Deakin University Nursing Ranking: A Data-Driven Analysis for International Students

Deakin University Nursing: Global Standing and Key Metrics

Deakin University’s nursing program holds a global ranking of 31st in the 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject (Nursing), placing it within the top 1% of nursing schools worldwide. This represents a 14-position improvement from its 2024 rank of 45th, according to QS data released in March 2025. The Australian Department of Education reported that Deakin produced 1,234 nursing graduates in 2024, the third-highest output among Australian universities, behind only Monash University (1,412) and the University of Technology Sydney (1,301). The program’s completion rate stands at 87.3% for domestic students and 82.1% for international students, based on 2024 TEQSA data. These metrics position Deakin as a significant player in Australia’s nursing education landscape, which produced 18,742 registered nurse graduates nationally in 2024, a 6.2% increase from 2023.

The program’s global ranking trajectory is notable. In the 2023 QS Nursing ranking, Deakin was placed 51st-60th band. The jump to 45th in 2024 and then to 31st in 2025 reflects a deliberate institutional strategy of investing in clinical simulation facilities, research output, and industry partnerships. The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) has accredited Deakin’s Bachelor of Nursing program through to 2029, ensuring graduates meet the registration requirements of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). This accreditation is a prerequisite for international students seeking to work as registered nurses in Australia post-graduation.

Admissions Requirements for 2026: Academic and English Language Standards

Deakin University has confirmed its 2026 admission requirements for the Bachelor of Nursing (H326) program. For international students, the minimum Academic IELTS score is 7.0 overall, with no band below 7.0. This aligns with the NMBA’s English language skills registration standard, which requires IELTS 7.0 (minimum 7.0 in listening, reading, writing, and speaking). Deakin accepts alternative tests: PTE Academic with a minimum score of 65 (no communicative skill below 65), and TOEFL iBT with a minimum of 94 (with minimum 24 in listening, 24 in reading, 27 in writing, and 24 in speaking). These thresholds are non-negotiable for direct entry.

Academic entry requirements vary by country. For Chinese applicants, Deakin requires a Gaokao score of 550 out of 750 (73.3%) for direct entry, or completion of a recognised foundation program with a 70% average. Indian applicants need an All India Senior School Certificate (CBSE) average of 70% in best four academic subjects, including biology or chemistry. For students from the United Kingdom, GCE A-levels of BBB are required, including a science subject. The university also offers a Diploma of Health Sciences pathway, which requires IELTS 6.5 (no band below 6.0) and completion of Year 12 with a 65% average. Successful completion of this diploma with a 65% average guarantees entry into the second year of the Bachelor of Nursing.

Important change for 2026: Deakin has reduced the number of clinical placement hours from 880 to 840 hours, aligning with the revised ANMAC accreditation standards effective January 2026. This reduction does not affect the program’s accreditation status but allows for increased simulation-based learning. The university has invested AUD 12.4 million in its Clinical Simulation Centre at the Burwood campus, which now features 24 high-fidelity patient simulators and 12 standardised patient rooms. These facilities are used for 40% of clinical training, up from 25% in 2023.

Program Structure and Clinical Placement Pathways

The Bachelor of Nursing at Deakin is a three-year full-time program (six trimesters) delivered across the Burwood, Geelong Waterfront, and Warrnambool campuses. The program comprises 24 credit points, including 16 core nursing units and 8 elective units. Core units include: “Human Anatomy and Physiology” (HBS109), “Pathophysiology and Pharmacology 1” (HNN114), “Nursing Practice 1: Foundations of Care” (HNN104), and “Mental Health Nursing” (HNN319). Students must achieve a minimum of 50% in each core unit to progress.

Clinical placement is integrated from the first trimester. Students complete a two-week introductory placement in a residential aged care facility during Trimester 1. Subsequent placements occur in Trimester 2 (medical-surgical ward, 3 weeks), Trimester 4 (community health, 4 weeks), Trimester 5 (mental health, 4 weeks), and Trimester 6 (acute care, 6 weeks). Deakin has partnerships with 12 public hospitals in Victoria, including Barwon Health, Eastern Health, and Peninsula Health. The university guarantees a clinical placement for every enrolled student, a commitment that required a 15% increase in placement capacity in 2024 to accommodate 1,450 students.

Specialisation pathways are available in the final year. Students can choose an elective stream in: “Nursing in Rural and Remote Settings” (HNN415), “Palliative Care Nursing” (HNN416), or “Paediatric Nursing” (HNN417). Each specialisation includes a 4-week placement in the relevant clinical setting. Deakin also offers a Honours program (H326H) for high-achieving students (minimum 70% average in the Bachelor of Nursing), which involves a research thesis and additional coursework. Honours graduates have a 92% employment rate within six months of graduation, compared to 85% for pass-degree graduates, based on 2024 Graduate Outcomes Survey data.

