Bachelor of Nursing with Honours

Why study the Bachelor of Nursing with Honours at UNE?

This course is designed for eligible graduates of the Bachelor of Nursing degree and equivalent degrees. Successful completion of the program will provide graduates with a sound basis for subsequent leadership in nursing practice, research and education as well as enabling them to progress to higher degree research at masters or PhD levels.

This program provides an opportunity for students, under guidance of a supervisor, to plan and implement a research project in the area of nursing practice. Knowledge and experience gained by students through completing this program will contribute to the knowledge base for nursing practice.

The program of study combines a research project with course work. The course work comprises 24 credit points of research preparation units. The remainder of the program is devoted to completion of a research project and the preparation of a thesis.

This program may be undertaken part time concurrently with any new graduate transitional program offered by various hospitals.

Career Opportunities

Nursing in either the clinical healthcare setting or as a nurse academic in a tertiary education.

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Degree Snapshot

DURATION

1 Year Full-time
2 Years Part-time

FEES

CSP
International

2018 STUDY OPTIONS
Armidale

Trimester 1, Online
Trimester 1, On Campus
Trimester 2, Online
Trimester 3, Online

Official Abbreviation BN(Hons)
Course Type Bachelor Honours
Commencing
Location Admission Period Mode of Study
Armidale Trimester 1 Online
Armidale Trimester 1 On Campus
Armidale Trimester 2 Online
Armidale Trimester 3 Online
Course Duration
  • 1 Year Full-time
  • 2 Years Part-time
Fees CSP / International
Total Credit Points 48
Intensive Schools

Mandatory intensive schools may be a requirement of some of the units in this course. See Unit Catalogue for specific requirements.

Entry Requirements

A candidate shall:

(a) hold an AQF Level 7 Bachelor of Nursing degree or equivalent relevant AQF Level 7 degree at a grade point average 5.5 or better overall in the final two years of the undergraduate degree; or

(b) if applicants do not satisfy the normal entry requirements but have a demonstrated grade point average 6.5 in only the final year of a relevant AQF Level 7 degree; or

(c) if their application is based on other factors including alternative degrees/qualifications, plus recent registered nurse work experience that is relevant to the proposed research focus or involvement in research, they may be admitted at the discretion of the head of school; and

(d) at least one of the following criteria must be met:

(i) English is the applicant's first language; or

(ii) an IELTS (Academic) overall score of at least 6.5 with no sub-band score less than 6.0 (or equivalent TOEFL score of at least 91 in the Internet-based Text with not less than 22 in the written component and 20 in Listening, Speaking and Reading); or

(iii) successful completion of an advanced EAP program at the University of New England English Language Centre.

Additional Requirements

Inherent Requirements: Students must meet the Inherent Requirements in order to complete this course.

Students must provide certified copies of the following additional information:

(i) current academic transcript of all previous study not undertaken at UNE;

(ii) statement of preliminary focus, scope and approach of research (up to two pages). Examples will be available from the School of Health website;

(iii) proof of change of name if your qualifications are in a name other than the name under which you are applying;

(iv) proof of English Language proficiency if your studies were taken in a language other than English. The English language entry requirement is an IELTS (Academic) overall score of 6.5 (with no band less than 6) or equivalent. TOEFL score of sat least 91 in the Internet-based text with not less than 22 in the written component and 20 in Listening, Speaking and Reading; and

(v) a letter of support from clinical manager for your chosen area of research, if requested by the School.

Advanced Standing

Candidates are referred to the University Policy on Advanced Standing.

Students who have successfully completed work-based research projects and associated reports may be eligible for Advanced Standing.

Advanced standing shall not be granted for HLTH499.

Academic Colours

Peony Red (BCC 37)

Further Information

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These course rules & plans are ONLY to be used if you commenced, transferred or changed versions in the Bachelor of Nursing with Honours in 2018.

