Program Overview

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Bachelor of Nursing – BN

The Bachelor of Nursing is a 3-year full-time degree consisting of 360 credits from a ‘set menu’ of courses. Individual courses are each worth 15, 30 or 45 credits. A full-time workload is 120 credits per year; 60 credits each semester. Each 15 credits equals about 10 hours of study per week, with a full-time workload being 40 hours per week.

Type of Qualification

• Bachelor's degree

Level of Study

• Undergraduate study
• NZQF level 7

Time to Complete

• 3 years full-time (360 credits)

Where You Can Study

• Wellington campus
• Manawatū campus (Palmerston North)

International Students

• Not open to international students

Key Dates

• Admission application due dates
• Course enrolment dates for accepted students
• Semester dates

Study a Bachelor of Nursing – BN

Graduates of Massey's Bachelor of Nursing are dynamic, adaptable critical thinkers. The degree is structured with ‘blended learning’, comprising of on-campus and online lectures, compulsory on-campus clinical labs, clinical placements, independent study and examinations. During the course of your qualification, you will attend clinical placements totalling a minimum of 1000 hours across 3 years. This is in a range of health care settings including aged residential care, emergency medicine, medical, mental health, primary care services and surgical.

What is a Nurse?

• A professional in the healthcare field who combines the art of caring and compassion with scientific skills and knowledge.
• A professional who leads care for people who are facing urgent or ongoing health issues.
• An educator of people on the issues of healthy living and wellness.
• A professional who undertakes all aspects of assessment and treatment in partnership with other health professionals.

More Compelling Reasons to Join Us in Nursing

• Our graduates are sought after and work ready.
• Massey’s nursing qualification is taught by the largest number of highly qualified nursing lecturers in the country.
• We offer our undergraduate nursing degree on 2 different campuses – Manawatū and Wellington. We work with multiple stakeholders in healthcare.
• Our contemporary, research-led qualifications are approved by the New Zealand Nursing Council.

Nursing Simulation Suites

We offer contemporary clinical simulation in both our Manawatū and Wellington clinical suites. Each suite has a mock hospital setting and 2-way observation spaces. They also have standard nursing equipment for hospital and community work. You will learn and practice nursing skills through role-play, case studies and simulations using state-of-the-art manikins.

Empathy Labs

You will participate in Empathy Labs by wearing special suits. These simulate what it's like to attempt normal daily tasks after suffering a stroke, or the restrictions of declining health.

Further Study

Many of our Bachelor of Nursing graduates continue with their studies after qualifying as registered nurses by undertaking a master’s degree in nursing. A number of our Master of Nursing graduates have successfully gained registration as nurse practitioners with prescribing rights. We can also offer you a PhD in nursing.

A BN is a Good Fit if You:

• Enjoy working with people and want to make a difference in someone’s life every day
• Enjoy health and science and like asking questions and solving problems
• Are self-driven, curious and well organised
• Want to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals, families/whānau, community and the nation.

Entry Requirements

Admission to Massey

All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.

Specific Requirements

This is a ‘selected entry’ qualification. This means as well as applying you will need to provide additional material as part of your application.

• A curriculum vitae of approximately 3 pages, which should include your academic and work history
• Contact details for 2 character referees. Your referees must not be family or friends. One referee should be a confidential report from your school or institution (if applying within 2 years of leaving secondary school or a private training establishment). The other should be an employer or community group representative. If you have not studied in the last 2 years a second professional referee is required. In some circumstances we may request an additional referee.
• A completed vetting service request and consent form for a New Zealand Police check – a criminal record check under the Criminal Records (Clean Slate) Act 2004
• A current police certificate from any overseas countries you have lived in for 12 months or more in the last 10 years
• A completed Health and Disability Declaration.

Where you have indicated any health issue or disability on the Declaration form, you may be asked to supply further information.

You may be required to attend an interview.

Inherent Requirements

Inherent requirements are essential skills and attributes successful students will demonstrate to complete nursing courses while preserving the academic integrity of Massey University and New Zealand Nursing council’s learning, assessment, and accreditation processes.

Registration as a Nurse

To become registered as a nurse in New Zealand you must complete and pass your Bachelor of Nursing degree. You will then be eligible to apply to sit the NCNZ registration exam. On successful completion of the registration exam you will be sent the documents and invoice for your annual practicing certificate (APC). All registered nurses are required by law to have a current APC to practice as a registered nurse in New Zealand.