Graduate Employment and Salary Outcomes

Deakin nursing graduates achieve employment outcomes that exceed national averages. The 2024 Graduate Outcomes Survey (GOS) data, published by the Australian Government’s Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT), shows that 85.3% of Deakin nursing graduates were employed full-time within four months of completing their degree. This compares favourably to the national average of 79.8% for nursing graduates from all Australian universities. The median full-time salary for Deakin nursing graduates was AUD 73,500 in 2024, representing a 4.2% increase from AUD 70,500 in 2023.

State-by-state employment rates vary. In Victoria, where Deakin is headquartered, 87.1% of nursing graduates found employment within four months, driven by the state’s healthcare workforce shortage. The Victorian Department of Health reported a nursing vacancy rate of 11.3% in public hospitals as of June 2024, equating to approximately 4,200 unfilled positions. New South Wales had a 9.8% vacancy rate, while Queensland reported 8.5%. Deakin graduates working in regional areas (Geelong, Warrnambool) had a higher employment rate (91.2%) than those in metropolitan Melbourne (83.7%), reflecting greater demand in rural and regional healthcare settings.

Salary progression is significant. Deakin’s 2024 graduate survey indicates that alumni with three years of experience earn a median of AUD 85,000, rising to AUD 98,000 after five years. Registered nurses who complete postgraduate qualifications (Graduate Certificate or Master of Nursing) earn a median of AUD 110,000 after five years. Deakin’s Master of Nursing Practice (H759) program, which requires a bachelor’s degree in any discipline, has a 94% employment rate for graduates, with a median starting salary of AUD 78,000. This program is particularly popular among international students, who comprised 62% of enrolments in 2024.

International Student Fees, Scholarships, and Visa Pathways

Tuition fees for the Bachelor of Nursing are set at AUD 38,400 per year for international students in 2026, representing a 5.2% increase from AUD 36,500 in 2025. Total program cost for three years is AUD 115,200. Deakin offers a Deakin International Scholarship covering 25% of tuition fees for students with a minimum 70% average in their previous qualification. In 2024, 312 international nursing students received this scholarship, representing 18% of the international nursing cohort. The Deakin Global Health Leaders Scholarship provides AUD 10,000 per year for students from developing countries, with 45 awards made in 2024.

Visa pathways for nursing graduates are well-defined. The Bachelor of Nursing is listed on the Australian Government’s Skilled Occupation List (SOL) under occupation code 254412 (Registered Nurse). Graduates are eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) , which allows two years of work in Australia for bachelor’s degree holders. From July 2024, nursing graduates from Deakin can access an additional two-year post-study work extension (total four years) under the government’s post-study work rights extension for occupations in critical need. The Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) and Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) are available for nurses with at least one year of work experience and a positive skills assessment from ANMAC.

Cost of living in Victoria for international students is estimated at AUD 29,710 per year by the Department of Home Affairs (2024-25 rates). Deakin estimates total living costs (including accommodation, food, transport, and health insurance) at AUD 24,000 to AUD 30,000 per year, depending on campus location. Students at the Geelong Waterfront campus face lower accommodation costs (AUD 180-250 per week) compared to Burwood (AUD 250-350 per week). The university’s Deakin Housing service guarantees on-campus accommodation for first-year international students who apply by November 30 each year.

Comparison with Other Australian Nursing Programs

Deakin’s nursing program competes directly with other major providers. Monash University (ranked 14th globally in QS Nursing 2025) has a higher global ranking but charges AUD 42,000 per year for international students. University of Technology Sydney (ranked 28th) charges AUD 41,500 per year. University of Melbourne (ranked 18th) offers a Master of Nursing Science (graduate entry) costing AUD 44,000 per year. Deakin’s tuition of AUD 38,400 represents a cost advantage of 8-14% compared to these peers, while maintaining a global ranking within the top 31.

Graduate employment rates are comparable. Monash reported 86.1% full-time employment within four months (2024 GOS), UTS reported 84.7%, and Deakin reported 85.3%. Deakin’s regional campus advantage is a differentiator: the Geelong Waterfront campus has a 91.2% employment rate, significantly higher than metropolitan campuses. The Warrnambool campus (regional Victoria) offers a 93.5% employment rate, driven by acute shortages in the Western District health services. Deakin also has the highest proportion of nursing graduates working in public hospitals (72.3%) among Victorian universities, compared to Monash (68.1%) and UTS (65.4%).

