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2nd Entry Nursing

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN)

Students in York University's 2nd Entry Nursin program

York University’s 2nd Entry BScN is an intensive two-year, full-time Specialized Honours program designed for students with prior university experience. Applicants must have completed at least 60 credits at an accredited university in any academic discipline.

Building on prior academic learning, this six-semester (90-credit) program is structured for accelerated, continuous study, allowing students to complete their BScN in just two calendar years. The program is approved by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), qualifying graduates to write the nursing registration exam to become a Registered Nurse (RN).

Located at York’s Keele Campus, the program combines theoretical learning with hands-on practice through transformative teaching strategies and interprofessional collaboration. Students gain real-world experience through a capstone course and final practicum, developing critical thinking, leadership, and advocacy skills essential for success in the nursing profession.

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March 2025
April 2025
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Duration

2 Years (6 terms)

Degree

BScN

Intake

Fall (Sept)

Study Options

Full-time only

Delivery

In-person

Why Choose Nursing at York U?

Build the knowledge, skills, and confidence to excel in diverse healthcare settings through immersive, hands-on training and rigorous academic excellence.

  • Learn from experienced nursing educators and practitioners who bring real-world insights to the classroom.
  • Complete the program in only 2 years (6 terms) through accelerated, continuous study.
  • Practice in a 5,000 sq. ft. Nursing Simulation Centre, featuring a Nursing Skills Lab equipped with high-fidelity mannequins and a 2,000 sq. ft. Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality lab for immersive, self-paced learning.
  • Gain hands-on experience through diverse clinical placements in hospitals, community health centers, long-term care facilities, and other healthcare settings across the Greater Toronto Area starting in semester 2.
  • Deepen your expertise with optional streams in High Acuity and Critical Care, and Mental Health, Illness and Addiction.

Admission and Eligibility Requirements

The 2nd Entry Nursing program is only open to applicants with at least 60 university credits (typically 2 years of full-time study) from an accredited institution.  All applicants to the 2nd Entry Nursing program must therefore be university applicants.

The minimum admission requirements for the 2nd Entry Nursing program are:

  • Completion of at least 60 credits at a recognized university prior to admission.  There is no disciplinary requirement.
  • Overall average of at least a B or better (3.0 or better on a 4-point scale)
  • In the last year of study (the last 30 credits), overall average of B+ or better (3.3 or better on 4-point scale)
  • Pre-requisites taken at an accredited university:
    • 6.0 credits in Psychology (Psychology Statistics and Research Methods do not fulfill this requirement) with at least a B
    • 6.0 credits in Human Anatomy and Physiology with at least a B OR 3.0 credits in Human Anatomy with at least a B and 3.0 credits in Human Physiology with at least a B
    • 3.0 credits in Statistics with at least a B
    • 3.0 credits in Microbiology with at least a B

This is a competitive program, and meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission. Acceptance is based on the annual applicant pool, which varies each year. 

For Fall 2025, this program is open to:

  • Canadian citizens
  • Permanent Residents
  • Protected persons
  • International applicants

Missing or low pre-requisites can be taken/re-taken at any accredited in person or online university including York University, other universities in Ontario, and open enrolment universities such as Athabasca University, Thompson Rivers University, and University of New Brunswick, etc.

If you are looking take a missing pre-requisite at York University, you would be applying as a visiting student who already holds a degree. Please note that being admitted as a visiting student does not guarantee that the pre-requisite course you need will be available at a convenient time or have open spots for enrolment.  

If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident with no prior university studies, you may consider the Direct Entry Nursing program.

If you are a protected person or international applicant currently studying full-time in an Ontario high school and completing six 4U/M courses and are completing your Ontario Secondary School Diploma, and are under the age of 21, you might also consider the Direct Entry Nursing program.

