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Professional Recognition

Course code J46

Master of Nursing (Graduate Entry)

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About this Course

This coursework Masters is a graduate entry program for applicants with a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline, with a strong focus on clinical practice and research which leads to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

The program will provide experiential and authentic learning opportunities, supplemented by theoretical components, to ensure graduates are industry-ready upon entry to practice.

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level

This course has been accredited by ECU as an AQF Level 9 Masters Degree (Coursework) Award.

Course code J46

Entry requirements

ECU admission and English language requirements apply.

See Course Entry for further information.

Fees

Commonwealth supported - estimated 1st year indicative fee AUD $4,450

See Fees and Scholarships for further information.

Duration

2 years full-time or part-time equivalent

See Course Details for further information.

Availability & Campus

Location Semester 1 Semester 2
Joondalup FT PT
Mount Lawley
South West
Online
*FT = Full-time study PT = Part-time study

About this Course

This coursework Masters is a graduate entry program for applicants with a Bachelor’s degree in any discipline, with a strong focus on clinical practice and research which leads to registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

The program will provide experiential and authentic learning opportunities, supplemented by theoretical components, to ensure graduates are industry-ready upon entry to practice.

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level

This course has been accredited by ECU as an AQF Level 9 Masters Degree (Coursework) Award.

Course code J46

CRICOS code 091870M

Entry requirements

ECU admission and English language requirements apply.

See Course Entry for further information.

Fees

International students - estimated 1st year indicative fee AUD $41,950

See Fees and Scholarships for further information.

Duration

2 years full-time

See Course Details for further information.

Availability & Campus

Location Semester 1 Semester 2
Joondalup FT
Mount Lawley
South West
Online
*FT = Full-time study PT = Part-time study

Course Entry

Admission requirements you'll need to meet for this course.

  • The following course-specific admission requirements are mandatory and must be satisfied by all applicants. These requirements are in addition to or supersede the minimum requirements outlined within the Academic admission requirements band section below.

    All applicants are required to have a bachelor's degree or master's degree, with a course weighted average mark of at least 60%, or equivalent as recognised by the University. A health science-based degree is desirable; all applicants are required to have a tertiary level unit in human biology (students who do not meet this requirement will be required to undertake a Health Science Preparation program at ECU).
    Prospective applicants are required to submit a curriculum vitae and a personal statement as part of their application. This is a competitive entry program and applications are assessed on academic merit.

    Academic admission requirements (Band 6) may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

    • Bachelor degree; or
    • Equivalent prior learning including at least five years relevant professional experience.
  • In addition to satisfying ECU minimum English standard requirements for this course, all applicants must also demonstrate English language proficiency as specified in the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia’s (NMBA) English language skills registration standard. (https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Registration-Standards/English-language-skills.aspx)

    These requirements are as follows:

    • IELTS Academic with a minimum overall score of 7.0 and a minimum score of 7.0 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking), or
    • Occupational English Test (OET) with a minimum score of B in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking), or
    • Pearson English Test (PTE) Academic with a minimum overall score of 65 and a minimum score of 65 in each of the four communicative skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking), or
    • TOEFL iBT with a minimum total score of 94 and the following minimum score in each section of the test:
      • 24 for listening
      • 24 for reading,
      • 27 for writing, and
      • 23 for speaking, or
    • Completion of at least six years of primary and secondary education taught and assessed solely in English in a recognised country as defined by the NMBA (including at least 2 years between years 7 and 12) with a supporting written declaration to confirm that your primary language is English, or
    • Completion of at least 5 years full-time equivalent continuous combined secondary and/or tertiary and/or vocational education taught and assessed in a recognised country as defined by the NMBA, with a supporting written declaration to confirm whether your primary language is English.  Note: The 5 years does not include the proposed ECU study. 

    Note:  English tests must be completed within 2 years of the proposed course commencement date and additional requirements may apply in relation to acceptable number of test sittings and combined scores across test sittings.

    ECU’s minimum English standard requirements for this course may be satisfied with one of the following:

    • Bachelor degree from an approved country;
    • Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at postgraduate level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent); or
    • Where accepted, equivalent prior learning, including at least five years relevant professional experience.

Course Entry

Admission requirements you'll need to meet for this course.

  • The following course-specific admission requirements are mandatory and must be satisfied by all applicants. These requirements are in addition to or supersede the minimum requirements outlined within the Academic admission requirements band section below.

