Graduate Certificate in Forensic Mental Health Nursing

Overview

The Graduate Certificate in Forensic Mental Health Nursing provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles and practice of nursing in forensic mental health. You’ll learn key legal principles, legislation, and core clinical skills (such as violence risk assessment and management). Upon graduating you’ll be able to work effectively in forensic contexts or with forensic patients.

Check the Graduate Certificate in Forensic Mental Health Nursing course handbook

Get a copy of our course guide

Upgrade your skills

Use advanced knowledge in mental health
Cognitive skills
Technical skills
Communication skills
Deliver effective treatments

Stretch your career further

Forensic mental health nurse
Nurse in a prison setting
Nurse in a courts setting
General mental health nurse

International student visa

International students in Australia who hold student visas are required to study full-time and on campus. Courses that are taught entirely online are only available to international students studying outside Australia or those in Australia who are not on a student visa. Online courses are not available to international students in Australia who hold a student visa.

Why Swinburne?

Ranked top 250 in the world for the subject of psychology

Times Higher Education World University Ranking by Subject 2023

83.5% of students found employment within 4 months of graduating

Ranked top 20% in Australia for 5-star PG Overall experience

Source

Qualifications

A recognised Bachelor degree in Nursing or Mental Health Nursing*

*Applicants with bachelor degrees in other relevant disciplines will be considered on a case-by-case basis

Applicants wishing to study full-time will be considered on a case by case basis. Students admitted to the course with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this course may be eligible for academic credit.

The university may determine selection criteria and restrictions, in respect of courses, to apply in addition to these entry requirements.

An Australian bachelor degree or equivalent in one of the following fields:

Nursing
Mental health nursing

Completion of Bachelor degrees in other relevant disciplines will be considered.

Applicants wishing to study full-time will be considered on a case by case basis.
Students admitted to the course with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this course may be eligible for academic credit.

The university may determine selection criteria and restrictions, in respect of courses, to apply in addition to these entry requirements.

Successful completion of Australian Year 12, or equivalent overseas qualification.

Assess your eligibility for entry to Swinburne

Admission requirements

Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee an offer of a place. See admission requirements for general information about the admission process.

English language requirements

Satisfactory completion of one of the following:

IELTS overall band of 7.0 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.5
Swinburne’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP 5 Advanced level) with overall 75%, and all skills 70% or above
TOEFL iBT: minimum score 95 (Reading no less than 20, Writing no less than 22)
or equivalent measures available at English language requirements.

Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?

A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) can now be done at our Hawthorn campus.

Book your Pearson Test of English

Credit transfer

Credit is granted in recognition of previous study and/or experience and allows students to gain advanced standing towards their course. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Learn more about credit

Recognition of prior learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) allows students to gain credit (advanced standing) towards their course in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Learn more about RPL

Finding your fit

At Swinburne, we recognise that not one size fits all. If this course doesn’t meet all your study criteria, check out these alternatives.

Graduate Certificate of Counselling

Discover more (Graduate Certificate of Counselling)
Graduate Certificate in Clinical Supervision

Discover more (Graduate Certificate in Clinical Supervision)
Graduate Certificate in Forensic Behavioural Science

Discover more (Graduate Certificate in Forensic Behavioural Science )

How credit points work

To qualify for the Graduate Certificate in Forensic Mental Health Nursing, students must complete 50 credit points comprising four core units.

Core units

Graduate Certificate

Nested programs

The Graduate Certificate in Forensic Mental Health Nursing forms the first stage in a nested suite of programs. Continue studying with the:

Graduate Diploma of Forensic Mental Health Nursing

Your units

Graduate certificate

Units of study	Unit code
Core units
Core Skills in Forensic Practice Core unit, 12.5 credit points	FBS80001
Fundamentals of Criminal Law Process Core unit, 12.5 credit points	FBS80002
Principles of Violence Risk Assessment and Management Core unit, 12.5 credit points	FBS80003
Forensic Mental Health Nursing Core unit, 12.5 credit points	FBS80008

Want to learn more about this course?