For all other applicants, if you are interested in/only eligible for the 2nd Entry Nursing program but have less than 60 credits of university studies, you may wish to first apply to a different degree program at York (For example, Kinesiology and Health Science, Global Health, etc.) with the intention of completing your 60 credits while in this program before ultimately submitting a program request change to the 2nd Entry Nursing program.

Please note that it would be your responsibility to ensure that while meeting your degree requirements for the different degree program, you are also completing the minimum admission requirements for the 2nd Entry Nursing program for university applicants, including overall GPA, GPA in the last 30 credits, and each required pre-requisite with at least a B. 

This is a competitive program, and a program request change is a request, not a guarantee.  You would still need to submit the program request change by the admission deadline and would be assessed based on the admission requirements and applicant pool for that year. 

Courses

The 2nd Entry BScN program can be completed in 6 terms, 2 calendar years.

  • NURS 1512 3.00 Reflection and Theory-based Practice in Professional Nursing
  • NURS 3001 3.00 The Canadian Health Care System
  • NURS 1543 3.00 Health Assessment
  • NURS 3515 3.00 Evidence-informed Nursing Practice: Research and Inquiry
  • NURS 2543 3.00 Health of Families and Social Groups
  • NURS 2513 3.00 Ethics and Health Equity in Interprofessional Practice
  • NURS 2514 3.00 Introduction to Social Justice and Advocacy in Nursing Practice
  • NURS 2535 3.00 Pathophysiology, Pharmacology and Knowledge Integration I
  • NURS 3510 6.00 Partnering with Communities
    NURS 3510P 0.00 Practicum for HH/NURS 3510
  • NURS 3512 3.00 Nursing in the Context of Global and Environmental Health
  • NURS 3514 3.00 Leadership, Change and Innovation
  • NURS 2536 3.00 Pathophysiology, Pharmacology and Knowledge Integration II
  • NURS 2547 6.00 Mental Health Across the Lifespan
     NURS 2547P 0.00 Practicum for HH/NURS 2547
  • NURS 4516 3.00 Development as a Professional Nurse
  • Nursing Elective 3.00
    (3000 level +)
  • NURS 3537 3.00 Pathophysiology, Pharmacology and Knowledge Integration III
  • NURS 3511 6.00 Episodic and Common Health Challenges
  • NURS 3511P 0.00 Practicum for HH/NURS 3511 6.00
  • NURS 3517 3.00 Critical Reflection and Clinical Reasoning in Practice
  • Nursing Elective 3.00
    (3000 level +)
  • NURS 4524 3.00 Trends in Healthcare Delivery
  • NURS 4526 6.00 Acute and Complex Health Challenges
    NURS 4526P 0.00 Practicum for HH/NURS 4526
  • NURS 4528 3.00 Nursing Knowledge and Transition
  • NURS 4531 3.00 Professional Scholarship: Capstone Project
  • NURS 4527 9.00 Integrated
    Practicum

Pathway to RN Registration

York University’s Nursing programs are approved by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), allowing graduates to pursue registration as a nurse in Ontario.

To become a Registered Nurse (RN), BScN graduates must pass the NCLEX-RN examination and meet the CNO eligibility criteria, including residency status (Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or authorized under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act). CNO also outlines the required Entry-Level Competencies and requisite skills and abilities for nursing practice in Ontario, which includes cognitive, communicative, behavioural, psychomotor, sensory and environmental capacities. For details, visit the CNO Website.

Careers in Nursing

With rising demand for skilled nurses, graduates work in diverse settings, including:

  • Hospital and Acute Care: delivering critical patient care.
  • Long-term Care: providing care in nursing homes, hospices, and rehabilitation centers.
  • Primary Health Care: with postgraduate studies, becoming a Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner (PHCNP), providing primary and preventive care.
  • Public Health: promoting community health, education, and disease prevention.
2nd Entry Nursing students in the Nursing simulation centre

FAQs 

Below are some of our most frequently asked questions (FAQs) to help you plan and prepare.