English Language Requirements

You need to demonstrate your ability to communicate and comprehend English sufficiently to protect the health and safety of the public. If English is not your first language you must provide your results in an Academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test or an approved alternative English Language test. You must have achieved at least 6.5 across all bands with no band less than 6.5 (or equivalent score in an approved alternative English Language test) within the preceding 2 years.

Campus

Nursing is available on Massey's Manawatū and Wellington campuses. As places are limited we encourage you to apply early. Should a campus reach its maximum number of places you will be waitlisted and contacted regarding other options.

Application Closing Date

Applications close on 31 January of the year of study. Late applications that are complete may be considered if places allow.

Additional Costs

Participation in this qualification incurs further associated costs. These can be in excess of $2,000. These include but are not limited to:

• Uniform
• Equipment
• Textbooks
• Travel to and from placements
• First Aid Certificate
• Immunity Screening

On successful completion of the qualification, in order to become a registered nurse, students will need to pay for:

• NCNZ State examination State final examinations
• NCNZ APC (Annual practicing certificate) Annual practising certificates

Travelling to Clinical Placements

You will need to travel to and from clinical placements throughout the qualification. These placements vary in shift times as you progress. It is important to consider how you will travel and what level of driver licence you have. If you do not have a full driver licence you will need to apply for an exemption to NZTA Waka Kotahi to travel outside of your limitations for each occurrence. Each application involves a fee.

Prior Learning, Credit and Exemptions

Transfers

If you are a nursing student from another institution wishing to transfer into the Bachelor of Nursing at Massey, please contact us prior to making any application. You will need to provide an academic transcript from your current provider along with a reference from the Head of School/qualification, number of clinical hours completed, and the course outlines (prescription and learning outcomes). Applications for transfer need to be submitted no later than 1 October for the following academic year.

Structure of the Bachelor of Nursing

The Bachelor of Nursing is a parts-based qualification. That means you must complete the first part before moving to the second, etc. There are 3 parts in total.

Classroom sessions and clinical experiences may need to be undertaken outside of normal semester times and/or over the summer period. Travel to clinical placements will be required, and is at your own expense.

Typical Pattern for the Bachelor of Nursing

Core courses These courses are a compulsory part of your qualification.

Blocks of clinical practice Integrated into your courses each year.

Year One

• Hauora Tangata: Foundations of Māori Health (fully online)
• Professional Nursing I (on campus)
• Nursing Practice I: Foundations of Care (on campus)
• Nursing Practice II: Foundations of Practice (on campus; 30 credits)
• Social Determinants of Health (fully online)
• Human Bioscience: Normal Body Function (fully online)
• Applied Sciences for Health Professionals (fully online)
• includes a 3-week clinical practice block of 120 hours
  Year Two

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• Professional Nursing II (fully online)
• Evidence-based Nursing Practice (fully online)
• Nursing Practice III: Integrated Care Part A (on campus; 30 credits)
• Nursing Practice III: Integrated Care Part B (on campus; 30 credits)
• Human Bioscience: Impaired Body Function (fully online)
• Pharmacology (fully online)
• and include two 3-week clinical practice blocks of 120 hours each; and one 2-week clinical practice block of 80 hours
  Year Three

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• Professional Nursing III (fully online)
• Nursing Practice IV: Acute Care (45 credits) (blended learning)
• Preparing for Professional Excellence (fully online)
• Nursing Practice V: Pre-Graduate (blended learning; 45 credits)
• includes three 3-week clinical practice blocks of 120 hours each.
• includes one 9-week continuous clinical practice block of 360 hours.

Courses are each worth 15 credits, unless otherwise indicated

Courses and Specialisations

Courses and specialisations

Key Terms

Courses

• Each qualification has its own specific set of courses. Some universities call these papers. You enrol in courses after you get accepted into Massey.

Course code

• Each course is numbered using 6 digits. The fourth number shows the level of the course. For example, in course , the fourth number is a 2, so it is a 200-level course (usually studied in the second year of full-time study).

Credits

• Each course is worth a number of credits. You combine courses (credits) to meet the total number of credits needed for your qualification.

