If you want to serve people, feel fulfilled, and make a decent living, head to nursing schools in Canada.
A nursing degree in this country sets you up to become not just a staff nurse, nurse anaesthetist or case manager, but it prepares you for a wide range of alternative career options as well.
These include forensic nurse, medical editor or writer, supplemental nurse, travel nurse or research nurse.
Sounds more exciting, doesn’t it?
And although nursing is not as dramatic as TV shows make it out to be — please point us in the direction of medical facilities with practitioners as gorgeous as the ones in “Chicago Med” and “Grey’s Anatomy” — it is considered a noble and fulfilling pursuit.
And the best part? There is always a demand for more nurses.
A good and satisfying job in one of the greatest countries in the world — what more reason does one need to join nursing schools in Canada?
International students often flock to Canada for their nursing qualifications. Source: Bertrand Guay / AFP
Canadian universities are known for providing world-class education.
Not only are programmes paired with cutting-edge research and up-to-date practices, but they are often highly ranked and thus globally recognised.
This means that a qualification from most nursing schools in Canada will enable you to work from anywhere in the world.
It is relatively easy to apply for a Canadian student visa, which means less stress with your application process. There is also a range of job opportunities available.
Then, there’s the price factor. Studying nursing in Canada is considered quite affordable.
According to Statistics Canada, the average international undergraduate tuition fee for nursing is CA$24,852 for 2022-23.
If you require funding, check out the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships and Government Of Canada scholarships for international students.
There are also many pathways to choose from depending on what qualifications you have.
You can consider pursuing a Bachelor in Science in Nursing (BSN), Bachelor in Science (BSc), Master in Applied Science in Nursing (MASc), Master in Science in Nursing (MSN), graduate certificate, graduate diploma degrees, and PhD in Nursing.
There are also some fun specialisations you could consider:
Now that we have convinced you to study nursing in Canada, perhaps it is time we get into the details of the necessary qualifications.
Each university will have its own entry requirements and their websites will give you a comprehensive list.
Here are the main things you would need to have as an international student:
Checked all the boxes? Now to explore the nursing schools in Canada that are the best fit for you.
It can be difficult to pick from the many nursing schools in Canada. Source: Anne-Christine Poujoulat / AFP
There seems to be a general consensus online about universities that offer nursing in Canada.
Perhaps the most reliable ranking system is the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024: Nursing. Here are the top Canadian nursing schools and where they place globally:
#5 University of Toronto
#7 University of Alberta
#13 University of British Columbia
#33 McMaster University
#44 McGill University
To further aid your journey toward becoming a nurse, we have picked out the highest-ranking, most affordable, and most accessible nursing schools in Canada:
The Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto (UoT) has an extensive history in playing a part in Canada’s healthcare scene.
From the 1920s, when the faculty — backed by nurse Kathleen Russell — helped bolster the education of nurse leaders during the critical time following the Spanish Influenza pandemic, to 2023 when a nursing student led the co-creation of a new simulation focused on providing specialised care to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, UoT isn’t stepping on the brakes anytime soon.
UoT has a range of nursing programmes, including an accelerated BSN, an MSN, a PhD, and a Doctor of Nursing programme, as well as six certificate programmes for nurses to upskill themselves.
Tuition fees for international students enrolling in the BSN in the 2023-24 academic year totals to US$73,613.40 (99,758.64 CAD).
Canada has some of the best nursing schools in the world. Source: Getty Images / AFP
One of the cheapest universities in Canada for courses in nursing is the University of Prince Edward Island.
Their Faculty of Nursing Programmes charge US$4,848.10 (6,570 CAD) per year, based on 15 credit hours (which is 657 CAD per three-credit course).
This university boasts the second-lowest tuition fees in the Atlantic region, and they also offer more than 5 million CAD in scholarships and awards.
University of Prince Edward Island’s nursing curriculum follows the definition of primary health care defined by the World Health Organisation.
It is “essential healthcare made universally accessible to individuals and families in the community by means acceptable to them, through their full participation and at a cost that the community and country can afford.”
If you are looking to cut costs, you might consider a two-year nursing programme. Here are some of the Canadian universities that offer them:
Before we proceed any further, “easy” is subjective. Someone who’s good with people will naturally rate dealing with tough patients easy; an introvert will say the opposite.
We all perceive “easy” and “difficult” differently. Hence it’s why to have an objective assessment of what’s the “easiest” nursing schools in Canada to get into — that is, the acceptance rate.
According to Global Scholarships, Lakehead University has an acceptance rate of 55%, making it the third highest in Canada.
Naturally, it wins the title of the easiest or most accessible nursing school for international students.
The Lakehead University School of Nursing offers:
Other than having faculty who publish their research frequently, this nursing school also gives students hands-on learning experiences.
Examining detailed nursing theories and practices, you will also enjoy working with cutting-edge medical technology.
Students will engage in diverse clinical experiences, from community settings and hospitals to long-term care facilities.
Students often enjoy the hands-on experiences they have at Canadian nursing schools. Source: Theo Rouby / AFP
After choosing a school and getting your qualification the next step would be to get a job. You first need to register with the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) to get your licence.
Bear in mind that it can cost around US$650 (845 CAD) to do this.
Another good reason to work in Canada is that they offer competitive salaries for graduate nurses. For a 36-40 hour working week, you can earn around 59,000 CAD annually.
Disclaimer: This article was last updated on September 4, 2024.
