Can Nursing Students in Australia Work Part Time While Studying?
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- 9 min read
Last Updated : 28 Aug 2026
Yes, nursing students in Australia can work part time while studying, provided their visa allows them to work.
International students holding a Student visa (subclass 500) can generally work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session. They can work unlimited hours when their course is not in session, including during scheduled course breaks.
Part-time work can help nursing students earn an income, develop professional confidence and gain exposure to the Australian healthcare environment. However, students must continue to meet their visa conditions, prioritise their studies and understand that studying nursing does not automatically allow them to work as a registered nurse.
If you are still comparing study options, explore the available nursing courses in Australia, including Diploma, Bachelor and Master pathways.
Here is what nursing students need to know about balancing study, work and future career experience in Australia.
Can International Nursing Students Work in Australia?
International nursing students can work in Australia if their visa includes permission to work.
For most international students, this permission is attached to the Student visa (subclass 500).
According to the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs, Student visa holders can generally:
Work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session
Work unlimited hours when their course is not in session
Study and gain work experience at the same time
Work in more than one job, as long as their combined hours remain within the permitted limit
Students generally cannot begin working before their course starts. A limited exception may apply if the student held another visa that allowed them to work when they applied for their Student visa.
Visa conditions can differ between individuals. Students should check their visa grant letter and use Visa Entitlement Verification Online, known as VEVO, before starting work.
Students who are preparing to study in Australia can also read RACC’s complete guide to the Student visa subclass 500, including its general eligibility and application requirements.
Official visa conditions should always be confirmed through the Department of Home Affairs Student visa subclass 500 page.
What Does the 48-Hour Work Limit Mean?
The Student visa work limit is 48 hours per fortnight while the student’s course is in session.
Home Affairs defines a fortnight as a period of 14 days beginning on a Monday. If a student has more than one job, the hours worked across all jobs are added together.
For example, working 30 hours in aged care and another 20 hours in a different job during the same fortnight would result in a total of 50 hours. This would be above the standard 48-hour limit.
A course is considered to be in session:
During the academic semester
During examination periods
When the student is taking another course during a break and that course counts towards the main program
Students should record their work hours carefully, particularly if they have multiple employers or frequently changing shifts.
The official explanation is available under Home Affairs visa condition 8105.
Can Nursing Students Work Unlimited Hours During Course Breaks?
Student visa holders can work unlimited hours when their course is not in session.
Home Affairs identifies scheduled course breaks as periods when a course is not in session. Students should use the official academic calendar issued by their education provider to identify these breaks.
Unlimited work hours do not apply simply because a student has no classes on a particular day or week. Examination periods are still considered part of the academic session.
Students should check their course schedule and individual visa conditions before accepting additional shifts.
Does Nursing Clinical Placement Count Towards the Work Limit?
Clinical placement requires particular attention because nursing programs commonly include practical training.
According to Home Affairs, work experience is generally included in the 48-hour limit whether it is paid or unpaid.
An exception applies when the work experience:
Is a mandatory part of the student’s course
Was specified as a course requirement when the course was registered
Is included in the CRICOS registration of that course
When these conditions are satisfied, the mandatory placement hours are not included in the 48-hour work limit.
However, placement or work experience that is not a mandatory course requirement is included in the limit. Hours completed beyond the period required by the registered course may also be included.
Nursing students should confirm with their education provider whether their placement is a registered mandatory component of the course. The official rule is explained under Home Affairs visa condition 8105.
Students comparing Diploma, Bachelor, Master and overseas-nurse pathways can review RACC’s guide to nursing courses and study pathways in Australia.
What Part-Time Jobs Can Nursing Students Consider?
Depending on the role, their qualifications and the employer’s requirements, nursing students may consider positions such as:
Assistant in Nursing, or AIN
Aged Care Support Worker
Personal Care Assistant
Disability Support Worker
Patient Care Assistant
Hospital Ward Clerk
Medical Receptionist
These are examples of roles nursing students may explore, not positions they are automatically qualified or legally entitled to perform.
