At NMIT, we deliver high-quality nursing education that prepares you for a future-focused career in healthcare.

From 2026, we’ll offer two Bachelor of Nursing (BN) pathways during a transition period. Both are designed to give learners strong clinical experience, academic excellence, and the confidence to thrive as registered nurses.

Current learners (Year 2 and above)

Students already in the programme will continue in the established ARA BN curriculum through to 2027. This proven programme has supported many graduates. It guarantees consistency, stability, and high-quality clinical placements for those progressing from 2025 onwards.

New learners (starting Year 1)

From 2026, Year One students will join our refreshed delivery, based on the Otago BN curriculum. It offers:

• Deeper Te Tiriti o Waitangi integration,
• A strong focus on equity and sustainability, and
• The latest clinical placement models that reflect contemporary healthcare

You’ll earn a future-ready qualification blending traditional nursing education with innovation, cultural competence, and practical relevance.

Both pathways prepare you well for a nursing career. You can expect a supportive environment with dedicated tutors, expert clinical teaching, and strong connections to local health providers.

Our dual-delivery approach ensures continuity for current students and growth for future cohorts. Every NMIT nursing student will be equipped to make a real impact in their community.

Stay close to home, or if you come from further abroad, choose to study in a region with stunning nature right on your doorstep, while earning a nursing degree recognised across Aotearoa and abroad. Your future starts here in Te Tauihu, Top of the South.

Clinical excellence

Step into real-world healthcare with diverse placement opportunities across Nelson, Marlborough, and beyond. Our strong industry connections mean you’ll graduate with experience that counts.

Supportive environment

Learn in small classes where tutors know your name, understand your goals, and support your journey every step of the way.

Future-focused education

Join a programme that puts sustainability, equity, and innovation at the centre of nursing education—preparing you to lead change in tomorrow’s healthcare system.

Innovative, blended learning

NMIT’s Bachelor of Nursing programme uses innovative teaching strategies to ensure your participation, engagement, and academic success. Our blended learning model includes:

• Face-to-face lectures and group tutorials
• E-learning and online resources
• Simulation-based training
• Authentic nursing practice placements

These methods encourage independent, self-directed learning, build on your experience, and connect theory to practical applications. You’ll engage in experiential learning, reflect on growth, and test new concepts in real situations - developing the confidence and competence to thrive as a registered nurse.

At NMIT, we don’t just teach nursing - we prepare you to lead, care, and make a lasting impact.

Clinical placements are a cornerstone of your journey. From year one, you gain hands-on experience in real healthcare settings across Nelson, Marlborough, and the wider Te Tauihu region, working alongside Registered Nurses and clinical teams in hospitals, aged care facilities, as well as mental health and community services.

To ensure a diverse and meaningful learning journey, students are required to travel outside their home campus region for some placements. You must:

• Provide your own transportation
• Cover your own travel and accommodation costs
• Be prepared for varying shift hours, depending on the placement setting
• Attend all placements, as they are mandatory and essential to your success

These placements offer more than practical skills. They will build your confidence in all areas of healthcare and connect you with professional networks that can open doors to future career opportunities. Whether you study at Nelson or Marlborough, your clinical journey will be immersive, challenging, and deeply rewarding.

In the Bachelor of Nursing at NMIT, you can join the Whānau Peer Group - a vibrant, student-led community fostering whanaungatanga (connection and belonging) across your study journey. This group brings together nursing students and graduates to support one another, share experiences, and grow as future health leaders.

As part of the Whānau Group, you’ll:

• Build lifelong friendships and find role models who inspire your journey
• Participate in regular hui and connect through the dedicated Facebook group
• Attend the annual National Māori Student Hui, strengthening your Māori cultural identity and leadership
• Network with peers and professionals to gain valuable insights and opportunities that extend beyond the classroom.
• Be part of the solution, contributing to improved Māori health outcomes and equity in Aotearoa.

This is more than a support group. It’s a movement of future nurses committed to care, culture, and community.

Graduating from the Bachelor of Nursing programme at NMIT sets you up for a career that’s as diverse as it is meaningful. Yes, you’ll be ready to work as a Registered Nurse in hospitals, aged care, and community settings - but your journey doesn’t stop there.

Nurses today are educators, researchers, innovators, and leaders. With this qualification, you could explore pathways such as:

• Health education – teaching future nurses or leading community health initiatives
• Ageing well and elder care – shaping services that support dignity and wellbeing in later life
• Mental health and addiction services – making a difference in some of the most complex areas of care
• Public health and policy – influencing how healthcare is delivered across Aotearoa
• Digital health and telemedicine – embracing technology to improve access and outcomes
• Sustainability in healthcare – leading change in how health services care for people and the planet
• Clinical research – contributing to evidence-based practice and innovation
• Postgraduate study – becoming a Nurse Practitioner, Clinical Nurse Specialist, or moving into leadership roles

Whether you’re passionate about equity, innovation, education, or global health, nursing offers a future full of purpose and possibility. At NMIT, we prepare you not just for your first job - but for a lifetime of impact.

These will be published once final approval of this programme is received.

Please provide the following documents with your application:

• Personal statement
  This should outline why the applicant has chosen nursing as a career.
• Referee’s Information
  Provide evidence of good character and personal attributes via 2 referees.
• Immunity evidence
  To participate in the clinical components of the programme, the applicant must meet all relevant Health Authority requirements, including evidence of immunity to nominated diseases. 
• Consent to Disclosure of Information
  Successful applicants must complete a New Zealand Police Consent to Disclosure of Information form. The form will be sent to the Police Licensing and Vetting Service and returned in confidence to the NMIT Head of Nursing. Information on the Vetting Service is available from the New Zealand Police website.

Interview
Applicants who meet academic entry criteria may be required to attend an interview.

The applicant’s personal statement, referee information, and interview (if required) should provide evidence of appropriateness to study for the nursing profession.

Please refer to the 'Supporting Document Requirements'(external link) section for more information and form templates.

Contact our enrolments team for support if you have questions regarding the documentation requirements on 03 539 5469. 

While tuition covers your core learning, students in the Bachelor of Nursing at NMIT should budget for additional course costs during the three years of study.

These may include:

• Uniforms and name badges
• Textbooks and learning resources
• Vaccinations and health screening
• Specialist equipment such as a stethoscope, clinical tools, and a digital device (e.g., laptop or tablet) for learning and placement documentation.
• Travel and accommodation for clinical placements outside your home region
• Personal transport to and from placement sites

Clinical placements are vital and mandatory. You’ll gain invaluable experience working with Registered Nurses and clinical teams, often beyond Nelson or Marlborough. Planning for these costs ensures you can engage in the programme and make the most of every opportunity.

Many of our students are adults balancing study demands with family commitments. For those with young children, there is a childcare centre on the Nelson campus providing full or part-time care.

Campus Corner Early Learning Centre(external link) cares for children six months to five years old. Early booking is essential - ph. (03) 548 0104.

Normally, the Bachelor of Nursing programme is achieved in three years but can be completed over five years.