Q: Can you study undergraduate nursing online in Australia?

You can study some of an undergraduate nursing degree online, but not all of it. That’s because you need to complete at least 800 hours of supervised clinical placements before you can become a nurse in Australia . These placements must happen in a simulated environment on a university campus and in real healthcare settings. For that reason, we don’t currently offer an online Bachelor of Nursing through Open Universities Australia. However, if you’d like to qualify for entry into a Bachelor of Science (Nursing), you can do so by studying Curtin University’s Undergraduate Certificate in Health Sciences online through us. This 4-subject starter course is designed for students who didn’t achieve the necessary ATAR for nursing, and is theoretical in nature, so it can be completed fully online.

Question 1

Why are most of the nursing courses here postgraduate courses?

Accepted Answer

Most of the nursing courses available through our marketplace are postgraduate, because you can upskill in nursing online, but you can’t learn the fundamentals.

These courses will suit you if you are already qualified as a registered nurse, but you would like to specialise in a new area of care or become a senior leader. Generally, the study content is academic and will not require clinical placement away from your desk.

Question 2

Can you study undergraduate nursing online in Australia?

Accepted Answer

You can study some of an undergraduate nursing degree online, but not all of it. That’s because you need to complete at least 800 hours of supervised clinical placements before you can become a nurse in Australia. These placements must happen in a simulated environment on a university campus and in real healthcare settings. For that reason, we don’t currently offer an online Bachelor of Nursing through Open Universities Australia.

However, if you’d like to qualify for entry into a Bachelor of Science (Nursing), you can do so by studying Curtin University’s Undergraduate Certificate in Health Sciences online through us. This 4-subject starter course is designed for students who didn’t achieve the necessary ATAR for nursing, and is theoretical in nature, so it can be completed fully online.

Question 3

How long is a postgraduate nursing degree?

Accepted Answer

It depends on what you study. As a rule, this is how long online postgraduate courses for nurses run in Australia:

Graduate certificates require 6 months of full-time study or equivalent
Graduate diplomas require 12 months of full-time study or equivalent
Masters degrees require 2 years of full-time study or equivalent

But we know you’re busy with work, life and family. When you enrol through us, you can choose how many subjects you study at once. That means you can dictate how long it takes to complete your nursing degree.

Question 4

Is a postgraduate nursing degree hard?

Accepted Answer

Studying a postgraduate nursing degree can be tough, but incredibly rewarding. To succeed, you should be prepared to tackle theoretical research from the inside out. Most of our postgraduate students spend at least 12 hours a week on reading and research per subject, but you’ll need to set aside even more time if you’re completing a dissertation or research project as part of your studies. You can gauge how intensive a subject is likely to be by looking it up on our website. Check the reading list, assessments and prior study required before you enrol.

Remember—while you’ll be studying online, you will never be in this alone. You will still be able to virtually collaborate with classmates and receive advice from staff with years of clinical experience. You can lean on them for support as you progress through your qualification.

Question 5

Is an online nursing degree recognised?

Accepted Answer

The nursing degrees available through Open Universities Australia are all recognised by public and private healthcare organisations. We only partner with accredited Australian universities.

Question 6

Can I study nursing for free through Open Universities Australia in 2023?

Accepted Answer

You might have seen that the Victorian government is offering future nurses and midwives the chance to study their degrees for free in 2023 and 2024.

This initiative only covers undergraduate degrees in Victoria, so it doesn't apply to the online postgraduate courses available through us. If you’d like to read more about the program though, you can do so here.

Question 7

How much is a postgraduate nursing degree in Australia?

Accepted Answer

It depends on a few things, including the duration of your course, the complexity of the study content, and the university you study with.

The cost of your postgraduate nursing degree could range from $4,500 for a short graduate certificate to $35,000 for an advanced masters degree. However, all online postgraduate courses available through us are covered by FEE-HELP. This means that if you’re eligible, you won’t have to pay the cost of your course upfront.

Question 8

How do I know if I’m eligible to apply for a course?

Accepted Answer

Before starting an enrolment, it’s important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you’re eligible to apply. If you don’t quite meet the requirements, we may be able to help you gain entry through prior study or work experience. Chat with us to find out more.

Question 9

Why should I study online through Open Universities Australia?

Accepted Answer

There are a lot of reasons to study your course online through us.

You have total control over how you study
Upskill without committing to a whole degree upfront. Or enrol in a full degree, but take it a subject at a time. We help you access flexible study options you didn’t even know about, so you can fit uni around what matters to you.
You’ll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student
While you enrol through us, you will study online with the university that provides your degree. So you can rest assured that you’ll graduate with the same qualification as an on-campus student. In fact, your certificate won't even mention our name. We're just here to make all that tricky uni administration easier.
We’ll help you navigate the university world
Our friendly student advisors will be your guide every step of the enrolment journey. They'll help you compare universities, choose a course, provide documentation and understand your finance options.

Question 10

How do I enrol?

Accepted Answer

Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.

When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Apply now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.