Study Nursing in Australia
Nursing is a highly sought-after profession on the skilled occupation lists, offering a clear, strategic pathway to PR for international students. Australia faces a significant shortage of nurses, ensuring robust job security for graduates.
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What you'll learn in this article
Did you know that Australia is the 3rd most popular student destination for international students next to the US and UK? With over 22,000 courses across 1,100 institutions, strong education infrastructure, and having 7 out of the 100 top universities in the world, Australia has gained recognition in providing world class education.
Australia is home to several top-ranked Nursing institutions and faces a significant workforce shortage, ensuring high job security and competitive salaries for graduates. Studying Nursing in Australia is becoming highly attractive by year due to a combination of world-class education, high global demand, and clear pathways to permanent residency.
With excellent career prospects, professional development, and strong migration options, studying Nursing in Australia is considered a smart and strategic career move, blending high-quality training with a clear path to residency. The inclusion of Nursing roles on the MLTSSL makes it one of the most stable career paths for both local and international students.
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Why Study Nursing in Australia?
Here is why studying Nursing in Australia is highly recommended to international students:
Australian Education Systems: As a strong hold of quality education, Nursing programmes at Australian institutions had been meticulously developed to provide theoretical knowledge and impart practical skills required in delivering excellent healthcare services.
Australian Standard of Living: Constantly topping the list of most liveable countries in terms of quality of life, education, income and its laid-back nature, makes Australia ideal for international students. Ethnically diverse Australia can bring new level of experiencing world culture.
Highly Advanced Hospitals and Medical Equipment: As a nursing student, having your skills honed in the state-of-the-art hospitals, using high technology medical equipment is a definite advantage in your career goal.
Scholarship: The government’s efforts to promote Australian Education is reflected in its more than AU $200 million each year through international scholarships.
In Demand Field: International nursing graduate students are able to take advantage of the high demands for nurses, either for developing careers or for migration purpose such as Permanent Residency in Australia. It is known that there is an ever-growing demand for professional nurses. As the population ages and more treatment options are technologically developed, more and more nurses are needed to satisfy the high demands.
Career Diversity: Completing the nursing programme opens an array of opportunities in various nursing practice on a post-study work visa in Australia. Career opportunities in various fields include aged care, education, neonatal care, community health, and hospital and medical facilities.
Bridging Program: Practicing nurses with at least 3 months to 2 years of experience are able to apply to the Bridging Program for Nurses or popularly known as IRON (Initial Registration for Overseas Nurses). Aspiring international students should have IELTS Academic score 7.0 bands across all components or PTE Academic score of 65 across all components: eligibility letter from AHPRA Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
Bright Future: Due to the high demand for Registered nurses as with other sectors of nursing, these occupations are listed consistently in the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and in the combined list of eligible skilled occupations.
Why wait? Start your Nursing journey in Australia now. Sign up to get the list of best Nursing courses and colleges in Australia and take the first step to your application.
Top 10 Nursing Universities in Australia
With over 200 global universities ranking for their nursing degrees, 17 of Australia's Universities rank amongst the top 10 globally for Nursing courses. Here's the list of top 10 Australian universities as per the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025: Nursing.
