Faculty of Nursing Admission Requirements

• Admission Requirements for All Students
• BSc in Nursing—Collaborative Program
• BSc in Nursing—Honors Program
• BSc in Nursing After Degree Program
• BSc in Nursing—Bilingual Program/Baccalauréat ès sciences infirmières (bilingue)
• Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) to BScN Program
• Readmission
• Special Students

Admission Requirements for All Students

All students seeking admission to undergraduate programs in the Faculty of Nursing must present the following:

1. Spoken English Requirement: Applicants must meet a spoken English requirement (see Spoken English Proficiency ).
2. Health and Safety Requirements: There are a number of health and safety-related requirements that must be met upon admission (see Health and Safety Requirements ). Further information regarding these requirements and deadlines is available on the Faculty of Nursing website.
3. Situational Judgement Test Requirement (Effective Fall 2020 admission onward): Applicants are required to complete a situational judgement test and submit the results when submitting an application for admission. An applicant’s situational judgement test score is a selection factor that is considered in the admission decision process. Further information regarding this requirement is available on the Faculty of Nursing website.
4. Minimum Age Requirement (Effective Fall 2024 admission onward): Students must have reached 18 years of age prior to the start of their first clinical course.

BSc in Nursing—Collaborative Program

Admission is competitive based on academic standing.

High School Applicants

Subject Requirements

1. English Language Arts 30-1
2. Chemistry 30 or Science 30
3. Biology 30
4. One of Mathematics 30-1, Mathematics 30-2 or Mathematics 31
5. Subject from Group A, B, or C or Physical Education 30 (5 Credits)

Note: Early offers of admission may be granted to early applicants who meet eligibility requirements (see Admission Decision Process ).

Transfer Applicants

Transfer students from other University of Alberta Faculties and other postsecondary institutions should consult Transfer from a Postsecondary Institution  for information on Transfer from Colleges and Universities.

Requirements

1. Transfer students must present the high school subject requirements listed in High School Applicants.
2. An Admission GPA (AGPA) of at least 3.0 or equivalent. Please refer to Transfer from a Postsecondary Institution .
3. Effective Fall 2018 admission and onward, transfer credit will only be granted for foundational nursing courses with a minimum grade of C+* and taken within 5 years of BScN program start date. Foundational nursing courses include: Anatomy and Physiology (6 units), Foundations for Success in Nursing (4 units), Foundations of Nursing I (3 units), Foundations of Nursing II (3 units), Health Assessment & Nursing Process (4 units), Medical Microbiology (3 units), Pathophysiology and Pharmacology I (3 units), and Pathophysiology and Pharmacology II (6 units).
   
   *Students must obtain a grade equivalent to C+ or higher as determined by the grading scale in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta. International applicants’ grading equivalences will be considered on a case by case basis.
4. Complete high school and postsecondary transcripts.

Note: Students should apply early as they may be eligible for an early offer of admission. Once an early offer of admission has been made, a student is eligible to access the Bear Tracks web registration system. If a student fails to maintain a minimum AGPA of 3.0, the early offer of admission will be withdrawn.

Nonmatriculated Applicants

Subject Requirements

1. English Language Arts 30-1
2. Chemistry 30 or Science 30
3. Biology 30

Other Requirements

See general nonmatriculated requirements Nonmatriculated Applicants .

Indigenous Applicants

1. In addition to the regular quota positions, up to six more positions per year are available in the Collaborative BScN program for qualified students of Native identity within the meaning of the Constitutional Act of 1982, Section 35, Part 2. Please refer to Admission of Indigenous Applicants  for regulations and requirements.
2. Interested Indigenous applicants who do not meet the admission requirements for the Faculty may be considered for admission to the Transition Year Program (Nursing) offered by First Peoples’ House. If they demonstrate academic achievement (minimum GPA 2.5) during the Transition Year Program, the relevant successfully completed courses will be credited toward the degree, and the student will be admitted formally to Year 1 of the Collaborative BScN Program.
3. Situational Judgement Test Requirement (Effective Fall 2020 admission onward): Applicants are required to complete a situational judgement test and submit the results when submitting an application for admission. An applicant’s situational judgement test score is a selection factor that is considered in the admission decision process. Further information regarding this requirement is available on the Faculty of Nursing website.
4. Indigenous applicants for the Collaborative BScN Program should contact the Faculty of Nursing at 780-492-5300. For the Transition Year Program, applicants should contact First Peoples’ House at 780-492-5677.

