#14 in the world for nursing
Advanced nursing studies
Flexible online courses for practising nurses
Why choose advanced nursing at Deakin
Advance your nursing career with the Master of Advanced Nursing. Designed for registered nurses, this course builds advanced capability in clinical decision-making, leadership and evidence-based practice to support improved patient outcomes across complex healthcare environments.
Study at a university ranked #14 in the world for nursing and learn from experts shaping contemporary healthcare practice. You will explore advanced concepts, research and frameworks that underpin safe, high-quality and person-centred care. With a flexible structure, you can tailor your studies through elective units and choose between a coursework or thesis pathway aligned to your career goals. This course prepares you for senior roles across clinical practice, leadership, education, policy and research.
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#14 in the world for nursing
Study at a globally ranked nursing school recognised for excellence in teaching and research.
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Flexible study
Study online with the ability to balance work and life commitments while advancing your nursing practice.
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Customisable degree pathways
Tailor your studies through electives and choose a coursework or thesis pathway aligned to your career goals.
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Leadership and research capability
Build advanced skills to lead practice, influence healthcare delivery and contribute to research and policy.
Connected to industry
Deakin’s strong industry connections help shape your learning. Build practical experience in real workplace contexts through work-integrated learning, mentoring and networking opportunities. Industry advisory boards also help shape our degrees, which means what you study is current, relevant and aligned to what your future employers need.
Deakin puts employability first
Career outcomes
Advance your nursing career with specialist knowledge for leadership, education and advanced clinical practice. Build expertise you can apply across hospitals, community health and specialist healthcare settings.
Nurse manager
Lead nursing teams, coordinate patient care and oversee the delivery of safe, high-quality healthcare services. Combine advanced clinical expertise with leadership and operational skills to improve outcomes for patients, staff and health services.
- 13.6%
Projected job growth in 5 years
- $145k
Typical annual salary in Australia
Nurse educator
Support the development of current and future nurses through education, mentoring and professional development. Design learning experiences, promote evidence-based practice and help strengthen skills across the nursing workforce.
- 5,000
Nurse educators employed
- $138k
Typical annual salary in Australia
Other jobs
- Clinical nurse specialist
- Clinical nurse consultant
- Advanced practice nurse
- Nurse researcher
- Quality and safety coordinator
- Healthcare leader
FAQs
The cost of studying at Deakin depends on your degree, units and study load – tuition fees are listed on degree pages under the fees and scholarships tab. Beyond tuition, you will need to budget for Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), accommodation, transport, groceries and textbooks. Find out more about the cost of living in Australia, use the Study Australia calculator to estimate living expenses and explore international scholarships which may help to reduce your tuition costs.
Deakin offers a range of merit-based scholarships that can reduce your postgraduate tuition fees by 20%, 25%, 50% or 100% for the duration of your degree. Eligibility varies by scholarship and the degree you choose, but you will automatically be considered for most scholarships when you apply to Deakin. Use the Find a scholarship tool and filter by 'citizenship' to see what is available to you, or explore Australia Awards scholarships if you are from an eligible country.
It depends on the degree and how you study. Graduate certificates typically take six months full time or one year part time. Graduate diplomas usually take one year full time and masters degrees typically take one to two years full time. Recognition of prior learning can reduce your study time. Check the degree page for full details.
Australia is widely regarded as one of the safest and most welcoming countries in the world for students, with strong legal protections, reliable public services and a multicultural community. In fact, Melbourne is ranked the #4 student city in the world! At Deakin, you will be part of a supportive community, with 24/7 help, dedicated campus security and practical tools to help you feel safe, confident and connected. Deakin’s SafeZone app also connects you directly to campus security and support services if you ever need help. Find out more about studying in Australia.
We value your experience and qualifications. That is why every new degree application at Deakin is assessed for recognition of prior learning (RPL). Through RPL, Deakin can assess your previous study and life experience and may award course credit that could reduce your study duration, as well as the cost of your study. Qualifications from universities and private tertiary institutions worldwide are considered, as is informal learning related to your degree. Use the RPL calculator to see how much credit you may be eligible for.
Deakin offers a wide range of support to help you settle in and succeed throughout your studies – we are ranked the #1 university in Melbourne for student support. You can access 1:1 study support, English language support, career planning help, disability services and free counselling, as well as financial assistance if you need it. On campus, the SafeZone app and 24/7 security services mean help is always within reach. You can explore the full range of support services for international students or start an online chat with a student ambassador before you arrive.
To enrol in a postgraduate degree at Deakin, many degrees require a minimum IELTS score of 6.0 (or equivalent). Some degrees require higher scores, so check the entry requirements tab on the degree page for details. You may also meet the requirement through recent secondary or university study completed in English, or by demonstrating five or more years of living and working in an English-speaking country. Eligibility is assessed on a case-by-case basis. If you do not yet meet the requirement, the Deakin University English Language Institute (DUELI) offers pathway programs to help develop your English reading, writing, listening and speaking skills. Completion of DUELI’s English for Academic Purposes can give you the minimum English language requirements for most Deakin degrees.
Deakin’s postgraduate degrees are designed to advance your career, whether you want to deepen expertise in your field, move into a specialist role or shift direction entirely. All our degrees are shaped by industry partners, so what you learn reflects what employers need now and into the future. We’re proud to be the #1 university in Melbourne for international student graduate employment. With flexible study options and financial support available, Deakin helps you gain the skills, recognition and confidence to reach your next professional goal.
*Deakin references data from a range of government, higher education and reputable media sources. Learn more about our achievements on our University rankings page, or explore our sources page for supporting references.
What will I study in the Master of Advanced Nursing?
