Degree Programs Offered
If you wish to apply for degree programs offered at the Port Macquarie Campus, go to the University's Future Students site for information about admission requirements for the various degrees and entry opportunities.
- Bachelor of Nursing
- Bachelor of Midwifery
- Bachelor of Teaching/Bachelor of Arts
- Open Foundation by Distance
Bachelor of Nursing
The Bachelor of Nursing degree is a three year full-time or part-time equivalent program, with clinical placements throughout. The program is the same across all three campuses and uses a blended learning approach, consisting of face to face teaching supported by online resources.
Throughout the duration of the program students will attend around 800 hours in clinical settings. Clinical is the time scheduled into the program for hands on experience. Clinical is experienced initially in the laboratories on campus and then in settings off campus. Nursing students go to community centres, aged care areas, mental health settings and major teaching hospitals. Students enrolled at Port Macquarie may be allocated clinical placements from Taree to Kempsey and Wauchope.
Bachelor of Midwifery
The Bachelor of Midwifery degree is a three year full-time program. Classes are scheduled during the day. There is a mix of both face to face and online learning to ensure students are able to be with childbearing women when they are needed. There are two forms of clinical practice. One is standard clinical placement in a hospital maternity unit and some community settings. The other form of practice is 600 hours of relationship-based continuity of care experience which involve following the woman during her antenatal, labour, birth and post natal experiences.
Clinical placements (initially) will be at Port Macquarie hospital or hospitals in the area. There will be approximately 700 hours of clinical placement during the degree. Students will be supervised to conduct minimum of 30 antenatal assessments, 30 births, 30 postnatal assessments and 15 assists with breastfeeding.
Bachelor of Teaching/Bachelor of Arts
This double degree program prepares students to teach in primary schools. The program aims to equip students with the skills and knowledge for the teaching profession through on campus and flexible delivery lectures and workshops as well as in school professional experiences including internship. Graduates qualify for employment with the NSW Department of Education and Training, and Catholic and Independent schools. They may also gain employment in areas such as administration, marketing or training.
Open Foundation by Distance
Open Foundation is a Tertiary Preparation program offered by the University of Newcastle. It has been successfully preparing students to enter University for more than 20 years, and is recognised as a University Entry Qualification by many Universities around Australia. Based on the highly regarded Open Foundation program, Open Foundation by Distance was developed to allow students the opportunity to study at home and prepare for entry to university without attending classes on campus.
The program helps students to develop the skills needed for successful study at tertiary level. Students learn about what it is like to study at University, and are taught by staff who have experience in teaching at undergraduate level. Students from the Mid-north Coast region of New South Wales are particularly encouraged to enrol. Applicants must be 20 years of age or over and be Australian Citizens or have permanent residency.
