Objective? To design a Seminar curriculum model for graduate nursing students based on the discussion of SCI papers and evaluate its effect on students' scientific research ability. Methods? Using the cluster sampling method, 57 graduate nursing students from a medical university were selected as the control group, and 58 graduate nursing students were selected as the experimental group. Using SCI nursing papers as the subject of discussion, the control group implemented the empirical Seminar curriculum model. The experimental group constructed and implemented the curriculum model based on the research capability structure model and the Seminar learning objectives. The effects of the intervention were evaluated using the Research Motivation Scale (RMS), the Nursing Research Self-Efficacy Scale (NURSES), the Nursing Staff Scientific Research Self-Assessment Scale (SRASES), and the Seminar Survey Questionnaire. Results? After the course, the scores of RMS total score, intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation of the nursing students in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05). At the end of the course, the scores of the NURSES total scores, scientific knowledge resources of the nursing students and "effect of collective research" in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05). At the end of the course, the scores of the total scores and dimensions of the SRASES in the experimental group were higher than those in the control group, and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05). Conclusions? The Seminar curriculum model based on SCI papers can improve the motivation, scientific research efficacy and scientific research ability of graduate nursing students to a certain extent. However, it is still necessary to further explore the curriculum model to help students avoid the motivation of scientific research failure and the understanding and application of theory.