Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences

Become a registered nurse

• Graduates of the Master of Nursing Science degree are eligible to apply for registration as a Registered Nurse through the Nurses and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). 
• Graduates attain an two-year advanced degree from one of Australia's prestigious Group of Eight universities.
• The course is also available for students who have completed an overseas nursing degree and are unable to gain registration as a Registered Nursing in Australia.
• Registered nurses can work in a range of specialties including: community health, child health, emergency and critical care nursing among many others.

Small classes and hospital experience

• Our Master of Nursing Science also offers small classes with high-calibre teaching staff and it is conducted in partnership with Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.
• Because adult 'general' nursing clinical experience (metro) will be based at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, you will develop a sense of belonging, as ward staff, preceptors, clinical educators and buddies get to know the programme and the students.

Clinical experience

You will gain valuable clinical experiences from:

• our clinical skills laboratory simulation
• a three-week rural health placement
• maternal and child health placements
• mental health placements
• an emphasis on the community-hospital-community continuum (including public health)
• simulations of real-life working environments in a risk-free setting
• highly-qualified teaching and research staff

Employment opportunities and advanced career prospects

You will have many options to pursue an interesting career in any of the following areas:

• intensive care
• child nursing/paediatrics
• theatre nursing
• community nursing
• health promotion
• medical specialty nursing
• surgical specialty nursing
• aged care
• remote community nursing
• nursing research

Course outline

The Master of Nursing Science consists of:

• NURS8821 Nursing Practice 1 (Nursing Assessment and Care)
• NURS8812 Nursing and the Health Care System
• NURS8813 Evidence-based Nursing Practice
• MICR8814  Microbiology for Nurses
• NURS8831 Clinical Nursing Skills 1
• NURS8815 Pathophysiology for Nurses
• NURS8822 Nursing Practice 2 (Medical/Surgical Nursing)
• PHCY8801 Pharmacotherapy for Nurses
• NURS8832 Clinical Nursing Skills 2
• PUBH8751 Disease Prevention in Population Health Nurses
• RMED8816 Rural Health Nursing Practice
• NURS8817 Maternal and Child Health Nursing
• NURS8818 Mental Health Nursing
• NURS8819 Nursing Research
• NURS8823 Nursing Practice 3 (Complex Care)
• PUBH8763 Leadership and Management of Health Services Nurses
• NURS8810 Professional Nursing Issues
• NURS8820 Nursing Practicum

Admission requirements

Admission to the Master Nursing Science requires the following:

• A bachelor's degree in any discipline.
• A current Senior First Aid Certificate and a Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation Certificate.
• Successful completion of a tertiary-level unit of study in human biology, or an equivalent area of study. We offer an online human biology unit during each academic year.
• A one page personal statement about why you want to enrol in the Master of Nursing Science
• A current Curriculum Vitae (CV)

English Language Competence

All UWA coursework programs have a minimum level of English Language Competencies that need to be met to enter the course.  For students that completed their bachelor degree in Australia please check the 'Australian' English Language Competency website. For students that completed their bachelor degree abroad please check the 'International Qualifications' English Language Competency website. Note that there are specific requirements for the Master of Nursing Science course in regards to minimum IELTS and TOEFL scores.

Please note: English Language Proficiency requirements for registration as a Registered Nurse are determined by Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia policy and these requirements are different from English Language Competence for admission at UWA. Please visit the Nursing and Midwifery Board website for full details of the requirements.