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Direct Entry Nursing

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN)

Students in York University's Direct Entry Nursing program

The 4-Year Direct Entry program BScN at York University is designed for individuals with no prior nursing education, preparing them for rewarding careers in nursing. This full-time specialized honours BScN (120 credits) is approved by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), enabling graduates to write the registration exam to become a Registered Nurse (RN) in Ontario. 

Located at the Keele campus, the program combines theoretical knowledge with hands-on practice and interprofessional collaboration. A capstone course and final practicum provide real-world experience while developing critical thinking, leadership, and advocacy skills essential for nursing practice. 

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August 2026
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Duration

4 Years

Degree

BScN

Intake

Fall (Sept)

Study Options

Full-time only

Delivery

In-person

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Why Choose Nursing at York U?

Build the knowledge, skills, and confidence to excel in diverse healthcare settings through immersive, hands-on training and rigorous academic excellence. 

  • Practice in a 5,000 sq. ft. Nursing Simulation Centre, featuring a Nursing Skills Lab equipped with high-fidelity mannequins and a 2,000 sq. ft. Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality lab for immersive, self-paced learning. 
  • Access diverse clinical placements in hospitals, community health centers, long-term care facilities, and other healthcare settings across the Greater Toronto Area. 
  • Learn from experienced nursing educators and practitioners. 
  • Deepen your expertise with opportunities for specialized nursing practice in optional streams in High Acuity and Critical Care (Adult); Mental Health, Illness & Addictions Care; and Nursing Leadership and Care of the Older Adult. 

Minimum Admission and Eligibility Requirements 

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN) [OUAC Code YHW]:  

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD)   
  • ENG4U with at least a 70%  
  • 4U Math with at least a 70%  
  • SBI4U with at least a 70%  
  • SCH4U or SPH4U with at least a 70%  
  • Two additional 4U/4M courses  
  • Overall average in at least the high 80s  

For Fall 2027, this program is open to:  

  • Canadian citizens  
  • Permanent Residents  
  • Protected persons and international applicants only if they are currently Ontario high school students completing the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), six 4U/M courses, and are under the age of 21 (OUAC A Application only) 

This is a highly competitive program, and meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission. Applications are reviewed in the context of the annual applicant pool, which varies each year.  

Minimum Admission requirements and admission conditions, including pre-requisites, must be completed by June 30 of the year of application. 

Minimum admission requirements will vary depending on your curriculum and previous training, please visit Future Students Admission Requirements for more information.   

All applicants, including high school, college, university, and mature, must still have completed the prerequisite courses by June 30 with a minimum grade of 70% along with their overall GPA requirements as outlined on the Future Students website by their basis of admission.  

  • 4U Math with at least a 70%  
  • SBI4U with at least a 70%  
  • SCH4U or SPH4U with at least a 70%  

For Fall 2027, this program is open to:  

  • Canadian citizens  
  • Permanent Residents  
  • Protected persons and international applicants only if they are under the age of 21 and currently completing the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) with six 4U/M courses at an Ontario high school (OUAC A Application only). 

This is a highly competitive program, and meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission. Applications are reviewed in the context of the annual applicant pool, which varies each year.  

Minimum admission requirements and admission conditions, including pre-requisites, must be completed by June 30.   

Please note that if you have prior university studies, we encourage you to consider the 2nd Entry Nursing program. 

Courses

Please note that no transfer credit will be granted for any Nursing major courses. Students can expect the program to take 4 years to complete.   

