MSc Nursing in Australia: Deadlines, Eligibility, Fees, Jobs

MSc Nursing in Australia is a 1-2 years postgraduate program. Indian students can choose between 2 types of Nursing masters in Australia, one provides nursing registration in Australia, while, the other does not. The program ensuring nursing registration in Australia will allow you to practice nursing right after the completion of studies. If you want to enhance your nursing knowledge and pursue further education, you can select the latter. The MSN program leading to nursing registration requires mandatory clinical placement of approximately 800 hours.

Australia has 19 universities accredited by Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC). Indian students should register to a university with the ANMAC accreditation, as it ensures quality of education in nursing and midwifery. The University of Sydney, The University of Melbourne, The University of Queensland are some ANMAC accredited top universities for master of Nursing in Australia for Indian students.

Indian students require a bachelor's degree in nursing with a 4.0 GPA on a 7.0 scale (63-66%) for admission to the program. You will also require an IELTS score of 7.0 or equivalent as a proof of English proficiency to enroll to the program. You can alternatively submit B score in each of the 4 components of OET (Occupational English Test). OET is structured to assess the English proficiency of healthcare professionals in an English-speaking environment. Likewise, you can also study in Australia without IELTS, by enroling to either of the following to improve your English language skills:

• English for Academic Purposes (EAP), or
• English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS)

Tuition fees for MSc Nursing in Australia varies between 24,000-52,000 AUD (13-29 lakhs INR) per year across universities. For Indian students, tuition fee for the program leading to nursing registration in Australia is on the higher end. You should also consider an additional living expense of 2,688 AUD (1.49 lakhs INR) per month in Australia.

MS in Nursing in Australia offers a high return on investment. Graduates of the program earn an average salary of 97,000 AUD (54.08 lakhs INR). Registered Nurse (RN) is the most popular and in-demand profession pursued by Nursing graduates in Australia. The average annual base salary of a registered nurse in Australia is 77,000 AUD (42.75 lakhs INR). Some important factors to remember while pursuing Nursing profession in Australia are:

• You will require NMBA or AHPRA registration to obtain a Australian work permit as a healthcare professional.
• Sometimes Indian students are unaware of the 2 types of Nursing masters programs, as few educational agents hide these facts.
• Some of these programs do not lead to registration as a nurse. Hence, you will have to undergo the OBA pathway and appear in the NCLEX and OSCE exam to obtain your nursing license in Australia.
• OBA is a 2-stage cognitive assessment process for nurses in Australia with international registration.

Top Universities for Masters in Nursing in Australia

Australia has 12 universities ranking among the top 50 in the world for Nursing (QS WUR, 2024). Some top universities offering masters in Nursing to Indian students, their respective application deadlines and fees are tabulated below:

Why Study Masters in Nursing in Australia?

Australia provides cutting edge professional Nursing education to students. Nursing is known as one of the most respected professions in Australia. Nurses in the country have good earnings and a high standard of living. A few major reasons to pursue Master of Nursing in Australia as an Indian student are as follows:

• ​Top Universities: Popular universities for Master of Nursing in Australia are ranked among top 100 in world (QS WUR, 2024). Some of these universities are:
  • The University of Melbourne
  • The University of Sydney, and
  • The University of Queensland
• Practical Skills: The Australian education system emphasizes more on practical knowledge. Indian students pursuing MSc Nursing in Australia get the opportunity to learn beyond the classroom, which makes them skillful and job-ready.
• Easy Visa Access: Australia offers easy student visa access to Indian students, as compared to countries like USA or UK. You can get priority in the visa acceptance process in Australia for nursing profession, due to the high demand for nurses.
• Demand for Nurses: Australia has a high demand for qualified nurses. Jobs for registered nurses are expected to increase to 40,000 (12.2%) by May 2028 and 80,500 (24.5%) by May 2033, according to Jobs & Skills Australia.
• Exceptional Job Opportunities: The average salary after Nursing masters in Australia can go as high as 128,000 AUD (71.06 lakhs INR). Registered Nurses (RNs) ranks first in the Top 50 Jobs Most in Demand for Migrants in Australia.

Note: According to current students, you can do 800 hours of clinical placement as a nursing student in Australia. This is not mandatory, but is recommended, as placement hours play a vital role in strengthening job opportunities.

MSc Nursing in Australia Accreditations

Australia is known for offering high quality education in Nursing and Midwifery. The Registered Nurse approved courses by ANMAC are globally recognized. Some universities offering the ANMAC registered nursing masters courses in Australia are:

MSc Nursing in Australia Specializations and Subjects

The most common subjects and specializations covered in the curriculum of master of science in Nursing in Australia are:

• Indigenous Health and Nursing
• Nursing Science
• Nursing Assessment & Care
• Critical care
• Cancer nursing
• Neonatal Care
• Clinical Inquiry & Nursing Research
• Mental Health & Recovery
• Contemporary Nursing

Admission Requirements for MSc Nursing in Australia

To complete higher education in Australia, you need to have a bachelor degree in the Nursing. Few universities like The University of Melbourne also ask for prior work experience of up to 5 years for admission to the masters program. The requirements for MS in Nursing in Australia are given in the table below:

Eligibility Criteria for MS in Nursing in Australia

To be eligible for MS in Nursing in Australia, you need to have a B.Sc. Nursing degree or equivalent. You require a minimum undergraduate GPA of 4.0 on a 7.0 scale (63-66%) from an accredited university. If you are applying from India, a minimum 60% marks in 10+2 is required.

