Here is the ATAR score that you will need to study nursing for each university in Queensland. Nursing is an intense field filled with both anatomy and physiology as well as the intricacies and art of patient care. The degree is also very competitive due to high demand from many students across the state and country, and increasing popularity from year to year. Overall, entry requirements for nursing can vary considerably across universities across the state.
As a result, it can be difficult to state a definitive score for entry, though in general you should aim for an ATAR between 60 and 90.
As you can see, this is a large range so below we’ve broken down the ATAR score requirements you’ll need to study nursing in Queensland for each university. The most common undergraduate nursing degree is the Bachelor of Nursing, offered by several Queensland universities.
University of Queensland ATAR For Nursing
The University of Queensland offers a 3-year Bachelor of Nursing at their St Lucia campus. A key aspect of UQ’s Bachelor of Nursing is an emphasis on practical experience, and real-world experience begins from the first year of the degree. Here are the ATAR scores required to study nursing at UQ for 2022:
Bachelor of Nursing
| Without Adjustments | With Adjustments | |
| Highest: | 99.95 | 99.95 |
| Median: | 91.30 | 92.00 |
| Lowest: | 80.80 | 84.80 |
As you can see, the median unadjusted ATAR a student had that was accepted into the Bachelor of Nursing degree at the University of Queensland in 2022 was 91.30. If your goal is to become a nursing student at UQ, we recommend aiming for this goal, or even above to ensure that you remain competitive for future years as cutoffs continue to change. UQ offers 2 bonus points if you are studying Specialist Maths, and 2 bonus points if you are studying a language other than English. Read more about their adjustment scheme here. The lowest adjusted ATAR accepted into nursing was 84.80.
QUT ATAR For Nursing
If you want to study nursing at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT), you will also need a strong ATAR. In fact, the lowest adjusted ATAR accepted into QUT’s nursing degree was slightly above UQ’s in 2022. Like UQ, the degree runs for 3 years full-time. QUT’s nursing degree also has an emphasis on clinical experience with over 840 hours scheduled over the duration of the degree. Here are the ATAR scores required for nursing at QUT:
Bachelor of Nursing
| Without Adjustments | With Adjustments | |
| Highest: | 98.30 | 99.95 |
| Median: | 89.30 | 90.25 |
| Lowest: | 80.70 | 86.25 |
The median unadjusted ATAR needed for entry into QUT’s Bachelor of Nursing was 89.30 in 2022. We recommend aiming for this goal, or above it, to ensure you have the best chance of gaining admission into QUT’s Bachelor of Nursing as selection ranks continue to change each year. QUT offers several adjustment schemes and bonus points, and the lowest adjusted ATAR accepted of 86.25 was higher than UQ’s. You can receive 2 bonus points for studying Specialist Maths, 2 for Physics, 2 for Aerospace Systems or Engineering, and 2 for a language other than English. Read more here.
Griffith ATAR For Nursing
Griffith University also offers a 3-year Bachelor of Nursing like UQ and QUT. Like these universities, entry into nursing at Griffith University also requires a high ATAR score though it tends to be slightly lower than UQ and QUT. Here are the scores to study nursing at Griffith in 2022:
Bachelor of Nursing (Nathan)
| Without Adjustments | With Adjustments | |
| Highest: | 99.55 | 99.95 |
| Median: | 83.30 | 89.30 |
| Lowest: | 78.15 | 86.15 |
The median unadjusted ATAR for admission into Griffith’s Bachelor of Nursing at their Nathan campus was 83.30. You should aim to meet or surpass this if your goal is to study nursing at Griffith Nathan. In 2022, the lowest adjusted ATAR to gain admission was 86.15. Griffith offers adjustment points for several subjects including Specialist Maths, Chemistry and Physics. You can read more here.
Bachelor of Nursing (Gold Coast)
| Without Adjustments | With Adjustments | |
| Highest: | 98.30 | 99.95 |
| Median: | 85.80 | 92.95 |
| Lowest: | 78.80 | 86.05 |
The median unadjusted ATAR for admission into Griffith’s Bachelor of Nursing at their Gold Coast campus was 85.80. You should aim to meet or surpass this if your goal is to study nursing at Griffith Gold Coast. In 2022, the lowest adjusted ATAR to gain admission was 86.05. Griffith offers adjustment points for several subjects including Specialist Maths, Chemistry and Physics. You can read more here.
