Nursing is a degree course that teaches the students the skills required to promote the health and safety of the ill, the Nursing is a degree program that gives students the skills necessary to support the health and safety of society’s sick, disabled, and old. Nurses are the medical industry’s backbone. Here are some of the benefits of studying nursing in Canada for overseas students.
Keep reading to see detailed information on requirements to study nursing in canada for international students, short nursing courses in canada for international students, diploma in nursing in canada colleges, and cheapest nursing school in canada for international students.
diploma in nursing in canada for international students
To study nursing in Canada, you will be granted a Canadian study permit. Upon being accepted, you will need a letter of acceptance from your university to accompany your application. If you are going to study nursing in Quebec, you will also need a CAQ (Quebec Acceptance Certificate) from the local government.
- 10 nursing colleges in Canada rank in the top 100 nursing colleges globally, in the QS World Rankings of 2022.
- Nursing jobs in Canada are expected to rise by 3.4% by 2035.
- The number of internationally educated nurses has grown by 7.8%, representing almost 8.5% of the total Canadian registered nurses population.
- The average annual salary for nursing jobs in Canada starts from 104,000 CAD and can go up as high as 201,000 CAD.
- According to Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing, the number of graduates in nursing who registered for studying in Canada has increased by almost 30% in the 2007-2017 stretch.
Globally Ranked Nursing Colleges in Canada
There are around 67 nursing colleges in Canada offering degrees at bachelor, graduate, and doctorate levels. University of Toronto and University of British Columbia are two top-ranking colleges that do not offer direct bachelor entry to nursing courses for international students.
Some of the top-ranking colleges and the courses offered have been listed down below:
| University | QS Ranking 2020 | Courses offered |
|---|---|---|
| University of Toronto | 26 | Bachelor, master, and Ph.D. course |
| McMaster University | 140 | 4 bachelor, 3 graduate diploma, a master course |
| McGill University | =27 | 2bachelor, 9 masters, 4 graduate diploma, Ph.D. courses |
| University of Alberta | 23 | 2 bachelor, 2 masters, Ph.D. courses |
| University of British Columbia | 46 | Bachelor, master courses |
| Western University | 170 | Bachelor Course |
| Queen’s University at Kingston | =240 | 2 bachelor, 2 master, 2 PhD courses |
| University of Calgary | 235 | Bachelor, 4 masters, certificate, diploma, PhD courses |
Nursing Colleges in Canada: Degree Types and Specializations
Nursing colleges in Canada offer around 140 courses in different degree levels and different specializations. At the bachelor level, Bachelor in Science in Nursing (BSN) and Bachelor in Science (BSc) degree is offered.
At the graduate level, Master in Science in Nursing (M.S.N), Master in Applied Science in Nursing (MASc) and graduate certificate and graduate diploma degrees are offered. A Ph.D. in Nursing is offered after completion of the doctorate program. There are various specializations international students can choose from according to their interests.
Here are some of the specializations:
- Family Nurse Practitioner
- Practical Nursing
- Critical Care Nursing
- Community Mental Health
- General Nursing
- Nursing Administration
- Mental Health Nursing Practitioner
- Global Health
- Midwifery
Nursing Colleges in Canada: Undergraduate Programs
Colleges for nursing in Canada offer a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree as a regular degree or as an accelerated degree. A regular BSN degree takes 4 years to complete the course whereas, in an accelerated degree, the course duration is 2 years.
At the bachelor level, the program mainly focuses on the protection of health by prevention and treatment of illness. Hence, clinical practice is a very important part of bachelor in nursing in Canada.
Here are some of the universities offering bachelors degree in nursing:
| University | Course offered | Duration | Yearly Fees in CAD |
|---|---|---|---|
| McMaster University | Bachelor of Science in Nursing [B.S.N] | 4 | 24,277 |
| Bachelor of Science in Nursing [B.S.N] (Accelerated) | 2 | 24,277 | |
| Bachelor of Science [B.Sc] Midwifery | 4 | 24,277 | |
| McGill University | Bachelor of Nursing (integrated) | 5 | 36,561 |
| Bachelor of Science in Nursing [B.S.N] | 3 | 31,794 | |
| University of Alberta | Bachelor of Science in Nursing [B.S.N] Registered Psychiatric Nurse | 2 | 20,250 |
| Bachelor of Science in Nursing [B.S.N] | 4 | 20,250 | |
| Western University | Bachelor of Science in Nursing [B.S.N] | 4 | 23,281 |
| Queen’s University at Kingston | Bachelor Nursing Science | 4 | 17,358 |
| Bachelor Nursing Science (Accelerated Standing Track) | 4 | 17,358 |
Nursing Colleges in Canada: Eligibility for Bachelors
Bachelor in nursing in Canada is offered with various specializations and various degree types. The eligibility criteria depend on the course and the university. But there are some minimum basic criteria that international students need to have to apply for any course. The minimum basic criteria common to most universities have been listed down below:
- A 12 grade level of education with a minimum of 65%.
