Bachelor of Nursing
Make an impact every day with a career in nursing! Federation will connect you with a large network of healthcare providers for local and international placement and career opportunities.
Limited availability
Places in this course are limited and entry is competitive. Apply early for the best chance of securing your place.
Course essentials
ATAR
Lowest Adjusted ATAR 50.00
Guaranteed ATAR Score 60
Entry requirements
Credit
Study mode
On campus
Duration
Start dates
25 January 2027
01 March 2027
28 June 2027
26 July 2027
Locations
Berwick (blended)
Berwick (on campus)
Gippsland (blended)
Gippsland (on campus)
Mt Helen (on campus)
Wonthaggi (blended)
Course overview
Imagine knowing at the end of each day that you have had a positive influence on someone’s wellbeing. As a nurse, you will connect with a diverse range of patients on an intimate level and help them through difficult times at all life stages.
Federation will guide, support and connect you with opportunities on your journey to becoming a Registered nurse. You will learn to use clinical reasoning and evidence-based care to improve patient outcomes.
You will:
- learn to support a diverse group of patients in a variety of clinical settings
- gain practical experience across acute medical, and surgical nursing, mental health, aged care, and community care
- undertake 800 hours of supervised placement in Victoria (or even overseas), putting your new skills into practice.
Once you have completed your course, your registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) enables you to work anywhere in Australia.
Course specifics
First year
- anatomy & physiology
- communication for health professions
- professional, legal and ethical decision making
- person-centred nursing practice
- evidence-based practice and research
- primary health
Second year
- health promotion
- pathophysiology and pharmacology applied to person-centred nursing practice
- mental health nursing
- health and cultural diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- many technical nursing skills
Third year
- leadership for health practice
- management of deteriorating patient
- nursing people with chronic conditions
- transitioning into nursing practice
- application of evidence-based practice and research
There are many career opportunities outside of hospitals such as diabetes educator, community health nurse, school nurse, practice nurse and hospital in the home. Wherever you work, your career will be challenging, stimulating, and rewarding.You may even move into a specialised areas including midwifery or paramedicine.
Clinical placements
Our connections to hospitals and healthcare partners across Victoria will set up you up for success with placements and employment opportunities. We have long-established partnerships with organisations including:
- Ballarat Community Health
- Grampians Health
- Dhelkaya Health
- Monash Health
- St John of God Health Care
- Knox Private Hospital
- Bass Coast Health
- Latrobe Regional Hospital
- Gippsland hospitals (West Gippsland, Central Gippsland and Bairnsdale)
Overseas opportunities
Combine study and travel for a unique overseas experience with the help of our Global Professional School. In 2023, 16 Federation nursing students did their clinical placements in Nepal through the New Colombo Plan Mobility program. This Australian Government initiative supports undergraduates to study in 40 locations in the Indo-Pacific region.
Course delivery
Blended delivery (domestic) students will mostly study online but will be on campus for intensive blocks each semester.
Diploma of Nursing graduates may apply for second year at Berwick, Churchill, Mt Helen or Bass Coast (Wonthaggi).
Students applying for the Bachelor or Nursing at Bass Coast are made aware during the application process that they will undertake their clinical placements at Bass Coast Health, Wonthaggi for the duration of their degree. Alternative venues will be organised if the clinical placement focus is not offered at Wonthaggi Hospital.
This course does not follow the standard published academic calendar (Academic¿Calendar).
Current Year 12 students whose primary residence is in a regional or remote area may be eligible to apply for this course through the Regional and Remote Entry Scheme. Eligible students can apply using the reduced Guaranteed ATAR and specific VTAC codes.
https://www.federation.edu.au/study/information/high-school-students/early-offer-program/guaranteed…
IT requirements
To do this course you’ll need a fast and reliable computer and access to high-speed internet. Expect to use about 5GB of data per month for every unit you’re doing. Find out more about the minimum IT requirements for studying with us.
Got questions?
Call us on 1800 333 864, start a live chat or submit an enquiry.
Student support
The support we offer is second to none. Need academic help? No problem. Extra access or financial assistance? Let’s see what we can do. View our student services.
The fine print
The commencement of all courses is subject to available funding and enrolment quotas.
Everything in this course overview is correct at the time of being published. However, the University reserves the right to alter any course, procedure or fee. Please check for changes before you apply or enrol.
Federation University uses Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding (for eligible students) to deliver training.
School department
Nursing
Course co-ordinator
Ballarat (blended) - Alicia Perkins
Berwick (blended) - Amany Abdelkader
Berwick (on campus) - Amany Abdelkader
Gippsland (blended) - Louise Allen
Gippsland (on campus) - Louise Allen
Mt Helen (on campus) - Alicia Perkins
Wonthaggi (blended) - Louise Allen
Career paths
Professional recognition
The Bachelor of Nursing at Federation University Australia is accredited by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) and approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).
Accreditation has been granted for a five-year period from 25 November 2025 to 25 November 2030, confirming that the program meets the national standards for nursing education in Australia.
Prospective students should note that to apply for NMBA registration, graduates must meet the ANMAC English language requirements as stated in the NMBA English Language Skills Registration Standards (2019). This includes achieving a score of 7 in all four bands of the IELTS Academic test or a B in all four bands of the Occupational English Test (OET). Students will be informed upon admission that they must achieve the English level expected by AHPRA to achieve registration. For more details, visit the NMBA English Language Skills Registration Standards.
Fees and scholarships
Tuition fee information
Commonwealth Supported Places are subsidised by the Australian Government. The tuition fee is called the student contribution amount. The indicative fee above is based on a typical first-year enrolment for this course and should be used as a guide only. For 0.5 EFTSL (60 credit point) courses the certificate fee is displayed. Your fee will depend on the units you chose, your study load, the time it takes to complete your course and any approved credit you receive.
