Study Nursing In Canada for international Students

In this article, you will read about all you need to know about to Study Nursing In Canada for International Students

Canada boasts of quality nursing education and is one of the preferred destinations for nursing programs. With numerous opportunities for career growth, nursing is one of the best courses to enroll in the country as an international student.

Read Also: Career Pathway for Nurses

There are about 439,975 regulated nurses in Canada, hence, enrolling in a nursing program gives you an edge to gain entry into the competitive global nursing workforce.

Study Nursing In Canada for international Students

Why Should You Study Nursing In Canada For International Student?

  • Canada takes pride in being one of the nations offering unrivaled nursing training in the world. This means that you will have access to top-notch nursing education as an international student in Canada.
  • Nursing programs in Canada equip you with evidence-based knowledge and hands-on clinical expertise to function effectively in your nursing practice.
  • Many of the nursing institutions in the country are ranked amongst the top nursing colleges in the world by the QS World University Rankings.
  • Studying nursing in Canada affords you a global competitive advantage as a result of having nursing qualifications with international recognition.
  • Nurses make an average salary of 81,152 CAD per year in Canada. So, you have the opportunity to earn an attractive salary after your nursing program.
  • With diverse scholarship provisions made available, studying nursing in Canada can help you save cost on your nursing education.

Nursing Programs in Canada For International Students

The following are the major types of Nursing Programs in Canada:

  • Undergraduate/Bachelor-Level Nursing Program
  • Graduate Level Nursing Program
  • Post-Graduate Level Nursing Program

Let’s take a look at these one by one.

Undergraduate/Bachelor-Level Nursing Program In Canada For International Students

This includes Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Bachelor in Science (BScN) degrees which is a collaborative college-university nursing program or a four-year university nursing program. To be a registered nurse in Canada, most regions require that you have a baccalaureate degree.

The curriculum for Bachelor’s degree focuses on health promotion, disease prevention, and treatment. Core courses include Nursing theory, Nursing practice, Nurse as a professional person Professional issues, Pathophysiology, Human Anatomy, Physiology, Psychology, General education, Pre-nursing courses, and so on.

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The program is for 4 years for students without a prior university qualification. The accelerated nursing bachelor’s program runs for 2 years.

Eligibility Criteria For BSc Nursing In Canada For International Students

  • To enroll for a bachelor’s program as an international student, you need to meet the following basic requirements:
  • Pass 12 grade level of education with a minimum score of 65%.
  • Some institutions can require you to have English and Mathematics in addition to specific science courses like Biology, and Chemistry for your 12th-grade level.
  • Complete the Computer-Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics (CASPer) Test.
  • English language proficiency test. For example, a minimum of 6.5 for IELTS and 80 for TOEFL.

Documents Required For BSc Nursing In Canada For International Students

You will need the following documents to enroll for the Bachelor’s degree program in Canada as an international student:

  • Official academic transcripts
  • Scanned copy of passport
  • CV/ Resume
  • English language proficiency test scores
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Two Reference Letters
  • CASPer Test document

Graduate Level Nursing Program In Canada For International Students

This includes Master in Applied Science in Nursing (MASc), Master in Science in Nursing (M.S.N), graduate certificate, and graduate diploma degrees.

It takes about 2 years to complete a Masters degree program while graduate diploma and graduate certificate courses in various specializations usually run for 1 year.

  • Some of these courses include:
  • Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N)
  • Master of Nursing (M.N)
  • Graduate Diploma Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner.
  • Graduate Diploma Neonatal Nursing – Advanced.
  • Master of Applied Science M.ASc Nursing – Nursing Services Administration.
  • Master of Applied Science Nursing – Advanced Clinical Practice.
  • Master of Applied Science Nursing – Neonatology Nurse Practitioner.
  • Master of Applied Science Nursing – Mental Health Nurse Practitioner.

Eligibility Criteria For MSc Nursing In Canada For International Students

The following are some of the requirements needed to study MSc Nursing in Canada as an international student:

  • Four-year Bachelor’s degree in nursing
  • One (1) year of clinical nursing experience
  • English language proficiency test. For example, a minimum of 6.5 for IELTS and 90 for TOEFL.

Documents Required For MSc Nursing In Canada For International Students

You will need to have these documents handy to apply for your MSc Nursing program;

  • Official academic transcripts of the previous qualification
  • English language proficiency test scores
  • Scanned copy of passport
  • CV/ Resume
  • 2-3 Letters of Recommendation
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Valid Canadian nursing license
  • Verified certificate of clear criminal background

Post-Graduate Level Nursing Program In Canada For International Students

After completing a Masters degree program, you can enroll for a Ph.D. in Nursing qualification.

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It usually takes a minimum of 4 years to complete a Ph.D. in a Nursing program and a maximum of 6 years.

Eligibility Criteria For Ph.D. in Nursing In Canada For International Students

To enroll for a Doctorate program as an international student, you need to meet the following basic requirements:

  • Masters degree in nursing qualification
  • GRE scores
  • English language proficiency test. For example, a minimum of 6.5 for IELTS and 90 for TOEFL

Documents Required For Ph.D. in Nursing In Canada For International Students

In addition to the basic requirements, you are required to get the following documents:

  • Official academic transcripts of previous qualifications
  • English language proficiency test scores
  • Scanned copy of passport
  • CV/ Resume
  • Standardized test scores
  • Statement of Purpose
  • Research paper
  • Letters of recommendation

How Much Does It Cost To Study Nursing In Canada For International Students?

