Program Overview

Bachelor of Nursing

Overview

The Bachelor of Nursing is a three-year degree program that enables students to apply for registration as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing Council of New Zealand. The program combines theory with clinical experience and meets the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) Competencies for the Registered Nurse Scope of Practice.

What Will I Study

• Learn from experts in specialist facilities and help meet the increasing need for qualified registered nurses.
• Gain an understanding of the many opportunities available for a career in nursing and be challenged to go beyond traditional health and illness care and focus on creating a supportive environment for health and wellbeing.
• Explore the diverse environments and relevant cultural understandings that nurses work within, from hospitals, rest homes, and health clinics to private practices and community care agencies.

Pathway

• Ara frequently leads the sector for graduate outcomes. In 2020, we achieved a near-perfect result with 98.5% of graduates in employment within three months of completion (according to the most recent 'New Graduate Destinations' survey, conducted by Nurse Education in the Tertiary Sector at the end of November 2020).

Details

• Type: Degree
• Code: CH3730
• Next Starts: January 2026
• May be available for Study Visa?: Yes
• Credits: 360
• Level: 7
• Additional Equipment/Fees: $800 text books in Year 1, $325 equipment, indemnity insurance, expenses associated with clinical placement, vaccinations/immunisations, $240 Nursing Council for NZ exam fee Year 3.
• May be eligible for Studylink?: Yes
• May be eligible for Fees Free?: Yes
• Reference: CH3730-NURS

Fees for 2025

• Domestic Fee: $8,085 - $8,995 per year
• International Fee: $29,120 per year
• Indicative Student Services Fee: $370.50 per year

Academic Requirements

• New Zealand University Entrance: NCEA Level 3 which must include:
  • 14 credits at Level 3 in each of:
    • English or an approved literacy subject
    • Biology or physical education or chemistry
    • One other subject from the list of approved subjects
  • Numeracy: 10 credits at Level 1 or above comprised of co-requisite unit standard (US32406) or te pāngarau unit standard (US32412) or achievement standards
• OR New Zealand Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 4) Ara Pre Health Pathway or equivalent.
• OR if you have undertaken examinations other than NCEA (e.g. International Baccalaureate, Cambridge Examination), Ara will assess your application for academic entry equivalency.

Additional Requirements

• Personal Statement: Provide a personal statement outlining why you have chosen nursing as a career and describe personal qualities and relevant aspects from your life experiences which will enhance your application.
• Interview: You may be required to attend an interview if you meet academic entry criteria to ensure you will meet the Nursing Council of New Zealand requirements for registration on completion of the programme.
• Referee Reports: Provide evidence of good character and personal attributes via 2 referee report(s). One personal report (not a friend or relative) and one from your high school or most recent employer.
• First Aid Certificate: Provide a copy of a valid first aid certificate with evidence that this course is of at least 8 hours in length and includes NQF unit standards 6401 and 6402.

Consent to Disclosure of Information

• New Zealand Police Consent to Disclosure of Information form: Successful applicants will be required to complete a New Zealand Police Consent to Disclosure of Information form.

Alternative Requirements

• Equivalent Skills: If you show that you have equivalent skills for tertiary study gained through study, work and/or life experience, you may be able to gain alternative entry.
• Note: The number of courses you have to complete for this qualification may be reduced where you have relevant credits from previous study, or evidence of similar learning or experience in the workplace.

English Requirements

• English Proficiency: If English is not your first language, we want to make sure that you will be successful in your chosen programme of study.
• English Language Requirements: The English Language requirements for this programme are higher than the minimum set by NZQA, therefore; applicants who have achieved NCEA Level 3 University Entrance may be required to provide evidence of English Language skills.
• Overall IELTS 6.5 Academic:
  • 6.5 Listening
  • 6.5 Reading
  • 6.5 Writing
  • 6.5 Speaking

Selection Criteria

• Academic Entry Criteria: All applicants must meet academic entry criteria.
• Ranking: They are then ranked based on their personal statement and referee reports, with preference given to those who demonstrate evidence of meeting the following selection criteria to ensure that the requirements of the Nursing Council of New Zealand will be met:
  • Attributes for the profession: Institutional strategic directives including residency in the wider Canterbury area
  • Those who are not initially accepted but who meet entry criteria will be waitlisted in order of ranking.

Funding Assistance

• Financial Hardship: If you face unexpected financial hardship during your studies, we have several funds that you can apply for. These are designed to enable you to continue your current course of study.
• Scholarships and Awards: We also have a wide range of scholarships and awards that can provide financial assistance.

Core Courses

• Level 5:
  • Health and Wellness (BNHE502) - 15 credits
  • Interpersonal Relationships (BNIR501) - 15 credits
  • Management of Nursing Care 1 (BNMN501) - 15 credits
  • Management of Nursing Care 2 (BNMN502) - 15 credits
  • Nursing the Person with Long Term Health Challenges (BNNP502) - 15 credits
  • Nursing Science 1 (BNNS501) - 15 credits
  • Nursing Science 2 (BNNS502) - 15 credits
  • Professional Responsibility (BNPR501) - 15 credits
• Level 6:
  • Knowledge for Nursing Practice 2: Mental Health (BNKN601) - 15 credits
  • Knowledge for Nursing Practice 3: Physiological (BNKN602) - 15 credits
  • Nursing the Person with Altered Mental Health (BNNP601) - 30 credits
  • Nursing the Person with Altered Physical Health (BNNP602) - 45 credits
  • Wanaka Hauora (BNWH600) - 15 credits
• Level 7:
  • Contemporary Issues in Nursing and Health (BNCI701) - 10 credits
  • Family Whanau and Community Nursing (BNFW700) - 30 credits
  • Evidence for Nursing Practice (BNHR700) - 10 credits
  • Knowledge for Nursing Practice 4 Family (BNKN700) - 10 credits
  • Pharmacology for Nursing Practice (BNPH700) - 10 credits
  • Transition to Registered Nurse Practice (BNTR701) - 50 credits

Career Opportunities

• Graduates: Graduates of the Bachelor of Nursing are eligible to sit the NCNZ registration exam to become a registered nurse.
• Career Options: You can then choose to work in general nursing, or specialist fields such as intensive care, cancer nursing, women's health, mental health, community or elderly care.

Study Pathways

• Graduate Certificate in Nursing Practice: Once you are a registered nurse, advance your knowledge of additional clinical practice with specialisations included within the Graduate Certificate in Nursing Practice as part of your on-going professional development.