Admission to Candidature

A candidate shall:
(a) hold an AQF Level 7 Bachelor of Nursing degree or equivalent relevant AQF Level 7 degree at a grade point average 5.5 or better overall in the final two years of the undergraduate degree; or
(b) if applicants do not satisfy the normal entry requirements but have a demonstrated grade point average 6.5 in only the final year of a relevant AQF Level 7 degree; or
(c) if their application is based on other factors including alternative degrees/qualifications, plus recent registered nurse work experience that is relevant to the proposed research focus or involvement in research, they may be admitted at the discretion of the head of school; and
(d) at least one of the following criteria must be met:
(i) English is the applicant's first language; or
(ii) an IELTS (Academic) overall score of at least 6.5 with no sub-band score less than 6.0 (or equivalent TOEFL score of at least 91 in the Internet-based Text with not less than 22 in the written component and 20 in Listening, Speaking and Reading); or
(iii) successful completion of an advanced EAP program at the University of New England English Language Centre.

Additional Requirements
Inherent Requirements

Students must meet the Inherent Requirements in order to complete this course.

Students must provide certified copies of the following additional information:
(i) current academic transcript of all previous study not undertaken at UNE;
(ii) statement of preliminary focus, scope and approach of research (up to two pages). Examples will be available from the School of Health website;
(iii) proof of change of name if your qualifications are in a name other than the name under which you are applying;
(iv) proof of English Language proficiency if your studies were taken in a language other than English. The English language entry requirement is an IELTS (Academic) overall score of 6.5 (with no band less than 6) or equivalent. TOEFL score of sat least 91 in the Internet-based text with not less than 22 in the written component and 20 in Listening, Speaking and Reading; and
(iv) a letter of support from clinical manager for your chosen area of research, if requested by the School.

Advanced Standing

Candidates are referred to the University Policy on Advanced Standing.
Students who have successfully completed work-based research projects and associated reports may be eligible for advanced standing.
Advanced standing shall not be granted for HLTH499.

Period of Candidature

The period of candidature shall be:
(a) one year as a full-time candidate;
(b) up to two years as a part-time candidate.

Course Requirements

To qualify for the award a candidate for the degree of Bachelor of Nursing with Honours shall complete a combination of advanced coursework units and a 24 credit points thesis to the total value of 48 credit points. At least 36 credit points must be at 400-level.

Program of Study

Candidates shall complete an approved program of study as outlined in the Course Schedule comprising:

Course Structure Credit Points
Core Units 36 cps
Listed Units 12 cps
Total 48 cps

To view complete Program of Study click here

Award of Degree

Candidates who meet the course requirements shall be awarded the Bachelor of Nursing with Honours.

Classes of Honours

There shall be three classes of honours, namely Class I, Class II and Class III. Class II shall have two divisions.
An exceptionally distinguished candidate who has been awarded Honours Class I may be awarded a University Medal.

Quality in Bachelor Honours Degrees

All students as well as all individuals undertaking a supervisory role for bachelor honours students will be familiar with the responsibilities associated with research supervisors and students, the research examination procedures and procedures for handling any difficulties that might arise during supervision, and the consequences of failing in their obligations. These responsibilities are outlined in School of Health Honours Handbook and available on the School website.

Appointment of Supervisor

Students are appointed a research supervisor, a co-supervisor may be appointed. Normally, students meet with their supervisor fortnightly at the start of their program. Meetings with their supervisor will become less frequent as the program progresses. Meetings may be in person, online, video conference or telephone conference. From time to time students may be requested to attend supervision meetings in person.

Thesis

(a) On completion of the course of advanced study and research, the student shall present for examination a thesis, embodying an independent investigation on a topic approved by the supervisor, in a form approved by the School. The results of the student’s work shall make a sound contribution to the discipline of nursing.
(b) Depending on the topic under investigation, the approval of the relevant Ethics Committee must be sought if required.
(c) Except with the permission of the School, on the recommendation of the supervisor, the thesis shall not exceed 15,000 words of text, excluding appendices.
(d) Candidates shall be required to enrol in and complete the thesis in the relevant Year Long H1 - Period 1 (39 weeks) or Year Long H2 - Period 2 (39 weeks) in the case of full-time candidature.

Submission of Thesis

(a) The thesis is due in the last week of the teaching period. Candidates must submit an electronic copy of the thesis for examination to the Honours Coordinator. A final electronic version of the thesis, incorporating any changes recommended by the examiners, must also be submitted prior to a grade being awarded for the thesis. The presentation of the thesis must follow the guidelines outlined in the School of Health Honours Handbook.

