Nursing in Australia: Fees, Entry Requirements and Fit
Nursing is one of the most consistently in-demand fields in Australia and one of the clearest routes into skilled work after graduation.
It is also one of the most demanding: a higher English requirement, real clinical placements, and professional registration on top of your degree. Worth knowing all of that before you commit.
Free, three minutes, filtered by your grades and budget.
Fees
What nursing costs
Nursing tuition runs higher than general Bachelor's programmes, reflecting the clinical placement and accreditation requirements built into the course.
For a Bachelor's degree, roughly AUD 32,500 to 43,500 a year, regional universities at the lower end and Group of Eight at the higher. An estimate built on the same field, level and tier logic as the cost calculator, not an official fee. Diploma and Master's programmes move that range down or up.
Add living costs of AUD 29,710 for year one, OSHC, and the AUD 2,500 visa fee.
Living costs, OSHC and the visa fee included.
Getting in
Entry requirements
English: IELTS 7.0 overall is standard for nursing, higher than the 6.5 required for most other fields, and it is set by the professional registration body rather than the university. Individual band minimums usually apply too, so a strong overall score with one weak section can still fall short. See the IELTS guide.
Academic: science subjects at intermediate or FSc level are commonly required for undergraduate entry. Postgraduate nursing usually requires a prior nursing or health qualification, which catches out applicants expecting to switch fields into nursing at Master's level.
Additional field-specific academic prerequisites are coming soon, from verified seed data.
Always confirm current requirements directly with the university.
Where
Universities offering nursing
A list of partner institutions offering nursing, with campuses and intakes, is coming soon.
Compare institutions on the university pages, and cities on the city guides.
After study
PR relevance, without the overclaim
Nursing appears consistently on Australia's skilled occupation lists, which is a genuine advantage if migration is part of your longer-term plan.
That is relevance, not a guarantee. You still need to graduate, register with the professional body, gain skilled experience, pass a skills assessment, and compete for an invitation in a points-tested system. See the PR guide and best courses for PR.
Honest fit
Is this field right for you?
The version most agents skip.
Nursing suits students with a genuine interest in patient care and the resilience for clinical placement work, which is physically and emotionally demanding and is not optional.
It does not suit students choosing it because it sits high on an occupation list. That shows up three times: as a weak Genuine Student story at the visa stage, as a difficult course you did not want to be in, and as a registration you cannot complete.
Your course choice is assessed. A case officer will look at what you studied, what you have done, and what you are applying for, and ask whether they connect. See the Genuine Student guide.
Common questions
01What IELTS score do I need for nursing in Australia?
7.0 overall is the standard requirement, set by the registration body, with individual band minimums applied by universities.
02How much does a nursing degree in Australia cost?
Higher than general Bachelor's programmes due to clinical requirements. Use the cost calculator for your total.
03Can I study nursing without a science background?
Undergraduate entry usually requires science subjects. Postgraduate nursing usually requires a prior health qualification.
04Does nursing guarantee PR in Australia?
No. It has consistent occupation-list presence, which helps in a competitive points system that many graduates do not clear.
05Do I need registration to work as a nurse in Australia?
Yes, with the relevant professional body, which has its own English and practical requirements beyond your degree.
06Which universities are best for nursing?
Accreditation matters more than ranking here. Check that the specific programme leads to registration.
Next steps
Check which courses you qualify for
Filter by your grades and budget before you commit to a nursing application.
Compare universities offering this field: university pages.
Check your visa chances for this course: visa chance checker, free, four minutes.
Browse other fields on the courses hub.