Duration
Study one unit across a seven-week study period, allowing you to complete your Graduate Certificate in Nursing within 8 months. It's recommended that you spend approximately 20 hours per week on your postgraduate study. Our 100% online Graduate Certificate in Nursing program allows you to study when it suits you and you are not required to be online at a specific time.
Fees
$11,800 for all 4 units. FEE-HELP is a Commonwealth Government loan scheme that helps eligible full-fee paying students pay all or part of their tuition fees. FEE-HELP is available for this program.
Units
Study one unit each seven-week study period with our multi-award-winning Block Model. Assessments are delivered at the same time each study period, allowing for deep and focused learning.
Study intakes
There are six study periods each year, allowing you to begin your Graduate Certificate at the start of any study period. You will study one unit at a time over the seven-week study period. If required, you are able to skip a study period.
July, Aug, Oct
CSP Available
A Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) is subsidised by the Australian Government, reducing your total tuition fees from $11,800 (full fee) to $2,368. CSPs are limited and subject to availability. Eligible students may be able to defer their student contribution through a HECS-HELP loan.
Why study the Graduate Certificate in Nursing Online?
Award-winning VU Block Model®
Our postgraduate online Block Model has won consecutive LearnX Live! Awards for ‘Best Online Learning Model’. With VU Online you can have a consistent, manageable and connected online learning experience.
No exams or textbooks to purchase
The online units have been designed with a student-centred approach that spans across the overarching learning outcomes to the engaging activities and self-determined assessments.
Support 7 days and in the evenings
Get the support you need, when you need it, during your course. Our support network has a single focus on ensuring you are entirely supported to succeed.
Save up to 75% on your fees*
You may be eligible for a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) for selected subjects in this course.
*CSP is available to new, eligible students who enrol in and commence selected courses in 2027. Limited places available.
Overview
Deliver better nursing for better health through leadership, research and innovation.
VU Online’s Graduate Certificate in Nursing is designed for registered nurses to transform the delivery of healthcare services in Australia. You can successfully earn your Graduate Certificate in Nursing by enrolling in 4 consecutive study periods of 7 weeks each. This means you can enrol and complete your degree in as little as 8 months.
Each course is delivered 100% online, giving students the flexibility to fit study around their busy personal and professional lives. At VU Online, we take a personalised 1:1 approach to online learning, which makes learning with us highly interactive and supported.
With 25 years of experience delivering postgraduate courses in Australia, VU has equipped thousands of students from all walks of life with the knowledge and skills to successfully achieve their unique career goals including promotion, salary increase and leadership and innovation in nursing.
Ready to take charge of your nursing career?
VU's online Graduate Certificate in Nursing is your ticket to success. With an online graduate certificate in nursing from VU, you'll gain the expertise and practical skills to succeed in a range of dynamic career paths.
From nursing management and education to research and clinical practice, our program prepares you for the diverse and rapidly changing healthcare landscape.
Elevate your career and unlock new opportunities with a Graduate Certificate in Nursing from VU.
- Nurse Manager
- Nurse Unit Manager
- Nurse Team Leder
- Clinical Nursing Coach
- Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Nurse Practitioner
- Nurse Educator
What you will study
The Graduate Certificate prepares nurses for the challenges of leadership and a pathway to career progression. Each unit of study lasts seven weeks, meaning you can earn your qualification in as little as eight months.
This unit examines the major concepts and principles of community health promotion including self-care, continuity of care, primary health care, health promotion, illness prevention, community assessment, family assessment and home care. Health promotion is a proven dynamic in disease prevention and maintenance of community health. In this unit you will review the major health issues impacting on national and global health. Australian and World Health Organisation (WHO) health priorities and strategies for optimising community health will be critically reviewed. You will reflect on the role of the nurse in community health promotion within areas of specialisation. You will examine communities with diverse and specific health requirements and health literacy needs to understand how to optimise the success of health promotion strategies. This unit also examines the major concepts and principles of cultural safety and the knowledge and skills required of the nursing profession to work ethically with diverse people and communities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. Students will examine a health problem in relation to a specific community and design strategies of community health promotion in a specialised area of your choice.