  • NURS 1510 3.00 Reflection and Relational Practice in Professional Nursing  
  • KINE 1101 3.00 Applied Human Anatomy & Physiology for Health Practitioners I  
  • PSYC 1010 6.00 Introduction to Psychology  
  • Gen Ed Course 3.00  
  • NURS 1542 3.00 Health and Well-Being 
  • NURS 1511 3.00 Nursing Theory and Knowledge Development  
  • KINE 1102 3.00 Applied Human Anatomy & Physiology for Health Practitioners II  
  • PSYC 1010 6.00 Introduction to Psychology  
  • Gen Ed Course 3.00  
  • NURS 1543 3.00 Health Assessment 
  • NURS 2513 3.00 Ethics and Health Equity in Interprofessional Practice  
  • NURS 2535 3.00 Pathophysiology, Pharmacology and Knowledge Integration I  
  • SC/BIOL 2900 3.00 Clinical Microbiology for Nurses  
  • NURS 2546 6.00 Health of Families & Social Groups  
    NURS 2546P 0.00 Practicum for HH/NURS 2546 6.00 
  • NURS 2514 3.00 Introduction to Social Justice and Advocacy in Nursing Practice 3.0  
  • NURS 2536 3.00 Pathophysiology, Pharmacology and Knowledge Integration II  
  • PSYC 2021 3.00 Statistical Methods I  
  • NURS 2547 6.00 Mental Health Across the Lifespan  
    NURS 2547P 0.00 Practicum for HH/NURS 2547 6.00 
  • NURS 3514 3.00 Leadership, Change and Innovation 
  • NURS 3537 3.00 Pathophysiology, Pharmacology and Knowledge Integration III 
  • NURS 3515 3.00 Evidence-informed Nursing Practice: Research and Inquiry 
  • NURS 3510 6.00 Partnering with Communities 
    NURS 3510P 0.00 Practicum for HH/NURS 3510 6.00 
  • NURS 3512 3.00 Nursing in the Context of Global and Environmental Health 
  • NURS 3517 3.00 Critical Reflection and Clinical Reasoning in Practice 
  • Nursing Elective 3.00 (3000 level +) 
  • NURS 3511 6.00 Episodic and Common Health Challenges 
    NURS 3511P 0.00 Practicum for HH/NURS 3511 6.00 
  • NURS 4516 3.00 Development as a Professional Nurse 
  • NURS 4524 3.00 Trends in Healthcare Delivery 
  • Nursing Elective 3.00 (3000 level +) 
  • NURS 4526 6.00 Acute & Complex Health Challenges 
    NURS 4526P 0.00 Practicum for HH/NURS 4526 6.00 
  • NURS 4528 3.00 Nursing Knowledge and Transition 
  • NURS 4531 3.00 Professional Scholarship: Capstone Project 
  • NURS 4527 9.00 Integrated Practicum 

Accelerated
Three-Year
BScN Pathway

The School of Nursing offers an accelerated pathway for eligible students in the 4-Year Direct Entry BScN program to complete their degree in three years by studying through the summer terms. Degree requirements remain unchanged.

  • Can be combined with a stream option
  • Current Direct Entry Nursing students can apply to the accelerated pathway in the Fall of Year 2
  • Selection is based on GPA and is not guaranteed

Pathway to RN Registration

York University’s Nursing programs are approved by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), allowing graduates to pursue registration as a nurse in Ontario. 

To become a Registered Nurse (RN), BScN graduates must pass the NCLEX-RN examination and meet the CNO eligibility criteria, including residency status (Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or authorized under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act). CNO also outlines the required Entry-Level Competencies and requisite skills and abilities for nursing practice in Ontario, which includes cognitive, communicative, behavioural, psychomotor, sensory and environmental capacities. For details, visit the CNO Website. 

Careers in Nursing

With rising demand for skilled nurses, graduates work in diverse settings, including: 

  • Hospital and Acute Care: delivering critical patient care in a variety of specialties (i.e. medical-surgical, paediatrics, maternity & obstetrics, mental health, critical care, emergency, etc.) 
  • Long-term Care: providing care in nursing homes, hospices, and rehabilitation centers. 
  • Primary Health Care: with postgraduate studies, becoming a Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner (PHCNP), providing primary and preventive care. 
  • Public Health: promoting community health, education, and disease prevention. 
Students in York's Direct Entry Nursing program in the simulation centre

Tips for a Competitive Application

Review the minimum eligibility requirements to determine if this is the best York U BScN program for you. 

York University offers three BScN programs for different applicant groups, with distinct eligibility and minimum admission requirements and program lengths. Review the Minimum Eligibility and Admission Requirements and use the Which Nursing Program is Right for You? Quiz to determine whether Direct Entry Nursing is right for you.

Review the minimum admission requirements carefully well in advance of applying. 

Before submitting an application, review the minimum admission requirements associated with your basis of admission. Your basis of admission is determined by your academic history. Compare these requirements with your previous studies to determine whether you need to complete additional coursework before applying, such as prerequisite courses or other academic requirements needed to strengthen your application.

Ensure you are meeting, if not exceeding, all minimum admission requirements. 

This program receives significantly more qualified applications than available spaces each year, making admission highly competitive. Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission. Competitive applicants typically present grades in the high 80s or above in prerequisite courses.

Applicants who are not currently attending an Ontario high school and who must submit documents independently are encouraged to ensure that all required documentation is submitted by the application deadline. Complete applications can be considered earlier in the admissions cycle. If you plan to complete the minimum admission requirements after the application deadline, there is no guarantee that admission offers will still be available later in the cycle.

FAQs 

Below are some of our most frequently asked questions (FAQs) to help you plan and prepare. 

Yes, for Fall 2027, Canadian citizens and permanent residents with prior university or college studies can apply.   

Admission is competitive and depends on the annual applicant pool, which varies each year. Your file will be assessed using your grades in the high school prerequisites and your most recent and relevant post-secondary studies.  