Admission to Year 4 from other Collaborative Sites

Applicants who have completed the first three years of the Collaborative Program at any of the Collaborative Partner sites require the following:

1.  Official transcripts from all of the postsecondary institutions attended.
2. A minimum GPA of 2.0 (based on the grades for required courses taken while in the Collaborative Program).

BSc in Nursing—Honors Program

The BScN—Honors Program is offered to eligible students in the BScN—Collaborative Program and to applicants who have completed a university degree. Students planning to apply to the Honors program must consult the Honors Program Coordinator before applying. The minimum requirements for admission to the BScN–Honors Program are:

Applicants from the BScN—Collaborative Program 

1. Completion of all Year 1 courses in the BScN—Collaborative Program. (Students enrolled in the BScN—Collaborative Program may apply to the Honors Program at the end of Year 1 or up to the end of Year 2.)
2. A minimum GPA of 3.3 on 24 units of course weight in the preceding Fall/Winter. Admission is competitive. 

Applicants with a Prior Degree 

1. A baccalaureate degree from a recognized academic institution. 
2. Students must normally present a minimum AGPA of 3.5. Admission is competitive.
3. Completion of the following prerequisites: English (3 units), Human Anatomy (3 units), Human Physiology (3 units), Medical Microbiology (3 units), and Statistics (3 units). 
4. The following prerequisite courses require a minimum grade of C+* and must be taken within 5 years of BScN program start date: Human Anatomy (3 units), Human Physiology (3 units), and Medical Microbiology (3 units). *Students must obtain a grade equivalent to C+ or higher as determined by the grading scale in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta. International applicants’ grading equivalences will be considered on a case by case basis. Students with grades of CR will not be considered as meeting the C+ requirement.

High School subject requirements do not apply. 

Note: The BScN–Honors Program is only offered in Edmonton. 

​BSc in Nursing After Degree Program

This program is offered in Edmonton.

Requirements

1. A baccalaureate degree from a recognized academic institution.
2. An Admission GPA (AGPA) of at least 3.0 or equivalent. Please refer to Transfer from a Postsecondary Institution .
3. Completion of the following prerequisite courses: English (3 units), Human Anatomy (3 units), Human Physiology (3 units), Medical Microbiology (3 units), and Statistics (3 units).
4. The following prerequisite courses require a minimum grade of C+* and must be taken within 5 years of BScN program start date:
   Human Anatomy (3 units), Human Physiology (3 units), and Medical Microbiology (3 units).

*Students must obtain a grade equivalent to C+ or higher as determined by the grading scale in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta. International applicants’ grading equivalences will be considered on a case by case basis. Students with grades of CR will not be considered as meeting the C+ requirement.

High school subject requirements do not apply.

BSc in Nursing—Bilingual Program/Baccalauréatès sciences infirmières (bilingue)

Admission is competitive based on academic standing.

Language Proficiency Requirements

Applicants to the BSc in Nursing—Bilingual Program will be required to demonstrate written and spoken proficiency both in English and French before admission.

1. English: For information regarding general English Language proficiency requirements as well as spoken English requirements applicable to all health sciences disciplines, see Language Proficiency Requirements .
2. French: Successfully complete one of the following courses: Français 30-1 or 30-2 (offered in French schools), French Language Arts 30-1, or 30-2 (offered in French immersion programs), French 30 (9 year), or French 31 (offered in English schools), or equivalent.

High School Applicants

Subject Requirements

1. One of French 30 (9 year), French 31, Français 30-1, 30-2, French Language Arts 30-1, 30-2
2. English Language Arts 30-1
3. Chemistry/Chimie 30 or Science 30
4. Biology 30/Biologie 30
5. One of Mathematics 30-1/Mathématiques 30-1 or Mathematics 30-2/Mathématiques 30-2 or Mathematics 31/Mathématiques 31

Notes

1. Quebec students are considered after one year of appropriate Health Sciences or Pure and Applied Sciences CEGEP courses.
2. Early offers of admission may be granted to early applicants who meet eligibility requirements (see Admission Decision Process ).

