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Undergraduate

Bachelor of Nursing

Domestic students International students
Bachelor of Nursing (BNSG)
Entry requirements
ATAR (2021) 65.60
Rank (2020) 68
OP (2020) 15
View full details
Study mode
  • External
  • On-campus
Campus
  • Ipswich
  • Toowoomba
Duration
  • 3 year(s) (or part-time equivalent)
Start
  • Feb, Jul
Note: External study is not available to international students.

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Overview

  • With a combination of theory and clinical simulation in our well-resourced labs and nursing wards, USQ’s Bachelor of Nursing prepares you for practice as a registered nurse, in hospitals, community settings, mental health settings, GP practices, clinics, rural and remote health services and aged care facilities across Australia and the world.
  • This degree aligns with current Australian professional nursing standards of practice and will give you the skills to deliver high-quality nursing care to people of all ages.
  • Almost 50 percent of the degree is devoted to clinical practice within simulated on-campus labs or in health care settings, including large metropolitan hospitals, mental health services, regional health care services, aged care settings, community health services, specialty clinics and rehabilitation centres.
  • At USQ you will learn how to provide the very best nursing practice, and will graduate as a skilled, knowledgeable and highly employable nurse.
  • Prefer studying online? Our flexible delivery option allows the on-campus component of this program to be studied in intensive residential schools each semester, combined with online delivery and face-to-face clinical experience.
  • Find out what’s involved in the placement process and what opportunities and support USQ and organisations, such as Southern Queensland Rural Health (SQRH), offer for rural and away placements.

Professional accreditation

The Bachelor of Nursing at USQ is accredited by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) and is listed as an approved program with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulating Authority (AHPRA).

Career outcomes

  • As a graduate of the Bachelor of Nursing you will have the skills required to work as a registered nurse in a multitude of settings in Australia or overseas including public and private hospitals, community health, mental health, aged care, home health care, indigenous health, occupational health, rural practice and international nursing.
  • This program is also a pathway to graduate-entry midwifery and mental health programs and other specialties within nursing and health care.

Entry requirements

Find the entry requirements most relevant to you.

Recent secondary education

Adjusted Entry score including adjustment factors (additional points given in certain circumstances). Unadjusted Entry score not including adjustment factors.
ATAR The Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR) is a percentile rank used to assess the results of high-school applicants for undergraduate entry into university. 65.60 -
Rank Non school-leavers can have qualifications and work experience assessed to form a Selection Rank. 68 60
OP The Overall Position (OP) is a QLD tertiary entrance rank (1-25) for high-school applicants, replaced by ATAR in 2021. 15 19

Starting uni in 2021?

If you want to start your studies in 2021, the format of subject pre-requisites will change slightly from previous years. ATAR will also replace OP for Queensland students who graduate from high school from 2020. Find out more about these changes to ensure you are prepared to apply.

Pre-requisites

  • Subject pre-requisite: English (Units 3 & 4, C), or equivalent
  • Recommended prior study: Mathematics (Units 3 & 4, C), or equivalent, and one of Biology (Units 3 & 4, C), Chemistry (Units 3 & 4, C), Physics, or equivalent.

Satisfaction of admission requirements does not guarantee admission. Places within the Bachelor of Nursing are limited by quota. Quota size is determined by the availability of hospital placements. Where the quota is filled, no further places will be offered.

Further admission information

Adjustments are additional points given in certain circumstances that may increase your Rank. Find out if you qualify for any adjustment factor pathways such as educational disadvantage where you live, and subjects you passed.

USQ is committed to greater admissions transparency. Learn more about the education and work experience, as well as average OP/Ranks for this degrees' student cohort for Semester 1 from the previous year.

Tafe (VET) qualification

If you have completed a qualification from a TAFE or qualified private provider, you may be able to use these qualifications to meet USQ's entry requirements.

Work and life experience

You may be able to use your work experience and other adjustment factors to increase your selection rank and meet USQ's entry requirements.

English language requirements

You are required to satisfy the applicable English language requirements and this degree requires a minimum of IELTS 7.0 or equivalent. If you do not meet the English language requirements you may apply to study a University-approved English language program.

Additional requirements for placements

All students must provide the following documents prior to commencing residential schools and clinical placements:

  • Blue Card or Working with Children Check
  • Australian Federal Police Criminal History Check certificate
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certificate
  • Queensland Health Student Orientation Checklist
  • Queensland Health Student Deed Poll
  • Queensland Health iLearn Modules
  • A signed USQ Clinical Placement Declaration including a requirement to undertake shift work.