  • If you have prior university studies, assessment will be based on your university GPA and your high school prerequisite grades. Since you have prior university studies, we strongly encourage you to consider the 2nd Entry Nursing program as it is a condensed program specifically designed for university applicants. 
  • If you only have college studies, assessment will be based on your college GPA and your high school prerequisite grades 

Please review the minimum admission requirements.  

Current York University students can request a Change of Degree or Faculty Transfer by the same deadline for September admission and would follow the minimum admission requirements for university applicants. Program request changes are requests and not guarantees of admission. 

Yes, students with prior BScN studies can apply. However, applicants with previous nursing course failures are not eligible. 

If admitted, please expect the program to take four years to complete as no transfer credit would be granted for any Nursing major courses.  

Yes, for Fall 2027, students with prior RPN studies can apply (if a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident), but York U does not offer a specific RPN to RN bridging program. Past RPN studies are considered the same as other past college studies and the major does not have any inherent advantage nor disadvantage to their application. 

Files will still be assessed based on overall GPA in highest education achieved and successful completion of high school pre-requisites.   

If admitted, please expect the program to take four years to complete as no transfer credit would be granted for any Nursing major courses. 

Applicants with studies from a Pre-Health Sciences program at an accredited Ontario college can apply (if a Canadian citizen or Permanent Resident), but these past studies do not have any inherent advantage nor disadvantage to their application.   

Files will still be assessed based on overall GPA in highest education achieved and successful completion of high school pre-requisites. A Pre-Health Science certificate does not satisfy the high school pre-requisite requirements. 

If admitted, please expect the program to take four years to complete as no transfer credit would be granted for any Nursing major courses. 

External Applicants must apply via the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC) adhering to all application deadlines. When applying, use the program code: YHW.  

Current York University students can request a Change of Degree or Faculty Transfer by the same deadline for September admission. 

Unfortunately, no. For Fall 2027, Canadian citizens and permanent residents with prior university or college studies can apply but will be required to submit complete post-secondary transcripts from all past college and university studies for assessment purposes as well as high school transcripts for the required pre-requisites. 

Admission is competitive and depends on the annual applicant pool, which varies each year. Your file will be assessed using your grades in the high school prerequisites and your most recent and relevant post-secondary studies. 

  • If you have prior university studies, assessment will be based on your university GPA and your high school prerequisite grades. Since you have prior university studies, we strongly encourage you to consider the 2nd Entry Nursing program as it is a condensed program specifically designed for university applicants. 
  • If you only have college studies, assessment will be based on your college GPA and your high school prerequisite grades 

Unfortunately, transcripts and prerequisites cannot be pre-assessed by the School of Nursing, Faculty of Health nor Office of Admission prior to applying. This work is considered assessment and can only be done by the Office of Admission after an applicant has submitted an application to Direct Entry Nursing, paid the application fee, and submitted all required supporting documents. 

It is your responsibility as the applicant to review your transcripts and review the minimum admission requirements in advance of applying to determine if there are additional courses you must take to present a competitive application. 

Missing or low high school prerequisites can be completed at any accredited in-person or online high school, such as the Independent Learning Centre (TVO-ILC), Ontario Virtual School, CALC Secondary School, Yorkdale Secondary School, Adult High School, or the Dr. Bette Stephenson Centre for Learning, among others. 

No, all prerequisite courses must be completed by June 30. 

No, your file can only be considered for admission if you have satisfied the proof of English language proficiency requirement. More details on the proof of English language proficiency requirement are available on the Future Students website. 

No, the CASPer test is not required. 

Once admitted, the Office of Admissions will determine eligibility for transfer credits. Please note that transfer credits are not granted for previously completed nursing courses. Please expect the program to take 4 years to complete. 

If you have prior university studies and are looking for a shorter program, we encourage you to consider the 2nd Entry Nursing program. 

No, deferrals are not allowed. If you decline your offer and wish to join the program in a future year, you must re-apply. 

The nursing program is designed to prepare students for a career in nursing, not as a pathway to medical school. 

BScN graduates must pass the NCLEX-RN registration exam, administered by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN) in Ontario or elsewhere in Canada. The designation of the title Registered Nurse (RN) is regulated by CNO. To qualify, graduates must provide proof of Canadian citizenship, permanent resident status, or authorization under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada). For more details, please visit the CNO website. 

No, applicants cannot apply directly to this pathway. Current Direct Entry Nursing students can apply to the accelerated pathway in the Fall of Year 2 (Term 3) through the School of Nursing.


Learn More

Please contact us if you have any questions about applying for Faculty of Health programs, your application status, or your next steps after receiving an offer of admission.

Faculty of Health Recruitment Office
hlthrec@yorku.ca
416-736-2100 x 33164