Specialisations

• Some qualifications let you choose what subject you'd like to specialise in. Your major or endorsement is what you will take the majority of your courses in.

Credit Summary

• 360 credits
• Part One compulsory 100‑level courses – 120 credits
• Part Two compulsory 200‑level courses – 120 credits
• Part Three compulsory 300‑level courses – 120 credits
• At least 1000 hours of approved clinical practice and associated reports.

This is a parts-based qualification. This means there are regulations around completion of Part One before progressing to Part Two etc.

Course Planning Key

Prerequisites

• Courses that need to be completed before moving onto a course at the next level. For example, a lot of 200-level courses have 100-level prerequisite courses.

Corequisites

• Courses that must be completed at the same time as another course are known as corequisite courses.

Restrictions

• Some courses are restricted against each other because their content is similar. This means you can only choose one of the offered courses to study and credit to your qualification.

Part One (Choose 120 credits from)

• Course code: Hauora Tangata: Foundations of Māori Health Credits: 15 credits
• An introduction to understanding Māori health within Aotearoa/New Zealand.
• View full course details
• Course code: Professional Nursing I Credits: 15 credits
• A focus on professional identity and the context of nursing in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• View full course details
• Course code: Nursing Practice I: Foundations of Care Credits: 15 credits
• An introduction to the experience and reflection on beginning knowledge, skills and attributes within simulated nursing settings.
• Restrictions:
• View full course details
• Course code: Nursing Practice II: Foundations of Practice Credits: 30 credits
• Further development of the experience and reflection on knowledge, skills and attributes within simulated and placement settings.
• View full course details
• Course code: Human Bioscience: Normal Body Function Credits: 15 credits
• Human body structure and function (anatomy and physiology), including relevant concepts of homeostasis and metabolism and development throughout the lifespan.
• Restrictions: ,
• View full course details
• Course code: Applied Sciences for Health Professionals Credits: 15 credits
• An introduction to the basic scientific concepts that are relevant to the maintenance of human and environmental health.
• View full course details
• Course code: Social Determinants of Health Credits: 15 credits
• This course explores the social determinants of health, the complex range of social, cultural and economic interactions that influence individual and population health and help explain health disparities amongst populations.
• View full course details

Part Two (Choose 120 credits from)

• Course code: Professional Nursing II Credits: 15 credits
• Explore in more depth an emerging professional identity and the complexities of the nursing context in Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Restrictions:
• View full course details
• Course code: Evidence-based Nursing Practice Credits: 15 credits
• An exploration of the relevance and impact of evidence-based nursing on practice.
• Restrictions:
• View full course details
• Course code: Nursing Practice III: Integrated Care Part A Credits: 30 credits
• Learners will experience and reflect on integrated knowledge, skills and attributes within simulated and multiple placement settings with a focus on mental health and long-term conditions.
• Prerequisites: and andRestrictions: and
• View full course details
• Course code: Nursing Practice III: Integrated Care Part B Credits: 30 credits
• Learners will experience and reflect on integrated knowledge, skills and attributes within simulated and multiple placement settings with a focus on community health nursing.
• Prerequisites: and andRestrictions: and
• View full course details
• Course code: Human Bioscience: Impaired Body Function Credits: 15 credits
• An examination of the aetiology of disease and alteration of health status and the relevant scientific clinical tests, including the role of micro-organisms in disease processes.
• Prerequisites: ( and ) OR (; and or or
• View full course details
• Course code: Pharmacology Credits: 15 credits
• The study of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacogenetics; drug groups; principles of adverse drug effects; and drug interactions of prescription and non-prescription medication.
• Prerequisites: and
• View full course details

Part Three (Choose 120 credits from)

• Course code: Professional Nursing III Credits: 15 credits
• Advancement of a developing nursing professional identity within the complexities of the global community.
• Restrictions: and
• View full course details
• Course code: Nursing Practice IV: Acute Care Credits: 45 credits
• An advanced experience and reflection on knowledge, skills and attributes focused on acute care to care for individuals and whānau within simulated and multiple placement settings.
• Restrictions: and
• View full course details
• Course code: Preparing for Professional Excellence Credits: 15 credits
• An opportunity for students to consolidate learning from practice and theory to further their professional identity, sense of agency and contribution to the global nursing community.
• Restrictions: and
• View full course details
• Course code: Nursing Practice V: Pre-Graduate Credits: 45 credits
• Students begin the transition to registered nurse practice and meet Nursing Council of New Zealand competencies.
• Prerequisites: andRestrictions: and
• View full course details

Fees and Scholarships

2026 Tuition Fees

• Domestic students: $8,761
• International students: Not applicable

Tuition fees are estimates only. The exact fees charged will depend on which courses you select at the time of enrolment. The estimates are for full-time study (120 credits). Fees are in New Zealand dollars and include Goods and Services Tax (GST).

