Key takeaways
- The nursing scholarship for Ministry of Health staff falls under the "Health Specialties Track" overseen by the Ministry of Education, and differs from King Salman Scholarship Program pathways open to direct applicants.
- Bachelor’s nursing requirements include a high school certificate no older than 5 years with a GPA of 85% or above, 70% in Qudrat and Tahsili, and an unconditional offer in a programme that includes accredited clinical training.
- Master’s nursing requirements include a bachelor’s GPA of at least 2.75 out of 4, an IELTS score of 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 46, and no more than five years since graduation.
- The Ministry of Health adds conditions specific to its staff: at least one year of government service, a maximum age of 40 for bridging and 45 for master’s, and a classification certificate from the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties.
- The English score for academic admission (5 to 5.5) is much lower than the score required for actual professional registration in Australia after graduation (IELTS 7 overall, generally, per the AHPRA standard).
- A university’s inclusion on the Ministry of Education’s general approved list does not automatically mean its nursing programme is accredited for professional practice; verifying this is an essential step before applying.
In this article
- What is the Ministry of Health nursing scholarship to study in Australia?
- What are the Ministry of Education’s academic requirements for a nursing scholarship?
- What additional requirements does the Ministry of Health set for its staff?
- Which Australian universities are accredited for nursing study?
- What is the difference between the English score for admission and the score for professional registration in Australia?
- How do you apply for the Ministry of Health nursing scholarship?
- What happens after graduation?
- Your next step
A number of Saudi Ministry of Health ("وزارة الصحة") staff are sponsored to study nursing at accredited Australian universities under the government scholarship system overseen by the Ministry of Education, in coordination with the sponsoring body—here, the Ministry of Health. This requires an unconditional offer from a recommended university, specific academic grades and an English language score, plus service and age conditions set by the Ministry of Health specifically for its staff.
What is the Ministry of Health nursing scholarship to study in Australia?
This is a pathway within what the Ministry of Education calls the "Health Specialties Track". It is reserved for employees of government health bodies who want to study nursing—bachelor’s or master’s—in one of seven English-speaking countries, including Australia — Ministry of Education. This differs from King Salman Scholarship Program ("برنامج خادم الحرمين الشريفين للابتعاث") pathways open to direct applicants without a sponsoring government body (Al-Ruwad, Research & Development, Imdad, Wa’ed); the Ministry of Health scholarship is exclusively for those currently working in the health sector. To understand the difference between all these pathways, see Saudi Scholarship Programmes: A Guide to All Pathways from King Salman to Cultural Scholarships.
In 2020, the Ministry of Health opened nominations for external scholarships to all its staff, whether civil service employees or those on self-operating contracts —. In July 2023, the Ministry announced the second phase of its external scholarship plan; the Saudi Ministry of Health revealed the targeted health specialties for the second phase of the 2023 external scholarship plan, totalling 104 places, including 52 for physicians, 8 for dentistry, 36 seats for non-physician health cadres, and 8 for non-health cadres — Al Arabiya, citing the Ministry of Health. This means the actual health places (physicians, dentistry, and non-physician health cadres, which include nursing) total 96 out of 104, while the remaining 8 were allocated to non-health administrative and technical specialties. When nominations open for each phase, the Ministry invites applicants to secure an offer from one of the universities recommended by the Ministry of Education, then submit their application electronically via its portal — SPA. Always check the current nomination window on the Ministry of Health’s official website, as phases open and close periodically; we found no updated official announcement regarding the date of a subsequent phase.
What are the Ministry of Education’s academic requirements for a nursing scholarship?
The Ministry of Education sets uniform academic requirements for all nursing scholars regardless of sponsoring body, and these requirements differ between bachelor’s and master’s level.
Nursing bachelor’s degree
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| High school certificate date | Not older than 5 years |
| High school GPA | Not less than 85% |
| Qudrat and Tahsili tests | 70% in each, or equivalent computerised test scores |
| Programme type | Includes clinical training, and is accredited for professional practice in the host country |
| Offer type | Unconditional, with no further grade conditions |
Source for all table items: Ministry of Education.