Research output in nursing is another metric. Deakin’s School of Nursing and Midwifery published 312 research papers in 2024, with 68% in Q1 journals (top 25% by impact factor). This is the third-highest output among Australian nursing schools, behind the University of Sydney (418 papers) and Monash University (356 papers). Deakin’s research focuses on chronic disease management, aged care, and rural health, aligning with Australia’s National Health Priority Areas.

Future Outlook: Workforce Demand and Policy Changes

The Australian Government’s 2024-25 Budget allocated AUD 1.2 billion for the National Nursing Workforce Strategy, aiming to increase the nursing workforce by 20,000 by 2028. The Department of Health and Aged Care projects a shortage of 85,000 nurses by 2030 if current trends continue. This demand drives strong employment prospects for Deakin graduates. The government’s Strengthening Medicare initiative, announced in December 2024, includes funding for 2,000 additional nursing positions in primary care settings, further expanding employment opportunities.

Policy changes affecting international nursing students include the Migration Strategy released in December 2024, which raised the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) age limit from 50 to 35 years. This change, effective July 2025, will affect students aged 36 or older at graduation. Deakin’s international nursing cohort in 2024 included 14% of students aged 36-45, who will need to transition directly to employer-sponsored visas or skilled migration pathways. The government also introduced higher English language requirements for permanent residency applications for nurses, requiring IELTS 7.5 (minimum 7.0 in each band) from July 2025, up from the current IELTS 7.0.

Technological changes in nursing education include Deakin’s adoption of virtual reality (VR) simulation for clinical training. The university invested AUD 3.2 million in 2024 to develop VR modules for emergency nursing, mental health assessment, and paediatric care. These modules are used for 15% of clinical training hours, reducing the need for physical placement slots. Deakin plans to expand VR training to 25% of clinical hours by 2027, contingent on ANMAC approval. This innovation may help address the national shortage of 12,000 clinical placement slots reported by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation in 2024.

FAQ

Q: What is the minimum IELTS score for Deakin’s Bachelor of Nursing in 2026? A: The minimum IELTS score is 7.0 overall, with no band below 7.0. This is consistent with the NMBA registration standard. Alternative tests accepted include PTE Academic (minimum 65, no skill below 65) and TOEFL iBT (minimum 94, with specific band requirements of 24 in listening, 24 in reading, 27 in writing, and 24 in speaking). These requirements are effective for all 2026 intakes.

Q: How many clinical placement hours are required in the Deakin nursing program? A: The program requires 840 hours of clinical placement across the three years, reduced from 880 hours in 2025. This change aligns with the revised ANMAC accreditation standards effective January 2026. Placements are distributed across six trimesters, with the longest placement (6 weeks) occurring in the final trimester in an acute care setting. Deakin guarantees a placement for every enrolled student.

Q: What is the employment rate and starting salary for Deakin nursing graduates? A: The 2024 Graduate Outcomes Survey reports that 85.3% of Deakin nursing graduates were employed full-time within four months of graduation, compared to the national average of 79.8%. The median full-time salary was AUD 73,500 in 2024, representing a 4.2% increase from 2023. Graduates from regional campuses (Geelong, Warrnambool) achieve higher employment rates of 91.2% and 93.5% respectively.

Q: What scholarships are available for international nursing students at Deakin? A: Deakin offers the Deakin International Scholarship (25% tuition fee reduction) for students with a minimum 70% average in their previous qualification. The Deakin Global Health Leaders Scholarship provides AUD 10,000 per year for students from developing countries. In 2024, 312 international nursing students received the International Scholarship, and 45 received the Global Health Leaders Scholarship. Applications are assessed automatically upon admission.

Q: Can international nursing graduates work in Australia after graduation? A: Yes. The Bachelor of Nursing is on the Skilled Occupation List (code 254412). Graduates are eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) allowing two years of work. From July 2024, nursing graduates can access a four-year post-study work period under the government’s extension for critical need occupations. Permanent residency pathways include the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189) and Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190), requiring a positive skills assessment from ANMAC.

References

Australian Government Department of Education. (2024). Higher Education Student Data: Nursing Course Completions 2024. Canberra: Australian Government.

Australian Government Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching (QILT). (2024). Graduate Outcomes Survey: Nursing Discipline Report 2024. Melbourne: QILT.

Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). (2025). QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025: Nursing. London: QS Quacquarelli Symonds.

Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). (2024). TEQSA Registration and Accreditation Report: Deakin University Bachelor of Nursing. Melbourne: TEQSA.

Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC). (2024). Accreditation Standards for Nursing Programs: Revised 2024 Edition. Canberra: ANMAC.