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A day in the life of a Charles Sturt University nursing student
A day in the life of a Charles Sturt University nursing student
For over 40 years, Charles Sturt University has served as a leader in nursing education. The Bachelor of Nursing programme brings students from around the world to New South Wales for a holistic, accredited experience. Through three years of full-time study, they build resilience and adaptability to succeed in the healthcare workforce. They complete 192 credits across 10- to 12-hour weeks, delving into theory, hands-on research, and about 800 hours of clinical placements. With Charles Sturt’s community health affiliations across the districts in New South Wales, you’ll always be learning by doing and contributing to some of the field’s most pressing issues.
of undergrads find full-time employment within four months of graduating*
89%
public university in Australia for employment*
#1
university for employment*
5-star
*Public universities, Good Universities Guide 2024/25
of postgraduate nursing students are employed full-time within four months of graduating*
97%
*Good Universities Guide 2024/25
By the age of 18, Namya sought a change of pace from the hustle and bustle of Mumbai. It would always be home; the vibrant noises, family everywhere, dance rehearsals, and cheap trains and buses – but she was ready for a new experience. So off she flew at the end of 2024, from Mumbai to a quiet, slow-paced regional town in Australia to pursue a Bachelor of Nursing degree.
As the first in her family to study abroad, she thought she would be unfamiliar with many things. Turns out, that’s not what it’s like to apply to and study at Charles Sturt.
“The application process for the university was smooth and straightforward,” says Namya.
From Mumbai, India to Australia
Namya Kumar’s decision to pursue nursing wasn’t made overnight. Growing up, she had watched nurses care for her grandmother in the hospital and completed a short hospital internship back in her home country, India.
“The firsthand experience of compassion in action really stayed with me,” she says. “I knew I wanted to be in a role that blends empathy with skill, and nursing just felt right.”
A typical day in Namya’s life
On school days, this marks the start of a lecture or a clinical lab for Namya. She keeps her mind focused and open, ready to learn. “I try to take each class as a chance to build on what I know and ask questions if I don’t,” she says. “I love learning new things – even on tougher days, it helps to remind myself why I chose this path.”
8:00 AM
Living just 10 minutes away from campus gives Namya the liberty to stretch out her mornings. Once the alarm goes off, it’s time to get ready and make some breakfast – usually toast and eggs. It’s her time to mentally prepare for the day before running out the door.
6:45 AM
At noon, Namya heads to the Health and Acute Care course or a Clinical Reasoning tutorial. These sessions are hands-on and collaborative, conducted with some of her favourite professors: Natalia Bilton, Mathew Ellis, and Leila Kuzmiuk. “They make everything practical, engaging, and human-centred,” she says. Lessons are based on real-world applications, whether they’re doing group simulations, tutorials, or case studies.
12:00 PM
It’s time for a wrap-up. Namya focuses on reviewing notes, planning assignments, or completing readings at home or in the library. Once that’s done, it’s time to switch into the menial tasks of everyday life – a quick grocery run, picking up her cousins from school (she has extended family living nearby), or taking a second to relax before the evening begins.
3:00 PM
From Thursday to Saturday, Namya takes a shift at the Bonny View Store across from Rainbow Beach, which stocks up on groceries and takeaway foods. It gives her the chance to chat with the locals. On certain days, she’ll swim at the beach, calming down under the orange sunset.
4:30 PM
Namya concludes the night with a simple routine: shower, eat, unwind, and study. “I might stretch out with some yoga, Facetime my family back in India, or put on a comfort show,” she says. “I usually study late at night when the world quiets down – it helps me focus better.”
8:30 PM
On school days, this marks the start of a lecture or a clinical lab for Namya. She keeps her mind focused and open, ready to learn. “I try to take each class as a chance to build on what I know and ask questions if I don’t,” she says. “I love learning new things – even on tougher days, it helps to remind myself why I chose this path.”
8:00 AM
Living just 10 minutes away from campus gives Namya the liberty to stretch out her mornings. Once the alarm goes off, it’s time to get ready and make some breakfast – usually toast and eggs. It’s her time to mentally prepare for the day before running out the door.
6:45 AM
It’s time for a wrap-up. Namya focuses on reviewing notes, planning assignments, or completing readings at home or in the library. Once that’s done, it’s time to switch into the menial tasks of everyday life – a quick grocery run, picking up her cousins from school (she has extended family living nearby), or taking a second to relax before the evening begins.
3:00 PM
At noon, Namya heads to the Health and Acute Care course or a Clinical Reasoning tutorial. These sessions are hands-on and collaborative, conducted with some of her favourite professors: Natalia Bilton, Mathew Ellis, and Leila Kuzmiuk. “They make everything practical, engaging, and human-centred,” she says. Lessons are based on real-world applications, whether they’re doing group simulations, tutorials, or case studies.
12:00 PM
Namya concludes the night with a simple routine: shower, eat, unwind, and study. “I might stretch out with some yoga, Facetime my family back in India, or put on a comfort show,” she says. “I usually study late at night when the world quiets down – it helps me focus better.”
8:30 PM
From Thursday to Saturday, Namya takes a shift at the Bonny View Store across from Rainbow Beach, which stocks up on groceries and takeaway foods. It gives her the chance to chat with the locals. On certain days, she’ll swim at the beach, calming down under the orange sunset.
4:30 PM
Charles Sturt believes that every student deserves the chance of a quality education, no matter where they’re from. That’s why it goes the extra mile to offer financial aid to international students, whether at a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD level. With over 90 scholarships and grants offered, the opportunity to secure up to 50% in tuition fee reduction, and bursaries awarded to support their accommodation – Charles Sturt ensures that nothing’s standing in your way.
