Bachelor of Nursing

VU course code:HBNB |CRICOS:080229E |Level of study:Undergraduate

Duration

3 years

Delivery mode

In person

Fees

Tuition: per semester AU$17,900

Location

St Albans

Next start date

24 February 2025

Overview

Become a nurse to embark on a stimulating and diverse career in healthcare with a Bachelor of Nursing at Victoria University (VU).

A highly-valued nursing degree from VU will equip you with a broad set of skills to work as a Division 1 Registered Nurse in hospitals and healthcare with a diverse range of patients.

Based at our St Albans Campus , our Bachelor of Nursing program will ensure that you have sound scientific knowledge as well as hands-on nursing experience. This includes:

800 professional practice hours in work placements
140 clinical simulation hours at Sunshine Clinical School during your third year of study.

You’ll practise your skills in a safe environment using modern technology, then gain practical experience in the workplace through clinical placements.

During your nursing degree, you’ll enhance your communication skills and ability to be patient and tactful when dealing with people from all backgrounds and cultures, preparing you for a rewarding career in nursing.

Our sought-after VU nursing graduates are employed in a variety of organisations such as Royal Children’s Hospital, Royal Women’s Hospital and Royal Flying Doctor Service.

: On successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

Exhibit values, behaviours, attributes and professional knowledge congruent with quality, safe, ethical, legal and culturally appropriate provision of nursing practice in a range of health care settings across the domains of physical health, mental health and aged care to meet the Registered Nurse Standards of Practice;

Integrate knowledge of anatomy and physiology with scientific concepts underpinning nursing practice using clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills;

Contextualise comprehensive health assessment techniques to evaluate physical, psychosocial, sociological, spiritual, cultural and age appropriate elements taking a person-centred approach within an interprofessional framework whilst exhibiting accountability consistent with own nursing scope of practice;

Plan, implement and evaluate contemporary nursing practice within the context of evidence-based recommendations across the lifespan in primary, secondary and tertiary contexts in response to regional, national and global health priorities;

Exemplify cultural responsiveness, sensitivity and inclusive practice and promote the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and culturally diverse communities;

Exemplify therapeutic and interpersonal skills using face-to-face and digital health communication within professional nursing practice; and

Critically reflect on own nursing practice to identify professional needs and opportunities, to inform development, and support evaluation of self-directed and lifelong learning.
: As a VU student, you’ll get to immerse yourself in the day-to-day work of a nurse by completing 800 professional practice hours through work placements with our industry partners.

Benefit from VU’s strong industry connections with:

Western Health

Mercy Health Services

Melbourne Health

over 200 clinical agencies.

Our close industry partnerships also mean all your course material is regularly updated in-line with current healthcare practice, so you’ll graduate with the skills and knowledge to enter the workforce with confidence.

Find out more about nursing and midwifery placements .
: As a nursing student, you’ll get to practise what you learn in safe, supported, high-tech learning environments to prepare you to work with real patients confidently.

With 140 clinical simulation hours included in your Bachelor of Nursing, you’ll get access to our state-of-the-art nursing simulation laboratories at the St Albans Campus and at Sunshine Clinical School , VU’s new dedicated teaching facility embedded in Sunshine Hospital where you’ll spend part of your third year.

These laboratories are designed to simulate a hospital environment, to prepare you for working with real patients. They are also equipped with fixed cameras that enable video recording and live video streaming to give you an immersive learning experience.

Entry requirements

Applicants for this course will need to meet the entry criteria outlined below. If you don’t meet the entry criteria, you may be able to gain entry by first completing a related course or unit(s). We call this a ‘pathway’.

If you've completed a qualification where English was the primary language of instruction, you may be eligible for an exemption of English-language requirements.

In some cases, there may be additional entry requirements.

Learn more about entry requirements for international students.

English requirements

Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they meet the requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia’s (NMBA) English language skills registration standard.

See the NMBA website for more information

When applying, you must complete and submit the AO7 – Nursing or Midwifery English Language Requirements. Your application for the Bachelor of Nursing cannot be reviewed until we receive this declaration. As admission to this program is competitive, we urge you to complete your application promptly.

AO7 – Nursing or Midwifery English Language Requirements (PDF, 194.42 KB)

Entry criteria

Meeting the minimum entry criteria does not guarantee entry into this course.

