Nursing (BScN)
Compassionate care grounded in scientific excellence.
Why choose this program?
Whether caring directly for patients, conducting valuable research, or engaging in public policy advocacy, nurses make a difference in the quality of people's lives. Dal's Nursing program will prepare you to apply current evidence and respond with professionalism to the health and illness needs of people in a variety of healthcare settings, like hospitals, homes, schools, businesses, clinics, and communities.
We offer two admissions options for Nursing:
Semester 1: for students coming directly from high school or who do not have the required prerequisites for the Semester 3 option; made up of 8 semesters over a 3-year period.
Semester 3: for students who have all of the required non-nursing university-level courses (equivalent of semesters 1 and 2) completed with at least 30 credit hours, and will enter the program at Semester 3 in September and complete the program in 2 years.
Admission requirements
Minimum admission requirements
To be considered for admission to this program, you must meet minimum academic criteria:
- Completion of secondary school (Grade 12)
- Achievement of the minimum average for your program of choice.
- Completion of Grade 12 English (or equivalent course).
Admission to many Dalhousie programs is competitive. This means that meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission.
Program-specific admission requirements
Owing to the limited enrollment and the large number of applicants, this program primarily serves permanent residents of Nova Scotia. However, each year a limited number of direct entry (directly from high school) and advanced standing entry (for those with previous university experience) seats are also available for qualified residents of other Canadian provinces and international students.
Minimum overall average: 70%
Academic English 12
Academic Math 12
Academic Biology 12
Academic Chemistry 12
One additional academic subject
Completion of the CASPer test (see information below)
This program may employ a competitive average for admission purposes; meeting minimum posted requirements does not guarantee admission.
Due to residency restrictions and limited capacity, international students are not eligible for Direct Entry admission to this program.
This two-calendar-year (six-semester) continuous period of study is designed for students who have previously studied at university and have completed the following pre-requisite courses:
1. A minimum grade of C in each of:
- Anatomy
- Physiology (6 CR or 3 CR + Biological Science 3 CR)
- Statistics
- Microbiology, and
- English writing or equivalent is required.
- A minimum grade of C in each of the open electives and science elective is required.
2. Subject requirements:
- Anatomy (ANAT) 1010 or equivalent - 3 credit hours.
- Physiology (PHYL) 1001 and 1002 or 1011 and 1012 (or PHYL 1001 + Biological
- Science) - 6 credit hours.
- Statistics (STAT) 1060 or equivalent - 3 credit hours.
- Microbiology (MICI) 1100 or equivalent - 3 credit hours
- English (ENGL) 1100 or equivalent writing course- 3 credit hours.
- Science elective - 3 credit hours.
- Open electives* - 9 credit hours.
In order to be eligible for Semester 3 entry admission, the 5 core pre-requisite courses (Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology, English, and Statistics) cannot be more than 10 years old from the forecasted date of graduation from Dalhousie's Nursing program. Elective pre-requisite courses cannot be more than 15 years old.
3. A student with a .03 credit hour combined Anatomy and Physiology course will also be required to have .06 additional credit hours of Biological Sciences.
4. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 based on overall post-secondary career or most recent year of studies (30 credit hours)
5. Meeting the minimum entrance GPA does not guarantee admission. As a result of the competitive admission process, applicants typically require a higher entrance GPA than the minimums listed in the admission requirements.
Visit the Academic Calendar to learn more about applying as an advanced standing student.
Additional information for Semester 3 applicants:
- Students must seriously consider whether financial, work and family responsibilities will allow them to study full time, year-round. Enrolment is limited—not all applicants with the minimum GPA will receive a place in this option.
- Applicants must carefully compare courses completed with the published information to determine, to the best of their ability, whether the subjects align. Academic admissions requirements can be met by attending any recognized university or college. Visit Dalhousie’s Transfer Credit Equivalency Table for more information.
- Our Nursing Admissions Committee reserves the right to make the final decision on if a course satisfies admissions requirements. We encourage you to apply early to ensure you satisfy the course requirements for admissions consideration.
All newly admitted BScN students must be certified in CPR-Health Care Provider (CPR-HCP) level. Certification must be obtained in the year of entrance to the program. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that certification is renewed prior to expiration.
All applicants to Dalhousie's Bachelor of Science (Nursing) program are required to complete a 90-minute computer-based online assessment (CASPer Test), in addition to meeting academic requirements. Successful completion of CASPer is mandatory in order to maintain admission eligibility.
CASPer is an online test which assesses for non-cognitive skills and interpersonal characteristics that are important for successful students and graduates of the Nursing program. In implementing CASPer, we are trying to further enhance fairness and objectivitiy in our admission selection process.
Please note that the CASPer test can only be written once within an admission cycle. Multiple test attempts are not permitted. Additionally, CASPer test results are only valid for one admission cycle. Applicants who have already taken the test in previous years will therefore be expected to re-take it.
Please direct any inquiries on the test to CASPer provider, Altus.