(b) The student shall state generally in the preface of the thesis, and specifically in footnotes or endnotes where appropriate, the sources from which the information is derived, the extent to which the student has made use of the work of others and the portion of the work which is claimed as original.
The student may not present as the thesis any work that has been the basis of the award of a degree at this or another university, but will not be precluded from incorporating such in the thesis provided that, in presenting the thesis, the student clearly indicates the part of the work which has been so incorporated.

(c) At the time the thesis is submitted, the supervisor shall inform the Honours Coordinator in writing that:

(i) the principal supervisor and co-supervisor(s) have discussed with the student and amongst themselves the academic content of the thesis in the form submitted and that, while neither expressing nor implying a judgement about the merit of the work, in the principal supervisor's opinion all are agreed that it is ready for submission for examination for the degree; and
(ii) the physical form and presentation of the thesis are appropriate to the discipline.

(d) The student shall, upon submission of the thesis, following protocols approved by the School of Health, make arrangements for all original data to be retained in an area of safe storage for a period of not less than five years from the date of submission. The data stored must be in a form that would, at a minimum, permit replication of all analyses reported in the thesis.

Examination of Thesis

(a) The thesis is examined by two examiners - one is normally external to the School. The supervisor must submit the name and contact details of the recommended examiners to the Honours Coordinator at least four weeks prior to submission of the thesis for examination. A short statement should accompany the recommendation of the external examiner indicating their qualifications and the reason they are deemed appropriate to examine the thesis.
(b) A thesis will not be examined by a candidate's supervisor, but the supervisor should be consulted in the determination of the final result.
(c) The supervisor may consult with the candidate prior to the submission of the thesis regarding potential examiners, but the name of the examiners should not be made available to the candidate.
(d) Examiners are normally expected to complete and return their report to the Honours Coordinator within FOUR (4) weeks of the thesis being delivered.
(e) Examiners may request to not have their name released to the student.
(f) The examiners shall decide whether to recommend that the thesis be given the grade of Fail, Pass, Credit, Distinction or High Distinction, or that it be revised for re-examination.
(g) In the event of a disagreement between the examiners, they may be asked to consult and report to the Teaching and Learning Committee through the Honours Coordinator.
(h) If the examiners are unable to reach an agreement, the Teaching and Learning Committee shall refer their reports to a sub-committee appointed by the Chair for a recommendation.
(i) The Honours Coordinator will advise the supervisors of the outcome of the examination, along with a copy of examiners' reports as appropriate, indicating any amendments to be considered. Students need to consult with the supervisor and undertake any minor amendments to the satisfaction of the supervisor.
(j) In the event of a disagreement between the examiners, they may be asked to consult and report to the Teaching and Learning Committee.

(1) If the examiners are unable to reach an agreement, the Teaching and Learning Committee shall refer their reports to a sub-committee appointed by the Chair for a recommendation.
(2) After considering the examiner's recommendation(s) and report(s), any comments from the supervisor and any recommendations from the appointed sub-committee, the Teaching and Learning Committee may:

(i) recommend that the thesis be awarded the grade of Fail, Pass, Credit, Distinction or High Distinction;
(ii) allow the candidate to revise the thesis for re-examination;
(iii) appoint an additional examiner or examiners.

(k) The supervisor is to send a note to the Honours Coordinator, that amendments suggested by the examiners have been addressed to his or her satisfaction and that the result may be finalised. The Honours Coordinator will finalise the result and make a summary recommendation to the Teaching and Learning Committee regarding:

(i) the grade to be awarded for the thesis (Fail, Pass, Credit, Distinction or High Distinction);
(ii) the percentage mark to be awarded for the thesis; if amendments to the thesis were made before the grade was finalised;
(iii) whether the candidate should be allowed to revise and resubmit the thesis for re-examination (a maximum grade of Pass and score of 50% shall be given for any resubmitted thesis).

(l) The School Teaching and Learning Committee shall make the final determination as to the outcome of the examination of the thesis, based on the recommendation from the Honours Coordinator.

