Bachelor of Nursing
at The University of Adelaide, South Australia.
An ANMAC-accredited nursing degree leading to registration as an enrolled or registered nurse with AHPRA. Includes more than 800 hours of supervised clinical placement across hospital and community settings.
ATAR cutoff history
Published cutoff data for the The University of Adelaide Bachelor of Nursing. We never invent figures; entries marked "not published" mean the university or admissions centre has not released a verified cutoff for that intake.
| Intake year | ATAR cutoff | Admissions centre |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ATAR cutoff not published | SATAC |
| 2023 | ATAR cutoff not published | SATAC |
| 2022 | ATAR cutoff not published | SATAC |
No verified cutoffs are available. Confirm the latest figure on the official SATAC cutoff release.
Prerequisite Year 12 subjects
Brush up on each prerequisite with our state-syllabus explainers and dot points.
What you will study
First year at the University of Adelaide covers the foundations: anatomy and physiology, professional nursing practice and communication, the Australian healthcare system, primary health care and health promotion, with early clinical-skills lab work and a first short placement. Simulation labs let you practise core skills before treating patients. Middle years layer pathophysiology and pharmacology, evidence-based practice and research methods, mental-health nursing, acute and chronic care, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. Clinical placement hours increase across SA Health hospitals and community settings, with objective structured clinical examinations built into each year. Final year focuses on complex and acute care, leadership and the transition to practice, with the largest placement blocks. ANMAC accreditation requires a minimum of 800 supervised clinical hours across the degree. On graduation you apply for AHPRA registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia as a registered nurse.
Example first-year subjects
- Anatomy and Physiology for Nursing
- Foundations of Professional Nursing Practice
- Primary Health Care and Health Promotion
- Communication in Healthcare
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
- Introduction to Clinical Practice
How you will be assessed
- Clinical placement competency and supervisor evaluation
- OSCE practical exams in simulation labs
- Written case studies and care plans of 1500 to 3000 words
- Mid-semester tests and final exams in anatomy, pharmacology and pathophysiology
- Group presentations on health policy and Indigenous health
- Reflective practice journals after each placement block
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
- ANMAC accredited
- AHPRA registration eligible
Typical first jobs
- Registered nurse in the SA Health Transition to Professional Practice graduate program
- RN in private and not-for-profit hospital networks
- Aged-care registered nurse in residential facilities
- Community and primary-health-care nurse
- Mental-health RN in inpatient and community settings
- Rural and remote graduate RN through regional SA pathways
Graduate starting salary
$65,000 - $72,000 per year
Source: https://www.qilt.edu.au/surveys/graduate-outcomes-survey-(gos). Last reviewed 2026-05-24.
After graduation
Graduates register with AHPRA and typically apply to the SA Health Transition to Professional Practice (graduate year) program at metropolitan and regional hospitals. After clinical experience, registered nurses specialise via postgraduate certificates and diplomas (emergency, critical care, paediatrics, mental health, perioperative) or a Master of Nursing. Nurse-practitioner endorsement requires a Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) and substantial clinical hours. Common longer-term paths include clinical educator, nurse unit manager and clinical specialist roles.
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
- People who balance theory with the physical and emotional demands of care
- 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 scenarios
- Anyone hoping to avoid pharmacology and pathophysiology
- People who want a desk-based or fully theoretical career
Related courses at Adelaide
Sources
Course details are summarised by ExamExplained, not copied from the university. Confirm course content and ATAR cutoffs on the The University of Adelaide handbook and on SATAC before applying. Page generated at https://examexplained.com.au/uni/adelaide/bachelor-of-nursing.