Graduate Certificate in Nursing

School of Nursing & Midwifery

Are you a Registered Nurse wanting to broaden your knowledge and skills or upgrade your qualifications? The Graduate Certificate in Nursing from The University of Notre Dame Australia provides a fast track to a formal nursing qualification. The program is fully online and can be easily combined with your existing work commitments and your family. Contact us today to find out more.

  • Why study this program?

    If you are a Registered Nurse who desires to broaden your knowledge and skills, the Graduate Certificate in Nursing is an ideal program for you. You will be provided with the opportunity to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, so you are prepared to provide evidence-based care in various contexts. A broad range of elective courses enables you to match your learning to your areas of interest or workplace needs.

    As a graduate, you can then choose to further your qualifications with a Graduate Diploma of Nursing, which requires an additional four courses, then add another four courses for a Master of Nursing (Coursework).

    The Graduate Certificate and Diploma programs are open to you if you do not have an undergraduate nursing degree but have accumulated clinical experience as a Registered Nurse. Notre Dame provides a nurturing environment that will allow you to sharpen your skills and challenge you to succeed in your chosen field.

  • Program summary

    You will select subjects from the following areas:

    • Acute Care
    • Mental Health
    • Governance
    • Education
    • Evidenced based practice and research
    • Professional Development
    • Management and Leadership

    Full details of the program requirements are contained in the Program Requirements.

    More information regarding courses can be found at the course descriptions page.

  • Entry requirements

    The following entry requirements apply to this program:

    • Current license to practice as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia or provisional registration, whichever is applicable at the time of commencement
    • Nursing or other appropriate degree or the equivalent
  • Learning outcomes

    On completion of this program students should be able to achieve the following outcomes:

    1. Develop leadership qualities to support staff development and professional competence
    2. Critically reflect on practice and own learning and develop skills for lifelong learning
    3. Examine the role of the multidisciplinary team to provide coordinated clinical care patients with varied health conditions
    4. Examine clinical governance frameworks related to quality nursing management and practice; and
    5. Use current evidence and research to inform patient assessment, clinical decisions, and best practice.
  • Career opportunities

    With a Graduate Certificate in Nursing, you can pursue career prospects as a Clinical Nurse specialist and specialist in clinical nursing. Nurse educator and supervising nurse.

  • Real-world experience

    You will learn from our academics, who are leaders in their field. There are no practicum requirements for this program.

  • Fees and costs

    This Program has the following loan scheme(s) available for eligible students:


    Domestic Fee-Paying
    A domestic fee-paying place is a place at university where the student is responsible for the full cost the program.

    Eligible domestic fee-paying students may apply for the FEE-HELP loan scheme which assists eligible fee-paying students with the payment of all, or part, of their tuition fees, not including additional study costs such as accommodation or textbooks. Your FEE-HELP debt will be indexed each year in line with the Consumer Price Index.


    For indicative fees and information on how to pay, including Government loan schemes and our online calculator, visit our Fees, costs and scholarships page.

  • More information

    Considering your uni options?

    Talk to one of our career advisors for a personalised advice session. Our advisors provide support while choosing a program of study and completing our application process. Book my session.


    For more information, please contact our Prospective Students Office.

    Fremantle and Broome
    Phone: +61 8 9433 0533
    Email: future@nd.edu.au
    Sydney and Melbourne
    Phone: +61 2 8204 4404
    Email: sydney@nd.edu.au

    For more information, please email studyonline@nd.edu.au.

Our students give us top marks

  • No.1 in WA Overall Satisfaction*

  • No.1 in WA Full-time Employment*

  • No.1 in WA Overall Employment*

  • No.1 uni in Australia Overall Employment**

  • No.1 uni in WA
    Skills Development ***

  • No.1 uni in NSW & WA
    Learner Engagement ****

*2021 Graduate Outcomes Survey, undergraduate and postgraduate coursework categories, **2021 Graduate Outcomes Survey-Longitudinal (medium term outcome), undergraduate category, ***2021 Student Experience Survey, postgraduate category and ****2021 Student Experience Survey, postgraduate category - qilt.edu.au

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