Master of Clinical Nursing
Overview
If you are a Registered Nurse who would like to make enhanced clinical decisions and lead clinical practice then our Master of Clinical Nursing is ideal for you. You'll gain advanced skills and knowledge in your specialist area of practice, and develop your clinical decision making skills. Tailor your studies to your practice interests and choose a generalist, gerontology, or medical/surgical major.
The Master of Clinical Nursing prepares you to make enhanced clinical decisions and lead clinical practice. You will develop your skills and knowledge in sound theoretical and ethical frameworks that support evidence based, person-centred nursing care.
The course is a discipline based degree with twelve units covering:
- Patient Deterioration,
- Clinical Governance,
- Professional Practice,
- Specialty Practice,
- Clinical Learning and Teaching Leadership,
- Research, and
- a Quality Improvement project.
You will also select a Generalist, Gerontology or Medical / Surgical Nursing major to tailor your studies.
Your first year of study aims to enhance confidence and competence in the clinical areas. It includes clinically based practice and theory. Your second year focuses on enhancing professional and clinical skills within your specialist area of practice. The use of a portfolio will allow you to apply your learning to your own clinical practice and document your career development. The third year focuses on the acquisition of research knowledge and skills. You'll also complete your quality improvement project in your area of specialty. To meet the learning outcomes of this course, you must be nursing in a clinical area where clinical skills are employed.
The Master of Clinical Nursing provides you with a nursing-specific, high-level, post-graduate qualification. You'll develop clinical decision makings skills through the use of evidence, reflection, discussion and critical review of situation, context and resources. You will examine contemporary issues impacting on health care delivery. Plus, you'll develop your clinical, professional and leadership skills to promote consumer outcomes. As a graduate, many exciting and rewarding opportunities may be available to you, including promotion.
Career Opportunities
The Master of Clinical Nursing provides Registered Nurses with a nursing specific high level post-graduate qualification.This qualification has the potential to create many exciting and rewarding opportunities for graduates including increased financial remuneration from some employers. Graduates will attain competency and confidence to be able to undertake the many nurse leadership positions available within the health care industry; Clinical Nurse Specialist, Nurse Consultant and Nurse Unit Manager roles. This qualification will also provide registered nurses with the competitive edge in order to apply for promotion.The research component of the course will allow graduates to move into research roles and even lead applied clinical research.
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.
Available Locations
Your Course
You must complete 12 units (72 credits):
- 1The core structure (6 units)
- 2One six-unit major
Unit Details
The units you'll study are listed below. Click on a unit to learn more.
Course Planner
To help you plan your studies and see which unit comes first, if one unit should be completed before another and when you will study each unit, check out our course planners.
Additional Information
If you have completed prior study relevant to units within this course, you may be eligible for credit for your past studies. Learn more about credit and recognition of prior learning.
Requirements
To Be Eligible
For your application to be considered, you must meet the following entry requirements.
During Your Study
While not needed to apply, you'll need to meet the following requirements throughout your studies.
Fees & Scholarships
Indicative First-Year Fee
The Indicative First-Year Fee is the approximate cost of enrolling in this course for one part-time academic year (four units over two terms) depending on the type of place you are offered, for example, a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) or Full Fee Paying (FFP) Place. The indicative fee provided should be used as a guide only. Your actual fees may vary, depending on the units you select to study and your study load. Check the cost-per-unit spreadsheet available on our fees webpage for the approved unit fees. Fees are reviewed each year and are subject to change.
Commonwealth Supported Places
With Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) available for this course in 2025, you may be eligible for significant fee savings, provided you meet CSP eligibility requirements. CSPs are subsidised by the Australian Government, meaning you are only required to pay the student contribution rather than full tuition fees.
If you are not eligible for a CSP or if CSPs are full, you will be required to pay full fees.
HECS-HELP
You may be eligible for a HECS-HELP government loan if you are offered a CSP. HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme that assists you in paying your student contributions. Provided you meet the HECS-HELP eligibility criteria, you may use HECS-HELP to defer part or all of your student contribution fees.
Part of your course costs will include Student Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF). SSAF is charged in addition to your student contribution or tuition fees and is used to help enhance your study experience. There may also be other costs as part of your studies, such as textbooks, technology expenses, travel expenses, professional certifications, uniforms, or vaccinations. Explore other study costs.
How to Apply
How to Apply
Check what you need to do to apply to study this course.
Your Application Options
Follow These Steps
Extra Admission Information
Learn about the assessment of applications and everything you need to know about receiving and accepting an offer to study with CQU.
Start Your Application
Use the Apply button below to access our Apply Online portal and start your application.
