James Cook University

Bachelor of Nursing Science (Preregistration)

Undergraduate

Details

University Location Townsville or Cairns, Queensland
City Population 201,000
Student Population 13,000
Int'l Student Population 2,000
Main Campus Townsville
Program Campus Cairns or Townsville
Program Duration 3 years
Estimated Annual Tuition AUD$37,248 (2025 fees; subject to increase)
Semester Intake February
Next Available Intake 2026
Application Deadline No set deadline*
International Places No set limit

Overview

As a nursing student at James Cook University, you will benefit from JCU’s recognition as the Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Research, and the university’s role as the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Centre for Nursing and Midwifery Education and Research Capacity Building.

The JCU campuses are equipped with simulated hospital wards, lecture theatres, tutorial rooms, and laboratories for biophysical science classes. Clinical placements take place from first year of study.

Program

In the Bachelor of Nursing (Preregistration), you’ll learn how to assess clients, communicate with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, plan and implement nursing interventions, and manage and evaluate nursing care. As a JCU nursing student, you’ll benefit from extensive supervised professional practice and clinical experience in real world settings from year one.

JCU’s unique Bachelor of Nursing (Preregistration) degree will enable you to gain distinctive rural, regional and tropical nursing skills that will set you apart from your peers. This 3-year, full-time course focuses on nursing in Australia’s northern tropical context. It will prepare you for work as an RN in multiple settings from large metropolitan hospitals to rural and isolated practice clinics.

Your transition to clinical practice is supported by case-based learning, well-equipped clinical simulation facilities and 880 hours of applied clinical practice. The course has a strong focus on nursing in northern tropical context and it also prepares you for work in diverse settings, from large metropolitan hospitals to rural and isolated practice clinics.

Admission Requirements

Completed high school diploma
You must have completed a high school diploma. A minimum GPA of 52% in the best six Ontario Grade 12 subjects. If you have completed post-secondary studies at the college and/or university level, those grades will also be considered and credit may be granted toward some JCU nursing subjects.

Prerequisites
You must also have completed the prerequisite subject of English at the high-school level. Biology, chemistry and any high school studies in mathematics are recommended.

Canadian college nursing graduates and Canadian university graduates with a general bachelor’s degree are welcome to apply. James Cook University will assess a student’s application for credit for previous studies to determine whether past subjects are equivalent to JCU nursing subjects, and credit may be granted toward some JCU nursing subjects.

Admission Timeline

*While there is no set application deadline, you are encouraged to apply at least 6 months prior to the program start date.

1/2

“…great opportunities for placements”

JCU is an amazing campus. People here are amazing and I have made many friends. I wish the school was better at communicating. JCU nursing has so many amazing professors, and great opportunities for placements. I wish more of my classes were in person instead of prerecorded lectures online. Be prepared for the cost of placement. I was unaware that I could be placed anywhere in Australia for placement. While it provides you with great opportunities, it is also costly to travel to them.

JCU Australia Isabella R
Bachelor of Nursing Science (Preregistration)
James Cook University, 2024

“The buildings are quite new and everything is well kept”

James Cook University is a very welcoming university. They are a smaller university with smaller classes that provide students with the opportunity to get to know their professors. The buildings are quite new and everything is well kept. They have a free lunch every Wednesday which is pretty cool. The on campus gym is not great, and isn't very clean so I recommend getting a membership elsewhere. I'm in nursing so the simulation rooms allow further learning. The instructors are ... Read More

JCU Australia Ameris W
Bachelor of Nursing Science (Preregistration)
James Cook University, 2024