This masters degree develops advanced nursing capability, progressing from applied knowledge into leadership, research and professional practice. You will tailor your learning through electives and pathway specialisation.
Advanced nursing foundations
Core units
Develop foundational advanced nursing capability through core study in clinical governance and safety, evidence-based practice, and professional and ethical practice.
Flexible elective specialisation
Choose electives that align with your professional interests, career goals and preferred area of advanced nursing practice.
Elective focus areas
Tailor your studies across areas such as education, leadership, clinical assessment and decision-making, pharmacology, vulnerable populations, diabetes education and mental health.
Applied practice and pathway specialisation
Advanced practice application
Extend your capability through advanced practice learning, applied coursework, elective study or a supervised thesis.
Thesis pathway
Undertake a research thesis aligned to your professional interests and career goals, with supervision and support.
Coursework electives
Continue to tailor your learning through coursework electives that deepen your expertise in your chosen area of advanced nursing practice.
Course structure
To complete the Master of Advanced Nursing, you must pass 12 credit points. The number of credit points required may vary, depending on your entry point or how much credit you receive as recognition of prior learning (RPL) based on your professional experience and previous qualifications.
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
Are you a current student? For course information that applies to the year you started your degree, visit the handbook.
All students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements
Units
Plus 9 credit points of electives, of which 6 must be from the course electives, the remaining 3 can be from any level 7 electives from anywhere in the university or Deakin stackable short courses (0.5cp microcredentials).
Plus 6 credit points of electives, of which 4 must be from the course electives, the remaining 2 can be from any level 7 electives from anywhere in the university or Deakin stackable short courses (0.5cp microcredentials).
* Note - Students may only undertake a thesis if they have met the academic entry requirements of an overall WAM of 65 (Credit) in their previous studies.
*HNN778 is only an available course elective in the Thesis pathway, the unit is already a core unit in the Coursework pathway
Mix and match Deakin stackable short courses (0.5cp microcredentials) to earn up to 2-3 credit point(s) of open electives, subject to eligibility. Any stacking must add up to a whole number to be used for credit. See more information on Deakin stackable short course options.
Professional recognition
Nurses employed under the Victorian public hospital award receive a higher duties allowance for postgraduate qualifications relevant to their practice.
Graduates of this course may be eligible to seek endorsement as a nurse practitioner via Pathway 2 as outlined on the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) website.
What to expect while studying
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.
As a student in a online course in the Faculty of Health you will be expected to spend 11-13 hours every week studying, interacting via CloudDeakin and completing assessment tasks for each unit in your course.
At Deakin, we're committed to ensuring an inclusive environment that supports all students to belong, thrive and succeed. We work closely with students, where needed, to identify potential barriers to participation and where possible, provide tailored support so students can engage with learning and assessment activities.
If you are neurodivergent, have a disability, health condition or mental health condition that may impact your study or participation in university life, and want to know how Deakin could support you, contact our Domestic students (opens in a new window) or International students (opens in a new window) or Disability Resource Centre (opens email client) teams for a collaborative and confidential discussion. This discussion is to support you to make plans for your studies and future career and will not have any bearing on your application to the course.
When can I start?
When you study depends on your course, location and available intakes. Check the table to see when you can start and how study is offered throughout the year.
Your course learning outcomes describe the knowledge, skills and capabilities you’ll develop and be able to demonstrate by the time you graduate. Built into your course through your units and assessments, they provide a clear picture of what you’ll be equipped to know, understand and do – preparing you to apply your learning with confidence beyond university.
| Course Learning Outcomes |
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| Demonstrate expert clinical practice commensurate with nursing theoretical knowledge, evidence-based practice, and person-centred care. |
| Demonstrate expert communication skills to ensure the delivery of high quality, safe nursing care to patients. |
| Evaluate complex information using digital technologies to effectively disseminate relevant healthcare information to patients and/or the multidisciplinary team. |
| Analyse, evaluate and critique complex data from multiple sources to inform clinical decision making in the healthcare setting. |
| Apply expert nursing knowledge to complex problems in clinical practice to optimise patient outcomes. |
| Demonstrate professionalism, accountability, reflection, and personal autonomy as an expert nurse. |
| Establish, maintain, and lead inclusive, collaborative professional relationships with all members of the multidisciplinary team. |
| Demonstrate accountability for, and expert professional judgement in behaviours that uphold ethical principles of practice within diverse social, cultural, and environmental contexts. |
- Award granted
- Master of Advanced Nursing
- Year
2027 course information
- Deakin code
- H777
- Level
- Higher Degree Coursework (Masters and Doctorates)
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition
The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9
Fees
Estimated tuition fee
$29,400
for 1 yr full-time AUD
The estimated tuition fee above is based on a typical first-year full-time enrolment of 8 credit points and is provided as a guide only. Your tuition fees are determined by your course and unit enrolment. Your tuition fees will vary depending on your study load, the course duration, and any approved recognition of prior learning.
Save 10% as a Deakin alumni
We love welcoming Deakin alumni back to continue their journey with us. If you're starting a postgraduate award course, you may be eligible for a 10% discount on your enrolment fees, applied per unit. It's our way of supporting your next step.
Scholarships
Deakin scholarships recognise your hard work and achievements. Our support can ease the financial pressure of studying in Australia so you stay focused on your success. Numbers are limited, so apply early for the best chance.
Apply now
Apply directly to Deakin
Applications can be made directly to the University through StudyLink Connect - Deakin University's International Student Application Service.
We recommend engaging with a Deakin Authorised Agent who can assist you with the process and submit the application.
Recognition of prior learning
We value your previous study and experience. Recognition of prior learning enables you to get credit for what you've already achieved. When you apply, we'll consider your previous study and experience for recognition of prior learning.