- Some universities demand English and Mathematics and some science courses at the 12-grade level
- Completion of a mandatory CASPer Test (Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics).
- Language Proficiency tests (IELTS- a minimum overall band of 6.5, TOEFL- a minimum of 80 )
Nursing Colleges in Canada: Documents Required for Bachelors
- Official transcripts and language test scores.
- CASPer Test document
- Letter of Recommendation (LOR)
- Statement of Purpose
Nursing Colleges in Canada: Fees for Bachelors
The tuition fees for a bachelor’s degree in nursing colleges in Canada range from 52,000 CAD to 169,000 CAD (total program fees).
Nursing Colleges in Canada: Graduate Programs
Nursing colleges in Canada offer a master’s degree as a normal MSc course or a research-based MSN course. It is usually a 2-year program. Some universities offer graduate diploma and graduate certificate courses on various specializations in nursing which usually takes 1 year to complete.
There are more than 20 universities offering masters in nursing in Canada. Some of them have been tabulated below:
| Universities | Course Offered | Duration | Annual fees in CAD |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Toronto | Master of Nursing [M.N] | 3 | 39,967 |
| McMaster University | Master of Science in Nursing [M.S.N] | 2 | 12,820 |
| Graduate Diploma Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner | 1 | 8,547 | |
| Graduate Diploma Neonatal Nursing – Advanced | 2 | 8,547 | |
| McGill University | Master of Applied Science [M.ASc] Nursing – Advanced Clinical Practice | 2 | 13,583 |
| Master of Applied Science [M.ASc] Nursing – Mental Health Nurse Practitioner | 2 | 13,583 | |
| Master of Applied Science [M.ASc] Nursing – Neonatology Nurse Practitioner | 2 | 13,583 | |
| Master of Applied Science [M.ASc] Nursing – Nursing Services Administration | 2 | 13,583 | |
| University of Alberta | Master of Nursing [M.N] | 2 | 7,100 |
| Master of Nursing [M.N] | 2 | 7,875 | |
| University of British Columbia | Master of Science in Nursing [M.S.N] | 2 | 6,714 |
| Queen’s University at Kingston | Master Nursing Science | 2 | 41,343 |
Nursing Colleges in Canada: Eligibility for Masters
To study masters in Nursing colleges in Canada, international students should fulfill some academic criteria as mentioned by the university. For students from non-EU backgrounds, they need to provide an English language proficiency test (IELTS, TOEFL) score.
Here are some of the general admission requirements usually demanded by most nursing colleges in Canada:
- 4 years of a bachelor’s degree
- Most universities want 1 year of clinical experience
- Language Proficiency Exams in Canada (IELTS- a minimum of 6.5, TOEFL- minimum 90)
Nursing Colleges in Canada: Documents Required for Masters
- Official Transcripts of all the previous academic qualifications
- Language Test Scores
- A verified clear criminal record certificate
- A valid nursing license for practice in Canada
- 2-3 Letter of Recommendations (LOR)
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- Resume
Nursing Colleges in Canada: Fees for Masters
- The tuition fees for masters in nursing in Canada can be as low as 6,200 CAD in the University of British Columbia to around 40,000 CAD per year at the University of Toronto.
- The average fee is around 37,000 CAD for one year of a master’s program.
Nursing Colleges in Canada: Doctoral Programs
Ph.D. courses in Nursing in Canada is usually a 4-year course. It prepares Certified nurses to contribute to the field through research. A Ph.D. degree is necessary if the student wants to gain leadership roles in the field or wants to work for research labs for the betterment of the community.
Some of the colleges offering Ph.D. degree are:
| University | Course Offered | Duration in years | Annual Fees in CAD |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Toronto | Ph.D. in Nursing Science | 5 | 4,657 |
| McGill University | Ph.D. in Nursing | 4 | 11,570 |
| University of Alberta | Ph.D. in Nursing | 4 | 7,100 |
| Dalhousie University | Ph.D. in Nursing | 4 | 6,105 |
Nursing Colleges in Canada: Eligibility for Ph.D.