The checklist for other admission requirements for MSc Nursing in Australia for Indian students is available below

• 3-4 years of nursing experience
• English proficiency test scores:
  • IELTS: 7.0
  • TOEFL: 100
  • OET: B score in each of the 4 components
• Well written SOP for Australia
• Updated CV
• Valid passport
• Australia student visa

Australia Student Visa Requirements

To avail Australia Student Visa (Subclass 500) as an Indian student, you require the following:

• Letter of acceptance from your selected university
• A Confirmation of Enrollment (CoE) issued by the respective university
• Proof of English proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL, OET or equivalent)
• Genuine Student (GS) requirement
• Proof of financial availability to stay and study in Australia
• Character requirements

The visa processing time can vary between 4-12 weeks (1 to 3 months) depending on the number of applications at that time.

Masters in Nursing in Australia Application Process

The step-by-step application process for the program is provided below:

• Step 1: Start planning at least 6 months ahead of the deadline. Look for universities offering your desired course and compare them according to your suitability.
• Step 2: Check all the course-specific admission criteria and whether your qualifications satisfy them. Also check the English proficiency requirements of each university for Indian students.
• Step 3: Apply to the program and submit all supporting documents. The official application process typically starts 4 months prior to the program start date.
• Step 4: If considered eligible by the university, get a Confirmation of Enrollment (CoE) to lodge a student visa application.

Note: Make sure to check your offer letter properly before enrolling, whether the program is leading to nursing registration in Australia or not. Most of the universities in Australia offers both types of program. Thoroughly explore the university website to know in detail about the chosen program.

MSc in Nursing in Australia Tuition Fees

The tuition fees for masters in Nursing in Australia for international students range between 24,000-52,000 AUD (13-29 lakhs INR). Some top universities offering the program and their respective tuition fees are as follows:

Cost of Living in Australia

Apart from the tuition fee, Indian students also need to cover the travel, accommodation, meals, and other miscellaneous costs in Australia. The estimated monthly cost of living in Australia is 2,688 AUD (1.49 lakhs INR). The presentation below shows the breakdown of the estimated cost for prospective Indian students:

Reduce Cost of Living in Australia

You can reduce the living expenses in Australia by making money plan and saving for emergency fund. You can look for student deals and discounts on groceries, clothes, public transports like buses, rails, and even on electronics. Besides, you can reduce eating out to save a large amount on meals.

Masters in Nursing in Australia: Scholarships

Numerous scholarships for Indian students pursuing masters in Nursing in Australia are offered by the top universities. These scholarships assist students with tuition and living costs while studying in the country. Some scholarships for Indian students in Australia are tabulated below:

Masters in Nursing in Australia Jobs and Salaries

Graduates of Masters in Nursing in Australia can choose from a diverse and expanding range of practice areas in public and private health care systems. This includes:

• Acute care hospitals
• Trauma and emergency care
• Mental health nursing
• Aged care
• Community nursing
• Palliative care,
• Drug and alcohol centers,
• Rural and remote nursing, and,
• International health.

Students without nursing registration can pursue a NMBA approved bridging program. It allows internationally qualified nurses and midwives to pursue further education in Nursing and attain registration for practising in Australia. Indian applicants should be referred by the NMBA to be eligible for a bridging program.

Some top recruiters employing Nursing graduates in Australia are as follows:

• NSW Health
• Westmead Hospital
• Monash Medical Center
• St John of God Hospital
• Royal Hobart hospital
• Ramsay Corporation
• WA Government
• Metropolitan Health Group

Some of the most preferred jobs after Masters in Nursing in Australia and their corresponding average salaries are:

Work Permit and Top Recruiters for MSc Nursing in Australia

Registered nurses are the most in demand skilled workers in Australia. After registration, you can get jobs in Australia. Graduates should have a Post-Study Work Visa in Australia to apply for any jobs in the country. Temporary Graduate visa - Subclass 485 will allow you to stay and work in Australia for up to 6 years.

The Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) will also allow you to live and work in Australia as a points-tested skilled worker. Later, this will help you to obtain a PR in Australia. The post study work visa usually spans between 2–4 years. However, Nursing graduates can get additional 2 years of visa extension.

To obtain a work permit, you need to do the following:

• Register at the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) and the AHPRA
• Identity proof
• Apply for Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186), Skilled Independent (subclass 189) – Points-Tested, Skilled Nominated (subclass 190), etc.
• English language proficiency
• Valid passport

AHPRA Registration in Australia

Degree from some universities like University of Melbourne, Curtin University, and The University of Sydney require you to be registered with AHPRA. The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) registration allows you to practice in Australia as a healthcare professional. The registration process includes:

• Application submission
• Presenting proof of education
• Qualifications
• Professional experience
• Criminal History Check

MSc Nursing in Australia OBA

You can also work in Australia with Outcomes-Based Assessment (OBA). The OBA is a 2 stage cognitive assessment process for international registered nurses and midwives in Australia. It assesses your professional knowledge to provide Australian Nursing Registration.

Masters in Nursing in Australia is a program designed for BSc Nursing in Australia graduates or RNs (Registered Nurses) to advance their careers. With a nursing degree from an Australian university, Indian students can get significant value to pursue relevant jobs in India. Due to the international exposure, you might get more preference than a local graduate. If you already hold work experience in Australia, you can almost double up your chances of getting a job in India.

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