Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing

Apply TodayRegister Your Interest
Location
Online
Next start term
Term 1, 2027
Study mode
Online
Course code
CL16
First-year fee
A$17,880 (2026 Indicative)
Changes are expected to this course for the Term 1, 2027 intake. Register your interest to stay informed. Direct applications are expected to open Monday, 14 December 2026 and close Monday, 22 February 2027. Limited places are available and this course may close earlier than advertised. Commonwealth Supported Places available, offering significant fee savings. This course can be studied part-time (1 year) only.
Overview
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OverviewStructure & AvailabilityRequirementsFees & ScholarshipsHow to Apply
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CQUs hospital training space with lecturers, students and a mock patient

Overview

The Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing provides you with advanced nursing knowledge and skills based upon contemporary national and international evidence relevant to the beginning registered nurse and allows you to apply these within your own clinical setting.

The Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing is an innovative course designed for those who want to develop their knowledge, confidence, and nursing competence in the clinical setting. The course is a discipline-based degree with two core units covering Patient Deterioration and Clinical Governance, and two further units from your chosen major. Majors available include Generalist or Gerontology.

You'll gain advanced nursing knowledge and skills based upon contemporary national and international evidence relevant to the beginning registered nurse, and you'll apply these in your own clinical setting. The combination of online delivery with group discussions, use of current international and national research, and review of standards of care in the clinical settings, will enhance learning and development of key clinical skills required in professional practice. You will have the opportunity to enhance your professional nursing attributes including autonomy, accountability and critical reflection.

Upon completion, you can articulate into our Master of Clinical Nursing.

Study Experience

Discover more about your online clinical nursing degree, offering significant fee savings for eligible students and seamless pathways to advance your clinical knowledge and experience. Click 'Explore Study Experience' for more information.

  • Student Support
  • Flexible Online Study
  • Research Pathways

Career Opportunities

This course provides Registered Nurses with a nursing-specific post-graduate qualification. As a graduate, you can enjoy a range of opportunities including:

  • enhanced competency and confidence as a registered nurse;
  • increased financial remuneration from some employers;
  • a solid foundation to work towards nursing leadership roles in clinical specialties, management, education or research; and
  • a seamless pathway into our Master of Clinical Nursing.

Structure & Availability

The course structure and available locations can change depending on when you want to study. 

You can choose the intake that best suits you in the drop-down menu below. Visit the Academic Calendars webpage for key dates relevant to your chosen intake.

Available Locations

Graduate Pathways

There are two pathways to enter the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing:

Pathway One: Graduate Program with Partnering Health Service

Applicants who are enrolled in a partnered graduate program at one of the following Health Services will be eligible to enter the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Nursing via Pathway One.

  • Cairns and Hinterland & Hospital and Health Services (CHHHS)
  • Central Queensland Hospital and Health Services (CQHHS)
  • Central West Hospital and Health Service (CWHHS)
  • Far West Local Health District (FWLHD), New South Wales
  • Mackay Hospital and Health Services (MHHS)
  • Mater Townsville
  • Metro South Hospital and Health Services (MSHHS)
  • North West Hospital and Health Services (NWHHS)
  • South West Hospital and Health Services (SWHHS)
  • Townsville Hospital and Health Service (THHS)
  • Wide Bay Hospital and Health Services (WBHHS)
  • Yorke & Northern Local Health Network (YNLHN), South Australia.
Pathway Two: Standard Course Pathway

If you are not currently enrolled in a partnered graduate program, you will need to apply via Pathway Two. This pathway requires you to have arranged access to work a minimum of 16 hours per week in a clinical setting with a Health Service.

Your Course

You must complete four units (24 credits):

  1. 1
    The core structure (2 units)
  2. 2
    One two-unit major

Unit Details

The units you'll study are listed below. Click on a unit to learn more.

Core Units

Pathway One: Graduate Program with Partnering Health Service

If choose the Generalist Major, you will only study the two units listed below.

If you choose the Gerontology Major, credit for the below units may be applied at the successful completion of the Gerontology Major units and notification of the successful completion of your 12-month graduate partnered program. 

Pathway Two: Standard Course Pathway

You will study the two units listed below.

Generalist Major

Pathway One: Graduate Program with Partnering Health Service

You will study the following two core units only:

Credit for the Generalist Major units below may be applied at the successful completion of the units above and notification of the successful completion of your 12-month graduate partnered program. 

Pathway Two: Standard Course Pathway

You'll complete the two core units and the two units listed below.

Additional Information

This course has been designed to complement students who are completing an approved graduate program or undertaking the minimum clinical hours with a relevant Health Service.

If you have already completed a study relevant to the course you have enrolled in, you may be eligible for credit transfer.

Requirements

To Be Eligible

For your application to be considered, you must meet the following entry requirements.

Fees & Scholarships

Course Fees

This is an approximate cost of enrolling in this course, shown in Australian dollars (A$), for one academic year and is based on a full-time study load (8 units over 2 terms). 

Your actual fees may vary, depending on the units that you select to study and your study load. Fees are reviewed each year and are subject to change.

International Course Fees

Please note there may be other costs involved apart from your tuition fee.

International students from selected regions may be eligible for scholarships. 

Browse our scholarships.

How to Apply

You can apply through an agent for expert guidance, or directly via iStart, our online application system for international students if you’re in Australia.

Apply