In Canada, the tuition fees for a bachelor’s degree in nursing can be between 53,000 CAD to 170,000 CAD, master’s in nursing programs can range from 80,000 CAD to 180,000 CAD and an average cost of 10,000 to 20,000 CAD per annum for Ph.D. programs. In addition to this, the cost of accommodation, feeding, travel, and other expenses need to be considered.

Top 10 Universities Offering Nursing Programs In Canada For International Students

Canada boasts of being home to a wide range of popular and best nursing universities and colleges. According to QS World University Ranking, the top nursing institutions in Canada are listed below:

  • University of Toronto
  • McGill University
  • University of British Columbia
  • McMaster University
  • University de Montreal
  • Western University
  • University of Calgary
  • Queen’s University at Kingston
  • University of Ottawa
  • Dalhousie University

Best School To Study Nursing In Canada For International Students

The following are some of the nursing schools offering affordable nursing programs in Canada:

  • Brandon University
  • Cape Breton University
  • Mount Royal University
  • University of Regina
  • Memorial University of Newfoundland
  • University of Prince Edward Island
  • The University of Ottawa.
  • The University of New Brunswick.
  • Saint Francis Xavier University.
  • University of Manitoba

How To Apply For Any Nursing Program As An International Student

  • Visit the official website of the institution to find out the course curriculum and eligibility criteria.
  • Create an account with your email address and phone number after which you will receive an email or SMS with your login credentials and a notification to verify your account.
  • Log in with the details sent to your email or SMS and other personal details.
  • Proceed to fill out the application form for the particular university you wish to enroll in and the course selected. Kindly note that you will need to have most or all the required documents handy to be able to submit your application.
  • Apply and make payment for the application fee. Payment can be made via internet banking or debit/credit card. You should note that each institution has a different application fee.
  • You can track the status of your application through your portal and if shortlisted, you might have to attend a virtual interview or proceed to the next stage depending on your institution’s requirements.

Career Prospect For International Students After Your Nursing Program In Canada

Nurses work in a variety of medical settings: hospitals, community centers, nursing homes/long-term care centers and so on.

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There are three major Categories of nurses in Canada; Registered Nurses (RNs), Nurse Practitioners and Registered Practical Nurses.

Nurses can also work as:

  • Medical Consultant
  • Military Nursing
  • Forensic Nurse
  • Holistic Nurse
  • Medical Writer
  • Supplemental Nurse
  • Research Nurse
  • Travel Nurse, etc.

To specialize as an international student, you can enroll in any of the following areas of specialization:

  • Family Nurse Practitioner Course
  • Practical Nursing Course
  • Critical Care Nursing course
  • Community Mental Health course
  • Nursing Administration course
  • General Nursing course
  • Global Health course
  • Mental Health Nursing Practitioner course
  • Midwifery course and so on.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Nursing Programs In Canada For International Students

Is an English Language Proficiency test required to study nursing in Canada?

You would need to register and sit for any of the English Language Proficiency tests such as IELTS, TOEFL, or PTE and get the required scores to be eligible for admission into any of the nursing programs in Canada.

Can I work as an international student in Canada?

With a work permit alongside your study visa, you can work to support yourself and cover the cost of some expenses as an international student in Canada. You can take on some internship roles or do some menial jobs to support yourself. However, you can only work for 20 hours weekly so that this doesn’t affect your study. Violation of this rule might mean losing your study permit, leaving the country and you may not bebepproved to study or work in Canada in the future.

What are the scholarship opportunities available for international students in Canada?

Scholarships afford you the benefit of saving the sts of your nursing education in Canada. ITobridge the nursing shortage gap, the Canadian government has made various scholarship provisions to encourage and support international students to study nursing in the country. Also, some nursing universities have different scholarship options for their international students. These include:

  • The Class of 1966 Nursing Scholarship.
  • University of Toronto Lawrence S. Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing.
  • F.A. Davis Nursing Undergraduate Scholarship.
  • BN Nursing Scholarship.
  • National Overseas Scholarship.
  • Susan Nelles Scholarship.
  • Canadian Nurses Foundation.
  • Aramark Leadership Awards.
  • StudentAid BC Nurses Education Bursary
  • General Entrance Award program for Prospective undergraduate students.

What are the Diploma programs available in Canada for international students?

The diploma programs you can enroll in include;

  • Practical Nursing – Conestoga College
  • Diploma in Practical Nursing – Fanshawe College
  • Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner – Lakehead University
  • Practical Nursing Diploma – University of the Fraser Valley
  • Post-Graduate Diploma in Gerontological Nursing – Selkirk College
  • Advanced Studies in Critical Care Nursing Certificate – Mount Royal University

Simplified Steps on how to become a nurse in Canada.

  • Complete a recognized nursing education program.
  • Apply to your provincial nurses’ association for assessment.
  • Take the National Council Licensure Exam (NCLEX).
  • Become licensed to practice.

Written By: Mayowa Racheal Popoola
RN, Content Writer

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