Undergraduate Program

Questions and Answers of Prospective Students

Three-year, eight semester BScN program:

The BScN program is very competitive and all direct entry applicants must have completed or be in the process of completing the required grade 12 courses and have a strong admission average to be considered for the program.

Required grade 12 courses: 

• Minimum overall average: 70%
• Academic English 12*
• Academic Math 12*
• Academic Biology 12*
• Academic Chemistry 12*
• One additional university preparatory course

*Minimum 70% required in subject area for admission consideration.

Meeting the minimum entrance average does not guarantee admission. As a result of the competitive admission process, applicants typically require a higher entrance average than the minimums listed in the admission requirements.

Semester 3 Entry

This two calendar year (6 semester) period of study is designed for students who have previous university study and have completed the pre-requisite courses.

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.
• Minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.3 scale for admission consideration.

*Nursing courses cannot be used to fulfill the open electives pre-requisite requirement.

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.

If you are applying to enter the Nursing program directly from High School, or if you have completed 12 credit hours or LESS of the semester 3 pre-requisite post-secondary courses, then you are a semester 1 applicant.

If you are applying to enter the Nursing program, and you have completed MORE than 12 credit hours of the Semester 3 pre-requisite post-secondary courses, then you are a semester 3 applicant. 

Please note: though completing more than 12 credit hours of the pre-requisites means that you are an Semester 3 applicant, you must complete/have completed the full 30 credit hours of pre-requisites post-secondary courses in order to be eligible for admission consideration.

The Bachelor of Science (Nursing) program is one of Dalhousie’s most competitive programs for admission. There are a limited number of seats for each entry point, and each year a large number of applications are received for those seats. As a result of this, not all qualified applicants can be offered admission to the program.

Dalhousie is also proud to offer our three-year (Semester 1 Entry) and our two-year (Semester 3 Entry) Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) program at our campus in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

If you are offered admission to the program from the waitlist you will be informed of your acceptance by email and/or phone.

Please note: We are not able to provide applicants with information regarding their place order on the waitlist.

Does the program allow Semester 3 admission for non-Nova Scotia residents?

Yes, however the number of seats offered to residents of other Canadian provinces is very limited. Due to residency restrictions and limited capacity, international students are not eligible for admission to this program

What is the definition of a Nova Scotia resident?

The definition for Nova Scotian resident, per the bilateral agreement 2025-27, is the following:

"Nova Scotia Student” means a student that satisfies at least one of the following eligibility criteria:

1. the student has a student loan from the Government of Nova Scotia;
2. the student entered university immediately after graduating from a high school located in Nova Scotia;
3. the student resided in Nova Scotia for a minimum of twelve (12) consecutive months prior to the first day of the first month in which their first classes at the University begin; or
4. the student is a dependent child of a parent or guardian that has resided in Nova Scotia for a  minimum of twelve (12) consecutive months prior to the first day of the first month in which the student’s first classes at the University begin;

but does not include an International Student, a Domestic Out of Province Student, or a student in receipt of student loan assistance from another province or territory.

Who makes the admissions decisions for the Nursing program?

Admissions decisions for the Nursing program are made by the Registrar’s Office.

Please note: Due to time and resource limitations, the Registrar's Office cannot conduct formal reviews of academic qualifications, transfer credits, or pre-requisites until after an official application has been submitted.          

I am a Semester 1 applicant. When will I know if I am accepted into the program?

Admission for Semester 1 applicants is rolling.  Applicants who have submitted a complete application, including transcripts will be assessed for admission.

I am a Semester 3 applicant. When will I know if I am accepted into the program?

Admission for Semester 3 applicants is rolling.  Applicants who have submitted a complete application, including transcripts from all previous attended post-secondary institutions, and have two or less of the 30 credit hours of pre-requisites left to complete, will be assessed for admission.

Does the School of Nursing have an Affirmative Action Policy for admissions?

Yes. The School of Nursing has an Affirmative Action Policy for residents of Nova Scotia who belong to the African Nova Scotian and Indigenous communities and who self-identify as such on the application for admission.

Can I complete the BScN via distance and/or part-time?

No. The BScN program is full-time program which must be completed on campus.

I am an International Student, what information do I need to know?

For our international applicants there is specific information you will need to know before applying. Information for International Students

Does Dalhousie School of Nursing offer an LPN to RN bridging program?

The Dalhousie School of Nursing does not offer an LPN to RN bridging program. 

I am an applicant with an international nursing qualification. Can I apply?

Applicants should contact the relevant Canadian regulating body (e.g. Nova Scotia College of Nurses - NSCN) in order to find out what steps are required to become a registered nurse in Canada. Due to residency restrictions and limited capacity, international students are not eligible for admission to this program.

Will you consider mature applicants?

The term “mature student” does not refer to an applicant’s age, rather a Canadian citizen or permanent resident over the age of 21 who has completed less than one year of post-secondary study, has not been enrolled in studies for at least two years and who does not currently meet general admission requirements.  Students in this category are ineligible for admission to the Nursing program.

Is there an age limit for applicants to the BScN?

Applicants of any age who meet the program requirements are welcome to apply.

Does my health-related work experience give me an advantage compared to other applicants?

Previous work experience is not evaluated as part of the admission process for the Nursing program.

I have questions about fees, student loans, scholarships, bursaries, etc., who do I contact?