Completion of an Australian Senior Secondary Certificate (VCE or equivalent) including Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or 25 in any other English (or equivalent).
AND
Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 20 in one of Biology, Chemistry, Health And Human Development, any Mathematics or Psychology.
OR
Completion of an Australian Advanced Diploma or Diploma (or equivalent) in Nursing, Health Sciences or similar.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR ALL INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ON NURSING AND MIDWIFERY BOARD OF AUSTRALIA (NMBA) ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS REGISTRATION STANDARDS
Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they meet the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) English language skills registration standard. Applicants can obtain further information about the Standard and sitting requirements for the English Language Tests at: http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Registration-Standards/English-language-skills.aspx

As part of this standard, applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have evidence of completing:
• At least 5 years (full time equivalent) continuous education taught and assessed in English, in any of the recognised countries (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, United States of America, Canada, Republic of Ireland, United Kingdom).
OR
• IELTS with a minimum IELTS (academic module) overall score of 7 and a minimum score of 7 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking).
OR
• OET with a minimum score of B in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking).
OR
• 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.

Special entry programs

If you are from a disadvantaged or underrepresented social, economic or cultural background, you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs. These programs are designed to help you access education more easily.

Learn more about special admission programs

Inherent requirements

Inherent requirements are the abilities, attributes, skills and behaviours needed to meet the learning outcomes of the course.

You should carefully consider the inherent requirement statement as a:

guide for your learning during the course
way for you to identify challenges you may have in studying this course.

Learn more about inherent requirements

Additional information

Students must have successfully completed and submitted all mandatory documentation onto VU WIL at least two weeks prior to the commencement of the block to remain enrolled in HNB1205 Foundations in Nursing 2. Students who have not successfully submitted documentation, will be withdrawn from HNB1205.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR ALL DOMESTIC STUDENTS ON NURSING AND MIDWIFERY BOARD OF AUSTRALIA (NMBA) ENGLISH LANGUAGE SKILLS REGISTRATION STANDARDS
Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they meet the requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia’s (NMBA) English language skills registration standard. Proof of this English language competency can be achieved via ONE of the following three pathways:

Primary Language Pathway

Applicants must be able to demonstrate that their primary language is English and they have satisfactorily completed at least six years of primary and secondary education taught and assessed in English in either Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom or United States of America, including at least two years between years 7 and 12.

Extended Education Pathway

Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they have satisfactorily completed three years (full-time equivalent) of education taught and assessed in English, in either Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom or United States of America.

Note: It is a requirement of the NMBA English language skills registration standard, for registration as an Enrolled Nurse via this pathway, that five years (full-time equivalent) continuous education in total is completed.

English Language Test Pathway

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 NMBA’s English language skills registration standard:
• IELTS (Academic): minimum overall band of 7.0 (with no individual band less than 7.0);
OR
• OET: minimum score of B in each of the four bands;
OR
• TOEFL iBT: minimum overall score of 94 (with minimum score of 24 in listening and reading, 27 in writing and 23 in speaking)
OR
• PTE (A): minimum score of 65 (with no communication band less than 65)

Applicants can obtain further information about the Standard at: http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Registration-Standards/English-language-skills.aspx

Credit & Entry pathways into this course

If you don’t meet the entry requirements for this course, there may be an alternative study ‘pathway’ to achieving your goal. In some cases, you may receive credit for your previous study or work experience, reducing the time it takes to complete your course.

You’ll find information about any pathways to higher qualifications that may be available to you after completing this course under the ‘careers’ section of this page.

Find out more about pathways at VU.

: If you have completed any of the following course(s), you will be guaranteed a place in this course.

Diploma of Nursing

96 credit points

International Foundations at VU

Guaranteed entry only
: If you have completed study with another university or institution you may be eligible to receive credit for skills and past study .

Use our credit calculator to find out what credit you may be eligible for based on your previous studies.

Note that if your previous study can’t be found through the credit calculator, you may still be eligible for credit.

Units can be credited if they are part of the course structure for the course you are applying for. Please note that credits relating to prior VU subjects are automatically granted and no further action is required.

calculate your credit

Please note: There may be a limit on how many students can access pathways to the Bachelor of Nursing due to high demand. If you are eligible for a pathway but unsuccessful in securing a place, please contact VUHQ (Student Service Centre) on + 61 3 9919 6100 for advice.

Victoria University is committed to providing a transparent admissions process. Find out more about how to apply for our courses , and our commitment to admissions transparency . Meeting the minimum admission criteria does not guarantee entry into this course. Past academic performance may be considered.

Course structure

To attain the Bachelor of Nursing students will be required to complete:

288 credit points of Core studies.

Units

Fees & scholarships

As an international student at Victoria University, you will be required to pay your tuition fees up front each semester.

There may be additional materials fees throughout your studies, depending on your chosen course, as well as an administrative fee as part of your course.

Victoria University is proud to support our international scholarship recipients and sponsored students.

Fees

Scholarships

Careers

The current and future demand for nurses is strong.

As a registered nurse, you’ll enjoy a diverse and flexible career and be able to work across metropolitan, regional and rural areas in fields including: