Bachelor of Science in Nursing

High school requirements

You need to have a minimum 75% average in five subjects, with no grade below a 60%. The subjects include:

• English 30-1 (65% or higher is required)
• Biology 30
• Chemistry 30 or Science 30
• One of Math 30-1, Math 30-2 or Math 31
• Subject from Group A, B or C

Mature student requirements

Mature students must be over the age of 21. You must also have an overall minimum high school average of 75% with no grade below 65% in English 30-1 and no grade below 60% in Chemistry 30 or Science 30, and Biology 30.

Applicants with post-secondary credits

Applicants with post-secondary credits will have their average calculated based on a 60-40 split, with 60% of your GPA based on required high school courses and 40% of your GPA based on your last 24 post-secondary credits.

Applicants of Aboriginal ancestry

There are five seats available for qualified applicants of Aboriginal ancestry in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing program every year. Applicants must be accepted by April 15, or the positions may be filled with students of non-Aboriginal ancestry.

View more information on the definition of Aboriginal ancestry.

English language proficiency

Instructors teach primarily in English. You can qualify for English Language Proficiency if you have completed three or more years of full-time education in English, including your Grade 12 year at a Canadian school or an approved school outside of Canada.

You can also meet proficiency requirements with accepted scores from these tests:

• TOEFL : iBT - minimum score of 79 with no score below 19
• IELTS - minimum overall score of 6.5 with no score below 5.0
• CAEL - minimum overall score of 70
• MELAB - minimum overall score of 85

Spoken language proficiency

If you are a speaker with English as a second language, you must show Spoken Language Proficiency. You can meet this requirement by presenting:

• Proof of six or more years of full-time education in English, including your Grade 12 year at a Canadian school or an approved school outside of Canada;
• A minimum score of 26 on the speaking band of the TOEFL:iBT;
• A minimum score of 7.5 on the IELTS speaking band; or
• A minimum of 50 on the University of Alberta's Speaking Test

All year 1 courses must be completed prior to entering year 2.

Note 2: An equivalent STAT (*3) course may be accepted in lieu of NURS 211.

Note 3: Open Elective to be selected from a discipline of the student's choice that transfers to the University of Alberta. It must be completed by the end of Year 3 in order to progress to Year 4.

Note 1: Any junior or senior English or Writing Studies course. Students should consult the Department of English guidelines regarding prerequisites for senior-level courses. May be taken in the Fall Term or the Winter Term.

Note 2: An equivalent STAT (*3) course may be accepted in lieu of NURS 211.

Note 3. Open Elective to be selected from a discipline of the student's choice that transfers to the University of Alberta. It must be completed by the end of Year 3 in order to progress to Year 4.

Note 4: NURS 485 may be offered in the Winter Term of Year 4. In this case, students would take NURS 422 and NURS 425 in the Fall Term.