For tuition, fees, payments or receipts contact Student Accounts.

For awards, bursaries, or scholarships contact Awards & Financial Aid.

I have questions about the application process, waitlist, application status, who do I contact?

Contact the Admissions Office at admissions@dal.ca or 902-494-2450.

Who can I contact for academic advising?

Prospective Students: All applicants who have submitted an application to Dalhousie University are assigned an advisor through the application portal. To connect with your advisor, log in to your application status portal and scroll to the section labeled “Connect with your advisor.” From there, you can book an appointment directly. Alternatively, you may contact the Admissions Office by emailing admissions@dal.ca to speak with an advisor.

Current Nursing Students:  Contact information can be found on the Contact an Academic Advisor page or emailing nursing.inquiries@dal.ca. 

Questions and Answers of Prospective Semester 3 Entry Students

Academic admissions requirements can be met by attending any recognized university or college. Please refer to our transfer credit equivalencies table for course equivalency information.

We have also provided below our course descriptions which can serve as a guide.  The final decision on if a course meets academic admissions requirements is made by the Nursing Committee. We encourage you to apply early for a full academic assessment.

Anatomy (ANAT) 1010 – Basic Human Anatomy: An introduction to Human Anatomy.  The student will be able to explain and describe, at a basic level, the gross anatomy and histology of the human body.

English (ASSC) 1700 – Communications for Nursing and Kinesiology: An introduction to academic writing in the context of health and social care. It focuses on professional and academic writing, critical thinking, and communication, particularly within nursing and kinesiology contexts.

Microbiology (MICI) 1100 – Health Science Microbiology: An introduction to microbiology and infectious diseases only for healthcare professionals. It includes a study of the structure and physiology of microorganisms, the ways microorganisms cause disease in man and the way they affect human's well being.

Physiology (PHYL) 1001 or 1011 – Human Physiology 1: This course is the first of two that explore the organization and function of the human body from the level of molecules to organ systems and the integration of systems within the whole organism. Specific topics in this course include Cellular Physiology with an emphasis on Transport, Metabolism and Communication, the Immune System, Neural, Muscle and Sensory Physiology and Control of Body Movement. Note that PHYL 1001, only, is via online distance course.

Physiology (PHYL) 1002 or 1012  – Human Physiology 2: This course is a continuation of PHYL 1001.03 or PHYL 1011 and explores the organization and function of the human body from the level of molecules to organ systems and the integration of systems within the whole organism. Specific topics in this course include Endocrine, Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Renal, Acid-Base, Whole Body Metabolism and Reproductive Physiology.

Statistics (STAT) 1060 – Intro Statistics for Science and Health Science: This course provides an introduction to the basic concepts of statistics through extensive use of examples. The topics include experimental design, descriptive statistics, simple linear regression and the basics of statistical inference. Students will learn to use the statistical package MINITAB.

One of any of the courses listed below will satisfy the writing requirement:

• Creative Writing 1030
• English 1030, 1005,1015,1025,1040,1050, 1060, 1100
• German 1026,1027
• History 1510
• Performance Studies 1000, 1001, 1002
• Philosophy 1810, 1820
• Russian 1020, 1070
• Oceanography 1001, 1002
• Sustainability 1000
• Political Science 1001, 1002
• Journalism 1002, 1003
• Science 1111

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. Any pre-requisite courses that exceed the age limit must be retaken to be eligible for Semester 3 entry admission. 

These age limits are strictly adhered to with no exceptions.

Applicants must have completed the 30 credit hours of required courses by April 30 and official final transcripts received by May 15 of the year of expected entry to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing.

Please note: If applicants are retaking any courses to meet the C requirement, we will wait until the final grade for those courses to review for admission.

To which program should I apply to take the Semester 3 Nursing prerequisites subjects?

The prerequisites can be completed in a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, or as a Special Student, non-degree. You will need to submit an application and have an assessment completed based on the requirements for that program. Please visit dal.ca/admissions to learn more about the requirements.

Can I use my graduate level work to satisfy admission requirements?

We generally review only undergraduate courses for admission to the Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Some exceptions may be made for courses in Health-related programs.

I am a Transfer Student, will my previous coursework be counted toward my degree?

Students in the semester 3 entry option may be able to apply transfer credits in semesters 1 and 2. 

Questions and Answers of Enrolled Students

All students should be prepared to submit copies of the following documents:

• Standard First Aid certification (completed after June 1)
  
• Level HCP CPR (completed after June 1)
  
• Childhood Immunization Record and checklist
• Serology report (blood test for immunity check}
• Mantoux test results
• Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Search (completed after June 1)

Please contact student.inquiries@dal.ca for more information.

Halifax: For deadline dates and submission of pre-clinical documents, please contact the Clinical Placement office, pamela.broome@dal.ca

Yarmouth: For deadline dates and submission of pre-clinical documents, please contact the Clinical Placement Coordinator, rose.clements@dal.ca

Prospective Students: All applicants who have submitted an application to Dalhousie University are assigned an advisor through the application portal. To connect with your advisor, log in to your application status portal and scroll to the section labeled “Connect with your advisor.” From there, you can book an appointment directly. Alternatively, you may contact the Admissions Office by emailing admissions@dal.ca to speak with an advisor.

Current Nursing Students:  Contact information can be found on the Contact an Academic Advisor page or emailing nursing.inquiries@dal.ca.