“I remember sitting in the Andaman Islands with my parents, halfway through a holiday, when the email popped up: I’d received the scholarship,” Namya says. “I cried. Not just because it meant financial ease, but because it felt like the universe telling me I could actually do this.”
Opportunities for scholarships
Namya’s acceptance to Charles Sturt was a double win, as she received a 25% academic merit-based scholarship, which took some weight off her shoulders. A few weeks later, she received an email about the Vice-Chancellor International Excellence Scholarship – a 50% tuition fee reduction for international students.
With low expectations, she decided to give it a shot and apply.
When she graduates next year, Namya wants to be the kind of nurse who advocates for the voices that go unheard. “I’ve seen how healthcare can be confusing and overwhelming, especially across languages and cultural barriers,” she says. “I want to bridge those gaps and be a calm, reassuring presence for my patients.”
What’s ahead for Namya
Namya earned more than she ever bargained for in the Bachelor of Nursing programme at Charles Sturt. She learned that nursing is about teamwork, critical thinking, cultural adaptation, and communication as much as it is about care and compassion. She’s developed a deep appreciation for the work that goes into nursing, growing her independence and confidence with every lab, every assignment, and every conversation.
Today, she knows nursing as a holistic, ever-evolving practice that touches lives in powerful ways.
Hear from more students
Aakriti Poudel took an interest in nursing from a young age, after receiving surgery on her hand in a hospital back home in Nepal. She remembered the doctors and nurses being kind and compassionate. “What happened was that the doctor actually discounted my medical fees, and he told my mother to invest the money into my studies,” shares Poudel, who is now pursuing a Bachelor of Nursing at Charles Sturt. “Nursing is kind, compassionate, loving, and caring – I couldn’t imagine myself being in any other profession.”
Stories like Poudel’s are common at Charles Sturt. The university is the #1 university in Australia for nursing graduates, with 93% of undergraduates scoring full-time employment within four months of completing their programme; this outcome is easy to understand, considering Charles Sturt’s reputation and history of graduating industry-ready nurses for over 40 years.
“Charles Sturt University is a good place for you to start your nursing journey or explore future careers, further studies, etc. It has good career opportunities for all.”
Successful futures start here
“In Nepal, we didn’t have the resources necessary,” says Poudel. “Here, we have modern clinical labs, a good learning environment, and tutors ready to help with any queries. I’m fortunate to be able to study here and pursue my dream course.”
Aakkriti Pudel
Aakriti Poudel took an interest in nursing from a young age, after receiving surgery on her hand in a hospital back home in Nepal. She remembered the doctors and nurses being kind and compassionate. “What happened was that the doctor actually discounted my medical fees, and he told my mother to invest the money into my studies,” shares Poudel, who is now pursuing a Bachelor of Nursing at Charles Sturt. “Nursing is kind, compassionate, loving, and caring – I couldn’t imagine myself being in any other profession.”
Stories like Poudel’s are common at Charles Sturt. The university is the #1 university in Australia for nursing graduates, with 93% of undergraduates scoring full-time employment within four months of completing their programme; this outcome is easy to understand, considering Charles Sturt’s reputation and history of graduating industry-ready nurses for over 40 years.
“Charles Sturt University is a good place for you to start your nursing journey or explore future careers, further studies, etc. It has good career opportunities for all.”
Successful futures start here
“In Nepal, we didn’t have the resources necessary,” says Poudel. “Here, we have modern clinical labs, a good learning environment, and tutors ready to help with any queries. I’m fortunate to be able to study here and pursue my dream course.”
Aakkriti Pudel
Many graduates are optimistic about their future, having seen and experienced what regional Australia offers: a vibrant lifestyle, picturesque locations, and seemingly boundless opportunities. Just ask Shahwal Mohsin, who completed his Master of Professional Information Technology in 2023 – he is now a Google Ads Specialist for Cloud Concepts Web Development in Australia.
“The thing about the MPIT programme is that there is industry experience involved,” says Mohsin, who enjoyed the extensive, work-integrated learning process.
Charles Sturt is known as one of the largest providers of postgraduate IT education in Australia, complete with programmes fully accredited by the Australian Computer Society. You’ll learn from academics who bring extensive industry experience to the classroom, and who are committed to making your learning industry relevant and aligned with today's – and tomorrow's – IT trends.
“I’ve been doing work placements, which have prepared me for a job; software development is especially interesting because it’s the type of thing you can do anywhere, from any part of the world.”
Shahwal Mohsin
Successful futures start here
Many graduates are optimistic about their future, having seen and experienced what regional Australia offers: a vibrant lifestyle, picturesque locations, and seemingly boundless opportunities. Just ask Shahwal Mohsin, who completed his Master of Professional Information Technology in 2023 – he is now a Google Ads Specialist for Cloud Concepts Web Development in Australia.
“The thing about the MPIT programme is that there is industry experience involved,” says Mohsin, who enjoyed the extensive, work-integrated learning process.
Charles Sturt is known as one of the largest providers of postgraduate IT education in Australia, complete with programmes fully accredited by the Australian Computer Society. You’ll learn from academics who bring extensive industry experience to the classroom, and who are committed to making your learning industry relevant and aligned with today's – and tomorrow's – IT trends.
“I’ve been doing work placements, which have prepared me for a job; software development is especially interesting because it’s the type of thing you can do anywhere, from any part of the world.”
Shahwal Mohsin
Successful futures start here
Charles Sturt offers programmes and pathways for a wide range of aspirations. From short courses to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, there’s a perfect qualification for anyone seeking it.
More career-launching programmes
Kickstart your nursing career at Charles Sturt University today.
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