Results

Honours grades will be awarded in accordance with the University assessment policy.
(a) The ratio of assessment components should equal the ratio of marks within the final grade. For example, if the coursework is worth 50% and the thesis 50% then the final mark will be the coursework mark multiplied by 0.5, plus the thesis mark multiplied by 0.5.
(b) After the grade has been finalised, the student is required to archive a final copy of the thesis in accordance with the processes outlined in the School's Honours Handbook.

Suspensions and Extensions

The school may grant an extension or suspension of candidature, or a combination of both, to full-time candidates for up to six months or to part-time candidates for up to 12 months as follows:
(a) to compensate by way of extension of candidature, a candidate for time lost by ill-health or unforeseeable and unavoidable difficulties; or
(b) to compensate by way of suspension of candidature, a candidate who produces evidence that he/she shall not be in a position to pursue work towards the Bachelor of Nursing (Honours).

Appeals

Candidates are referred to the Academic Assessment Appeals Policy and the Academic Assessment Appeals Procedures.

Course Progression

Candidates are referred to the Course Progression Rule and the Course Progression Procedures.

Improper Conduct

Candidates are referred to the Student Coursework Academic Misconduct Rule and the Student Coursework Academic Misconduct Procedures.

Course Aims

The Bachelor of Nursing with Honours aims to provide eligible students the opportunity to develop knowledge, problem-solving and conceptual skills at an advanced level. The course provides students with techniques and skills for later postgraduate research and enhanced professional career progression.

Learning Outcomes Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
  1. demonstrate extensive knowledge, problem-solving and conceptual skills necessary to conduct ethically sound research that is justifiable in the discipline of nursing;
  2. demonstrate capacity to devise and complete all components of a thesis under supervision for an approved research proposal in an appropriate timeframe;
  3. demonstrate skills and techniques necessary to advance to postgraduate research and/or further career progression; and
  4. demonstrate academic writing skills necessary to produce a thesis and/or papers for scholarly publication.
Graduate Attributes
Knowledge of a Discipline

Graduates will have coherent and advanced knowledge of the underlying principles and concepts in Nursing as well as highly developed knowledge of research principles and methods and an advanced comprehension of one particular area of study that the student has selected to research. Supervisors will guide students to identify important resources that will be used as the basis for their dissertation. This knowledge will then be assessed throughout the degree through a range of assessment tasks to be determined by the relevant discipline, including the dissertation.

Communication Skills

Graduates will have high level communication skills, oral and written, and be able to present a clear and coherent exposition of knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences. Guided by their supervisor, these communication skills will be developed by students when completing, for example, ethics applications, contacting potential research participants, conducting empirical and other research, communicating their ideas orally and in the writing of the dissertation. The honing of these skills will stand students in good stead for the workplace.

Problem Solving

Graduates will have cognitive skills to review, analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge to identify and provide solutions to complex problems with intellectual independence. With initiative and judgement these skills will enable students to adapt knowledge and skills in diverse contexts. Students will need to locate, evaluate and interpret information in a useful manner and will be assessed on their ability to deconstruct relevant literature and to integrate theoretical and critical approaches into their work.

Information Literacy

Graduates will be able to recognise pertinent information and will have the advanced cognitive skills to use appropriate media, tools and methodologies to locate, access, critically analyse and interpret information. They will have the cognitive skills to exercise critical and creative thinking and judgement in developing new understanding of a subject.

Ethical Conduct and Social Responsibility

Ethical, professional and social responsibility is at the heart of nursing. Students' capabilities in this attribute will be enhanced through their engagement with the research project process, peers and supervisor.

Lifelong Learning

Graduates will have the research and critical thinking skills as well as intellectual capacity to enable them to continually further their learning. These attributes will be fostered throughout the honours program. Through completing the coursework and dissertation students will be provided with the necessary lifelong skills to be able to, with a degree of independence, research, write about and discuss critical issues. These skills can be transferred to any discipline, will be useful in any career positions and are essentially lifelong competencies.

Independence and Collaboration

Graduates will be able to exercise responsibility and accountability for their own learning and professional practice as well as the ability to work collaboratively with others within broad parameters. Students will be required to participate in professional, respectful and ethical discussions with their supervisor, and with other students, on issues associated with their area of study.

How to Apply

Domestic Students

All domestic students apply through the link below

For more information, click here

International Students

International students apply direct to UNE through UNE International. This course is only available online (distance education).

For more information, click here

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