Master of Nursing Science

Graduates of the Master of Nursing Science, will demonstrate advanced knowledge of: 

1. Contemporary concepts of health leadership and management relevant to health services including standards, policies and legislation to promote safety and quality in healthcare.
2. The principles of transformational leadership and effective communication to participate in systems that support safe care, partnership and professional growth of themselves and others.
3. The role of the nurse as leader in in various professional and political contexts, taking into consideration the legal, social, and ethical factors that underpin professional role development.
4. The scientific and theoretical basis for health management and health promotion with, patients and their families.
5. Research processes and methods including study design, data collection and analysis as well as scholarly writing for application to practice. 

Further your nursing career with the #1 ranked university for nursing and midwifery*. The Master of Nursing Science is a post-registration master's program, designed for registered nurses seeking to fast-track career progression in leadership, management, education and research positions such as Nurse Managers, Directors of Nursing, Nurse Educators, and Nurse Researchers.

This dynamic coursework program equips you with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in healthcare leadership and innovation, research methods, as well as advanced nursing practice and teaching and learning. The final component of the program is a dissertation providing you with an opportunity to undertake a small-scale research project. 

This program offers flexibility and can be completed entirely online or through a blend of online and on-campus learning. Whether you choose full-time or part-time study, we provide the support and resources necessary for your success. 

*2024 ShanghaiRanking Global Ranking of Academic Subjects

Industry and expert connections

Our experienced, highly-awarded teaching staff have extensive industry contacts who know what employers are looking for in graduates. We regularly review our degrees with the nursing profession to ensure the degree you complete is innovative, challenging and relevant. 

Graduates will also be eligible to apply for entry into Higher Degree Research programs.

Recommended study pattern

As a guide, core subjects in this degree can include:

• Foundations of Research Inquiry
• Quality and Safety in Healthcare 
• Preparing for Advanced Practice
• Transforming and Leading Healthcare 

As part of your application, you’ll be guided through how to get the right degree structure in place for you. 

Award requirements

For the award of Master of Nursing Science (MNSc), you must successfully complete 120 credit points comprising:

• 80 credit points for Core Module, and
• 40 credit points for all Flexible Module

Open Universities Australia is a not-for-profit organisation. You will not pay any fees for using our services.

Indicative total fee $10,800

The amounts shown here are indicative for an Australian citizen studying full-time, which is typically 8 subjects per year.

Fees may vary depending on:

• the subjects you choose
• credit from previous work experience
• your eligibility for government funding loans or subsidies such as HECS-HELP or a Commonwealth supported place.

To learn more, go to Fees or contact a student advisor.

With a network of campuses spanning three cities in South East Queensland, Griffith University is committed to progressive multidisciplinary teaching and research and a valuable online provider with Open Universities Australia. Already attracting students from over one hundred countries, Griffith's dedication to academic excellence is available across Australia through OUA.

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QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

18

Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:

21

To be eligible for this program you must meet all of the following criteria:

• a recognised Bachelor of Nursing degree (or higher)
• current or temporary, unrestricted registration as a registered nurse with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) or the professional registration body in your country of origin
• one year work experience as a registered nurse.

Degrees from overseas institutions must be assessed as equivalent to a recognised Australian accredited qualification

English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this program are as follows:

• A minimum overall band score of 6.5 on IELTS (Academic) with no sub-score of less than 6.0
• OR a minimum score of 575 on TOEFL
• OR an internet-based (iBT) TOEFL score of 79 (no sub-score less than 19)
• OR no score less than 3+ in each skill of the ISLPR (conducted by ISLPR Language Services only)
• OR a minimum overall score of 176 (no score less than 169) on C1 Advanced (formerly Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English) or C2 Proficiency (formerly Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English)
• OR an overall score of 58 in the Pearson Test of English (Academic) with no score less than 50.

All applicants who hold current unrestricted registration as a Nurse with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) are deemed to have met the English language requirements for admission to the program due to the requirements outlined in the Registration Standard (English Language Skills) set by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).

English test results must be no more than two years old.

Reduce the time it takes to finish your degree. You can apply to Griffith to recognise your prior learning, including:

• Formal learning through courses completed at uni and TAFE.
• Informal learning through workplace experience or volunteer training.
• Non-formal learning through social experiences and hobbies.