Master of Nursing (Coursework and Thesis)

The Master of Nursing (Coursework and Thesis) at the University of Notre Dame Australia is a two-year postgraduate degree for registered nurses who want to go further than a coursework-only master's. It blends advanced clinical theory with a supervised research thesis, so you finish with both specialist knowledge and the ability to design, carry out and write up your own study. Notre Dame runs its nursing programmes through its schools of nursing in Fremantle, Sydney and Broome, and the degree sits at AQF level 9.

What you study

You take a set of postgraduate coursework units, advanced clinical assessment, nursing leadership, evidence-based practice, quality and safety, and research methods, then move into a thesis component under a supervisor. The coursework units carry credit points, and the thesis is the largest single piece of work in the degree. The exact unit list, credit point values and any specialisation options are set out in the official course structure, so check those on the Notre Dame page before you apply. Because it is a coursework-and-thesis award rather than a pure research master's, you do not need to have a research background to get in, but you do need to be ready to write at length.

How it is structured

Australian master's degrees usually run over one to two years full time, split into semesters or trimesters. Notre Dame delivers this one across two years full time, and part-time study is common because most students are working nurses. You complete the coursework units first, then the thesis, which is supervised one-to-one. Assessment is a mix of essays, case studies, presentations, exams where relevant, and the final thesis. If you are already working clinically, some of your learning is work-integrated, you apply the theory in your own practice setting and bring that experience back into tutorials and your research.

Skills you gain

You learn to read research critically, appraise evidence, design a study, collect and analyse data, and write it up to a publishable standard. You also build the clinical reasoning and leadership skills that let you take on senior roles, coordinating a ward, leading a quality improvement project, teaching junior staff, or moving into a specialist area. The thesis is the part that sets this degree apart from a standard coursework master's: it is your own piece of original work, supervised by an academic, and it is the credential that opens the door to doctoral study if you want to go that way.

Who it suits

This degree suits registered nurses with a few years of practice behind them who want to move into advanced practice, education, management or research. It also suits nurses who are thinking about a PhD or a clinical academic career and want to test whether research is for them before committing to a doctorate. If you are an international student, note that nursing is one of the fields where the English requirement is higher than the standard coursework postgraduate level, check the exact IELTS or equivalent score Notre Dame publishes for this course, and remember that the Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa. While you study you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight, and on completion you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. Confirm all entry requirements, fees and CRICOS details on the official page.

• Clinical nurse specialist or advanced practice nurse, hospitals, health services and specialist clinics across Australia
• Nurse unit manager or clinical coordinator, public and private hospital wards and departments
• Nurse educator or clinical facilitator, hospitals, universities and vocational training providers
• Research nurse or clinical trials coordinator, hospitals, research institutes and contract research organisations
• Quality and safety officer or accreditation coordinator, health services and aged care providers
• Policy or project officer, state and territory health departments, primary health networks and non-government health organisations
• PhD candidate or academic, if you continue to doctoral study and a university career