Admission criteria

To be considered for entry into this course, you must:

• Have completed a bachelor degree (AQF7) or equivalent in any discipline, not more than ten years prior to the date of application.

Or

• Have completed a bachelor degree (AQF7) or equivalent in any discipline, more than ten years prior to the date of application.
  
  And
• Have completed a graduate certificate degree (AQF8) or equivalent in any discipline, not more than ten years prior to the date of application.
  
  Or
• Have five years of documented relevant experience including roles in the healthcare sector.

The University of Melbourne is committed to maintaining a transparent admissions policy by clearly communicating all entry scores to prospective students. Entry requirements to the University of Melbourne are regularly reviewed to ensure they align with the University's Selection and Admissions Policy. The entry requirements published for this course will apply from the start year 2027 intake onwards.

Relevant experience is measured in full-time years but may be completed within a part-time equivalent timeframe.

Where degree levels are referenced, levels align with the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). Applications are assessed against these standards.

Where our admission criteria includes a minimum Weighted Average Mark (WAM) and/or specific subject criteria, these are based on University of Melbourne grades and subjects. If you've studied elsewhere, we'll assess your relevant prior studies and equivalent grades. Your final WAM may be adjusted depending on your previous institution's accreditation, subject grading, and pass marks.

English language requirements

All applicants to the University of Melbourne must satisfy the English language requirements. This may be achieved in a number of ways, including recognised previous study taught and assessed entirely in English or an approved English language test. If you are from a non-English speaking background, the required standard of English for this degree is one of the following English proficiency test scores:

About selection

As part of your application, you must also:

• Provide a curriculum vitae (CV) detailing relevant education, work experience, skills and achievements, if relevant

Missing information or documents may result in your application being deemed ineligible.

When assessing (and where relevant, ranking) applications, the Selection Committee will consider:

• Prior academic performance
• Relevance of previous study
• Relevant prior (research and/or professional) experience, if relevant

The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Selection and Admission Policy.

Meeting the minimum entry requirements for this course does not guarantee selection.

Additional information

Further information about English language requirements

Applicants are also required to satisfy the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) English standard prior to commencement of the course. One of IELTS, PTE Academic or TOEFL IBT, and must be achieved in one sitting. Please note the TOEFL iBT (Special Home Edition) is not accepted for this course

Due to the requirement to satisfy both the University and NMBA English standards, applicants who satisfy the University language requirements through prior tertiary study will need to meet one of the following requirements;

1. English is the applicant’s primary language and they have completed at least six years of primary and secondary education in English in one of the NMBA recognised countries* OR
2. The applicant has undertaken, or will undertake one of the approved English language proficiency tests and has achieved (or will achieve) at least the minimum scores required, as specified in the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia's (NMBA) English language skills registration standard (3).

*NMBA Recognised countries are Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States of America.

Weighted Average Mark (WAM)

We encourage all applicants with a WAM of 65 or above to apply. This WAM is an indication only and may vary year to year depending on the applicant pool, achieving this WAM does not guarantee entry. Domestic applicants who have special circumstances are encouraged to apply through Graduate Access Melbourne to increase their eligibility.

Indigenous applicants (Domestic applicants only)

Applicants of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent are given priority access to Nursing at the University of Melbourne.

Prospective Indigenous applicants are encouraged to:

1. Complete the relevant section under the Graduate Access Melbourne requirement in the application form.

2. Contact the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Science Indigenous Student Support Office for application and admission support.

Rural and Regional Background applicants (Domestic applicants only)

Domestic applicants with a rural or regional background have priority access to the Master of Nursing Science at the University of Melbourne. If you have resided, according to principal home address, for at least 5 years consecutively or 10 years cumulatively in a rural or regional area of Australia, please let us know in the application process.

Rural and regional background applicants are encouraged to:

• Use the workforce location map to check their geographical classification according to the Department of Health and Aged Care’s Modified Monash Model (MMM). A rural/regional background is anywhere from MM2 to MM7.
• Complete the relevant section under the Graduate Access Melbourne requirement in the application form including providing relevant supporting documentation.

Introductory Human Physiology for Nursing Students

As a student in this course, you are presumed to have a foundational understanding of human anatomy and physiology.

If you are from a non-science background, or if you have not studied for several years, the online short course Biochemical Basis for Human Life is highly recommended. This is not compulsory, but highly recommended as you prepare to commence study in the Master of Nursing Science.

Inherent requirements

This course has inherent requirements. Refer to the Master of Nursing Science Handbook for important information on these requirements.

Clinical placements

Clinical Placements are undertaken as part of this course. All students must undertake a Police Record Check, obtain a Working with Children Check and comply with immunisation requirements. Refer to the following pages for important information:

• Clinical Education Risk & Governance
• MDHS Pre-Placement Requirements
• Student Placements.

Graduate Access Melbourne (GAM)

We encourage domestic students to explore eligibility for Graduate Access Melbourne (GAM). GAM offers an opportunity for admission to this course even if your tertiary marks are below the standard entry requirements. GAM applicants may also be considered for financial bursaries and Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) where available.

GAM categories include coming from a rural area, being an Indigenous Australian, experiencing financial hardship or personal difficulties, having refugee status, or living with a disability or medical condition. In assessing applications, we look to balance opportunity and your capacity to succeed.

Advanced Standing

Prior studies may be credited towards your degree and potentially reduce the duration of your course. This is known as Advanced Standing (also known as credit or recognition of prior learning).

Advanced standing applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Please note that as the Master of Nursing Science is a graduate course, only nursing subjects undertaken at a graduate level will be considered for credit. Any subjects completed as part of a Bachelor of Nursing degree cannot be credited as part of the Master of Nursing Science degree.

For additional, in-depth details on entry requirements and admissions for this course, refer to the University Handbook.