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).

New Zealand University Entrance: NCEA Level 3 (60 credits at level 3 and 20 credits at level 2 or higher) 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* - 14 credits at Level 1 or above

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 asses your application for academic entry equivalency.

* NZQA approved subjects

Due to Covid-19 disruption, if you studied and achieved NCEA Level 3 during 2020, you only need 12 credits per Level 3 subject (i.e. total of 36 credits). Literacy and Numeracy requirements remain the same.

English requirements

IELTS test - IELTS 6.5 Academic (no lower than 6.5 in all subtest).

LISTENING - 6.5
READING - 6.5
WRITING - 6.5
SPEAKING - 6.5

TOEFL Paper-based test (pBT) - Score of 590 (with an essay score of 5.5 TWE)

TOEFL Internet-based test (iBT) - Score of 79 or higher (with a writing score of 21)

Cambridge English Qualifications - C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency with a score of 176. No less than 169 in each skill

Pearson Test of English (Academic) - PTE (Academic) score of 58 with no band score lower than 50