    All applicants are required to have a bachelor's degree or master's degree, with a course weighted average mark of at least 60%, or equivalent as recognised by the University. A health science-based degree is desirable; all applicants are required to have a tertiary level unit in human biology (students who do not meet this requirement will be required to undertake a Health Science Preparation program at ECU).
    Prospective applicants are required to submit a curriculum vitae and a personal statement as part of their application. This is a competitive entry program and applications are assessed on academic merit.

    Academic admission requirements (Band 6) may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

    • Bachelor degree; or
    • Equivalent prior learning including at least five years relevant professional experience.
  • In addition to satisfying ECU minimum English standard requirements for this course, all applicants must also demonstrate English language proficiency as specified in the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia’s (NMBA) English language skills registration standard. (https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Registration-Standards/English-language-skills.aspx)

    These requirements are as follows:

    • IELTS Academic with a minimum overall score of 7.0 and a minimum score of 7.0 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking), or
    • Occupational English Test (OET) with a minimum score of B in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking), or
    • Pearson English Test (PTE) Academic with a minimum overall score of 65 and a minimum score of 65 in each of the four communicative skills (listening, reading, writing and speaking), or
    • TOEFL iBT with a minimum total score of 94 and the following minimum score in each section of the test:
      • 24 for listening
      • 24 for reading,
      • 27 for writing, and
      • 23 for speaking, or
    • Completion of at least six years of primary and secondary education taught and assessed solely in English in a recognised country as defined by the NMBA (including at least 2 years between years 7 and 12) with a supporting written declaration to confirm that your primary language is English, or
    • Completion of at least 5 years full-time equivalent continuous combined secondary and/or tertiary and/or vocational education taught and assessed in a recognised country as defined by the NMBA, with a supporting written declaration to confirm whether your primary language is English.  Note: The 5 years does not include the proposed ECU study. 

    Note:  English tests must be completed within 2 years of the proposed course commencement date and additional requirements may apply in relation to acceptable number of test sittings and combined scores across test sittings.

    ECU’s minimum English standard requirements for this course may be satisfied with one of the following:

    • Bachelor degree from an approved country;
    • Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at postgraduate level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent); or
    • Where accepted, equivalent prior learning, including at least five years relevant professional experience.

Course Details

Semester availability

Semester 1: Study full-time at Joondalup

Semester 1: Study part-time at Joondalup

Course Structure

Year 1 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
NSC6101Nursing Bioscience 120
NPP6106Nursing Practice 120
NCS6101Fundamentals of Nursing20
Year 1 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
NSC6102Nursing Bioscience 220
NPP6107Nursing Practice 220
NCS6100Nursing Cultural Studies20
Year 2 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
NSC6103Nursing Bioscience 320
NPP6108Nursing Practice 320
NSC6104Mental Health Disorders20
Year 2 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
MNP6101Evidence-based Practice and Research Design20
NPP6104Child, Adolescent and Family Nursing Practice20
NPP6105Nursing Practice Capstone20

J46|6

For more detailed unit information for this course take a look at our Handbook. To organise your life for next semester visit the Teaching timetable.

Student handbook

Course notes

Important course notes

  • Students will undertake a total of 800 hours of professional placement experience.

    Students enrolled in entry-to-practice programs will be required to travel to professional experience placements in a variety of health services within the region of the campus they are enrolled and may be required to travel to other regions of Western Australia. Students are responsible for any travel and accommodation related costs. Professional experience placements require rostered shifts covering the 24-hour period, inclusive of weekends and public holidays. Students are expected not to undertake paid employment during a period of full-time professional experience placement, as it is a requirement that students have a sufficient length of breaks between shifts.

    Attendance requirements

    Students are required to undertake a minimum 800 hours of full time clinical placements. In the practicum units students are required to attend a minimum of 80% of the workshops held within the demonstration wards. Practicum placement dates are outside of standard semester timetable to ensure that sufficient and appropriate placements can be procured for the course.

    Clearances and/or Risk Management Protocols Required

    To be eligible to undertake clinical practice and fulfil their duty of care, students are required to complete clinical practice orientation, risk management training and obtain various screening, vaccination and clearances, as appropriate on commencement of the course and in subsequent semesters. These clinical placement requirements include, but are not restricted to:
    International students on temporary visas may be required to provide a Certificate of International Police Clearance where possible
    WA Police National Police Certificate
    WA Health Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check
    Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification
    Manual Handling Certification
    Evidence of immunisation status aligned with the Australia Immunisation Handbook
    Tuberculosis screening
    MRSA clearance if worked in, or been admitted to, a health facility outside of Western Australia in the 12 months;
    WA Working with Children Check
    Confidentiality agreement
    Due to the practical nature of the nursing and midwifery professions, there are inherent requirements applicable to this course that may impact upon the success of some potential students. Applicants and students with a disability or other issue likely to impact on their ability to perform in practice are encouraged to contact the Course Coordinator to discuss the support and inherent requirements of this course

    More information can be found at https://www.ecu.edu.au/schools/nursing-and-midwifery/nursing-and-midwifery-clinical-placements.

