Key facts
Duration
1 year full-time or part-time equivalent
Locations
Course overview
Focusing on research, the honours year builds on the foundations established in your undergraduate degree. You will study a particular topic of professional interest in greater depth and create pathways to specialisations and further research or study. The Bachelor of Nursing (Honours) is a specialised year of study taken after the completion of a Bachelor of Nursing, entry to practice Master degree or combined degrees.
For entry into senior nursing and midwifery roles there’s now an increasing industry expectation for graduates with high-level research and evaluation skills. Honours offers you a competitive edge in the job market and is designed to provide you with the knowledge and research skills to undertake a postgraduate research degree, advanced professional training or to pursue diverse employment opportunities.
The School of Nursing and Midwifery offers research in areas influencing quality and patient safety in health care. These include: clinical risk and symptom management, chronic disease management, effective health delivery, health care ethics, decision making, aged care, midwifery and translational research.
Throughout this course you will gain a deep understanding of the philosophies, ethics and principles of health care research; knowledge of a range of research approaches; skills in data management, methods and tools for research practice; and skills in planning, implementing and reporting research studies.
This course will give you an understanding of how to develop a research proposal, from the identification of a research issue and literature review through to writing and submitting the proposal for approval by an ethics committee. You will undertake a research project and an individual research thesis in the area of nursing practice and develop evaluation and research skills in nursing practice and health service delivery.
You will be qualified for rewarding roles in all areas of nursing including acute care/sub-acute care, emergency, aged care, paediatrics and rehabilitation; in hospitals, government departments, district health services, the education sector, business and private industry. Alternatively, you may decide to undertake a research degree such as a research Masters or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
Key dates
Direct applications to Deakin for Semester 2 2026 close 21 June 2026
Current Deakin students
To access your official course details for the year you started your degree, please visit the handbook
- Award granted
- Bachelor of Nursing (Honours)
- Year
2026 course information
- Deakin code
- H421
- CRICOS code?Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students
- 006227K Burwood (Melbourne), Waterfront (Geelong), Warrnambool
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8
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Course structure
To complete the Bachelor of Nursing (Honours), you must pass 8 credit points. This includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
- 8 credit points of core units
- including 4 credit points of an independent research project
As a full-time student you will study four credit points per semester and usually undertake two semesters per year.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Semester 1
Semester 2
Part-time enrolment - (not available to international students)
Students may be able to complete in less than four semesters - please contact your course enrolment officer.
Year 1 - Semester 1
Year 1 - Semester 2
Year 2 - Semester 1
Year 2 - Semester 2
Students commencing in Semester 2
Year 1 - Semester 2
Semester 1
Part-time enrolment
Year 1 - Semester 2
Year 2 - Semester 1
Year 2 - Semester 2
Year 3 - Semester 1
Intakes by location
The availability of a course varies across locations and intakes. This means that a course offered in Semester 1 may not be offered in the same location for Semester 2. Check each intake for up-to-date information on when and where you can commence your studies.
- Start date: February
- Available at:
- Burwood (Melbourne)
- Waterfront (Geelong)
- Warrnambool
- Start date: June
- Available at:
- Burwood (Melbourne)
- Waterfront (Geelong)
- Warrnambool
Deakin splits the academic year into three terms, known as trimesters. Most students usually undertake two trimesters each year (March-June, July-November).
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Honours
For detailed information, particularly with respect to the selection of areas of study and availability of appropriate supervision, students should consult the School of Nursing and Midwifery.
Inherent requirements
Essential knowledge, skills and capabilities are required to undertake and successfully complete the undergraduate nursing and midwifery courses and to practice safely as a registered nurse and/or midwife. The inherent requirements of the course are listed at School of Nursing and Midwifery Undergraduate Courses: Inherent Requirements
Course duration
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
Mandatory student checks
Any unit with a work integrated learning component, a community placement or interaction with the community may require a police check, working with children check or other check. Refer the relevant unit guide.
Workload
You should be able to commit 35 hours a week to your honours degree.
Participation requirements
Students will participate in online learning, intensive classroom activities, attend the Annual Research School and meet regularly with their supervisor.
Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.
Work experience
The School of Nursing and Midwifery conducts its research through the Centre for Quality and Patient Safety Research (QPS). Collaborative research partnerships with health services facilitate knowledge translation particularly in relation to clinical care, quality and patient safety that directly impacts the quality, safety and experience of patient care.
Entry requirements
Selection is based on a holistic consideration of your academic merit, work experience, likelihood of success, availability of places, participation requirements, regulatory requirements, and individual circumstances. You will need to meet the minimum academic and English language proficiency requirements or higher to be considered for selection, but this does not guarantee admission.
A combination of qualifications and experience may be deemed equivalent to minimum academic requirements.
