Studying Nursing in Ontario

Nursing - Direct Entry BScN (ENW)

Western

ENW is the 3.5-year Direct Entry BScN and the only code for Grade 12 applicants. The other nursing codes on the OUAC list — ENS, ENA and ENB — are Compressed Time Frame streams for people who already have two years of university credit or are Registered Practical Nurses; do not pick those from high school. ENW requires a minimum 70% in each of ENG4U, SBI4U and SCH4U, plus 70% in one math (Grade 11 MCF3M or MCR3U is acceptable, otherwise a 4U math).

Nursing (QN)

Queen's

Verified verbatim: "English 4U with a minimum grade of 75%, Biology 4U, Chemistry 4U, plus any 4U Mathematics course." Note it is ANY 4U math, not Calculus. Nursing is its own school — you cannot transfer in later from Health Sciences or Life Sciences, so it must be on your OUAC application now. A Supplementary Application is required for the four-year BNSc (due Feb 15); applicants to the AST Nursing program are exempt.

Nursing I (McMaster University Site)

McMaster

Genuine direct entry, and a supplementary application is required — for Nursing that means CASPer, which you book a testing date for yourself. The catch students miss: the McMaster site and the Mohawk College site are separate OUAC choices with separate competition. You can apply to both, both graduate you with a McMaster BScN, and there is no transferring between sites once you start.

Nursing with RN Prescribing (CN)

Carleton

Carleton is one of the few Ontario universities with nursing open from Grade 12: the BScN is direct entry with its own code, CN, at 82-85%, and it is a compressed three-year degree rather than four. Carleton requires Advanced Functions (MHF4U) as one of your 4U/M courses and says admission is competitive beyond the published average. RN Prescribing is built into the curriculum rather than added afterwards. Most Ontario nursing programmes are either collaborative with a college or second-entry.

Nursing (Direct Entry) - BScN (YHW)

York

York is one of the few Ontario universities with nursing open straight from Grade 12, at high-80s. Two things York states plainly: the programme is 'very competitive with many more qualified applicants than available spots', and 'meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission'. There is also an eligibility gate — it is open to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, and to protected or international applicants only if they are currently in an Ontario high school and under 21. The other two nursing codes (YHK Second-Degree Entry, YHO Internationally Educated Nurses) are not for Grade 12 applicants.

Nursing (BNS)

Brock

Brock's BScN is a four-year honours degree taken fully at Brock, direct entry at mid-80s, with prerequisites ENG4U, SBI4U and SCH4U. Brock's admissions page names Nursing as one of the competitive programmes that 'may not issue early offers', so a quiet February is not a refusal. A separate Brock-college option also exists. If you miss the criteria, Brock says you 'will automatically be considered for an alternate program, where possible'.

Nursing at TMU (SNX)

TMU

TMU nursing is a collaborative programme with two OUAC codes, with different published bars — five points apart at the floor, for the same degree. Nursing at TMU (SNX) is 90%+ and you spend all four years at TMU. Nursing at Centennial College (SNN) is 85-90%: TMU's own words are that students admitted at the college 'complete the first two years of their studies at the college and the final two years at the TMU campus', and 'all students ultimately earn a BScN from TMU'. Same degree, same NCLEX eligibility, lower bar — apply to both.

Nursing (NN)

Windsor

Nursing is direct entry and the listing shows a 70% minimum — but do not apply on that number. Windsor's own nursing page says 'an 85% average is recommended for the top 6 Grade 12 U or M courses, along with a minimum average of 80% in Grade 12 U Biology and Grade 12 U Chemistry', and calls it 'a very competitive program'. The published minimum and the real bar are fifteen points apart. Windsor publishes a minimum average rather than a range, and its own pages show the minimum is a floor for consideration, not the bar: Nursing is listed at 70% but Windsor recommends 85%, and Concurrent Education lists 75% while the admitted mean is 86%. For limited-enrolment programmes, treat the published number as the lowest you can apply with, not what gets you in.

Nursing - Collaborative (DHN)

Ontario Tech

Ontario Tech's BScN is a collaborative programme with Durham College, direct entry at mid-to-high 80s — but unlike TMU's collaborative model there is one code and one campus: Ontario Tech's words are that 'all students remain in one location during all four years' in Oshawa, taught by faculty from both institutions. Graduates write the NCLEX-RN.

Nursing (RCN)

Trent

Trent's BScN is a four-year collaborative programme with Fleming College, direct entry. Trent's own words: 'to be considered for acceptance... a minimum average of 75%', calculated on ENG4U plus one 4U each of Biology, Chemistry and Mathematics — each at 70% — and your two best other 4U/M grades. 'To be considered' is the operative phrase: 75% is the floor, not the bar. Trent publishes a minimum, and its own admissions FAQ says 'meeting the minimum does not guarantee admission'. The safety net is real: if you are not admitted to a competitive programme, Trent automatically assesses you for an alternate offer into a similar one, with no second application.

Nursing (Thunder Bay) (AAH)

Lakehead

Lakehead's BScN is a four-year collaborative programme with Confederation College, direct entry, Thunder Bay — and do not apply on the 70% that opens the published range. Lakehead's own nursing page says 'high school... admits are required to achieve an admission average of at least 80%', with 'a minimum grade of 60% in each prerequisite course' — English, Biology, Chemistry and one mathematics. In Lakehead's words the nursing courses are 'delivered equally at both sites' by faculty from each institution. A three-year compressed BScN and an Indigenous Nursing Entry Program also exist. Lakehead has two campuses and many programmes run at only one: check the campus in the programme name before you apply, because Thunder Bay and Orillia are 1,400 km apart.

Nursing (LNE)

Laurentian

Laurentian runs what it calls 'two distinctly different undergraduate programs, one in English and one in French' — Nursing (LNE) and Sciences infirmières (LNF) — both direct entry at a 75% minimum on the six best Grade 12 U/M courses, and both nationally accredited and College of Nurses of Ontario approved. Required: Grade 12 U/M English, a U/M Math, U Biology and U Chemistry. Apply to the language you will study in.

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (PSN)

Nipissing

Nursing is direct entry, and Nipissing states the gap between floor and bar itself — its own OUAC listing reads: 'Min. 70%. Maximum 96 students. The admission average in 2026 was mid 80s.' Fifteen points separate the published minimum from what actually got in. Apply on the mid-80s, not the 70.