Highlights

Highlights

 

Don’t wait. Apply now
Start study in July

Shape the future, sooner, with mid-year entry.

Apply for mid-year entry

Don’t wait. Apply now
Start study in July

Shape the future, sooner, with mid-year entry.

Apply for mid-year entry

Explore this course

What to expect

QUT's School of Nursing has an established reputation as a provider of postgraduate programs that recognise and respond to priorities in clinical nursing practice and prepare professionals for specialist and leadership positions.

In consultation with industry partners, the school has reviewed its postgraduate programs to continue alignment with industry's need for graduates who demonstrate nursing leadership and advanced practice skills.

The comprehensive content emphasises clinical leadership in specialist nursing, improvement in practice and service delivery, and the socio-political aspects of contemporary nursing practice.

The Graduate Certificate in Nursing offers a short, focused program of study for professionals looking to upgrade their qualifications.

Our flexible course design means you can shape your course to suit your interests and career aspirations. Choose your major area of study from the list below or customise your degree with no major and a mix of units.

Cancer Nursing

Students develop competency in the practice of cancer nursing, examine major issues and trends in cancer nursing, plan appropriate strategies/intervention for client care and develop an understanding of research applied to cancer nursing practice.

You must:

  • be currently working as a registered nurse at least 0.4 FTE (full-time equivalent) in a setting where care is delivered to cancer patients; and
  • have at least 3 months FTE (full-time equivalent) experience in a cancer related field. Examples include medical and radiation oncology, haematology, medical-surgical, and community settings.

Primary Health Care

Students will expand their knowledge of the critical role of primary health care in providing proactive care, health promotion and self-management for individuals, families and communities. Students will also develop knowledge of current policies, frameworks, strategies and approaches of the prevention and management of chronic conditions in the context of their area of practice or interest.

This study area has no additional professional experience requirements.

Acute Care Nursing

Students complete studies in advanced health assessment and nursing practice, issues and trends in acute care nursing, and critically analyse the advanced concepts that underpin this specialist area. Students will initiate plans of care to address common needs/problems experienced by acute patients.

You must have 3 months FTE (full-time equivalent) minimum recent registered nursing experience (within two years). Examples include, but are not limited to, acute medical-surgical, rehabilitation, orthopaedic, community and residential, general practice, renal and chronic care settings.

Emergency Nursing

Students explore the key issues, trends, and challenges in emergency nursing scholarship and develop an understanding of research applied to emergency nursing practice. Students develop skills in patient assessment, planning, and implementation of health care in the emergency area.

You must:

  • be currently working as a registered nurse at least 0.4 FTE (full-time equivalent) in an emergency setting; and
  • have at least 6 months FTE (full-time equivalent) experience in an emergency setting.

Intensive Care Nursing

Students explore the theoretical, conceptual and practical knowledge required to provide effective nursing care for diverse and complex critically ill patients in the intensive care unit, an increasingly complex technological environment.

You must:

  • be currently working as a registered nurse at least 0.4 FTE (full-time equivalent) in a level II (two) or III (three) intensive care unit, as defined by the College of Intensive Care Medicine of Australia and New Zealand (CICM), Minimum Standards for Intensive Care Units; or as accredited by the CICM for training in intensive care medicine; and
  • have at least 6 months FTE (full-time equivalent) experience in an intensive care setting.

Paediatric and Adolescent Nursing

This program is designed for nurses working in acute or community settings to develop competency in the practice of paediatric nursing or child and youth health nursing. Students will examine major issues and trends in nursing scholarship and practice and develop an understanding of research in this area.

You must:

  • be currently working as a registered nurse at least 0.4 FTE (full-time equivalent) in a setting where care is delivered to paediatric and adolescent patients;
  • have at least 3 months FTE (full-time equivalent) experience within the field.

Gastroenterology nursing

Students develop advanced knowledge and skills in the practice of gastroenterology nursing. Students plan appropriate strategies and intervention for patient care and develop an understanding of research applied to gastroenterology nursing practice.

You must be currently working at least 0.4 FTE (full-time equivalent) and have a minimum of three months FTE experience in a setting where care is delivered to gastroenterology patients. Examples include gastroenterology wards or day clinics, endoscopy units/clinic, medical wards caring for gastroenterology patients.

Customised

Students customise their own degree by completing core units and choosing additional units from a list of electives that meet their career aspirations.