    There may be vaccination or other similar requirements, including those imposed by government or third-party placement hosts, that apply to placements which form part of your Course. Please consider this requirement before enrolling in this Course and speak with the Course coordinator if this raises any concerns. You may not be able to complete placement units if you are unable to meet the placement requirements, which may impact your ability to complete this course.

    Professional practice rules

    Registered nurse standards for practice.
    Students will be expected to comply with the conduct requirements of their clinical placement.

  • Students will need to graduate to be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. Registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia is required to practice in the profession.

    Graduates will be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) as Registered Nurses.

Course learning outcomes

  1. Demonstrate application of evidence-based nursing practice to address local, regional, national and global health priorities, incorporating contemporary technologies.
  2. Apply effective communication and collaborative skills to establish and maintain culturally safe, therapeutic and professional relationships.
  3. Demonstrate responsibility and accountability for determining and achieving ongoing professional development.
  4. Integrate knowledge and skills to assess, plan, implement and evaluate safe, quality nursing care responsive to the needs of people and communities across the lifespan.
  5. Incorporate cultural safety and competence within all aspects of professional practice when working collaboratively with patients/clients.
  6. Apply research principles and methods to critically appraise evidence-based literature and design research studies and/or research scholarship.

Professional Recognition

Course

Accredited by: Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC)

Course Details

Semester availability

Semester 1: Study full-time at Joondalup

Course Structure

Year 1 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
NSC6101Nursing Bioscience 120
NPP6106Nursing Practice 120
NCS6101Fundamentals of Nursing20
Year 1 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
NSC6102Nursing Bioscience 220
NPP6107Nursing Practice 220
NCS6100Nursing Cultural Studies20
Year 2 - Semester 1
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
NSC6103Nursing Bioscience 320
NPP6108Nursing Practice 320
NSC6104Mental Health Disorders20
Year 2 - Semester 2
Unit Code Unit Title Credit Points
MNP6101Evidence-based Practice and Research Design20
NPP6104Child, Adolescent and Family Nursing Practice20
NPP6105Nursing Practice Capstone20

J46|6

For more detailed unit information for this course take a look at our Handbook. To organise your life for next semester visit the Teaching timetable.

Student handbook

Course notes

Important course notes

  • Students will undertake a total of 800 hours of professional placement experience.

    Students enrolled in entry-to-practice programs will be required to travel to professional experience placements in a variety of health services within the region of the campus they are enrolled and may be required to travel to other regions of Western Australia. Students are responsible for any travel and accommodation related costs. Professional experience placements require rostered shifts covering the 24-hour period, inclusive of weekends and public holidays. Students are expected not to undertake paid employment during a period of full-time professional experience placement, as it is a requirement that students have a sufficient length of breaks between shifts.

    Attendance requirements

    Students are required to undertake a minimum 800 hours of full time clinical placements. In the practicum units students are required to attend a minimum of 80% of the workshops held within the demonstration wards. Practicum placement dates are outside of standard semester timetable to ensure that sufficient and appropriate placements can be procured for the course.

    Clearances and/or Risk Management Protocols Required

    To be eligible to undertake clinical practice and fulfil their duty of care, students are required to complete clinical practice orientation, risk management training and obtain various screening, vaccination and clearances, as appropriate on commencement of the course and in subsequent semesters. These clinical placement requirements include, but are not restricted to:
    International students on temporary visas may be required to provide a Certificate of International Police Clearance where possible
    WA Police National Police Certificate
    WA Health Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check
    Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification
    Manual Handling Certification
    Evidence of immunisation status aligned with the Australia Immunisation Handbook
    Tuberculosis screening
    MRSA clearance if worked in, or been admitted to, a health facility outside of Western Australia in the 12 months;
    WA Working with Children Check
    Confidentiality agreement
    Due to the practical nature of the nursing and midwifery professions, there are inherent requirements applicable to this course that may impact upon the success of some potential students. Applicants and students with a disability or other issue likely to impact on their ability to perform in practice are encouraged to contact the Course Coordinator to discuss the support and inherent requirements of this course

    More information can be found at https://www.ecu.edu.au/schools/nursing-and-midwifery/nursing-and-midwifery-clinical-placements.