This unit explores the competencies registered Nurses need to work within inter-professional teams to provide coordinated care for clients with complex needs. The unit investigates strategies for working together effectively; making informed health care decisions and ensuring continuity of care for clients. This unit provides students with essential skills in utilising available resources effectively, health coaching and consultation, and the development of care plans that meet complex care needs. Students will further their skills in client advocacy and anticipatory care management, assessment of risk factors related to decline in a community context and determination of available alternatives for managing risks and balancing the needs and desires of clients. Key themes of the unit include exploring and practising the collection and management of client information across the continuum of services and how to negotiate potential service providers for best care package for client needs, including the management of subcontracted services.
One of the key performance indicators in management and leadership within nursing is to effectively lead improvement and innovation. In this unit students will determine key safety and quality concerns within the nurse practice environment and their influence on patient outcomes. Students will interrogate contemporary approaches, tools and techniques to improve the safety and quality of patient care. The unit requires students to formulate an approach to quality improvement that enhances an aspect of the nurse practice environment and patient outcomes in a specialised area of nursing practice. Students will also demonstrate the skills required to develop a teaching module to support an implementation strategy and ensure sustainability.
This unit investigates evidence-based research and its application in the healthcare setting. Students will develop and refine their skills in searching and critically reviewing and evaluating available nursing and healthcare research and evidence. Students will also learn to use critical appraisal tools to evaluate qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods research. By examining systematic reviews to clarify how evidence is synthesised, students will critically appraise literature and identify gaps in current knowledge to design and develop research proposals and/or projects.
Entry requirements
When you apply to study with VU, we’ll take into consideration your prior study, work experience and current skills. If eligible, you can also apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), so you can make your next career move even sooner.
- Completed an AQF Level 7 Bachelor of Nursing, or equivalent qualification; AND
- Current Registration as a Registered Nurse (Division 1) with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA); OR
- Applicants without an AQF 7 Bachelor Degree of Nursing or equivalent qualification but hold a current Registration as a Registered Nurse (Division 1) with the Australian Practitioner Regulation Agency (APHRA) will be considered for the Graduate Certificate in Nursing.
Fees & FEE-HELP
A Graduate Certificate in Nursing from VU Online costs $2,950 per unit*, taking the total for 4 units to $11,800*.
This depends on the number of units you study and whether you are eligible for Advanced Standing, which is assessed after you submit your application.
10% discount for alumni
If you’ve previously completed a qualification with us (and didn't apply through an agent), you may be eligible for a 10% discount.
Note that you may be eligible for the Australian Government’s loan scheme, FEE-HELP. The loans are available to assist eligible full-fee paying students with the cost of a university program. It can be used for all or part of the tuition. To determine your eligibility, visit the FEE-HELP website.
*2027 student fees are shown and are subject to change.
For more information on fees and student support, download a brochure.
Want to learn more about this course?
What our students say
I am receiving a lot of support from my facilitators and my Student Success Advisor, who boosts my confidence and self-esteem.
What our students say
It was personally satisfying connecting and collaborating with a range of industry professionals. Many have become valuable work contacts, some even lifelong friends and career mentors.
What our students say
The flexibility, relevance and opportunity that VU Online brings to higher education are testaments to excellence in teaching and learning.
Frequently asked questions
Some of the prospective career paths you may choose include Clinical Nurse Specialist, Clinical Nurse Consultant, Clinical Research Nurse, Unit Manager, or Director of Nursing.
Yes, the course is designed for APHRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) registered nurses with a bachelor's degree or equivalent.
A Graduate Certificate in Nursing is designed for registered or Division 1 nurses with a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. If you successfully complete the Graduate Certificate in Nursing, it guarantees you entry into the Master of Nursing, with the first four units credited. A Master of Nursing is aimed at a registered nurse or midwife who wishes to further enhance their years of experience or is looking to increase career advancement opportunities. These courses prepare registered nurses for the challenges of clinical leadership, research, and advanced practice roles in their chosen specialisation.