In order to pursue a Ph.D. in Nursing in Canada, international students need to satisfy the following minimum requirements:
- Complete a graduate and master’s degree in Nursing or in a relative field with a first-class degree. (75% or higher)
- GRE scores. ( minimum score depends on the university and the course)
- Language Proficiency Test scores (IELTS – a minimum overall band of 6.5, TOEFL- minimum score of 90)
Nursing Colleges in Canada: Documents Required for PhD
- Official transcripts of the previous degrees attained
- GRE and language test scores
- Resume
- Research paper ( if any)
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
Nursing Colleges in Canada: Fees for Ph.D.
The average tuition fees for a Ph.D. course in Nursing in Canada range from 10,000-20,000 CAD per year.
Nursing Colleges in Canada: Scholarships Available
Nursing is one of the top demanded jobs in Canada due to the difference in demand and supply in the industry which is almost 13,200 by 2026 according to job banks Canada. To meet this deficiency of registered nurses in Canada, the Canadian Government has introduced some policies and scholarships for international students in Canada to pursue this discipline.
The universities are also providing various scholarships for international students to pursue nursing in Canada. Some of these scholarships and their details are below:
| Scholarship | Awarding Committee | Award (in CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| The Class of 1966 Nursing Scholarship | McMaster University | 1,000 |
| The Lori Scott Nursing Scholarship | McMaster University | 5,000 |
| F.A. Davis Nursing Undergraduate Scholarship | McGill University | 1,500 |
| Susan Nelles Scholarship | Queen’s University | Varies |
| BN Nursing Scholarship | University of Calgary | 1,500 |
| School of Nursing Scholarship | University of Ottawa | 1,000 |
| Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships | Government of Canada | 50,000 per year (taxable) |
| General Entrance Award program for Prospective undergraduate students | Dalhousie University | Varies |
| Aramark Leadership Awards | Dalhousie University | 4000 |
| National Overseas Scholarship | Government of India | 20,290 |
Nursing Colleges in Canada: Jobs and Salaries
To practice nursing in Canada, international students would have to get a license from the Canadian Nurses Association (CNA). There are separate licenses for the different states in Canada.
How to get a license for practicing Nursing in Canada?
In Canada, the nursing profession is self-regulated – the provincial and territorial nursing bodies regulate the practice of nursing to best serve the interests of the public. So you need to get a license for the province you are willing to work in.
The requirements for licensure are decided by the provincial bodies. In order to get the license, you will have to sit for the Canadian Registered Nurse Examination which is a national level examination, except for Quebec, which has its own examination. The CNA administers the exam three times per year and can be taken as many times as a student wants.
After getting the license, students will be able to apply for jobs in Canada. Below are some important job roles and their average salary range:
| Job Role | Average Annual Salary (in CAD) |
|---|---|
| Psychiatric Nurse | 44,160- 88,320 |
| Critical Care Nurse supervisor | 40,320- 96,000 |
| Nurse Practitioner- Adult care | 42,240 – 1,15,000 |
| Nursing Professor | 38,400 – 1,45,920 |
| Nurse- Midwife | 42,240 – 1,15,000 |
| Nurse Team Leader | 40,320- 96,000 |
| Family Nurse Practitioner | 42,240 – 1,15,000 |
| Clinical Informatics Specialist | 44,160- 88,320 |
| Clinical Research Manager | 38,4000 – 1,01,760 |
| Mental Health Nurse | 44,160- 88,320 |
| Licensed practical nurse | 38,4000 – 63,360 |
- Salaries of Registered Nurses (RNs) licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and registered psychiatric nurses (RPNs) range from about $40,000 to $80,000 depending on location, education and level of responsibility.
- According to job bank Canada, over the period 2017-2026, new job openings for registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses are expected to total 157,100, while 143,900 new job seekers (arising from school leavers, immigration and mobility) are expected to be available to fill them.
- Employment growth in the nursing industry in Canada is expected to be among the highest of all occupations, accounting for more than 40% of all job openings
- It is expected that immigration nurse practitioners will account for around 40% of the job opening in the country.
- According to Statistica, the total number of employed nurses in registered nursing in Canada in 2008 stood over 261,000, but by 2018, it increased to around 287,000.
Nursing degree in Canada is profitable for an international student as the return on investment is high.Due to the demand in the nursing industry, students can get placed just after their graduation. A registered nurse in Canada earns around 142,000 CAD in Canada annually.
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