3.1 Faculty of Nursing - Admissions
Limitation of Enrolment
Admission to the Faculty of Nursing is competitive. While every attempt will be made to accept all qualified applicants, enrolment will be limited to the number of students that can be accommodated by the resources available to maintain an acceptable quality of education.
Admission Requirements
Specified selection criteria are described in A.5 Undergraduate Degree Admission Requirements.
For additional information on the available routes into Nursing please see the Nursing website: nursing.ucalgary.ca/future-students/undergraduate/routes/BScN.
For additional information on Nursing admission please see our admission requirements: ucalgary.ca/future-students/undergraduate/requirements.
For all application dates and deadlines: ucalgary.ca/future-students/undergraduate/how-apply/dates-and-deadlines.
Flexible Grade Option (CG Grade)
Faculty of Nursing does not consider courses with a CG grade for admission purposes. Courses with CG grade will not be used in GPA calculation and will not meet prerequisite course requirements.
Second Baccalaureate Degree
Students who have received one or more approved undergraduate degrees (BA, BSc, BEd, etc.) may apply for admission to the Faculty of Nursing. Students who hold a previous bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in nursing, which at the discretion of the University is deemed similar or equivalent, will not be considered for admission.
Applicants who hold a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in nursing from outside of Canada must have their credentials assessed by CRNA (or another Canadian nursing licensure body). Degrees that are assessed to be eligible for practice or are referred to a bridging program will be considered similar or equivalent and not eligible for admission to the Faculty of Nursing.
Transferring to Main Campus or Offsite Location
Students wishing to transfer program sites (MHC, Rural, Main or Siksika) to another location, must apply for admission at the desired site. Only applicants with extenuating circumstances will be considered. Requests will be reviewed by the Associate Dean Undergraduate Programs (or designate) on a competitive basis considering the student's cumulative grade point average and space available at the level/year at the program site that the student wishes to transfer into. Additional supporting documentation is required as outlined in Attendance in a Prior Nursing Program. Students who have extenuating circumstances and wish to apply to transfer sites should contact advising prior to starting an application.
Attendance in a Prior Nursing Program
Applicants who have been previously or are currently enrolled in a baccalaureate Nursing program at another institution, must submit:
1) A letter which outlines their academic plans and explains their reasons for transferring to the University of Calgary program and,
2) Additional documentation to confirm they are in good standing (currently enrolled students only).
A follow-up interview with the Associate Dean Undergraduate Programs (or delegate) may be required as part of the review process. Admission is not automatic; applicants will be considered on an individual basis. In instances where applicants have failed prior nursing courses or have been required to withdraw from a prior nursing program, the letter must also explain why they are now likely to be successful. Refer to Admissions, section A.7 Required to Withdraw and Suspended Students for more detailed information.
The Faculty of Nursing does not normally accept applications from students who have been required to withdraw, or who have been expelled from any school or college of nursing.
Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation Certification
All nursing students will be required to submit proof of current CPR Certification (valid for a 12-month period from date of course completion) which includes a Basic Life Saving (BLS) component prior to the commencement of clinical practice courses. Evidence of such certification is to be shown to the practice instructor each year.
Students will be responsible for obtaining course training and certification.
Immunization Requirements
All nursing students are required to complete a series of immunization and diagnostic tests as outlined on the Student Immunization Worksheet. Required immunizations will follow Alberta Health Services (AHS) guidelines for learners in place at the relevant time to enable participation in clinical placements at AHS sites. Documented proof of completion must be provided to the Faculty of Nursing prior to the student’s first clinical placement.
Throughout the program, students are required to ensure that immunizations are current and must provide proof of updates to the Faculty of Nursing as required. Students who do not have current and complete immunizations will not be able to complete clinical placements required in the program. Immunization requirements may change during the program.
N-95 Fit Testing
All Nursing students must be fit tested for an N-95 mask prior to commencement of clinical placement. Students may be required to wear this mask in the practice setting to help protect against certain communicable diseases. Documented proof of a fit test must be provided to the Faculty of Nursing. Fit testing is only valid for one or two years; therefore, students must present proof of a second fit testing at the time of expiration.
English Language Proficiency
In addition to the admission requirements, all applicants must demonstrate English Language Proficiency to be considered for admission to an undergraduate program. There are requirements specific to Nursing and are outlined in A.12 in the Admissions section of this Calendar, and include both written and spoken components.
Skills and Abilities for Becoming a Registered Nurse in Alberta
Nursing students require certain basic skills and abilities to progress through a nursing education program and for initial entry to practice as a Registered Nurse in Alberta. Prospective students are encouraged to review the document " CRNA Entry Level Competencies for the Practice of Registered Nurses (2019): https://nurses.ab.ca/media/5ndpyfar/entry-level-competencies-for-the-practice-of-registered-nurses-mar-2019.pdf to identify their fit with the requirements of becoming a registered nurse and/or identify their potential need for accommodation(1) in becoming a member of the nursing profession.
(1)Accommodation is the process of making alterations (to the point of undue hardship) to the delivery of services so that those services become accessible to more people, including people with disabilities. (Alberta Human Rights Commission).
Police Information Check
All students in the Faculty of Nursing are required to provide a current Police Information Check which includes a Criminal Record Check and a Vulnerable Sector Search. In order to be considered "current", the Police Information Check must be completed during the 6 weeks prior to starting clinical placement. The Police Information Check must be presented, in person, or via the online ePIC system, to the Undergraduate & Graduate Programs Office. Without this documentation, admission to the Faculty may be rescinded or there may be delays to program progression. Detailed information, including deadlines, is available on the Faculty of Nursing website at: nursing.ucalgary.ca/undergraduate/required-documents.
Students who are concerned about the presence of a criminal record should contact the Parole Board of Canada for information on receiving a Canadian Pardon/Record Suspension.
Subsequent to admission and at any time during the program, a student may be required to produce a current Police Information Check as required by the University of Calgary or clinical practice partners.
Students are obligated to inform the Faculty immediately of any change in status of their criminal record. A change in the status of a student’s Police Information Check could require their withdrawal from the program, at the sole discretion of the University of Calgary.
Work Permit
Upon admission to the Faculty of Nursing, International Students must present a valid Co-op/Internship Work Permit. The Work Permit must be presented to the Faculty of Nursing, Undergraduate Programs and Graduate Programs Office, prior to the first day of classes. In addition, the Work Permit must remain valid for the duration of the program.