Learn more about the Graduate Certificate of Forensic Mental Health Nursing in the course handbook.

View course handbook

2025 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$18,680

Total fee* ($AUD)

$18,680

2025 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$18,680

Fees are estimates only

The student tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. These fees apply for units studied in 2025 only and may change for units studied in future years. If part-time study is permitted, annual fees will be proportionally lower based on the number of units taken per semester.

Fees are estimates only

The indicative course fees shown apply to international students for the relevant year, based on a standard study load per year. Fees are assessed according to actual study load each semester, with variations to study load resulting in tuition fee adjustments. These fees generally include the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) and are subject to annual review. Enrolled students will receive reasonable notice of any fee changes before payment is due.

How do I pay my fees?

FEE-HELP is a loan given to eligible full-fee paying higher education students to help pay part or all of their tuition fees. The Commonwealth Government pays the amount of the loan directly to Swinburne.

Find out more about fees

International students need to pay tuition fees up-front by the relevant due date. You can find the due dates on your Statement of Account.

To pay your fees:

log in to My Finances
check your Australian bank account details are correct
check your Statement of Account to see how much you owe
pay using your preferred payment method.

Learn more about paying your fees

Eligibility for FEE-HELP

You’re eligible for a FEE-HELP loan if you are studying an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, or UniLink or OUA course at Swinburne, and you:

are an Australian citizen doing at least one unit of your course in Australia; or
hold a permanent humanitarian visa and will be living in Australia for the duration of your course; or
hold a New Zealand Special Category visa and meet the special eligibility requirements for New Zealand citizens
are undertaking bridging study for overseas trained professionals and will be living in Australia for the duration of this study
have not exceeded the new combined Help Loan limit.

The HELP limit is the maximum amount you can borrow from the government in your lifetime towards your education costs. It is fixed and cannot be topped up.

Learn more about FEE-HELP

Student services and amenities fee

This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.

The fee shown in the capped amount for 2025.

This funding serves to improve the student experience at Swinburne. You may use many or just some of the services and amenities that the fee provides.

This amenities fee is included within your annual tuition fee listed above. The fee shown is the capped amount for 2025.

Please refer to the Student Services Amenities Fee page for more information.

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

$365

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

$365

Learn more about SSAF

Scholarships

Scholarship applications for 2025 are open. Scholarships at Swinburne are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. We want you to reach your potential and achieve your life and career goals.

Our handy guide will assist you to gather documents for your application.

Learn more about scholarships

When you apply for a Swinburne course, we automatically consider you for an international scholarship of up to 20 per cent off your course fees – no separate application required! Just apply for your Swinburne course of choice and when we review your course application, we will also assess you for an international scholarship.

Learn more about scholarships

Apply through an agent

Most international students use an education agent to help them through the application process. Swinburne has agents all over the world that can help you with your application to study. Search for a Swinburne representative in your country. If your country is not listed, please contact us.

Representatives and agents

GC-FMHN

Search for agents

Apply directly

Ready to take on a new challenge and reach your academic goals? If you already know which course you want to study and understand the entry requirements, what are you waiting for? Apply online!

Note: This course is available to off-shore international students who are studying in a country other than Australia; this course is not available to on-shore international students on a student visa.

Course code

GC-FMHN

Apply directly

Start dates

Location

Last date to apply

Start dates

Semester 2

Hawthorn

30-July-2025

04-August-2025

Start dates

Location

Start dates

Semester 2

Hawthorn

04-August-2025

Overview

Entry requirements

Study structure

Fees & Scholarships

How to apply

Overview

Upgrade your skills

Stretch your career further

International student visa

Why Swinburne?

Admission requirements

Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?

Nested programs

Graduate Diploma of Forensic Mental Health Nursing

Your units

Graduate certificate

Want to learn more about this course?

2025 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

Total fee* ($AUD)

2025 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

Fees are estimates only

Fees are estimates only

SSAF fee* ($AUD)

SSAF fee* ($AUD)