Course Fees

You can view fees for the courses that make up your qualification on the course details pages.

Student Loans (StudyLink) and Fees Free Scheme

You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.

Scholarship and Award Opportunities

• Alfred George East Scholarship
• He Oha Puiaki - Massey University Māori First Year Scholarship
• Massey University Undergraduate First Year Scholarship – School Leavers
• McEwan Pacific Student Scholarship
• New Zealand Seniors Aged Care Futures Grant
• OneChoice Futures Grant
• Te Pitomata Grants

Careers and Job Opportunities

Nursing is one of the most rewarding careers, as it is focused on supporting people, families and communities to manage a wide range of health challenges. Nurses are involved in all areas of health care and can choose to specialise in particular areas, such as intensive care, community mental health, aged care, or child and adolescent nursing. They can also become specialists in particular conditions, such as diabetes, respiratory care or cancer nursing. Nurses can also choose to develop careers in health management, research and teaching.

Here are just a few examples of where you can work:

Primary and Community Health Care:

• general practice
• Māori health services
• hospice
• district nursing
• community mental health.

Hospital-Based Care:

• neonatal units
• medical and surgical wards
• emergency departments
• intensive care
• paediatrics
• acute mental health services.

Population-Based Services:

• public health
• schools.

Specialty Practice:

• mental health
• aged care
• child health
• family health
• rural and remote nursing.

What Our Students Say

“Massey University has not only provided a foundation for my future in nursing, but it has also given me the opportunity to inspire and bring hope to my own whānau and friends.”

Acacia Thompson

Ngāti Wai

Waitemata DHB, Registered Nurse, Acute Orthopaedics

Bachelor of Nursing

“The entrepreneurial spirit and passion to make sure students get the best out of their study, really attracted me to Massey.”

George Truebridge

Graduate nurse in orthopaedic surgical ward, Palmerston North Hospital

Bachelor of Nursing

“The lecturers here at Massey are amazing. During my first and some of my second year we did a lot of learning online; having the support from the lecturers - and being able to reach out for help and to ask any questions - was really good.”

Hinerangi Nikora

Rangitāne, Ngāti Kahungungu

Bachelor of Nursing

Accreditations and Rankings

Nursing Council of New Zealand

Our nursing qualifications are nationally and internationally recognised and approved by the Nursing Council of New Zealand. Upon completion you can apply for registration as a registered nurse with the Nursing Council of New Zealand.

QS Ranking - Nursing

Massey nursing is ranked in the world's top 225 universities by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).

ShanghaiRanking - Nursing

Massey University is ranked in the top 200 universities in the world in the subject area of nursing by the ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects.

Related Study Options

Master of Clinical Practice (Nursing) – MClinPrac

Qualification

Credits

• 240

Location

• Distance and online

Are you passionate about helping people? Massey’s Master of Clinical Practice (Nursing) is a vocationally focused qualification that is a postgraduate pathway to becoming a registered nurse.

Master of Nursing – MN

Qualification

Credits

• 240

Location

• Distance and online

Massey’s Master of Nursing prepares you for a range of clinical leadership roles in specialty areas. Develop your advanced knowledge and skills in your chosen field through a mix of theoretical and clinical courses.

Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing – PGCertNurs

Qualification

Credits

• 60

Location

• Distance and online

Take the next step in your nursing career. Massey’s Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing provides registered nurses with the knowledge needed to develop their professional practice within a clinical specialty.

Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing – PGDipNurs

Qualification

Credits

• 120

Location

• Distance and online

Keen to take the next step in your nursing career? The Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (PGDipNurs) will advance your practice and prepare you for further development towards senior nursing roles.