To be considered for admission to this degree you will need to meet the following criteria:
- completion of a Bachelor of Nursing with a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of at least 65 in all level three or four Deakin units (or in final year units for awards from other providers)
To meet the English language proficiency requirements of this course, you will need to demonstrate at least one of the following:
- Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) English Units 3 and 4: Study score of at least 30 in English as an Additional Language (EAL) or at least 25 in any other English
- IELTS overall score of 6.5 (with no band score less than 6.0) or equivalent
- other evidence of English language proficiency (learn more about other ways to satisfy the requirements)
Learn more about Deakin courses and how we compare to other universities when it comes to the quality of our teaching and learning.
Recognition of prior learning
Recognition of prior learning will not normally be given to applicants entering the honours sequence.
Fees and scholarships
Fee information
Estimated tuition fee - (CSP) ?Enrolling in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) means the Australian Government pays part of your course fees directly to Deakin, and you pay a 'student contribution'.
$6,081 for 1 yr full-time - Commonwealth Supported Place (HECS)
Learn more about fees.
The tuition fees you pay will depend on the units you choose, as each unit has its own cost. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is provided as a guide only and represents the typical first-year tuition fees for students enrolled in this course. The cost will vary depending on the units you choose, your study load, the time it takes to complete your course and any approved Recognition of prior learning you have.
Each unit you enrol in has a credit point value. The 'Estimated tuition fee' is calculated by adding together 8 credit points of a typical combination of units for this course. Eight credit points is used as it represents a typical full-time enrolment load for a year. You can find the credit point value of each unit under the Unit Description by searching for the unit in the handbook.
Learn more about fees and available payment options on our Current students fees website or estimate your tuition fees.
Scholarship options
We want to help you excel at Deakin. Our scholarships recognise your dedication and achievements, providing financial support that can ease the cost of living and studying. With less pressure, you’ll have more freedom to focus on what matters most – your education and future success.
Apply now
Apply directly to Deakin
To apply, create an account in the Deakin Application Portal, enter your personal details and education experience, upload supporting documents and submit. Need help? Play this video, or contact one of our friendly future student advisers on 1800 693 888 or submit an online enquiry.
Pathways
Students who achieve a high-grade Honours result can apply for credit for the research component if they decide to progress to a masters degree. A high-grade Honours result also gives students the option of applying for entry to a PhD program.
Career outcomes
After successfully completing the Bachelor of Nursing (Honours), you will be well prepared to build on your profile as a Registered Nurse, leading quality care initiatives and evidence-based practice. You will have improved entry into a range of areas including quality management, policy, education, research and clinical practice.
Professional recognition
Honours is not a professional accreditation requirement. Honours offers students a competitive edge in the job market and is designed to provide nurses with the knowledge and research skills to undertake a postgraduate research degree, advanced professional training or to pursue diverse employment opportunities.
Deakin's graduate learning outcomes describe the knowledge and capabilities graduates can demonstrate at the completion of their course. These outcomes mean that regardless of the Deakin course you undertake, you can rest assured your degree will teach you the skills and professional attributes that employers value. They'll set you up to learn and work effectively in the future.
| Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes | Course Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|
| Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities | Apply cognitive and technical skills combined with a systematic and coherent body of knowledge to develop a conceptual framework for research inquiry, select the appropriate methodology and procedures for the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; and disseminate research findings. |
| Communication | Autonomously communicate research outcomes to the professional community, defend and discuss all elements of the research project in the chosen field of study via oral and written means to academics, specialists and others. |
| Digital literacy | Autonomously undertake research, comprehend and evaluate new information, concepts and evidence to locate, select and collect appropriate technologies to source, interpret, adapt, collate, analyse and disseminate relevant information to an academic audience and specialists. |
| Critical thinking | Critically and constructively, evaluate, critique and synthesise the literature in the chosen field of study; select and apply appropriate methodological principles suitable for the research project; select and apply appropriate analytical techniques to test the hypothesis; and interpret, compare and contrast study findings to the wider literature in the chosen field of study. |
| Problem solving | Contribute to advancement of knowledge in the field of health care policy and delivery by identifying a suitable and novel research question based on the literature that can be completed within the given timeframe; conducting the research to address the question in an appropriate, realistic and ethical manner. |
| Self-management | Identify own learning needs and seek additional knowledge and/or information as required to produce a realistic timeline for the research project that incorporates preparing a literature review, obtaining ethical approval (if applicable), sourcing and/or collecting and analysing data, and disseminating research findings. |
| Teamwork | Collaborate effectively as a member of a research and professional team of specialists, peers, academics and others from a range of disciplines and backgrounds. |
| Global citizenship | Apply ethical standards governing research and professional practice in the discipline whilst maintaining confidentiality, and respecting inclusive, cultural sensitivities. |
*Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. For more information, visit our University rankings page.