Nursing master’s degree
- Bachelor’s GPA of at least 2.75 out of 4, 3.75 out of 5, or 80 out of 100 — Ministry of Education
- An IELTS score of 5.5 or TOEFL iBT score of 46 — Ministry of Education
- No more than five years since bachelor’s graduation — Ministry of Education
- Study must be in clinical programmes only — Ministry of Education
The Ministry of Education adds general conditions applying to all scholars: the offer must not be designated for international students only, foreign qualifications must be equalised, and scholars must be fully enrolled and resident on a full-time basis in the host country — Ministry of Education. In principle, this rules out conditional offers. If you receive a conditional offer, see Conditional vs Unconditional Offers: The Difference and When Scholarships Accept Them.
What additional requirements does the Ministry of Health set for its staff?
Alongside the Ministry of Education’s academic requirements, the Ministry of Health sets specific conditions for its employees applying for non-medical specialties:
- At least one year of actual government service at the time of application — Al Arabiya, citing the Ministry of Health
- Maximum candidate age of 40 for bridging programmes and 45 for master’s level — Al Arabiya, citing the Ministry of Health
- An IELTS score of 5 for bachelor’s candidates and 5.5 for master’s candidates, or equivalent TOEFL iBT —
- A valid classification certificate and professional registration card with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties for those covered under health job regulations —
These two sources refer to two Ministry of Health announcements from different dates (2020 and 2023), and figures may differ in subsequent intakes. Check the current requirement via the Ministry of Health website or the nomination portal when a new phase is announced.
Which Australian universities are accredited for nursing study?
The Ministry of Education publishes a list of accredited Australian universities within the scholarship system on the King Salman Scholarship Program website, describing these universities as holding leading positions in global university rankings — Ministry of Education – King Salman Scholarship Program site.
| City | Universities |
|---|---|
| Melbourne | Deakin University, Monash University |
| Perth | Curtin University, University of Western Australia |
| Brisbane | Griffith University, Queensland University of Technology, University of Queensland |
| Sydney | Western Sydney University, Australian Catholic University, Macquarie University |
| Darwin | Charles Darwin University |
| Bathurst | Charles Sturt University |
| Armidale | University of New England |
| Wollongong | University of Wollongong |
Source for all universities in the table: Ministry of Education – King Salman Scholarship Program site.
This list is general, covering all scholarship specialties in Australia, not nursing alone. Because the Ministry of Education requires that a nursing programme include clinical training and be accredited for professional practice in the host country — Ministry of Education—it remains essential to verify the specific accreditation of each university’s nursing programme before applying, either through the Ministry of Education’s annual guide or directly on the university’s website.
What is the difference between the English score for admission and the score for professional registration in Australia?
The IELTS score required for academic admission at both bachelor’s and master’s level (5 to 5.5, depending on the sponsoring body and level) is much lower than the score required by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency to actually register a nurse to work after graduation. These are two entirely different benchmarks for two different stages: the first for university admission, the second for professional licensing. They should not be confused.
The official Australian standard (AHPRA/NMBA) for international nurse registration requires an overall IELTS Academic score of 7, with 7 in each of listening, reading and speaking, and 6.5 in writing — AHPRA. This threshold can be achieved in a single test sitting, or across a maximum of two sittings within 12 months, provided no sub-skill falls below 6.5 in either sitting — AHPRA. In other words, meeting the English requirement for university admission does not automatically mean meeting the professional registration requirement later. The gap between 5.5 and 7 is real and requires additional preparation. For more detail on English requirements at each stage, see English Language Requirements for the Saudi Scholarship to Australia: IELTS, PTE and TOEFL Scores Required.
How do you apply for the Ministry of Health nursing scholarship?
- Confirm you meet the Ministry of Health’s specific conditions: at least one year of actual service, and the permitted age (40 for bridging, 45 for master’s) — Al Arabiya, citing the Ministry of Health
- Complete your classification certificate and professional registration card with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties if you are covered under health job regulations —
- Sit the IELTS or TOEFL iBT and achieve the score required for your level (bachelor’s or master’s)
- Prepare your academic documents, apply to an accredited university, and secure an unconditional offer in a nursing programme that includes clinical training and is accredited for professional practice — Ministry of Education
- Submit your application electronically via the Ministry of Health portal when nominations open for the scholarship phase — SPA
For the detailed documents required in your admission file, see Documents Required for University Admission in Australia: The Complete List. For the practical steps after receiving an offer, see How to Apply to Study in Australia with KD: From Consultation to Enrolment.