Students who completed Bachelor of Nursing from overseas can apply with us, provided:
-Their registration is validated and confirmed by APHRA and, if students simply have a Bachelor of Nursing from overseas and reside overseas, they do not qualify as applicants into our Master or Graduate Certificate of Nursing course.
- They reside in Australia as a Permanent Resident or an Australian Citizen.
With the Master of Nursing, students will have the credentials to progress into management and leadership in one of our specialist areas - Chronic Disease and Ageing OR Nursing Leadership.
Students will have full access to the VU Library during their enrolment in the course. Upon graduation, as an alumni, you can access the library by applying for library membership for alumni at a cost of $55 per annum directly at a VU library.
All of the assignments are work-based, meaning the knowledge and skills you acquire in the course are then applied to your current working role, or a recent role you are still familiar with. There are 3 assignment in each unit and they vary considerable from reports to presentations to projects, posters, literature reviews and essays.
This course is not focused on clinical skills. It is a generalised nursing skillset, aiming to provide and elevate leadership qualities of Registered Nurses in their field of specialisation.
Our Master of Nursing will allow you to develop the skill set to prepare registered nurses for the challenges of clinical leadership, research, and advanced practice roles in their chosen specialisation. You’ll also have the option to choose to specialise in either Chronic Disease and Ageing or Nursing Leadership. Each course is delivered 100% online, giving students the flexibility to fit study around their busy personal and professional lives.
When you study with VU Online, you will receive four layers of personalised academic and non-academic support including:
- Weekly online office hours and seminars from your unit coordinator
- 1:1 academic support via phone, SMS, or email on nights and weekends from your online facilitator
- Non-academic and study support from your success advisor
- IT, library, literacy, numeracy, and counselling support.
A graduate certificate is a postgraduate qualification that sits above a bachelor’s degree but below a master’s degree. It is designed to provide advanced knowledge in a focused area of study and is recognised as a Level 8 qualification on the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). This makes it suitable for professionals seeking upskilling, specialisation, or a pathway into further postgraduate study.
The Graduate Certificate in Nursing at VU Online provides targeted, high-level nursing knowledge and skills, making it a postgraduate credential for career development and professional practice in nursing.
Yes, a graduate certificate can be a valuable qualification in Australia. It demonstrates postgraduate-level expertise in a specialised area, helps improve career prospects, and can provide a pathway into further study such as a master’s degree. For healthcare professionals, completing a graduate certificate in nursing equips students with up-to-date knowledge and professional skills that are relevant across the sector.
The Graduate Certificate in Nursing at Victoria University Online offers a practical and flexible way to advance nursing expertise while continuing to work, making it a worthwhile investment for career progression.
In most cases, a graduate certificate requires completion of an undergraduate degree or equivalent professional experience. Some programs may accept substantial work experience in lieu of formal qualifications, particularly for candidates with extensive professional practice in the relevant field.
The Graduate Certificate in Nursing at VU Online is designed for registered nurses seeking to build advanced knowledge and skills.
The cost of a graduate certificate in Australia varies depending on the institution and mode of study. Graduate certificates generally cost less than master’s degrees while providing postgraduate-level learning. Many students also access government support schemes such as FEE‑HELP to assist with tuition.
The Graduate Certificate in Nursing at VU Online is delivered fully online, allowing students to study flexibly while completing a postgraduate nursing qualification.
A graduate certificate is classified as a Level 8 qualification on the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). This level indicates postgraduate-level learning, designed to develop advanced knowledge, technical skills, and professional competency in a specialised field.
The Graduate Certificate in Nursing at Victoria University Online meets AQF Level 8 standards, providing postgraduate nursing education that supports professional practice and career advancement.
The best online nursing program depends on your career goals, whether you’re seeking registration, advanced clinical skills, or leadership opportunities. High-quality programs combine rigorous academic content with practical experiences, delivered in a flexible format to suit working professionals.
The Graduate Certificate in Nursing at VU Online offers a respected and flexible pathway for nurses to enhance expertise and progress in their careers, making it a strong option for postgraduate nursing study delivered online.
Still have questions?
Our Student Enrolment Advisors are just a click away. They can answer any questions you have about this course or VU Online.
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