Master of Clinical Nursing

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Duration
3 years part-time
Location
Online
Next start term
Term 1, 2027
Study mode
Online
Course code
CL22
First-year fee
$8,492 (2026 Indicative) (CSP)
$33,925 (2026 Indicative) (FFP)
Changes are expected to this course for the Term 1, 2027 intake. Register your interest to stay informed. Commonwealth Supported Places available, offering significant fee savings.
Overview
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OverviewStructure & AvailabilityRequirementsFees & ScholarshipsHow to Apply
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Patient laying in hospital bed with two Nurses in background taking checking line.

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.

This course 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. You'll develop clinical decision makings skills through the use of evidence, reflection, discussion and critical review of situation, context and resources, whilst also examining contemporary issues impacting on health care delivery. During your studies, you'll develop your clinical, professional and leadership skills to promote consumer outcomes. 

Tailor your studies with a choice of major:

  • Generalist
  • Gerontology
  • Medical Surgical

Learn more about each major in the Structure & Availability section below.

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.

As a graduate, many exciting and rewarding opportunities may be available to you, including promotion.

Study Experience

Discover more about your postgraduate clinical nursing degree, offering flexible online study options and significant fee savings to help you get started. Click 'Explore Study Experience' for more information.

  • Commonwealth Supported
  • Flexible Online Study
  • Part-time Study
  • Student Support

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. Visit the Academic Calendars webpage for key dates relevant to your chosen intake.

Available Locations

Your Course

You must complete 12 units (72 credits):

  1. 1
    The core structure (6 units)
  2. 2
    One six-unit major

Unit Details

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

Core Units

You will study the six units listed below.

Generalist Major

The Generalist Major consists of the six units listed below.

Tailored to registered nurses not working in an identified speciality area, this major gives you the opportunity to advance your clinical knowledge and leadership to undertake leadership positions in the healthcare industry. 

Course Planner

To help you plan your studies and see which unit comes first, if one unit should be completed before another and the term you will study each unit, check out our course planners.

Browse course planners

Additional Information

If you have prior experience or have studied previously, you may be eligible for credit or recognition of prior learning (RPL), which can help reduce your study load and the time it takes to complete your degree.

Learn more about credit and RPL, including application timelines and the overall process.

This course does not permit you to defer your offer and commence at a later date. If you are unable to commence in the term you receive an offer, you will be required to submit a new admission application to commence at a later date. 

Learn more about the offer process.

Requirements

To Be Eligible

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

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 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 Understanding Course Fees webpage. 

Fees are reviewed each year and are subject to change. Fee estimates for the following year are expected to be available in September each year.

Commonwealth Supported Places

With Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) available for this course in 2026, 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.

Important

If you are a new student and are offered a CSP, you must submit an eCAF (electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form) with the Australian Government to confirm your place, even if you are ineligible for or don’t intend to use a HECS-HELP Loan.

This is a Government requirement, and if you don’t submit before your commencing census date, your enrolment for the term will be cancelled.

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. 

Learn more about paying for university.

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

  1. 1
    Check you meet the course requirements
  2. 2
    Get a Unique Student Identifier

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.

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