ACU ATAR For Nursing
The Australian Catholic University (ACU) offers a 3-year Bachelor of Nursing degree at its Brisbane campus. Entry remains competitive, though the ATAR score required is lower than other universities we’ve mentioned so far. Here are the scores to study nursing at ACU in 2022:
Bachelor of Nursing
| Without Adjustments | With Adjustments | |
| Highest: | 98.95 | 99.95 |
| Median: | 78.15 | 86.65 |
| Lowest: | 67.15 | 78.05 |
The median unadjusted ATAR for admission into ACU’s Bachelor of Nursing in Brisbane was 78.15. You should aim to meet or surpass this if your goal is to study nursing at ACU. In 2022, students were accepted into this degree if they achieved an adjusted ATAR of 78.05 or above at ACU’s Brisbane campus. Like the other universities, ACU offers adjustment points for several subjects and other factors which you can read about here.
USQ Nursing
The University of Southern Queensland (USQ) offers a Bachelor of Nursing degree. The duration of 3 years matches the other degrees from the universities above. Entry remains competitive, though the ATAR score required tends to be on the lower end. Here are the scores to study nursing at USQ Ipswich in 2022:
Bachelor of Nursing
| Without Adjustments | With Adjustments | |
| Highest: | 96.00 | 99.95 |
| Median: | 76.00 | 76.00 |
| Lowest: | 56.75 | 65.75 |
The median unadjusted ATAR for admission into USQ’s Bachelor of Nursing was 76.00. You should aim to meet or surpass this if your goal is to study nursing at USQ. Like the other universities, USQ offers adjustment points for several subjects and other factors which you can read about here. In 2022, the lowest adjusted ATAR to achieve a spot in their Bachelor of Nursing was 65.75.
USC ATAR For Nursing
The University of the Sunshine Coast’s Bachelor of Nursing Science degree is another popular choice for prospective nurses and requires a competitive ATAR score. The degree is slightly longer than the others we have seen with a 3.3 year duration. Here are the scores to study nursing at the University of the Sunshine Coast:
Bachelor of Nursing Science
| Without Adjustments | With Adjustments | |
| Highest: | 97.85 | 99.95 |
| Median: | 77.75 | 82.70 |
| Lowest: | 62.30 | 64.30 |
The median unadjusted ATAR for admission into USC’s Bachelor of Nursing Science was 77.75 which you should aim to meet or surpass if your goal is to study nursing at the University of the Sunshine Coast. Like the other universities, USC has an adjustment scheme which you can read about here. The lowest adjusted ATAR a student achieved for entry into USC’s nursing degree was 64.30.
JCU Nursing
James Cook University, located in Townsville, offers a Bachelor of Nursing Science degree and is another popular choice for prospective nurses from Queensland. Like many of the others degrees we have seen, this one is 3 years in duration. Here are the ATAR scores to study nursing at James Cook University:
Bachelor of Nursing Science
| Without Adjustments | With Adjustments | |
| Highest: | 97.40 | 99.95 |
| Median: | 75.40 | 77.25 |
| Lowest: | 60.45 | 66.45 |
The median unadjusted ATAR for admission into JCU’s Bachelor of Nursing Science was 75.40 which you should aim to meet or surpass if your goal is to study nursing at James Cook University. The lowest adjusted ATAR to gain admission was 66.45. You can read about their adjustment scheme here.
Southern Cross Nursing
Southern Cross University also offers a Bachelor of Nursing degree and is another popular choice for prospective nurses from Queensland. The duration of their nursing degree is 3 years full-time. The ATAR required for admission into Southern Cross University’s Bachelor of Nursing is 70, and the university also offers bonus points through their adjustment scheme. Read more here.
Conclusion
Nursing is an incredibly rewarding career that is well worth the effort to achieve. However, that doesn’t mean it’s easy to gain entry. Nursing is one of the more difficult degrees to gain entry into from high school, though it is still definitely achievable. If you’re considering studying nursing, our advice is to not get too caught up on the ATAR cutoffs and requirements. At the end of the day, your goal in Year 12 should be to get the best possible ATAR that you can achieve. This will give you the best chance of getting into a nursing degree (or any degree) of your choice. To estimate your ATAR, check out our ATAR Calculator.
Even if you don’t achieve the required ATAR, you can still definitely study nursing and achieve your goal of becoming a nurse. Many students opt to undertake an undergraduate ‘bridging’ course before aiming to enter into a nursing degree via postgraduate entry pathways. Some students also opt to take an Enrolled Nurse (EN) diploma as a stepping stone to a Registered Nurse (RN) degree.
If you or your child needs assistance or support during Year 12, our exceptional and compassionate tutors who have been in your shoes themselves are always willing to support you in reaching your academic goals. Enrol now for a completely free trial session with zero commitments. Thanks for reading, and best of luck with your studies!
