken higher education studies after secondary schooling, you will need to meet all the following criteria to be considered for admission to this degree:
- successful completion of at least two bachelor level or above units (AQF Level 7 or equivalent)
Vocational education
If you have undertaken any Vocational Education and Training (VET) study after secondary school, you will need to meet at least one of following criteria to be considered for admission to this degree:
- completion of a certificate IV or higher in a related discipline
- completion of a diploma or higher in any discipline
- at least 50% completion of a diploma or higher in a related discipline
Work and life experience
If you finished Year 12 more than three years ago, or did not finish Year 12, and haven’t undertaken any further study, you may be considered for admission to this degree based on your work, volunteer and/or life experience.
Submit a personal statement outlining your motivation to study, previous education and employment history, and how this course can assist your career aspirations or progression. Think of it as a job application cover letter – it should be relevant and demonstrate your commitment and interest in this course or study area.
English language proficiency requirements
Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have achieved the required minimum scores in one of the following English language tests and meet the requirements for test results specified in the NMBA English language skills registration standard:
- IELTS (Academic): minimum overall band of 7.0 (with no individual band less than 7.0)
- OET: minimum score of B in each of the four bands
- PTE Academic: minimum score of 65 (with no communication band less than 65)
ANMAC additional English language proficiency requirements
In addition to meeting the Deakin English language requirement, it is an Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) accreditation requirement that applicants meet the English language requirements of the ANMAC Accreditation Standards leading to initial registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) at commencement of their course.
These requirements include a self- declaration that English is their primary language, evidence of achievement of the minimum English language test result as specified in the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia's (NMBA) English language skills registration standard, or hold current registration with The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) as an Enrolled Nurse or Registered Nurse.
Nursing English Language Requirements Self-Declaration
VTAC applicants will be provided with this information via the VTAC application process. No offer can be made to an applicant who has not completed this declaration.
Primary language
The NMBA requirement is that English is your primary language and you have attended and satisfactorily completed at least six years of primary and secondary education taught and assessed solely in English, including at least two years between years 7 and 12. This education must have been completed in one or more of the following countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America.
Selection adjustments
Subject adjustment
A study score of 35 in Biology, any English, Health and Human Development or any Mathematics equals 3 aggregate points per study.
A study score of 30 in Biology, English other than EAL, Health and Human Development or any Mathematics equals 2 aggregate points per study. Overall maximum of 12 points.
Access and equity
Special entry access schemes (SEAS) enable Deakin to consider disadvantaged circumstances you may have experienced and the impact upon your studies. SEAS also allows us to identify if you’re from under-represented groups when making selection decisions for some courses. SEAS does not exempt you from meeting any of the course entry requirements. Learn more about Deakin’s special entry access schemes.
Admissions information
Learn more about Deakin courses and how we compare to other universities when it comes to the quality of our teaching and learning. We're also committed to admissions transparency. Read about our first intake of 2024 students (PDF, 793KB) – their average ATARs, whether they had any previous higher education experience and more.
Not sure if you can get into Deakin? Discover the different entry pathways we offer and study options available to you, no matter your ATAR or education history.
Recognition of prior learning
The University aims to provide students with as much credit as possible for approved prior study or informal learning which exceeds the normal entrance requirements for the course and is within the constraints of the course regulations. Students are required to complete a minimum of one-third of the course at Deakin University, or four credit points, whichever is the greater.
You can also refer to the recognition of prior learning (RPL) system which outlines the credit that may be granted towards a Deakin University degree and how to apply for credit.
Enrolled Nurses
Enrolled nurses who hold a Diploma of Nursing (approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia) and are registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA), can be granted up to 8 credit points of Recognition of prior learning (RPL) towards the Bachelor of Nursing. Enrolled Nurse applicants must provide a copy of their official transcript/completion certificate and a copy of their current NMBA registration.
Note: students in this cohort must commence their studies in trimester 1 only. If students choose to intermit their studies for their first trimester, they must intermit for a full year.
Please obtain further clarification by contacting a Student Adviser in Student Central.
Fees and scholarships
Fee information
Learn more about fees.