Eligibility depends on the requirements of the specific position and employer. Students should read the job description carefully and confirm that they meet the required qualifications, experience and employment conditions.
Healthcare-related work can give students exposure to the Australian healthcare environment while they study. It may also help them develop workplace communication, professional confidence and familiarity with healthcare settings.
Students are not limited to healthcare employment. A Student visa holder may also take suitable work in another industry, provided the work is lawful and complies with their individual visa conditions.
Can a Nursing Student Work as a Registered Nurse?
Studying nursing does not by itself allow a student to work as a registered nurse.
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia identifies titles including “nurse”, “registered nurse”, “enrolled nurse” and “nurse practitioner” as protected titles. Only people who hold the relevant registration or endorsement can use these titles in Australia.
A nursing student who has not obtained the appropriate professional registration must not present themselves as a registered nurse or enrolled nurse.
This means that a student employed as an Assistant in Nursing, Personal Care Assistant or in another support role should use their actual employment title.
AHPRA has previously prosecuted a nursing student who was employed as a personal care assistant but represented herself and performed work as though she were a registered nurse. The case demonstrates the importance of accurately describing a student’s role and registration status. See the official AHPRA notice concerning the nursing student case.
Information about protected nursing titles and registration pathways is also available in the AHPRA and NMBA nursing education pathways fact sheet.
For a broader comparison of qualifications and career outcomes, see RACC’s explanation of the Enrolled Nurse and Registered Nurse study pathways.
Study or Work: Which Comes First?
A nursing student’s degree should remain the priority.
Nursing studies help students build:
Clinical knowledge
Practical nursing skills
Professional confidence
The foundation for a future nursing career
Part-time work can help students gain experience, but it should support their studies rather than interfere with them.
Student visa holders must maintain their enrolment and meet applicable course-progress and attendance requirements. Education providers are required to report students who do not achieve satisfactory course progress or attendance.
This means that remaining within the 48-hour work limit is not the student’s only responsibility. Work should be organised around classes, assessments, examinations and required clinical placements.
The Department of Home Affairs explains these reporting obligations in its education provider responsibilities guidance.
What Workplace Rights Do International Students Have?
International students working in Australia have workplace rights.
According to the Australian Government’s Fair Work Ombudsman, international students are entitled to the same basic workplace protections as other employees working in Australia.
These include:
The applicable minimum rate of pay
Payment for the hours they work
A payslip within one working day of being paid
Applicable workplace entitlements under an award, agreement or employment contract
Protection from workplace discrimination, bullying and sexual harassment
An employer must not require an employee to complete an unreasonably long unpaid work trial. Employees must also be paid for required meetings, training and time spent opening or closing a business.
Payment in cash is allowed, but the payment must still be properly recorded. Tax should be withheld where required, and the employee should receive a payslip. Fair Work describes undeclared cash payments where tax is not withheld as unlawful “cash-in-hand” arrangements.
Further information is available in the Fair Work Ombudsman’s international students fact sheet.
Can an Employer Cancel a Student Visa?
No. An employer cannot cancel an international student’s visa.
Only the Department of Home Affairs can grant, refuse or cancel an Australian visa.
Home Affairs also advises workers that:
It is against the law for someone to ask for money in exchange for a job or visa
An employer must not take a worker’s passport or personal documents
Workers should seek help if an employer threatens to cancel their visa
Workers should seek help if they are being forced to perform work through threats or deception
Official information about these protections is available from the Department of Home Affairs work restrictions and exploitation page.
What Happens After Graduation?
Finishing an approved nursing degree can make a graduate eligible to seek professional registration, but graduation does not automatically provide registration.
Before practising as a registered nurse in Australia, a graduate must:
Complete an approved program of study
Apply for registration
Meet the relevant registration requirements
Receive registration from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia
The Australian Government Department of Health states that graduates must register as a nurse or midwife before working in that profession.
Official information is available from the Australian Government Department of Health nursing support and education page.
Eligible international graduates may also consider a Temporary Graduate visa subclass 485 after completing their studies. Eligibility depends on factors such as the qualification completed, the applicable visa stream and the requirements in effect at the time of application.
