how much to study nursing in australia
Bachelor degrees
- Duration The minimum duration of a Bachelor degree is three years. You can take longer to complete your degree if you need or want to.
- Cost Fees vary depending on the course, university and level of study, but they are generally expensive. There may be opportunities for scholarship support or financial aid.
- Subjects/courses in this area of study include: Nursing (Bachelor)
Course content and structure will vary depending on the requirements set by individual universities, but subjects might include nutrition, pathophysiology, anatomy and physiology.
Entry requirements for an undergraduate degree usually require completion of year 12 studies with good grades in appropriate subjects, English language proficiency (such as IELTS), and a health assessment that includes an eye test, police check and demonstration of vaccination status.
Career opportunities A Bachelor Degree in nursing could lead to employment within a medical facility – from hospitals to community health centres – focusing on both patient care and education. As a nurse you may also work privately within industry or go into general practice alongside other healthcare professionals such as doctors or physiotherapists. Your future employer will look for problem-solving skills and communication skills along with practical experience gained through placements during your course study. Graduates who have completed further training can become registered nurses qualified to take leadership roles requiring autonomous decision making – such as Nurse Practitioners or Clinical Nurse Consultants – in areas such as midwifery, paediatrics, mental health or emergency medicine. Course structure You may complete units relevant to nursing throughout several semesters; clinical placement (work experience) is often included at various points throughout your course along with supervising sessions held by senior staff clinical practitioners; you must also pass exams in order to progress through your studies; postgraduate courses are available for this area of study. Example career path Studying Bachelor -> Further postgraduate study -> Registered Nurse
Nursing pathway programs
Anyone who wants to study nursing can apply for a pathway program. They are often run by TAFE institutes or private institutions and are a cheaper alternative to studying nursing with a bachelor degree.
Nursing pathway programs typically last 18 months, as opposed to the three years it would take you to complete a bachelor degree in nursing. Most programs will also allow you to apply for credit transfer if you have studied health or medical science before.
Top up the nursing degree
If you already have previous nursing experience and qualifications, the top-up degree is ideal for you. You will learn many of the same skills as other students but in a shorter time frame. You may also be able to study part-time whilst working, or take time out of your studies to care for a family. This course is often more expensive than a traditional undergraduate route due to its flexibility and shorter length; however, all top-up degrees are likely to cost you over $10,000 (excluding international fees).
What is the difference between a university and a TAFE?
Remember:
TAFEs are for vocational education and training courses including pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeship, traineeships, diplomas, certificates and short courses. Universities offer a wide range of qualifications from bachelor degrees to higher doctorates as well as research degrees. Private colleges can also be called private providers or registered training organisations (RTOs) which specialise in areas such as business, IT or hospitality. Private colleges are often for people who want a fast-track career or skill development in a specific area.
Before deciding if studying to become a nurse is for you, it’s important to find out how much it will cost.
The most common way to become a registered nurse is to complete an undergraduate program, either through university or TAFE.
A bachelor degree takes three years, an associate degree takes two years and a diploma takes one year. Generally speaking, bachelor degrees are more expensive than associate degrees, and so on.
The cost of undergraduate programs can vary depending on the provider. As a rough guide:
“`-a bachelor degree at university will cost around $40,000
“`-an associate or diploma degree will cost about $20,000
“`-TAFE courses will cost about $10,000