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Why Study Nursing in Australia?
Registered Nurses (RNs) are consistently listed on Australia's Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). This means that studying nursing not only offers a highly rewarding career with excellent starting salaries but also provides one of the most direct and reliable pathways to Permanent Residency (PR).
Entry Requirements
Gaining admission into a Bachelor of Nursing or Master of Nursing (Practice) is highly competitive. The core requirements include:
- Academic: A strong high school diploma (for Bachelors) or a relevant undergraduate degree (for Masters).
- English Language: This is the most critical hurdle. You must achieve an IELTS score of 7.0 across all bands (or PTE equivalent of 65). Importantly, this is an entry requirement for the university, not just a graduation requirement.
The Pathway to PR
Once you graduate from an AHPRA-approved nursing degree in Australia, the pathway generally looks like this:
- Register with AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency).
- Obtain a positive skills assessment from ANMAC (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council).
- Apply for a Subclass 189, 190, or 491 skilled visa.
Because nurses are in such high demand, state governments frequently invite nursing graduates with just the minimum 65 points, making it a highly secure investment.