The Temporary Graduate visa is separate from nursing registration. Holding a visa with work rights does not independently authorise a graduate to practise as a registered nurse.
Can Nursing Lead to Other Australian Visa Pathways?
Completing a nursing qualification does not guarantee eligibility for permanent residence or another Australian visa.
Depending on the graduate’s occupation, registration, skills assessment, points and personal circumstances, future options may include:
The Skilled Work Regional visa subclass 491, which is explained alongside other pathways in RACC’s SkillSelect and skilled migration guide
Employer-sponsored or other pathways covered by RACC’s Australian migration services
Each visa has separate eligibility requirements. Completing a nursing course, working part time or obtaining nursing registration does not automatically result in a visa invitation or grant.
Nursing graduates considering long-term options can read more about the Registered Nurse migration and PR pathways. Enrolled Nurses can instead review the separate guide to Enrolled Nurse PR pathways.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can nursing students work part time in Australia?
Yes. Nursing students can work part time if their visa permits them to work. International students holding a Student visa subclass 500 can generally work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session.
How many hours can an international nursing student work?
A Student visa holder can generally work up to 48 hours per fortnight while their course is in session. They can work unlimited hours when their course is not in session.
Can nursing students work during university holidays?
Yes. Student visa holders can generally work unlimited hours during scheduled course breaks when their course is not in session.
Can nursing students have more than one job?
Yes. A Student visa holder can work in more than one job, but the combined hours across all jobs must remain within the applicable visa limit.
Does unpaid clinical placement count towards the 48-hour limit?
It depends on the placement. A mandatory placement registered as a formal course requirement is excluded from the limit. Non-mandatory work experience and additional placement hours may be included.
Can a nursing student work as an Assistant in Nursing?
A nursing student may be able to apply for an Assistant in Nursing position, depending on the employer’s requirements and the student’s qualifications. Nursing enrolment alone does not guarantee eligibility.
Can a nursing student call themselves a registered nurse?
No. A student who does not hold the appropriate NMBA registration cannot use the title “registered nurse” or represent themselves as a registered nurse.
Can an employer cancel a Student visa?
No. Employers cannot cancel visas. Only the Department of Home Affairs has the authority to grant, refuse or cancel an Australian visa.
Can a nursing graduate apply for a Temporary Graduate visa?
An eligible graduate may be able to apply for a Temporary Graduate visa subclass 485. Eligibility depends on the qualification, visa stream and other requirements. Completing a nursing qualification does not automatically guarantee eligibility.
Does studying nursing guarantee permanent residency in Australia?
No. Completing a nursing course does not guarantee permanent residency. Skilled and employer-sponsored visa pathways have separate requirements relating to occupation eligibility, registration, skills assessment, English, points, nomination, sponsorship or invitation.
Final Answer
Nursing students can work part time while studying in Australia if their visa allows it.
For international students holding a Student visa subclass 500, the main points are:
Work is generally limited to 48 hours per fortnight while the course is in session
Unlimited work is generally permitted when the course is not in session
Hours from multiple jobs must be combined
Students generally cannot work before their course starts
Mandatory registered clinical placement may be excluded from the work limit
Nursing students cannot work or present themselves as registered nurses without the appropriate registration
Study, attendance and satisfactory course progress must remain a priority
Individual visa conditions should always be checked through VEVO
Part-time employment can support a student’s education and provide useful career exposure. However, every student should confirm their visa conditions, understand the requirements of the position and remain within the limits of their current qualifications and registration status.
Interested in Studying Nursing in Australia?
Explore RACC’s guide to nursing courses in Australia to compare Diploma, Bachelor, Master and overseas-nurse study pathways.
Before choosing a course, make sure you understand its entry requirements, clinical-placement structure and pathway towards professional registration.
For support comparing courses, Student visa options and possible post-study pathways, book a consultation with RACC Australia.
Information reviewed against Australian Government sources in August 2026. Visa and registration requirements may change. Always check your individual visa conditions through VEVO and consult the relevant government regulator for current information. The information in this article is general and does not constitute migration, legal or education advice.
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