What happens after graduation?
After graduation, the Saudi Cultural Attaché in Australia ("الملحقية الثقافية السعودية") handles scholars’ affairs and verifies their certificates by liaising with the issuing educational institution to confirm authenticity — Saudi Cultural Attaché in Australia. Verification requires that studies were completed on a full-time, fully enrolled basis at a recommended institution, not via correspondence or distance learning — Saudi Cultural Attaché in Australia.
If you plan to bring your family during your scholarship, it is advisable to check the Attaché’s arrangements regarding children’s tuition fees in advance. In an official circular published by the Attaché regarding approval of tuition fees for the children of government scholars, it stated that from the next academic year, 2021, the Attaché would no longer be able to pay any future tuition fees for children of scholars sponsored by bodies other than the Ministry of Education and the King Salman Scholarship Program — Saudi Cultural Attaché in Australia. This means children of scholars sponsored by bodies such as the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Defence, and universities fall under this exception. Check the current arrangement directly with your sponsoring body and the Attaché before bringing your family. For details on dependant visas and what they cover, see Dependants in Australia: Spouse and Children Visas and Scholarship Allowances.
As for the licensing step to actually work as a nurse in Australia after graduation, this requires professional registration with AHPRA under the higher English standard (IELTS 7) mentioned above, alongside other academic and professional requirements published on the Agency’s website — AHPRA.
Your next step
If you are a Ministry of Health employee considering a scholarship to study nursing in Australia, start by confirming you meet the service and age requirements set by the Ministry. Then look for an accredited university with a nursing programme that includes clinical training. KD International can help you review your options among accredited universities and apply for an unconditional offer that matches your scholarship conditions.
Frequently asked questions
They combine the Ministry of Education’s academic requirements (85% high school GPA and an unconditional offer for bachelor’s, or a 2.75/4 GPA and IELTS 5.5 for master’s) with the Ministry of Health’s specific conditions for its staff, such as one year of government service and a maximum age limit.
The Ministry of Education publishes a general list of accredited Australian universities within the scholarship programme, including Monash, Curtin, University of Queensland, Deakin and Griffith, among others. However, you must verify that the nursing programme specifically is accredited at each university.
No. The academic admission score (5 to 5.5) is much lower than the score required under the Australian AHPRA standard for actual professional registration, which is an overall 7 with at least 6.5 in writing.
The Ministry of Health opened nominations to all its staff, including civil service employees and those on self-operating contracts, in 2020. However, applications remain tied to periodic scholarship phase openings and the announced service and age requirements.
No. The Ministry of Education requires a final, unconditional offer with no further grade conditions, for both bachelor’s and master’s level.
The Saudi Cultural Attaché in Australia is responsible for verifying scholars’ certificates, provided the study was completed on a full-time, fully enrolled basis at a recommended institution.
Official sources
- صفحة الابتعاث — وزارة التعليم
- موقع برنامج خادم الحرمين الشريفين للابتعاث – أستراليا — وزارة التعليم
- التعريف بالتخصصات الصحية المستهدفة للابتعاث — العربية، نقلاً عن وزارة الصحة
- إعلان فتح الترشيح لمرحلة الابتعاث الخارجي — واس
- المعيار الرسمي الأسترالي (AHPRA/NMBA) لتسجيل الممرضات والممرضين المؤهلين دولياً يشترط في ا — AHPRA (الهيئة الأسترالية لتنظيم الممارسين الصحيين)
- الملحقية الثقافية السعودية في أستراليا هي الجهة المسؤولة عن متابعة شؤون المبتعثين السعوديي — الملحقية الثقافية السعودية في أستراليا
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Last updated: 7 October 2026. Fees and requirements change; always confirm with the official source before deciding.
