Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner)
Expand your advanced nursing knowledge and skills and lead the way to improved access in rural and remote communities to transform lives. Nurse practitioners (NP) have the potential to significantly improve the delivery and outcomes of health services in geographically distant regions and underserved populations.
Limited availability
Places in this course are limited and entry is competitive. Apply early for the best chance of securing your place.
Course essentials
Entry requirements
Credit
A full-time study load is 120 credits a year (usually four 15-credit units each semester). 120 credits equal one equivalent full-time student load (EFTSL). Each credit point equals about 10 hours of learning, so a 15-credit unit means roughly 150 hours.
Study mode
Study modes tell you how teaching and learning will be delivered for your course and include where and when classes can be scheduled, what you'll do and the tech you'll use.
Duration
Start dates
Locations
Berwick (blended)
Gippsland (blended)
Course overview
This professionally accredited program will prepare you to practice at the highest level of clinical nursing. The program builds advanced clinical practice research and leadership skills to inform real-world practice. Offered part-time over two years, this course has been designed specifically for students working clinically and studying simultaneously. Course content will be delivered part time online with a requirement to attend their campus for residential block teaching. The program was designed by experienced nurse practitioners and academics in collaboration with industry partners to build confidence and skills in diagnostic reasoning, advanced health assessment, independent prescribing, research methods and leadership. As an endorsed NP, you will gain the authority to work autonomously to diagnose and treat people with a variety of acute and/or chronic health conditions, refer to hospitals and specialists, order diagnostic tests, provide outreach services in rural communities and provide mentorship and clinical expertise to other health professionals. You will collaborate with a variety of healthcare professionals including nurses, NPs, GPs, medical and surgical specialists, physiotherapists, dieticians, occupational therapists, social workers and psychologists. In addition, you will be equipped to critically identify the needs of existing healthcare structures, and nurture the development of a high quality, safe and compassionate healthcare system. Upon graduation, you will be eligible for endorsement by the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Australia, authorising you to practice collaboratively and autonomously in providing life-changing health services and transforming the health of your community.
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
Erin Tanti
Career paths
Nurse practitioner
There is no limit to where NPs can work, including:
• Hospitals (public or private)
• Community health settings (primary care, community clinic)
• Private practice
Professional recognition
Australian Nursing & Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC)
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 1, 2027
1 March 2027
Locations
Ballarat (blended)
Berwick (blended)
Gippsland (blended)
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
You’d be looking at about 25-30 hours per week (if you’re full time), but this includes on-campus classes and self-directed study (i.e. homework).
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.
- Advanced Practice in Healthcare15 credit pointsHEANP6001
- Comprehensive Health Assessment and Application of Diagnostic Principles30 credit pointsHEANP6003
- Research Methods for Health30 credit pointsHEALT6001
- Pharmacology for Advanced Practice15 credit pointsHEANP6002
- Quality Use of Medicines15 credit pointsHEANP7002
- Complex Health Assessment and Application of Diagnostic Principles29 credit pointsHEANP7003
- Leadership Development in Health Contexts30 credit pointsHEALT7004
- Comprehensive and Safe Patient Care15 credit pointsHEANP7005
Entry requirements
Entry requirements (non year 12)
1. Current general registration as a RN in Australia (without conditions) a. Evidenced by a copy of Registration details
2. A minimum of 2 years full time equivalent (FTE) experience as a RN in a specified clinical field a. Evidenced by a CV providing detail of previous experience.
AND
3. A minimum of 2 years FTE experience in current advanced nursing practice in the clinical field a. Evidenced by a CV detailing employment history with mention of classification, employment fractions and activities of advanced nursing practice in the last 6 years b. A signed document from Executive
Director of Nursing or Equivalent manager supporting advanced nursing practice status. Prospective students should consider using resources such as The Australian Advanced Practice Nursing Self Appraisal Tool and the Advanced nursing practice – guidelines for the Australian context to assist with appraisal and reflection of advanced nursing practice activities within the domains of advanced clinical care provision, provision of education, involvement and inclusion of research activities and support of systems for best practice, and professional leadership qualities.
4. A relevant postgraduate clinical qualification at Australian Qualifications Framework Level 8 a. Evidenced by an academic transcript b. If > 10 yrs., evidence of maintaining currency of knowledge in supplied CV.
5. Currently working in an advanced clinical nursing role a. Evidenced by a CV – please specify your FTE for relevant positions b. Evidenced in employer support letter
6. Employer agreement
a. Agreement to support the required 300 hours of supernumerary integrated professional practice (IPP) clinical hours to support application of advanced practice (See document Employer Support Statement MN) b. Support for “advanced nursing practice” as outlined above. Prospective students
can review an explanation of what constitutes ‘supernumerary integrated professional practice (IPP) clinical hours” from the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council.
7. Clinical support team
a. Signed agreement from suitably qualified health care professionals (i.e. NP and/or medical practitioner in relevant specialty) agreeing to be a part of the team b. Mentor agreement/s (found in Mentor Handbook - this will be provided once an offer of enrolment is obtained). The Clinical support team must have relevant clinical and professional experience and currently practicing in the applicant’s nominated specialty field who are able to provide supervision of clinical practice. The
Program Coordinator must approve the suitability of the members of the clinical support team prior to commencement of first units.
Documents:
Employer Support Statement MN
English language requirements
A minimum overall score of 7 and a minimum score of 7 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking).
If you’re only applying for this course, do it via direct application.
Ready to fill out your application?
You'll need this code:
Direct application
Federation University code
- Direct application
- Yes
- Federation University code
- NP9
Hear from our students
So as I love serving people and helping them, I take Bachelor of Nursing and I'm pursuing nursing as my career. That only provides us with so many opportunities. They have contact with such good hospitals and agencies if you want to work for your placements and stuff. And they provide us with so much material and support to improve our skills through our nursing. Even in the uni, in the building, we have rooms are like literally hospital rooms where we have beds and all the equipments with dolls which do make sounds and they have pulse and everything. So it is so creative and so alive that we get to improve our skills so much. Ballarat is like the most happy, friendly little town in all of the Victoria I've been in Melbourne. But people over here are genuinely really sweet and nice to you. They're really friendly and they're just walking in the morning and someone is passing by and they'll just say, they'll smile and they say good morning to you, which is so sweet. Like it never feels that you're somewhere different. You're just you feel homely. I've heard a lot about Federation University. So back when I was applying for multiple universities, I was suggested Fed Uni by my agent and they suggested Fed Uni because it has so many campus. They support, support us so much and it is so multicultural. They're like so many people coming from so many different countries. So last year they hosted the Bollywood night for the Indian students. Being an Indian, I was so happy that they're hosting such an event. They keep on hosting events which are like for every culture and everyone gets to enjoy and feel at home, which is the best part. So the Bollywood night was the one for me. I'll be pursuing nursing as my career and I want to become a registered nurse, work here for the people and serve them and just enjoy life for some time.