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Graduate Program in Nursing Faculty of Graduate Studies
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Admission Requirements

Preparing your application to graduate studies at York University and/or other interested universities requires research and planning. Some students start preparing their plan for graduate studies as early as two years before they submit their application. Consider the following information below to help guide you through a successful application process.

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Master of Science in Nursing (MScN)

nurses in an operating room

Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioners (PHCNP)

doctors and nurses in a hospital

PhD in Nursing Program 

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Master of Science in Nursing (MScN)

To be eligible for admission applicants must:   

  • Be registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario or registered in another Canadian province 
  • Hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (or equivalent such as a Bachelor of Nursing degree) from an accredited university program, with a minimum B average in the last two years of study 

Note that the MScN program looks beyond the minimum academic requirements when considering applicants. 

Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioners (PHCNP)

To be eligible for admission to the PHCNP, applicants must meet the following admissions criteria:

  • Hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (or equivalent such as a Bachelor of Nursing degree) from an accredited university program, with a minimum B average in the last two years of study.
  • Be a member of CNO
  • Candidate preference will be given to:
    • Ontario residents
    • work experience in nursing that has been continuous
    • current experience in any setting which demonstrates critical thinking, potential to work with clients in a collaborative, holistic, family–centred practice, or advancement of evidence based practice
  • Evidence of the equivalence of 2 years full–time nursing practice as a Registered Nurse following graduation (= 3640 hours within the past 5 years)

PhD in Nursing Program

  1. Master of Science in Nursing (MScN/MSc Nursing) OR Master’s in Nursing (MN) with substantial research experience or equivalent OR registered nurses with a Master’s degree in another discipline with substantial nursing and research (or equivalent) experience; minimum grade point average of B+ calculated over the courses of the program 
  1. Three satisfactory letters of reference: a) an academic reference from a faculty member who taught the applicant at the graduate level; b) a reference from a direct workplace supervisor of the applicant within the past 5 years; and c) a nurse in a leadership position who can evaluate the applicant’s actual and potential contributions in the profession of nursing 
  1. Statement of academic, research, and professional plans  
  1. Identified dissertation supervisor: Complete the form “PhD Supervisor Applicant Form (.pdf)” and upload to myfile 

The following faculty members are available to be Principal Supervisors of PhD students: 

  1. English language proficiency test, if required. Accepted tests include TOEFL, IELTS, YELT and others. Detailed scores can be found here: http://futurestudents.yorku.ca/graduate/apply-now/elp 

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The Graduate Program in Nursing at York is an exciting environment to pursue innovative, socially engaging, career-ready education. Contact our Graduate Program Assistant to learn more.

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