Plus evidence of the following immunisations:

  • Hepatitis B immunisation
  • Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Pertussis, and Varicella immunisation
  • Tuberculosis risk assessment and Influenza immunisation.

Recognition of prior learning or work experience

You may be eligible for recognition of prior learning if you have previously studied or have relevant work experience. This will help to reduce the number of courses that you need to study to finish your program.

Pathways

If you don't meet the entry requirements, we have pathway options available to you.

If you identify as being of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent you may be eligible to enter the Indigenous Higher Education (IHEPP) program.

Degree structure

To complete this degree students must complete 24 units. Most courses (similar to ‘subjects’) are valued at 1 unit. To study full-time you would usually complete 4 units per semester.

Courses to be studied Units
Core courses 24
incl. 840 hours of clinical experience
Total 24

Refer to the USQ Handbook for courses to be studied and recommended enrolment patterns.

Clinical experience

In addition to the courses to be studied, you will also need to complete clinical experience, where interactive hands-on activities, such as experiments and use of specialist equipment, are undertaken.

All students must be able to meet the physical and other professional requirements of clinical/professional practice within this degree.

Residential schools

If you are enrolled in the External study mode in this degree, you will have the opportunity to come on-campus for residential schools, where you will attend face-to-face lectures and tutorials, use the facilities and meet staff and other students.

Fees and scholarships

Your actual fees may vary depending on the courses you select. We review our fees annually so these may be subject to change.

Approximate annual costs1 for your first year of study (8 units) in this degree are:

Study Mode Cost
Commonwealth supported

The Federal Government contributes to the cost of your course and you need to pay a student contribution.

AUD 3950
Domestic full fee paying

You are responsible for the full cost of your course and are charged a tuition fee.

AUD 23120

1 These are indicative annual fees for 2021. 

Clinical experience costs

Clinical courses will incur some additional costs, including uniform and equipment, transport to and from venues and, in some instances, living expenses, particularly for placements in rural and remote settings. Clinical placements that USQ can offer are dependent on availability and locality of those placements. For students studying externally or on-campus, these placements may occur away from the student’s geographical location.

Student services and amenities fees

You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.

Residential school costs

This degree includes an on-campus residential school component that involves travel, accommodation and meal expenses.

Loan to help you pay your fees

You may not have to pay your course (subject) fees upfront. HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP allows you to defer your fees until your income reaches a certain level. Find out if you are eligible for HECS-HELP or FEE-HELP.

You may also be eligible to receive financial support from Centrelink.

Scholarships

At USQ, we offer a range of scholarships to support your success at university. Find a scholarship that works for you.

How to apply

Apply via QTAC

Complete your online application via QTAC (Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre).

For all applicants (except those who hold a Diploma of Nursing qualification and are an Enrolled Nurse (EN) / Endorsed Enrolled Nurse (EEN)) please use the following QTAC codes to apply:

Mode QTAC Codes
Ipswich 936392
Toowoomba 906392
External 906395

If you are an Enrolled Nurse (EN) / Endorsed Enrolled Nurse (EEN) with a Diploma of Nursing qualification from an accredited provider, please use the following QTAC codes to apply:

Mode QTAC Codes
Ipswich 936491
Toowoomba 906491
External 906495

Additional supporting documentation is required for a Diploma of Nursing completed outside of 5 years:

  • proof of current AHPRA registration
  • supporting letter from employer to confirm continued employment at EN level
  • evidence of continued Professional Development - any in-house training; industry certification etc.

Copy your QTAC code and continue through to the QTAC website to complete your application.

Apply through QTAC

If you are applying via QTAC, please check the QTAC closing dates.

  • Applications for Semester 1, 2021 close on Wednesday 9 December 2020. Top-up round of applications close Thursday 4 February 2021, where places are not filled in the previous round.
  • Applications for Semester 2, 2021 close on Thursday 27 May 2021. Top-up round of applications closeThursday 17 June 2021, where places are not filled in the previous round.

Further information

Discover further information on applying to study at USQ that is relevant to you.

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Begin your study journey today with Queensland's #1 University for graduate starting salary* and start the degree that’s right for you.

*Good Universities Guide, 2021

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