External Applicants must apply via the Ontario Universities' Application Centre (OUAC). When applying, use the program code: YHK. Be sure to check and adhere to all application deadlines to ensure your application is considered. Current York University students can request a Change of Degree or Faculty Transfer by the same deadline for September admission.

No, this program is only open to applicants with at least 2 years of university studies.  Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) are better suited to an RPN to RN bridging program which is not currently offered at York U.

No, this program does not have a disciplinary requirement.  Applicants apply from diverse university disciplines. Regardless of your previous university studies, it is prudent to review the admission requirements and take/re-take any missing or low pre-requisites to present a competitive application.

This program does not have a disciplinary requirement. Applicants apply from diverse university disciplines. Regardless of your previous university studies, it is prudent to review the admission requirements and take/re-take any missing or low pre-requisites to present a competitive application. 

Please note that no transfer credit will be granted for any nursing courses.  If admitted, please expect the program to take 2 years (6 terms) to complete.

Upon admission, you must have completed at least 60 university credits (equivalent to at least 10 full university courses or 20 half year courses). Admission offers made to students currently in their second year will be conditional upon completion of their current year with 60 credits and all requirements of the program.

No transfer credit will not be awarded for any nursing major courses. The program will be 2 years (6 terms) for all admitted students.

Unfortunately, transcripts and prerequisites cannot be pre-assessed by the School of Nursing nor the Admissions department prior to applying.   It is your responsibility as the applicant to review your transcripts and review the admission requirements in advance of applying to determine if there are additional courses you must take to present a competitive application.

Missing or low pre-requisites can be taken at any accredited in person or online university including York University, other universities in Ontario, and open enrollment universities such as Athabasca University, Thompson Rivers University, University of New Brunswick, and Chang School of Continuing Education at the Toronto Metropolitan University.

If looking to take a missing pre-requisite at York University, you would be applying as a visiting student who already holds a degree.  Please note that being admitted as a visiting student does not guarantee that the pre-requisite course you are looking for will be offered at a time you need/have space available in the course. 

We cannot pre-assess pre-requisites nor transcripts for admission.  When looking to determine if a course would meet a pre-requisite, you should confirm: 

  • If the course is offered by an accredited university  
  • If the course is worth the correct course weight. A 6.0 credit course is typically 2 semesters of study, and a 3.0 credit course is typically 1 semester of study. For pre-requisites needing 6.0 credits, two 3.0 credits can be used to satisfy this requirement 
  • If the course is in the correct subject area. The name of the pre-requisite within the course title or department offering the course is a good sign. 
  • If you have achieved a B in the course.  If you achieve less than a B in a pre-requisite (i.e. B-, C+, C. etc.), it will not satisfy the requirement. 

No, pre-requisites must be taken at an accredited university.

It is likely that your file cannot be reviewed until you meet all admission requirements including successful completion of all pre-requisites with at least a B.  A competitive applicant would complete all pre-requisites as soon as possible; Leaving a missing pre-requisite to the summer semester is likely too late.

No, your file can only be considered for admission if you have satisfied the proof of English language proficiency requirement.  More details on the proof of English language proficiency requirement are available on the Future Students website.

No, deferrals are not allowed. If you decline your offer and wish to join the program in a future year, you must reapply.

The nursing program is designed to prepare students for a career in nursing, not as a pathway to medical school.

BScN graduates must pass the NCLEX-RN registration exam, administered by the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO), to practice as a Registered Nurse (RN) in Ontario or elsewhere in Canada. The designation of the title Registered Nurse (RN) is regulated by CNO. To qualify, graduates must provide proof of Canadian citizenship, permanent resident status, or authorization under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada). For more details, please visit the CNO website.


Learn More

Please contact us if you have any questions about applying for Faculty of Health programs, your application status, or your next steps after receiving an offer of admission.

Faculty of Health Recruitment Office
hlthrec@yorku.ca
416-736-2100 x 33164