The Master of Nursing Science (MNSc) from the University of Melbourne is a professional master’s degree that provides exceptional preparation for a nursing career. It is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (formerly Nurses Board of Victoria).

The Master of Nursing Science provides students a higher level degree with enhanced learning outcomes, while meeting the competencies identified by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council as necessary for practice as a registered nurse.

A master’s degree in nursing is a portable qualification, whether you want to work locally, nationally or internationally.

We offer the only integrated curriculum where you learn clinical skills and theory concurrently. Clinical and bioscience topics are coordinated to enhance your understanding of theory in practice. Students will participate in 6 to 8 weeks of intensive teaching each semester, followed by three or four weeks of professional experience placement with partner hospitals.

Our clinical placements are in the largest major metropolitan teaching hospitals, ensuring best clinical practice opportunities and research collaborations with up-to-date medical mannequins and equipment, and dedicated laboratory staff to guide your practical skill development. The clinical skills labs are used for classes and you can book them for self-directed learning.

Students undertake a capstone subject in the final semester. This will enable you to apply your knowledge and seek innovative solutions to real clinical problems.

At the completion of the Master of Nursing Science graduates are expected to:

• Integrate knowledge from a range of disciplines that contribute to health and disease management in the provision of nursing to people experiencing alterations in their health
• Perform nursing assessment and intervention within legal and ethical parameters and demonstrating accountability for their own practice;
• Demonstrate the ability to critically appraise research evidence relevant to common health problems and to translate this evidence into the development of nursing interventions to improve patient outcomes
• Demonstrate an understanding of the Australian health care system in terms of policy and the organizational context of health service delivery
• Practice effectively in health promotion and health education roles
• Demonstrate the ability to identify knowledge gaps in the delivery of nursing care and to utilize research skills to address current gaps in practice in collaboration with researchers in nursing and allied disciplines

Course description

The curriculum emphasises significant contemporary health problems identified as National Health Priority Areas: cardiovascular health, cancer control, injury prevention and control, mental health, diabetes mellitus, and asthma.

Teaching is based on up-to-date research which allows students to apply the most relevant theory to their practice to ensure best practice and best patient outcomes. In the final semester, following theoretical and clinical preparation, students undertake a specialist elective subject in an area of interest and a capstone practice subject to consolidate their theoretical and practical knowledge.

The Master of Nursing Science comprises of 200 credit points over two years commencing in January. There are 12 compulsory subjects with one elective. All classes are supported with online learning materials. Several subjects have associated clinical practice or procedural skills and laboratory requirements.

Time Commitment

The MNSc has a high number of contact hours. In addition to attending classes and clinical placements, you will be required to undertake personal study, write assignments, prepare for examinations and review your clinical practice. Many students need to balance study commitments with personal commitments; however, you are strongly advised not to undertake employment during semester time. At most, one shift per week is recommended. It is not advisable to undertake night shifts prior to clinical placement days to ensure patient safety.

Upon graduating from the Master of Nursing Science, you will have a qualification to practice nursing Australia-wide. You can also apply to have this degree accredited internationally to practice nursing in the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland and elsewhere. This degree integrates theory and practice whilst developing student’s critical thinking skills and problem-solving abilities. Through the development of skills needed to practice evidence-based nursing – such as clinical leadership, clinical decision-making and research – you will be strongly positioned to become a nursing leader of the future.

The Master of Nursing Science degree is approved by Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) and accredited by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMAC). Upon completion, you are eligible for registration with the  Australian Health Practitioners Registering Authority (AHPRA) as a registered Division 1 nurse.

Focused and immersive clinical opportunities

With a cohort of 230 students accepted into the Master of Nursing Science each year – a significantly smaller number compared to other Bachelor of Nursing courses – you are guaranteed an opportunity to engage in small group simulation work in your laboratory classes. The clinical placements provided are of high quality and are predominantly located in the Parkville precinct.

Following six to ten intensive classes, you will experience four to six weeks of clinical placement with partner hospitals, ensuring the best clinical learning and practice for your study in nursing.

Students also have means to gain meaningful employment during their studies at the University of Melbourne as health assistants in nursing at Melbourne Health. This employment provides additional benefits, such as clinical management of patients with special needs, working to a flexible roster, and generally enhancing your CV for post-study employment opportunities.

A qualification with global potential

The Master of Nursing Science gives you access to world-class clinical and theoretical study, leading to a globally recognised Australian nurse accreditation. This will ready you to register to practice in other countries (for example, the UK), enabling a truly global nursing career.

Graduates are well prepared to join the workforce in the field of nursing, with over 90 per cent of our latest Master of Nursing Science class securing graduate nurse employment upon graduation.

An undergraduate degree in any discipline, or equivalent, completed not more than ten years prior to the date of application; or An older undergraduate degree and either more recent graduate

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