Western Australia has four universities offering nursing degrees, two of them in the world’s top 100. This guide ranks and reviews all four.
Imagine training in Perth and then working in a remote mining town, a fly-in fly-out clinic or the Kimberley. WA’s huge distances shape its nursing schools, and many graduates go on to rural and remote roles.
How we ranked these schools
Australia has no single official ranking of nursing schools, so we combined two things. First, schools in Western Australia 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.
Western Australia nursing schools ranked (2026)
| Rank | School | Location | Nursing degree options | QS Nursing 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Curtin University | Perth (Bentley) | Bachelor of Science (Nursing) | 51–100 |
| 2 | Edith Cowan University (ECU) | Joondalup and Bunbury | Bachelor of Science (Nursing) | 51–100 |
| 3 | University of Notre Dame Australia | Fremantle | Bachelor of Nursing | Not ranked |
| 4 | Murdoch University | Perth | Bachelor of Nursing | Not ranked |
Top Western Australia nursing schools reviewed
1. Curtin University
Curtin is WA’s largest university and is in the world’s top 100 for nursing, with modern simulation facilities and wide placement links across the state.
- Degree options: Bachelor of Science (Nursing)
- World ranking: 51–100 in the world for nursing (QS 2026)
- Best for: students who want WA’s largest nursing school
2. Edith Cowan University (ECU)
ECU is also in the world’s top 100 for nursing and teaches in Perth’s northern suburbs and in Bunbury in the South West.
- Degree options: Bachelor of Science (Nursing)
- World ranking: 51–100 in the world for nursing (QS 2026)
- Best for: students north of Perth or in the South West
3. University of Notre Dame Australia
Notre Dame is a private Catholic university in Fremantle with smaller classes and a values-based approach to nursing.
- Degree options: Bachelor of Nursing
- World ranking: not in the QS nursing table
- Best for: students who want a smaller, faith-based university
4. Murdoch University
Murdoch offers nursing in Perth’s southern suburbs, with placements across metropolitan and regional WA.
- Degree options: Bachelor of Nursing
- World ranking: not in the QS nursing table
- Best for: students in Perth’s south
What does nursing school cost in Western Australia?
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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