Bachelor of Nursing

This three-year degree programme will enable you to apply for registration as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing Council of New Zealand.

You will 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.

This programme is highly regarded nationally and combines theory with clinical experience and meets the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) Competencies for the Registered Nurse Scope of Practice.

We will give you the opportunity to 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.

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).

If you have an undergraduate degree you can fast track completion of this qualification, together with a Master of Health Sciences from the University of Canterbury, in just two years. Find out more about the combined Bachelor of Nursing (Articulated with University of Canterbury Master of Health Sciences Professional Practice (Nursing) programme.

Read FAQs about nursing study and careers (PDF)

Graduates of the Bachelor of Nursing are eligible to sit the NCNZ registration exam to become a registered nurse.

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.

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.

Learn from experts in specialist facilities and help meet the increasing need for qualified registered nurses.