Given the high demand for nurses in Australia, a long and rewarding career in healthcare could be just around the corner!
Studying nursing in Australia can provide you with a strong foundation to pursue a fulfilling career in helping others. But you may be wondering: what prerequisites and skills do you need to study nursing in Australia?
We had a chat with Charlize, who came to Australia three years ago from the Philippines. After taking a gap year following high school, she decided to pursue a Bachelor of Nursing at Charles Sturt University’s Bathurst campus.
“I wanted to contribute to the community, and since my parents are nurses, they have always provided me with insights into this field of work,” says Charlize. “Moreover, working as a dental nurse in rural areas during my gap year made me realise I wanted to make a contribution to the rural healthcare field.”
Let’s take a look at what you’ll need to study nursing in Australia, and speak to Charlize as she offers firsthand insights on how to pursue this career path as an international student.
A Year 12 qualification or equivalent
To study nursing in Australia, you’ll need to complete an Australian Year 12 qualification or equivalent international secondary school qualification. This will be required whether you choose to study at a TAFE or VET institute or at a university.
Charlize applied directly to Charles Sturt using her ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank), a rank given to Australian secondary school students on a range from 0 to 99.95. The ATAR demonstrates how you performed in your studies compared to other students completing Year 12 in the same year.
The minimum ATAR (or equivalent) you will need for admission to a nursing course may vary between education providers. As an example, a minimum ATAR of 65 is required for nursing at Charles Sturt.
English language proficiency
In order to become a nurse in Australia, you’ll need to provide proof of English language proficiency. This is a required component of enrolling in many nursing programs.
As an international student, you may need to demonstrate English Language Proficiency by doing any of the following*:
- Providing evidence of having completed a sufficient standard of study in English
- Providing evidence in Academic IELTS within the last two years with a minimum overall score of 6 and/or no individual score below 5.5
- Obtaining a qualification deemed to be equivalent to Academic IELTS and its minimum scores. For example, most universities require an IELTS 7.0.
*The exact English language requirements may vary between institutions, so be sure to do your research on what your specific course requires.
Sufficient funds
You may be wondering: how much does it cost to study nursing in Australia? The answer can vary depending on a few factors, including your subject selections and any scholarships you may be eligible for.
To give you an approximate idea of what to expect, one year of full-time equivalent fees for a Bachelor of Nursing at Charles Sturt in 2025 costs $33,400. However, with the help of scholarships and grants (both nationwide and institution-specific), you can ease your financial burden.
A wide range of soft skills
According to Charlize, it takes a lot of patience and discipline to pursue a nursing degree.
“There’s a lot of trial and error to get to the level of working independently and practising nursing in real-life contexts,” she explains.
The nature of the profession involves unpredictable scenarios and inevitable challenges. As a result, you need to be ready to tackle problems head-on and not be discouraged when things get hard.
“Know that you are able to go through the challenges in this challenging field and eventually make a difference in the lives of others,” says Charlize.
Because nursing in Australia is a highly patient-centred and demanding profession, you also have to be capable of dedicating much of your time and effort to helping others. Nurses must be resilient, headstrong, and have a great level of emotional intelligence.
A willingness to learn technical skills
Nursing qualifications offer both theoretical and practical learning, allowing you to build professional skills and decide what type of nurse you would like to be.
Charlize says that she gets to participate in practical training in a real workplace at Charles Sturt.
“We need to conduct lab practicals every week that prepare us for work placement which is a requirement to complete the degree,” she explains. “Our practical training lasts two hours a week, which prepares us for 40-hour placements at an aged care and 80-hour placements in general nursing care.”
She adds that these hands-on exercises allow her to work with and learn alongside her peers.
“We make use of mannequins and conduct real-life simulations, and get to collaborate with fellow nursing students. We are able to learn and practice in a safe learning space through these practicals before going to the real workplace,” says Charlize.
Advice for future students
Charlize is an international student ambassador at Charles Sturt, providing extra support for students hoping to study in Australia.
“I collaborate with fellow ambassadors to help other international students to apply to university, share with them our experiences studying at Charles Sturt with all honesty and their best interest at heart. We’ve been in their place before so it feels very rewarding when I’m able to support and encourage them when they are starting out,” she says.
Charlize also has some advice for prospective nursing students to help reduce burnout. Try to focus on life outside of academics, make time for relaxation and enjoy your hobbies, making new friends and exploring Australia.
Above all else, Charlize highlights that resilience is a key ingredient to any nursing student’s success: “Once you sign up, keep on persevering and do everything that you can to the best of your abilities, and that’ll get you through it.”
Start your nursing journey today
Charles Sturt University’s School of Nursing, Paramedicine and Healthcare Sciences specialises in preparing students for a career in nursing, including completion of workplace learning as an essential and exciting part of all their courses. With 93% of nursing graduates gaining full-time employment within four months of completing their studies*, Charles Sturt is the perfect place to set yourself up for success.
Ready to take the first step in your nursing career? Learn more about Charles Sturt’s nursing courses to get started.
*Good Universities Guide 2024/25
Charles Sturt University is an Australian University, TEQSA Provider Identification: PRV12018. Charles Sturt University CRICOS Provider Number: 00005F. Bachelor of Nursing CRICOS: 010599C.