This option has no additional professional experience requirements.

 

QUT's School of Nursing has an established reputation as a provider of postgraduate programs that recognise and respond to priorities in clinical nursing practice and prepare professionals for specialist and leadership positions.

In consultation with industry partners, the school has recently reviewed its postgraduate programs to ensure continued alignment with industry's need for graduates who demonstrate nursing leadership and advanced practice skills. The comprehensive clinical content of the programs now also embraces the socio-political aspects of contemporary nursing practice.

Our programs offer students a supportive, flexible learning environment that integrates online technologies and promotes a socially collaborative community.

The Graduate Certificate in Nursing offers a short, focused program of study for professionals looking to upgrade their qualifications. Students can opt to major in one study area, or choose to complete a cross-specialisation by selecting units from a variety of study areas.

Flexible delivery

Our programs offer students a supportive, flexible learning environment that integrates online technologies and promotes a socially collaborative community.

This course is delivered in part-time mode. External students are supported with an extensive learning package of electronic resources.

Careers and outcomes

Course articulation

The Graduate Certificate in Nursing fully articulates with the Master of Nursing.

 

Possible careers

  • Clinical nurse
  • Clinical nurse specialist
  • Domain specialist nurse
  • Nurse case manager
  • Specialist nurse

Details and units

.

Requirements

Course code
NS32
Delivery
  • Online
  • Kelvin Grove
Duration
1 years part-time
Entry
February and July
Entry

Entry requirements

You must have:

  • A recognised bachelor degree (or higher) in nursing.
  • Current registration as a Nurse with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Minimum English language requirements

Select the country where you completed your studies to see a guide on meeting QUT’s English language requirements.

Your scores and prior qualifications in English-speaking countries are considered. Approved English-speaking countries are Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, United States of America and Wales.

If your country or qualification is not listed, you can still apply for this course and we will assess your eligibility.

We accept English language proficiency scores from the following tests undertaken in a secure test centre. Tests must be taken no more than 2 years prior to the QUT course commencement.

English Test
IELTS Academic / One Skill Retake
Overall 6.5
Listening 6
Reading 6
Writing 6
Speaking 6
Cambridge English Score
You must share your results with QUT through the Candidate Results Online website.
Overall 176
Listening 169
Reading 169
Writing 169
Speaking 169
PTE Academic
Overall 58
Listening 50
Reading 50
Writing 50
Speaking 50
TOEFL iBT
Overall 79
Listening 16
Reading 16
Writing 21
Speaking 18
English Test Overall Listening Reading Writing Speaking
IELTS Academic / One Skill Retake 6.5 6 6 6 6
Cambridge English Score
You must share your results with QUT through the Candidate Results Online website.
176 169 169 169 169
PTE Academic 58 50 50 50 50
TOEFL iBT 79 16 16 21 18

We offer English language programs to improve your English and help you gain entry to this course.

When you apply for this course, we will recommend which English course you should enrol in.

Course requirements

Study area requirements

In some study areas, applicants will need to comply with certain clinical requirements.

You will be asked to confirm that you have specific professional experience prior to enrolling in units that require workplace-based clinical practice. You will also need to maintain access to the relevant practice setting for the duration of the course. If you do not confirm your professional experience or maintain access to a relevant practice setting, you will not be able to complete the clinical assessment components required to complete units in the study area.

Please refer to study area information in the 'What to expect' tab for specific details.

Fees

Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. We review fees annually, and they may be subject to increases.

2026 fees

2026: Fee available from October

2026 fees

2025 fees

2025: CSP $2,500 per year full-time (48 credit points)

2025 fees

Student services and amenities fees

You may need to pay student services and amenities (SA) fees as part of your course costs.

Find out more about postgraduate course fees

HECS-HELP: loans to help you pay for your course fees

You may not have to pay anything upfront if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan.

Find out more about government loans

Scholarships

You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.

Browse all scholarships

Equity scholarships scheme

A scholarship for low-income students studying in any faculty.

Scholarship eligibility
Struggling financially

Keep up to date

Sign up to receive occasional emails to help you with your study decision. We’ll send you relevant information about studying at QUT, scholarships, key dates and upcoming events.

By submitting this form, you understand that QUT is collecting your personal information.
Please refer to the Privacy Collection Notice for more information.