    There may be vaccination or other similar requirements, including those imposed by government or third-party placement hosts, that apply to placements which form part of your Course. Please consider this requirement before enrolling in this Course and speak with the Course coordinator if this raises any concerns. You may not be able to complete placement units if you are unable to meet the placement requirements, which may impact your ability to complete this course.

    Professional practice rules

    Registered nurse standards for practice.
    Students will be expected to comply with the conduct requirements of their clinical placement.

  • Students will need to graduate to be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. Registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia is required to practice in the profession.

    Graduates will be eligible to register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) as Registered Nurses.

Course learning outcomes

  1. Demonstrate application of evidence-based nursing practice to address local, regional, national and global health priorities, incorporating contemporary technologies.
  2. Apply effective communication and collaborative skills to establish and maintain culturally safe, therapeutic and professional relationships.
  3. Demonstrate responsibility and accountability for determining and achieving ongoing professional development.
  4. Integrate knowledge and skills to assess, plan, implement and evaluate safe, quality nursing care responsive to the needs of people and communities across the lifespan.
  5. Incorporate cultural safety and competence within all aspects of professional practice when working collaboratively with patients/clients.
  6. Apply research principles and methods to critically appraise evidence-based literature and design research studies and/or research scholarship.

Professional Recognition

Course

Accredited by: Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC)

Fees and Scholarships

Fees

  • AUD $4,450 - Commonwealth supported estimated 1st year indicative fee 1

Note

1 The 'estimated 1st year indicative fee' is provided as a guide only, based on a typical enrolment of students undertaking the first year of this course. At ECU, you pay for the individual units you enrol in, not an overall course fee, so the total cost of your course will vary, depending on what units you choose. An indicative fee will be provided with your course offer, however you can use our Course Fee Calculator to estimate the actual amount you'll need to pay. ECU fees are adjusted annually.

Some units require the payment of a fee for incidental goods or services required to complete those units. For more information and the full list of incidental fees for courses and units, visit What are Incidental Fees.

Scholarships

ECU has a scholarship program that provides many opportunities each year to students undertaking studies here.

Find a scholarship

Career Opportunities

Graduates will display the skills, knowledge and attributes to function with competence and confidence in a registered nurse graduate role. They will have enhanced leadership skills to ensure they are capable clinical leaders and are industry-ready to work in a diverse range of practice settings within a dynamic health care system.

Possible future job titles

Registered Nurse

Fees and Scholarships

Fees

  • AUD $41,950 - International students estimated 1st year indicative fee 1

Note

1 The 'estimated 1st year indicative fee' is provided as a guide only, and has been calculated based on a typical enrolment of students undertaking the first year of this course. At ECU, you pay for each individual unit you enrol in, not an overall course fee, so the total cost of your course will vary, depending on what units you choose. An indicative fee will be provided with your course offer, however you can use our Course Fee Calculator to estimate the actual amount you'll need to pay. ECU fees are adjusted annually.

Some units require the payment of a fee for incidental goods or services required to complete those units. For more information and the full list of incidental fees for courses and units, visit What are Incidental Fees.

Scholarships

ECU has a scholarship program that provides many opportunities each year to students undertaking studies here.

Find a scholarship

Career Opportunities

Graduates will display the skills, knowledge and attributes to function with competence and confidence in a registered nurse graduate role. They will have enhanced leadership skills to ensure they are capable clinical leaders and are industry-ready to work in a diverse range of practice settings within a dynamic health care system.

Possible future job titles

Registered Nurse

Need some help deciding what to study?

Our future student events include a mix of on-campus and online sessions designed to help you decide what to study at ECU.

Experiences

Experiences

Student stories

Charity Chola

Charity Chola

ECU Master of Nursing (Graduate Entry) graduate

The skills and knowledge I learnt are directly relevant to my current role as a clinical nurse specialist.

ECU has a supportive and conducive learning environment. I really benefited from the flexible modes of study and online learning resources. It allowed me to juggle work and study while supporting my family. I have also been able to use evidence-based-practice as a clinician and have the knowledge and confidence to mentor other nurses.

Quick guide to uni-speak

    • The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is the national regulator of qualifications in the Australian education and training system. The AQF defines the essential characteristics, including the required learning outcomes, of the different types of qualifications issued across the higher education systems in Australia.

    • ATAR is the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, the primary criterion for entry into most undergraduate university courses in Australia. The ATAR is a percentile score which denotes a student's ranking relative to their state-wide peers upon completion of their secondary education.

    • CRICOS is the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students. A CRICOS code is allocated to education institutions (like ECU) who are approved to recruit, enrol and deliver education to overseas students. Courses with a CRICOS code are available to international students who meet the entry requirements.

