Graduate Diploma of Nursing

The Graduate Diploma in Nursing specialisation that’s right for you will vary depending on your Nursing and Allied Health interests and goals. At UniSQ we have six different specialisations you can choose from:

Clinical Education - Learn the skills required to conduct face- to-face and online pedagogy specific to a clinical setting and develop clinical nurse educator resources to progress your career.

General - Tailor your Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing and select from a range of advanced nursing courses to customise your degree to suit your career needs.

Gerontology - Understand the foundations of healthy ageing and further develop your skills in caring for elderly patients with complex needs.

Leadership & Management in Health - Gain the theoretical knowledge of leadership and management in nursing and apply theses learnings in your current occupation.

Mental Health - A mental health Grad Dip in Nursing will Build your understanding of counselling theories to develop comprehensive knowledge of mental health conditions.

Rural & Remote - Develop your clinical decision-making skills for a rural and remote setting and gain the qualifications required to effectively work as a remote nurse. 

If you are unsure which nursing major is right for you, get in touch with one of our iconnect support staff to talk through your options. 

There are many great reasons to study a Graduate Diploma in Nursing and take the next step in your nursing career:

• According to the Good University Guide, 2024 we are rated 5/5 stars in postgraduate overall experience and graduate salary.
• Benefit from industry –relevant, practical and theoretical training.
• Continue to enhance your new-found knowledge and use the Graduate Diploma in Nursing as a stepping-stone to study the Master of Nursing. 

At UniSQ, to gain entry into our postgraduate Graduate Diploma in Nursing you need to:

• Hold a 3-year bachelor degree in the relevant area of nursing from an Australian university, or equivalent.
• Hold a current Professional Registration as a Division 1 nurse, or equivalent.

For more information you can view the entry requirements section of the Grad Dip in Nursing specialisation you’re interested in studying.

Did you know, you may be eligible for recognition of prior learning from your previous studies or work experience? This will reduce the number of courses that you need to study to finish your degree.

Do you still have questions? Get in touch with one of our iconnect support staff to talk through your options.

The main difference between a graduate certificate and graduate diploma is the time it takes to complete each. Compared to the four-five months it takes to finish a graduate certificate, it takes up to 12 months of full-time study to complete the eight units required in a Graduate Diploma in Nursing. In both the certificate and diploma, you can opt to study part-time which does increase the time in which it takes to complete the degree.

A Graduate Diploma of Nursing usually incorporates the same course options as a graduate certificate in the same discipline area but builds on your knowledge from the certificate and advances your skills further. It also has similar coursework subjects as a master's degree in the same study field, but the flexibility of not having to commit to a full master's degree. 

At UniSQ you can study a 2-year Graduate Diploma in Nursing online or externally. 

Opportunities for Graduate Diploma in Nursing graduates exist in a variety of nursing and allied health settings including:

• clinical education
• private health facilities
• hospitals
• aged-care
• nursing homes
• residential facilities
• community work. 

Yes! At UniSQ you will study our Graduate Diploma in Nursing externally or online, allowing you to choose where you study, when you study and even how you study. 

As a postgraduate Diploma in Nursing online student, you’ll receive the same level of support as an on-campus student and we’ll be there with you, every step of the way.

Discover more about online study at UniSQ.