University of the Sunshine Coast
Graduate Certificate in Nursing Online
- Delivery: Online
- Study Level: Postgraduate
- Duration: 6 months
- Course Type: Graduate Certificate
Advance your nursing practice through this online graduate certificate, developing specialised clinical knowledge and leadership capability while tailoring your studies to your professional interests and future career goals.
Course overview
The Graduate Certificate in Nursing is an online postgraduate qualification designed for registered nurses who want to deepen their expertise in a chosen area of clinical practice or prepare for leadership and advanced practice roles. The course also provides a pathway into the Master of Nursing (Clinical Leadership) for those wishing to continue their postgraduate studies.
Throughout the course, you'll strengthen your ability to apply evidence-informed practice, critically evaluate contemporary healthcare challenges and enhance patient outcomes within your area of interest. Rather than focusing on isolated clinical skills, the curriculum develops advanced professional capability through specialised study in areas such as community and primary health care, clinical practice education, paediatric care or mental health, while allowing flexibility to tailor your learning to your career goals.
Delivered fully online, the course offers flexible study with four postgraduate courses that may be completed in as little as one trimester full-time. There are no compulsory placements stated, and graduates can use the qualification as a pathway into the Master of Nursing (Clinical Leadership).
CSP Subsidised Fees Available
This program has a limited quota of Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP). The indicative CSP price is calculated based on first year fees for EFT. The actual fee may vary if there are choices in electives or majors.
Key facts
What you will study
The program is comprised of four courses (48 units). Unless otherwise noted, each course is worth 12 units.
Required courses
Select four courses from:
- Ageing in Australia
- Simulation in Practice Education
- Community and Primary Healthcare
- Leadership in Clinical Practice
- Learning and Teaching in the Practice Environment
- Independent Study
- Research in Health Care
- Assessment in Mental Health
- Neonatal, Paediatric and Child Health Care
- Advanced Health Assessment
Entry requirements
- AQF Level 7 Bachelor of Nursing award.
- Applicants who are Registered Nurses registered with AHPRA but do not have a bachelor's level qualification may be considered for admission based on extensive industry experience, which will require approval by the Program Leader.
English language requirements
All applicants must be able to declare that English is their primary language (i.e., they have attended and satisfactorily completed at least six years of primary and secondary education taught and assessed solely in English). At least two years of this education must have been between grades 7 and 12. This education must have been completed in one of the following countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom, or the United States of America.); or they must attain an Academic IELTS score of at least 7.0 with a minimum of 7.0 in each subtest (obtained within two years before the commencement of the program). Contact the university for more details.
Recognition of Prior Learning
UniSC offers credit for prior learning consistent with the Australian Qualifications Framework and general practice in the Australian Higher Education sector. If you've completed prior study or have relevant work experience, you may, under specified conditions, be eligible for credit towards your UniSC degree. Contact the university for more information.
Outcomes
Career outcomes
- Clinical Education
- Clinical Practice
- Leadership
Fees and CSP
Indicative fee in 2026: $2,368 (Commonwealth Supported Place)
Indicative fee in 2026: $12,384 (domestic full-fee paying place)
These are indicative fees for one year of full-time study. Actual fees will change based on courses selected and are subject to yearly increases.
Student fees may vary in accordance with:
- The number of units studied per term.
- The choice of major or specialisation.
- Choice of units.
- Credit from previous study or work experience.
- Eligibility for government-funded loans.
Student fees shown are subject to change. Contact the university directly to confirm.
Commonwealth Supported Places
The Australian Government allocates a certain number of CSPs to the universities each year, which are then distributed to students based on merit.
If you're a Commonwealth Supported Student (CSS), you'll only need to pay a portion of your tuition fees. This is known as the student contribution amount – the balance once the government subsidy is applied. This means your costs are much lower.
Limited CSP spaces are offered to students enrolled in selected postgraduate courses.
Your student contribution amount is:
- Calculated per unit you're enrolled in.
- Dependent on the study areas they relate to.
- Reviewed and adjusted each year.
HECS-HELP loans are available to CSP students to pay the student contribution amount.
FEE-HELP loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying domestic students.