    • A major, or unit set, is your chosen area of in-depth study in an undergraduate course. It usually involves 8 units of study, or one-third of the units in a 3-year degree. Talk to your Student Information Office if you need help choosing a major subject.

    • Minors include between 4 and 6 study units in a specific discipline. Not all courses require you to complete a minor. Your minor subject doesn't appear on your printed degree (parchment), but is part of your academic transcript.

    • If you're enrolled in 3 or more units in a semester this is considered full-time study. To complete most 3-year degrees studying full-time you'll need to complete 4 units per semester, i.e. 24 units over 3 years.

    • If a course is available to study part-time you can generally expect it to take twice as long to complete as it would in full-time mode. Part-time students are enrolled in 1 or 2 units maximum per semester.

      Note: International students who hold a student visa can only choose the full-time study option for our courses. This is to ensure the course is completed within the duration of the student visa.

    • Most courses start in Semester 1 each year, usually in the last week of February. Some courses can be started in Semester 2 (we call this mid-year). There's a week of Orientation before each semester to help you get used to uni life.

    • A lot of our courses start in Semester 2 each year, usually in the last week of July. We call this mid-year. There's a week of Orientation beforehand to help you get used to uni life.

    • We use a points system to make it easier for you to understand your study progress. Most Bachelors degree study units are allocated 15 credit points. If you're studying a 3-year full-time degree you'll need to successfully complete 360 credit points - that's 24 units x 15 points per unit.

    • These are compulsory units you have to successfully complete as part of your course.

    • An elective is a unit you choose to study that counts towards your course requirements, but isn't compulsory. For some courses we recommend elective units. In some situations, a course coordinator may approve an elective unit as a replacement for a compulsory one.

Quick guide to uni-speak

    • The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is the national regulator of qualifications in the Australian education and training system. The AQF defines the essential characteristics, including the required learning outcomes, of the different types of qualifications issued across the higher education systems in Australia.

    • ATAR is the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, the primary criterion for entry into most undergraduate university courses in Australia. The ATAR is a percentile score which denotes a student's ranking relative to their state-wide peers upon completion of their secondary education.

    • CRICOS is the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students. A CRICOS code is allocated to education institutions (like ECU) who are approved to recruit, enrol and deliver education to overseas students. Courses with a CRICOS code are available to international students who meet the entry requirements.

    • A major, or unit set, is your chosen area of in-depth study in an undergraduate course. It usually involves 8 units of study, or one-third of the units in a 3-year degree. Talk to your Student Information Office if you need help choosing a major subject.

    • Minors include between 4 and 6 study units in a specific discipline. Not all courses require you to complete a minor. Your minor subject doesn't appear on your printed degree (parchment), but is part of your academic transcript.

    • If you're enrolled in 3 or more units in a semester this is considered full-time study. To complete most 3-year degrees studying full-time you'll need to complete 4 units per semester, i.e. 24 units over 3 years.

    • If a course is available to study part-time you can generally expect it to take twice as long to complete as it would in full-time mode. Part-time students are enrolled in 1 or 2 units maximum per semester.

      Note: International students who hold a student visa can only choose the full-time study option for our courses. This is to ensure the course is completed within the duration of the student visa.

    • Most courses start in Semester 1 each year, usually in the last week of February. Some courses can be started in Semester 2 (we call this mid-year). There's a week of Orientation before each semester to help you get used to uni life.

    • A lot of our courses start in Semester 2 each year, usually in the last week of July. We call this mid-year. There's a week of Orientation beforehand to help you get used to uni life.

    • We use a points system to make it easier for you to understand your study progress. Most Bachelors degree study units are allocated 15 credit points. If you're studying a 3-year full-time degree you'll need to successfully complete 360 credit points - that's 24 units x 15 points per unit.

    • These are compulsory units you have to successfully complete as part of your course.

    • An elective is a unit you choose to study that counts towards your course requirements, but isn't compulsory. For some courses we recommend elective units. In some situations, a course coordinator may approve an elective unit as a replacement for a compulsory one.

Do you have any questions about the Master of Nursing (Graduate Entry)?

The Important Things

Things you should know about if you're thinking about studying here.

Course Entry

There's more than one admission pathway into an ECU course. It depends on what you've studied already, or your work or life experience.

Fees & Scholarships

Course tuition fees can change, but we can give you an estimate of your costs. If you're eligible, a scholarship or student loan can help too.

Applying

Applying for a course is a fairly simple process, especially if you have scanned copies of qualifications, your resume or other paperwork, ready to upload.

ECU Experience

Starting a course is an exciting and sometimes daunting time, so we make a massive effort to ensure you get all the support you need to have a positive experience.