Bachelor of Nursing
at Australian Catholic University, New South Wales.
A three-year ANMAC-accredited nursing degree offered at Blacktown, North Sydney and Canberra (ranks shown are for North Sydney; Canberra's 2026 figure was 68.00). Five clinical placements add up to about 800 hours. No prerequisites.
Lowest selection rank
The lowest selection rank (LSR) is the lowest ATAR plus adjustment factors (equity, subject and regional bonuses) that received an offer to the ACU Bachelor of Nursing for that intake. Universities publish it in their admissions student profiles. Only intakes with a published figure are listed.
| Intake | Lowest selection rank | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 60.05 | uac.edu.au |
| 2025 | 58.55 | uac.edu.au |
| 2024 | 61.05 | uac.edu.au |
| 2023 | 58.50 | uac.edu.au |
A lowest selection rank describes a past intake, not a guaranteed entry score. Check the current entry requirements on the official course page before you apply through UAC.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
No formal Year 12 subject prerequisites; assumed knowledge may still apply.
What you will study
The degree covers the knowledge and skills for registered nurse practice across acute, community, mental health and aged-care settings, including the biosciences, pharmacology, clinical skills and evidence-based practice. Five clinical placements totalling about 800 hours are completed across the course in a variety of healthcare settings. Honours is available as an additional year.
Placement and industry experience
Five clinical placements totalling approximately 800 hours are completed across the degree in a variety of healthcare settings. Students must meet state legal and health-policy requirements (such as immunisation and police checks) before placements.
Career outcomes
- Graduates work as registered nurses in hospital, community and aged-care settings after registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
- Common destinations include public hospital graduate transition programmes, mental-health services and rural and remote nursing positions.
- Many alumni progress into specialty practice (intensive care, paediatrics, midwifery), nurse-practitioner study or clinical education roles.
Professional accreditation
- Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC)
- Ahpra registration eligible
Typical first jobs
- Registered Nurse in the NSW Health Transition to Professional Practice graduate program
- RN at Catholic and private hospital networks (St Vincent's, Mater, Ramsay Health Care)
- Aged care RN at residential aged care facilities
- Community health nurse
- Mental health RN in inpatient and community settings
- Rural and remote graduate RN with NSW Health regional pathways
Graduate starting salary
$72,000 - $80,000 per year
Source: health.nsw.gov.au. Last reviewed 2026-05-21.
After graduation
The course is accredited by ANMAC, so eligible graduates can apply for registration as a registered nurse with Ahpra. Most start in a hospital graduate transition program; Honours and postgraduate specialty nursing are later options.
Is this the right degree for you?
You probably thrive here if
- Students with strong people skills and clinical resilience
- Those willing to work shifts during placements (mornings, evenings, weekends)
- People who can balance theory with the physical and emotional demands of clinical practice
- Students comfortable with pharmacology and physiology study
- Those committed to a regulated profession with strict practice standards
It is probably not for you if
- Students unwilling to do shift work or rural placement blocks
- Those uncomfortable with bodily fluids, distress and high-stakes clinical scenarios
- Anyone hoping to avoid pharmacology and pathophysiology
Careers this leads to
Australian career pathways that name this Bachelor of Nursing as an entry route. Each page shows uni, TAFE and apprenticeship alternatives.
Related courses at ACU
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and selection ranks on the Australian Catholic University website and on UAC before applying.