How it's calculated
The government sets the fee each year. The amount depends on the discipline area and band of each unit. 2026 annual student contribution amounts for 1 EFTSL (equivalent full-time student load) range from $4,738 (Band 1) to $17,399 (Band 4). The sample course structure below link to the EFTSL, Band and fee for each unit or you can use our unit search to find these details.
Other fees
You will also need to pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF).
Fee assistance
If you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan, you can defer the payment of all or part of your student contribution fee. If you’re also eligible for a SA-HELP loan, you can defer your SSAF payment too. You won’t have to start paying either loan back until your income reaches the compulsory repayment threshold.
Scholarships
There’s a range of scholarships and grants available. Find out what you can apply for.
Course details
Start dates
Semester 2, 2026
20 July 2026
Locations
Gippsland (on campus)
Mt Helen (on campus)
Early Semester 1, 2027 (Nursing)
25 January 2027
Locations
Ballarat (blended)
Berwick (blended)
Berwick (on campus)
Gippsland (blended)
Gippsland (on campus)
Mt Helen (on campus)
Wonthaggi (blended)
Semester 1, 2027
1 March 2027
Locations
Ballarat (blended)
Berwick (blended)
Berwick (on campus)
Gippsland (blended)
Gippsland (on campus)
Mt Helen (on campus)
Wonthaggi (blended)
Early Semester 2, 2027 (Nursing)
28 June 2027
Locations
Gippsland (on campus)
Semester 2, 2027
26 July 2027
Locations
Gippsland (on campus)
Information
- Our Mt Helen, SMB, Camp St and Gillies St campuses are located in Ballarat.
- Blended delivery means you'll be doing some of your classes online and some, like labs, on campus.
Contact hours
On-campus: 10-12 hours per week and 20-25 hours online study
Blended delivery: 30-40 hours online study and a week compulsory on campus intensive teaching block each semester
Work integrated learning
This course requires a total of 800 placement hours across 100 days.
Total 20 weeks, 800 hrs
Sample course structure
Here’s what the course structure could look like. It’s just an example (so don’t use it for enrolment). Interested in the details? You can find current course structure or select a single unit name below to find out what it’s about and how much it costs.
- Introduction to the Nursing Profession15 credit pointsNURBN1101
- Anatomy and Physiology for Nursing and Midwifery 115 credit pointsNURBN1111
- Introduction to evidence-based practice15 credit pointsNURBN1102
- Introduction to Person-Centered Nursing Practice15 credit pointsNURBN1104
- Fundamentals of Pharmacology15 credit pointsNURBN1105
- Anatomy and Physiology for Nursing and Midwifery 215 credit pointsNURBN1112
- Indigenous health and cultural safety in healthcare practice15 credit pointsNURBN1106
- Nursing Assessment and Management15 credit pointsNURBN1108
- Public Health and Health Promotion15 credit pointsNURBN2101
- Pathophysiology and Pharmacology A15 credit pointsNURBN2102
- Mental Health Nursing15 credit pointsNURBN2103
- Person Centered Nursing Practice A15 credit pointsNURBN2104
- Pathophysiology and Pharmacology B15 credit pointsNURBN2105
- Primary and Community Care15 credit pointsNURBN2106
- Care of the Older Person15 credit pointsNURBN2107
- Person-Centered Nursing Practice B15 credit pointsNURBN2108
- Transition to Practice and Leadership in Nursing15 credit pointsNURBN3101
- Care of Children and Adolescents15 credit pointsNURBN3102
- Management of Deteriorating Patient30 credit pointsNURBN3104
- Research in Nursing Practice and Quality Improvement15 credit pointsNURBN3105
- Care of People with Chronic Conditions15 credit pointsNURBN3106
- Consolidation of Person-Centered Nursing Practice in Diverse Settings30 credit pointsNURBN3108
Entry requirements
Entry requirements (year 12)
Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in any English
Entry requirements (non year 12)
Admission criteria for applicants with a Higher Education Study
Compulsory: Previous higher education studies with results at a pass level, including any 'single subjects of study', or successful completion of a tertiary preparatory course such as the Federation Access Studies Program (FAST).
Admission criteria for applications with a Vocational Education and Training study
Compulsory: Successful completion of a relevant VET qualification at Certificate III level or higher.
Admission criteria for applications with work and life experience
Applicants who have not completed secondary education, or undertaken any TAFE or university studies will not be eligible for entry into this course. Applicants in this category should consider a pathway course such as Federation Access Studies (FAST)
English language requirements
Academic IELTS with an overall score of 7.0, with a minimum score of 7 in listening, reading and speaking and a minimum score of 6.5 in writing, or equivalent
Refer to the professional recognition section for NMBA registration requirements.
Extra requirements
Essential requirements for enrolment or graduation:
Immunisation
Compulsory: Prior to commencing clinical placements students are expected to provide evidence of current immunisation status.
Working with children check
Compulsory: Applicants will be required to hold a valid Working with Children (WWC) Check prior to undertaking professional placements as part of this course. For more information click here
Police record check
Compulsory: Applicants will be required to hold a valid National Police Record Check for professional placements as part of this course. For more information click here
How you apply will depend on your current situation – school leaver, tertiary background or life experience – and whether you’re also applying for courses at other institutions. Visit our how to apply page to find out more.
Ready to fill out your application? You might need these codes:
- VTAC application
- Yes
- VTAC code
- 3702410331 - Ballarat (blended)
3702610331 - Berwick (blended)
3701810331 - Berwick (on campus)
3702510331 - Gippsland (blended)
3700710331 - Gippsland (on campus)
3700510331 - Mt Helen (on campus)
3702710331 - Wonthaggi (blended) - Direct application
- Yes
- Federation University code
- NN5