Please note that we don’t accept transfer students from other schools of nursing. We will consider only applications to Year 1 of the program.
Our program includes RN Prescribing.
Honours Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN)
Program overview
DURATION
OPPORTUNITY
LANGUAGE
CNO Approved
Why choose the University of Ottawa's nursing program?
Excellence and innovation
Ranked among the top 100 globally and third in Ontario, our school of nursing is recognized for its excellence. Thanks to over 90 years’ experience of blending rich tradition with modern practices, our program is based on innovative research from esteemed professors. Our new, ultramodern building features the latest technology for simulations, fostering innovation and cutting-edge research. Offered in both English and French, our bilingual program ensures accessibility and inclusivity for all students.
Career preparation and support
Our nursing graduates enjoy a 96% employment rate, stepping into a profession with abundant job opportunities. The program prepares nurses for leadership roles with a solid theoretical foundation and hands-on training. Financial grants from the Ontario government make education more affordable, ensuring that nursing students can focus on making a difference in health care.
“The exposure to various nursing fields through clinical placements not only helped me find my true calling but also allowed me to develop a well-rounded skill set I use every day in my nursing career.”
Karyn K.
— RN, BScN (2024)
What to expect
- Hands-on training: Engage in practical training early in the program through clinical placements and simulations that mirror real hospital environments.
- Cutting-edge facilities: Learn in state-of-the-art labs and classrooms equipped with the latest technology, providing a realistic and innovative learning experience.
- Bilingual education: Study in either English or French while being immersed in a bilingual environment, where both languages are actively used in classes, clinical placements, and campus life.
- Comprehensive curriculum: Gain a solid theoretical foundation in nursing, including advanced health sciences, professional development, and evidence-based practice.
- Interprofessional collaboration: Work alongside students from other health-care disciplines, fostering teamwork and communication skills essential for effective patient care.
- Career preparation: With a 96% employment rate for graduates, expect abundant job opportunities in various health-care settings once you complete your degree.
- Supportive environment: Join a community dedicated to excellence, with professors actively engaged in research and committed to enhancing health-care outcomes.
- Clinical placements in multiple settings: get real patient care experience by year 2 in hospitals, long-term care, community health, pediatrics, mental health, and maternal/child health settings.
Program highlights
Learn from world renowned nursing experts
Leaders in the field: Learn from professors recognized internationally for their expertise in simulation education, critical care, maternal and child health, older adult care, and digital health. Their cutting-edge research informs what you study in class.
Mentorship opportunities: Benefit from faculty who are not only researchers but also experienced clinicians. Their mentorship helps you build confidence and shape your career path.
Global perspective: Study with professors who collaborate internationally and bring diverse perspectives to the classroom. This ensures your education prepares you for a nursing career anywhere in the world.
Hands-on clinical placements across a variety of clinical areas
Start early: You’ll enter your first clinical placement in year 2, gaining real patient care experience alongside your classroom and lab learning. This early exposure builds confidence and helps you connect theory to practice.
Diverse settings: Complete placements in hospitals, long-term care facilities, community health centres, mental health services, and maternal/child health. This variety ensures you develop a well-rounded nursing skill set.
Progressive learning: Each placement builds on the last, so by your final year you’ll be managing complex patient situations with greater independence and responsibility.
Learn and practice in our cutting-edge labs and simulation centre
High-fidelity simulation: Practice in the Louise McEntyre West Nursing Simulation and Peer Mentorship Centre, using lifelike manikins and hospital-grade equipment. This prepares you for the realities of professional practice in a safe environment.
Skill development: Master everything from vital signs and IV insertion to emergency resuscitation and childbirth. You’ll refine these skills through repeated practice in controlled settings.
Team-based training: Take part in interprofessional simulations that bring nursing, rehabilitation, and nutrition students together. These experiences mirror real-world collaboration across health-care teams.
Ontario Learn and Stay Grant
96%
Employment rate for nursing graduates.
#3
For nursing in Ontario and top 100 in the world.
91
Years of excellence in nursing education
Consortium national de formation en santé (CNFS)
The CNFS-Volet Université d’Ottawa can help you during your studies!
Discover the many tools and resources it has available to help you meet your goals: funding for placements, mental health support, admission scholarships... and much more!
The CNFS works to improve access to heath care in French for minority communities, by supporting the next generation in various health-care professions.
Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN) accreditation
This Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (CASN) accredited program confirms the quality of our curriculum, enabling graduates to meet national competencies and access opportunities in healthcare across Canada.
Having fulfilled the necessary requirements for the CASN Accreditation Program, which sets the national standard for nursing education, and successfully completed a site examination, the University of Ottawa nursing program has been granted accreditation status.
The College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) accreditation
The University of Ottawa Baccalaureate Nursing Programs are approved by the College of Nurses of Ontario. Current graduates from these programs are eligible to apply for registration as a Registered Nurse in Ontario.
With CNO’s accreditation, our program equips students with the qualifications needed to confidently enter the nursing profession.
Essential requirements for study
The essential requirements for Ontario baccalaureate nursing programs provide guidance for applicants, students, faculty, and health professionals on necessary qualifications and accommodations. These requirements ensure informed decisions, safety, and successful completion of the nursing program.
Take the next step
Start your journey with the essential information and resources to help you plan your academic path and achieve your goals.