New South Wales has more nursing schools than any other Australian state, including two of the top 20 in the world. This guide ranks the state’s nursing degrees and reviews the top five.
Imagine choosing between a world top-20 nursing school in central Sydney and a regional campus where you’d train in the hospitals you’d one day work in. Both lead to the same registration. The right choice depends on what you want from the next three years.
How we ranked these schools
Australia has no single official ranking of nursing schools, so we combined two things. First, schools in New South Wales that appear in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 for nursing are placed at the top, in QS order. Second, we ranked the other programmes approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) and accredited by ANMAC on the range of entry routes they offer, the strength of the wider institution and the clinical training they can provide. Every programme on this list leads to registration as a nurse.
New South Wales nursing schools ranked (2026)
| Rank | School | Location | Nursing degree options | QS Nursing 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Technology Sydney (UTS) | Sydney | Bachelor of Nursing, with honours and combined options | =16th |
| 2 | University of Sydney | Sydney | Bachelor of Nursing (Advanced Studies); graduate-entry Master of Nursing | =19th |
| 3 | University of Wollongong | Wollongong and regional campuses | Bachelor of Nursing | 36th |
| 4 | University of Newcastle | Newcastle, Central Coast and Port Macquarie | Bachelor of Nursing | 51–100 |
| 5 | Western Sydney University | Greater Western Sydney | Bachelor of Nursing | 51–100 |
| 6 | Australian Catholic University (ACU) | North Sydney | Bachelor of Nursing | 51–100 |
| 7 | Southern Cross University | Lismore and Coffs Harbour | Bachelor of Nursing | 151–225 |
| 8 | Charles Sturt University | Regional NSW campuses | Bachelor of Nursing | Not ranked |
| 9 | University of New England | Armidale and online | Bachelor of Nursing | Not ranked |
| 10 | University of Notre Dame Australia | Sydney | Bachelor of Nursing | Not ranked |
| 11 | Avondale University | Sydney | Bachelor of Nursing | Not ranked |
Top New South Wales nursing schools reviewed
1. University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
UTS’s School of Nursing and Midwifery in central Sydney is ranked joint 16th in the world for nursing by QS, the highest of any school in Australia. It is known for strong simulation facilities and close links with Sydney’s major hospitals.
- Degree options: Bachelor of Nursing, with honours and combined options
- World ranking: =16th in the world for nursing (QS 2026)
- Best for: students who want a world-ranked school in the heart of Sydney
2. University of Sydney
The Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery is ranked joint 19th in the world. It offers a four-year bachelor’s with advanced studies and a two-year master’s for graduates of other degrees.
- Degree options: Bachelor of Nursing (Advanced Studies); graduate-entry Master of Nursing
- World ranking: =19th in the world for nursing (QS 2026)
- Best for: high achievers, and graduates of another degree who want a faster route into nursing
3. University of Wollongong
Wollongong is ranked 36th in the world for nursing and teaches its degree in Wollongong and at several regional campuses on the south coast and in the Southern Highlands.
- Degree options: Bachelor of Nursing
- World ranking: 36th in the world for nursing (QS 2026)
- Best for: students who want a top-50 school outside Sydney
4. University of Newcastle
Newcastle is in the world’s top 100 for nursing and teaches across the Hunter, the Central Coast and the Mid North Coast, with strong rural and regional placements.
- Degree options: Bachelor of Nursing
- World ranking: 51–100 in the world for nursing (QS 2026)
- Best for: students in the Hunter and north coast regions
5. Western Sydney University
Western Sydney University runs one of the largest nursing programmes in Australia across several campuses, serving one of the country’s most diverse regions.
- Degree options: Bachelor of Nursing
- World ranking: 51–100 in the world for nursing (QS 2026)
- Best for: students in Western Sydney who want to train where they live
Regional options: Charles Sturt University, the University of New England and Southern Cross University train many nurses for rural and regional NSW, with flexible and online study options.
What does nursing school cost in New South Wales?
Domestic students in a Commonwealth supported place pay a student contribution of about A$4,738 a year for nursing in 2026, which can be deferred through a HECS-HELP loan. Since July 2025, eligible nursing students can also receive the Commonwealth Prac Payment, about A$330 a week, during mandatory clinical placements (it is means-tested). International students pay full fees, often more than A$35,000 a year, so check each university’s fee page.
But is a ranking enough to choose a school?
No ranking can tell you everything. Before you apply, also check:
- Approval: make sure the degree is an NMBA-approved programme accredited by ANMAC, so you can register with the NMBA through Ahpra when you graduate.
- Registration: Australian graduates of approved programmes don’t sit a separate national licensing exam, but they must meet the NMBA’s registration standards, including English language skills.
- Clinical placements: where students train, and whether you may be placed in rural areas.
- Campus and study mode: some universities offer regional campuses, online study or accelerated entry for graduates.
- Admission: entry scores (ATAR) and pathways vary by campus, so apply to more than one.
Your next step: Shortlist the schools that suit you, then check each one’s entry requirements, campus options and application deadlines on its website.
Related: Work as a nurse in Australia and New Zealand · Nurse salaries by country
Sources: QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 (Nursing), Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council, Australian Government Department of Education (student contribution amounts and Commonwealth Prac Payment), university websites. Programmes and fees change; always confirm with the university.
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