Registering for the CASPer test
A Dalhousie ID number (B00 number) is required to register for the CASPer test, and to have your results sent to Dalhousie. In order to receive a Dalhousie ID or Application number you must:
- Apply to Nursing - Complete and submit the online Dalhousie undergraduate application for admission.
- Log into your Application Portal to find your Dalhousie ID number. It can be found with your application information in the upper right-hand corner of the page
Once you receive your Dalhousie ID number you can use it along with a piece of government issued photo ID to register for a CASPer test date. Please note that CASPer is a separate organization that sets test dates for multiple Nursing programs across Canada. As such, the test dates may or may not align with the Dalhousie University application deadline for the Nursing program. Please plan accordingly so that you receive your Dalhousie ID number in time for the last CASPer test date registration.
Test dates
CASPer test dates and times for September 2024 Nursing admission will be available at takealtus.com in early Fall 2023.
You will be provided with a limited number of testing dates and times. Please note that these are the only testing dates available for your CASPer test. There will be no additional tests scheduled.
Once test dates are posted, you can register for the CASPer test at takealtus.com using your Dalhousie ID number ('B00' number) and a piece of government-issued photo ID. Your Dalhousie ID number will be issued to you via email no later than one week after the submission of your Dalhousie Undergraduate Application. Please use an email address that you check regularly to ensure that you receive relevant updates to the test schedule.
Fees
There is an additional fee for applicants payable to CASPer for the CASPer test. CASPer fees consist of two components:
- A fee to take CASPer
- A fee to distribute your results to the institutions you select
For more information on CASPer fees please visit takealtus.com
Test results
Once received by Dalhousie, your CASPer score will be used in combination with your academic performance for admission assessment.
Test structure
The CASPer test is comprised of 12 sections of video and written scenarios. Following each scenario, you will be required to answer a set of probing questions under a time limit.
No studying is required for CASPer, although you may want to familiarize yourself with the test structure at takealtus.com/casper. You should also review the technical requirements below and ensure you have a quiet environment to take the test.
Technical requirements
In order to take CASPer you will be responsible for securing access to a computer with audio capabilities, a webcam, and a reliable internet connection on your selected test date. CASPer can be taken practically anywhere that you can satisfy these technical requirements.
Please note that CASPer's policy is that no exceptions will be provided for applicants unable to take CASPer online due to being located at sites where internet is not dependable due to technical or political factors.
Financial information
A university education is a significant financial investment. Every student is unique, and so are their financial circumstances. We offer competitive tuition, a robust scholarship and bursary program, and resources and support to help you explore financial options and develop a plan that works for you.
Program options
As a Dal Nursing student, you’ll have the option to earn your degree at either our Halifax campus or our Yarmouth Campus. Wherever you study, practical experience is a huge part of your degree – each year, you’ll participate in clinical courses that include placements in a variety of healthcare settings.
You can also customize your degree and specialize in an area of nursing practice by earning a certificate alongside your degree in:
Perinatal and Pediatric Nursing
Public Health Nursing
Mental Health Nursing
Acute/Critical Care Nursing
The following Nursing program options are offered by Dalhousie University’s Faculty of Health. Connect with an academic advisor after you start your studies to explore options such as:
Bachelor of Nursing
Certificates in Perinatal and Pediatric Nursing, Public Health Nursing, Mental Health Nursing and Acute/Critical Care Nursing.
What you will learn
At Dal, you'll find flexible program options and hands-on learning opportunities alongside world-class faculty.
The program curriculum will be completed over three calendar years (eight semesters) for direct entry students and over two calendar years (six semesters) for advanced standing students (qualifying students who have previous university experience), offering graduates the opportunity to enter practice one year earlier.
Beyond studying human anatomy and physiology, you'll explore the broad spectrum of nursing—from proper hygiene practices and mobility protocols to legal issues and medical ethics.
Sample courses may include:
Human Physiology
Basic Human Anatomy
Human Growth and Development
Health Science Microbiology
Nursing and Community Health
Foundation of Nursing Practice
Nursing Research and Evidence Informed Practice
Health and Healing: Pathophysiology and Therapeutics
Nursing and Episodic Illness: Preventative Care and Intervention
Professional Formation of Nursing Practice: Leadership Perspectives
Exploratory Nursing Practice
Outside of the classroom, there may be opportunities to boost your knowledge and skills by working with faculty as research assistants or volunteering in their research labs.
Careers
For nurses, no two days are alike — and for many nurses, that's one of the reasons they do what they do. The scope of nursing covers a broad range of healthcare settings. Nurses have a complex role in advocating for patients while striving to assist individuals in reaching an optimal level of wellness and capability.
A nursing career offers limitless opportunities in practice, education, research, and leadership. Graduates of Dalhousie's Nursing program are pursued by national and international recruiters offering competitive employment packages.
Many nurses who complete graduate degrees move into roles in advanced practice and nursing specialties. Your degree in nursing lays the groundwork for graduate programs in nursing, health administration, and interdisciplinary studies.