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 7 out of the 100 top universities in the world, Australia has gained recognition for providing world-class education.
Australia is home to several top-ranked affordable 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 each 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 System: As a stronghold of quality education, Nursing programmes at Australian institutions have 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, Australia is ideal for international students. Ethnically diverse Australia can bring a new level of experiencing world culture.
- Highly Advanced Hospitals and Medical Equipment: As a nursing student, having your skills honed in state-of-the-art hospitals, using high-technology medical equipment, is a definite advantage in your career goal.
- In-Demand Field: International nursing graduate students can take advantage of the high demand for nurses, either for developing careers or for migration purposes such as Permanent Residency (PR). 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 demand.
- Scholarship: The government’s efforts to promote Australian education are reflected in its more than AU $200 million each year through international scholarships.
- 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.
- Career Diversity: Completing the nursing programme opens an array of opportunities in various nursing practices 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 Programme: Practising nurses with at least 3 months to 2 years of experience can apply to the Bridging Program for Nurses, previously known as IRON (Initial Registration for Overseas Nurses). Aspiring international students should have the mandatory IELTS Academic score of 7.0 bands across all components or a PTE Academic score of 65 across all components: eligibility letter from AHPRA Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
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 among the top 10 globally for Nursing courses. Here's the list of the top 10 Australian universities as per the QS World University Rankings by Subject for Nursing.
| University Names | QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026: Nursing |
|---|---|
| The University of Sydney (UTS) Sydney, Australia | #16 |
| Monash University Melbourne, Australia | =19 |
| University of Technology Sydney (USYD) Sydney, Australia | =19 |
| The University of Melbourne (UniMelb) Melbourne, Australia | #29 |
| Griffith University Nathan, Australia | #30 |
| University of Wollongong Wollongong, Australia | #36 |
| Deakin University Melbourne, Australia | #38 |
| La Trobe University Melbourne, Australia | #42 |
| Adelaide University Adelaide, Australia | =50 |
| Flinders University Adelaide, Australia | =50 |
Source: QS World University Rankings by Subject for Nursing 2026
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 – 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 (PhD) | 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 for securing an Australian Subclass 500 Student Visa. Alternatively, you can contact our education counsellors for a 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 components
- 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 (DHA) 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.
Note: As a qualified nurse overseas looking to practice without full retraining, you should review the official Global Guide to AHPRA Registration & OBA Pathway requirements. 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, ZipRecruiter, PayScale
As with most visa types, an assessment procedure by a recognised authority, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) for Registered nurses and practitioners, is required as part of the visa application for migration purposes such as PR in Australia.
Nursing degree graduates can look forward to building a medical career and investing for a bright future in Australia. We at AECC are committed to 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.