| University Names | QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025: Nursing |
|---|---|
| The University of Sydney Sydney, Australia | #20 |
| Monash University Melbourne, Australia | #24 |
| The University of Melbourne Melbourne, Australia | #25 |
| University of Technology Sydney Sydney, Australia | #26 |
| Griffith University Nathan, Australia | #33 |
| La Trobe University Melbourne, Australia | =42 |
| Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Brisbane, Australia | =42 |
| The University of Queensland Brisbane City, Australia | #45 |
| The University of Newcastle, Australia (UON) Callaghan, Australia | #47 |
| Australian Catholic University Melbourne, Australia | #51-100 |
Nursing Courses & Cost of Study in Australia
International students are able to select courses available being provided by reputable universities and institutions around Australia. A few of the degrees and courses are:
| Course Type | Duration & Outcome | Annual Cost (in AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Nursing | 3 years, leading to Registered Nurse (RN) qualification | AU $30,000 - $46,000 |
| Master of Nursing (Graduate Entry) | 2 years for those with a previous bachelor's degree in another field | AU $35,000 - $55,000 |
| Diploma of Nursing | 1.5 to 2 years, leading to Enrolled Nurse (EN) qualification | AU $15,000 - $35,000 |
| PhD Nursing | 3-4 year full-time (or up to 8 years part-time) research degree | AU $35,000 - $47,000 |
Check the eligibility for each of these programmes and see whether you qualify for your chosen course and university. Register at AECC now and get in touch with our experts to get your profile evaluated for free.
Visa Requirements to Study Nursing in Australia
Here are some of the requirements in securing Australian Subclass 500 Student Visa. Alternatively, you can contact our education counsellors for worry free process.
- A valid passport for the duration of your study in Australia
- Offer letter from the selected university/institution
- IELTS Academic score of 7.0 bands overall, with no band below 6.5 in each of the component
- At least 1 year of paid or unpaid experience within the last 5 years
- Evidence of access to sufficient funds
- Evidence of Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) Australia
- All other relevant documents listed on the Department of Home Affairs visa checklists
Careers After Studying Nursing in Australia
Due to the high demand for Registered nurses as with other sectors of nursing, these occupations are listed consistently in the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL) and in the combined list of eligible skilled occupations. Some of these are Registered Nurse (Medical Practice), Registered Nurse (Aged Care), and Nurse Practitioner with average entry salaries ranging between AU $75,000 and AU $95,000 per year.
Here are some common job roles and their expected annual salary ranges for international graduates of Nursing courses in Australia:
| Job Role | Annual Salary (in AUD) |
|---|---|
| Registered Nurse (Graduate/Entry Level) | AU $73,000 – $82,000 |
| Registered Nurse (Aged Care) | AU $78,000 – $95,000 |
| Registered Nurse (Critical Care & Emergency) | AU $85,000 – $110,000 |
| Nurse Practitioner | AU $120,000 – $145,000 |
| Registered Nurse (Mental Health) | AU $80,000 – $105,000 |
| Clinical Nurse Consultant | AU $115,000 – $130,000 |
Source: Glassdoor, ZipRecuiter, PayScale
As most visa types, an assessment procedure by a recognised authority, Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council, ANMAC for Registered nurses and practitioners, is required as part of the visa application for migration purpose such as Permanent Residency.
Nursing degree graduates can look ahead in building medical career and invest for bright future in Australia. We at AECC Global are committed in helping create your personalised pathway to success in your chosen career and in Australia.
Trusted Expertise
About the Author
Published and reviewed by AECC counsellors who guide students through every step of their study-abroad journey.
Published by Nidhi Mehrotra
QEAC Certified Australia & New Zealand Education Expert | 18 Years Advising International Students
Nidhi Mehrotra holds QEAC certification, the Qualified Education Agent Counsellor credential that is the recognised professional standard for counsellors advising students on Australian study pathways. The certification is awarded through PIER Online and reflects formal training in Australian institutional requirements, visa regulations and the obligations that education agents hold under Australian law. Nidhi has been advising students in this field for 18 years.
Over that time she has worked through considerable change in Australia's international student environment. The move to the Genuine Student requirement in 2024, the introduction of the Student Support and Visa Framework, and the tightening of financial capacity thresholds that now apply to student visa applications. Students she advises are working with current, accurate information about what Australian institutions and the Department of Home Affairs actually require today.
Her advice is built around helping students form a realistic plan, one that accounts for visa requirements honestly, works within their financial situation, and is genuinely aligned with what they want to do after graduation, whether that is returning home or pursuing a post-study work pathway in Australia or New Zealand. She is based at AECC's Gurgaon office.