The tuition fees you pay will depend on the units you choose, as each unit has its own cost. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only and represents the typical first-year tuition fees for students enrolled in this course. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the time it takes to complete your course and any approved Recognition of prior learning you have.
Each unit you enrol in has a credit point value. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together 8 credit points of a typical combination of units for this course. Eight credit points is used as it represents a typical full-time enrolment load for a year. You can find the credit point value of each unit under the Unit Description by searching for the unit in the handbook.
Learn more about fees and available payment options on our Current students fees website.
Scholarship options
A Deakin scholarship could help you pay for your course fees, living costs and study materials. If you've got something special to offer Deakin - or maybe you just need a bit of extra support - we've got a scholarship opportunity for you. Search or browse through our scholarships
In 2022, the Victorian Government announced a range of government-administered scholarships for eligible students commencing nursing and midwifery studies in 2023 and 2024. For information about the eligibility criteria, application process and payment arrangements please visit Undergraduate (entry-to-practice) nursing and midwifery scholarships.
Apply now
Applications for Trimester 1, 2025 are open.
We've helped over 300,000 Deakin graduates across Australia and throughout the world apply with confidence. In Year 12? Follow these how to apply steps. Completed secondary education in or prior to 2021? Follow these how to apply steps.
Courses at Deakin are flexible and culturally inclusive. Explore the various ways you can apply to study this course - including through the NIKERI Institute and via the Indigenous Access Scheme.
Pathways
View pathways into the Bachelor of Nursing with our pathways finder.
Articulated courses
Contact information
Our friendly advisers are available to speak to you one-on-one about your study options, support services and how we can help you further your career.
- Call us: 1800 693 888 Monday – Friday, 9am–5pm
- Live Chat: Monday - Friday
- Submit an online enquiry
- Help hub find common and trending questions and answers
Careers
Want a degree that’s more than just a qualification? Our industry connections, world-class facilities and practical approach to learning are just some of the reasons why Deakin students graduate confident and ready to thrive in the jobs of tomorrow.
Career outcomes
As a Deakin nursing graduate, you will be highly sought after by industry for your nursing knowledge, critical thinking, problem solving and communication skills, professionalism, and the ability to provide person-centred, evidence-based care – which is why we are proud to record a high graduate employment rate of over 93%.*
As a registered nurse, you can pursue career opportunities around the world in a range of work settings, including:
- hospitals
- homes
- hospices
- aged care settings
- clinics
- schools
- universities
- community health centres
- government agencies and private industries.
Given nursing is a diverse profession with a number of speciality practice areas available, it is expected that graduates will maintain professional development throughout their careers. This may include postgraduate degrees and/or research degrees, including masters degrees and PhDs.
*Graduate Outcomes Survey 2021-2023, based on overall employment for undergraduate nursing graduates, Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT).
Professional recognition
On successful completion of your course, you will be eligible to apply for registration as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).
The NMBA has mandatory registration standards that applicants need to meet to be registered. Core registration standards are available on the NMBA website.
This course is accredited with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) and is an NMBA approved course.
Course learning outcomes
Deakin's graduate learning outcomes describe the knowledge and capabilities graduates can demonstrate at the completion of their course. These outcomes mean that regardless of the Deakin course you undertake, you can rest assured your degree will teach you the skills and professional attributes that employers value. They'll set you up to learn and work effectively in the future.
| Course Learning Outcomes | Graduate Learning Outcomes |
| Apply nursing knowledge and capability in accordance with legal and ethical requirements to deliver comprehensive, holistic, culturally appropriate, evidence based, safe and quality care. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| Foster effective therapeutic and professional relationships to ensure safe and quality care across the lifespan. | GLO2: Communication |
| Use digital technologies in healthcare to locate, interpret and disseminate information and deliver quality and safe patient care. | GLO3: Digital literacy |
| Thinks critically, analyses evidence and evaluates outcomes to inform quality nursing practice. | GLO4: Critical thinking |
| Self-manage behaviours to develop and maintain critical nursing knowledge, understanding and skills to ensure capability for practice in self and others. | GLO6: Self-management |
Footnotes
*Graduate Outcomes Survey 2022, Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT)
^ShanghaiRanking's Ranking of Academic Subjects 2023
#Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible. Applications for this course may close prior to the published closing date if all places are filled.