Studying Nursing in Australia: Universities, Costs and Career Pathways
Compare nursing courses in Australia, tuition fees, professional registration requirements and employment pathways before choosing a program.
Owen & Co. Advisory Team · 6 min read
Published 01/11/2026
Drafted with AI assistance and edited by the Owen & Co. team.
Photo: University of Sydney, Australia. Photo by Jeremy Huang/Unsplash.
If nursing interests you, begin with the work you want to do rather than the quickest course to enter. In Australia, care assistants, enrolled nurses and registered nurses have different responsibilities and training pathways.
A course can be a good investment when it fits your abilities, leads towards the right professional outcome and leaves you with a budget you can manage through placements and registration.
Decide which nursing role you are working towards
| Role | Typical pathway and responsibilities |
|---|---|
| Assistant in Nursing (AIN) | Care support; this is not registered nursing |
| Enrolled Nurse (EN) | Usually an approved Diploma of Nursing; works under RN supervision |
| Registered Nurse (RN) | Usually an approved bachelor’s or entry-to-practice qualification; assesses, plans and coordinates care |
Enrolled Nurses (ENs) and Registered Nurses (RNs) must meet Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) registration requirements through Ahpra. An aged care or personal support qualification is not interchangeable with a qualification leading to nursing registration.
Common routes include a Bachelor of Nursing after school, usually over three years; a Diploma of Nursing followed by EN registration and possible further study; or an appropriate graduate-entry program for someone who already has a degree.
| Institution | Program example | Published international fee |
|---|---|---|
| TAFE NSW | Diploma of Nursing, 1.5 years | AUD 28,500–29,360 for the course, depending on intake |
| Deakin University | Bachelor of Nursing, 3 years | AUD 44,600 a year for 2026 entry |
| University of Sydney | Graduate-entry Master of Nursing | AUD 51,300 a year for the nursing postgraduate coursework group, 2026 entry |
These fees refer to the cited programs and intakes. Confirm the amount in your offer and check future increases. Credit transfer and advanced standing need individual confirmation.
If you are already a nurse in Vietnam, investigate the internationally qualified nurse registration process before deciding to repeat a full course.
Check admission and professional recognition together
Universities consider your qualifications, results, English and the program's specific requirements. There is no single GPA for all nursing courses.
The Deakin Bachelor of Nursing example lists IELTS Academic 7.0 overall, with at least 7.0 in Listening, Reading and Speaking and 6.5 in Writing. Other programs may use different requirements.
Before paying, check the course on Ahpra's Approved Programs of Study list and confirm whether it leads towards EN or RN registration. Also check international student availability, placement arrangements and how any exemptions affect your study and post-graduation plans. A course called “Master of Nursing” does not necessarily accept applicants who are not already RNs.
Leave room in the budget for placements
Alongside tuition, allow for accommodation, food, OSHC, uniforms, equipment, health checks and placement travel. TAFE NSW's cited estimate for uniforms, equipment and materials is around AUD 300–1,000 over the course.
Placements can make it harder to take paid shifts. Build a budget that still works during those periods. The linked official guidance describes the usual limit of 48 work hours per fortnight during the course, with unrestricted hours during scheduled breaks, subject to applicable visa conditions.
Care assistant work may provide useful experience if you qualify for the role. It does not replace EN or RN registration.
Graduation is one step towards practising
Admission English and NMBA's English evidence requirements are separate. Check accepted evidence, test validity and the rules applying when you register. At work, you need to follow handovers, understand instructions, document accurately and communicate with patients.
Registration also involves the relevant criminal history, health, conduct and other standards. Practising nurses need to meet continuing professional development and professional indemnity insurance requirements.
Placements or employers may request vaccination and health records, police checks, CPR/BLS and a Working with Children Check where relevant. Use the program or facility's actual checklist; the same certificates are not required in every setting.
Consider whether the daily work suits you
Nursing involves shift work, physical effort, personal care, bodily fluids, difficult conversations and responsibility for patient safety. It can be deeply meaningful work, but you should be comfortable exploring these realities before making the commitment.
Understand the limits of residence planning
No state awards a higher federal points bonus specifically because you studied nursing:
| Nomination category | Additional points |
|---|---|
| Subclass 190 | 5 points |
| Subclass 491 | 15 points |
These are different visa categories; their points do not add together. Subclass 491 is provisional, rather than permanent residence. States differ in nomination criteria, residence and employment requirements, eligible occupations and selection. The source's NSW example lists Registered Nurses under code 2544, without guaranteeing an invitation to every RN.
A possible sequence is an appropriate course, professional registration, permission to work, suitable employment and any required skills assessment, followed by a residence application if eligible. ANMAC migration assessment is separate from professional registration. Subclass 485 also has its own age, study and stream requirements.
Bring Owen & Co. Education your qualifications, English results and budget if you would like help comparing the study pathways and the questions each one raises.
Sources and further reading
- Owen & Co. Education
- NMBA
- TAFE NSW
- Deakin
- Sydney program
- Sydney fee schedule
- Deakin
- Ahpra approved program list
- Study Australia
- NMBA
- NMBA
- NSW Health
- Flinders Nursing internship checklist
- Home Affairs - 190
- Victorian Government - 491
- NSW Government
- ANMAC
- Visa 485
Frequently asked questions
Will a Diploma of Nursing make me an RN?
An appropriate Diploma usually leads towards Enrolled Nurse registration. To become an RN, you need an approved RN pathway and must meet registration requirements.
Can I change to nursing after another bachelor's degree?
Some graduate-entry or pre-registration programs accept suitable graduates. Check the prerequisites: not every nursing master's prepares someone for their first registration.
Is IELTS 6.5 enough for Australian nursing study?
An overall score alone is not enough to decide. Deakin's cited example requires 7.0 overall, 6.5 in Writing and 7.0 in the other three bands.
Can part-time work cover all my tuition?
Avoid building your plan on that assumption. Work limits, timetables and placements can restrict earnings. Your budget should still work before you find a job.
Does studying nursing regionally guarantee residence?
No. You still need to meet the applicable occupation, skills assessment, English, visa and nomination or invitation requirements.