Transfer Applicants

Transfer applicants from other University of Alberta Faculties and other postsecondary institutions should consult Transfer from a Postsecondary Institution  for information on Transfer from Colleges and Universities.

Requirements

1. Transfer students must present the high school subject requirements listed in High School Applicants.
2. An Admission GPA (AGPA) of at least 3.0 or equivalent. Please refer to Transfer from a Postsecondary Institution .
3. Transfer credit will only be granted for foundational nursing courses with a minimum grade of C+* and taken within 5 years of BScN program start date. Foundational nursing courses include: Anatomie (3 units), Les fondations des sciences infirmières I/II (6 units), Health Assessment & Nursing Process (4 units), Microbiologie Médicale pour Infirmières (3 units) Pathophysiology and Pharmacology II (6 units), and Physiologie (6 units). *Students must obtain a grade equivalent to C+ or higher as determined by the grading scale in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta. International applicants’ grading equivalencies will be considered on a case by case basis.
4. Complete high school and postsecondary transcripts.

Note: Students should apply early as they may be eligible for an early offer of admission. Once an early offer of admission has been made, a student is eligible to access the Bear Tracks Web Registration System. If a student fails to maintain a minimum AGPA of 3.0, the early offer of admission will be withdrawn.

Nonmatriculated Applicants

Subject Requirements

1. English Language Arts 30-1 or demonstrate an equivalent level of competence of the English language.
2. Candidates must have successfully completed one of the following courses: French 30 (9 year), French 31, Français 30-1, 30-2, French Language Arts 30-1, 30-2, or demonstrate an equivalent level of competence of the French language.
3. Chemistry 30/Chimie 30 or Science 30
4. Biology 30/Biologie 30

Other Requirements

1. See general nonmatriculated requirements Nonmatriculated Applicants .

Registered Psychiatric Nurse (RPN) to BScN Program

Requirements

1. Graduation from a psychiatric nursing program.
2. Proof of current registration with a provincial psychiatric nursing association and eligibility to register with the Registered Psychiatric Nurses Association of Alberta.
3. Official transcripts of:
   1. RPN diploma program,
   2. Any other postsecondary education taken.
4. An Admission GPA (AGPA) of at least 3.0 or equivalent. Please refer to Transfer from a Postsecondary Institution .
5. Completion of the following prerequisite courses:
   1. Human Physiology (6 units)
   2. Medical Microbiology (3 units)
   3. English (3 units)
6. The following prerequisite courses require a minimum grade of C+* and must be taken within 5 years of RPN-BScN Program start date: Human Physiology (6 units) and Medical Microbiology (3 units).
7. Transfer credit will only be granted for foundational nursing courses with a minimum grade of C+* and taken within 5 years of the RPN to BScN Program start date. Foundational nursing courses include: Health Assessment & Nursing Process (4 units), Foundations of Nursing II (3 units), and Pathophysiology and Pharmacology II (3 units). *Students must obtain a grade equivalent to C+ or higher as determined by the grading scale in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta. International applicants’ grading equivalences will be considered on a case by case basis.

Readmission

Readmission depends on availability of space and is at the discretion of the Faculty of Nursing Admissions Committee.

1. Applications from students who have previously been in the program and left in good standing and wish to reenrol in the Faculty must 
   1. Submit transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended within three years of withdrawal and by the deadline specified in Admission and Readmission Deadlines .
2. Applications from students who had previously been in the program and were required to withdraw and want to reenrol in the Faculty must:
   1. Submit transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended within two years of withdrawal and by the deadline in Admission and Readmission Deadlines .
   2. Interview with Associate Dean, Undergraduate Programs or designate.

Special Students

Special Student status is granted to applicants who wish to study in the Faculty but are not enrolled in a degree program. Special Students are permitted to register in more than one course. Transfer credit toward a degree program cannot be issued until the student has been accepted into that program.

Requirements

1. Normally, applicants must have graduated from an approved BScN program or provide evidence of graduation from a general nursing program considered equivalent by the College of Registered Nurses of Alberta.
2. Applications, together with official transcripts of any postsecondary education, diploma nursing program and registered nurse examination results, must be submitted by the dates in Admission and Readmission Deadlines .