If you want to serve people, feel fulfilled, and make a decent living, head to nursing schools in Canada.
Between 2023 and 2024, 18,389 students were admitted to entry-to-practice programmes for registered nurses, showcasing a strong demand for the profession.
The best part? The ample support and funding. In Budget 2024, the Canadian government invested up to 77.1 million Canadian dollars over four years to better integrate educated health professionals into the workforce, starting from 2025 to 2026.
In Budget 2025, they’d invested CA$97 million over five years to create a Foreign Credential Recognition Action Fund, which works with provinces and territories to make credential recognition smoother in fields facing labour shortages like healthcare.
These are just some of the measures taken to address the growing need for nurses and health professionals in the country. Ontario will need 33,200 more nurses and 50,853 more personal support workers by 2032, reveals a report by The Canadian Press.
A good and satisfying job in one of the best countries in the world to study abroad and earn a living — what more reason does one need to join nursing schools in Canada?
TL;DR
- Canada provides ample funding support to integrate healthcare workers into the workforce, including a CA$77.1 million investment in Budget 2024.
- It is relatively easy to apply for a Canadian student visa, though amendments made to the federal government’s immigration policy will make settling down after graduation harder.
- According to Statistics Canada, the average international undergraduate tuition fee for nursing is CA$26,627 (US$19,053.08) for 2025-2026.
- The top-ranking universities in Canada to study nursing are the University of Toronto, the University of Alberta, and the University of British Columbia.
Check out these related links:
- US$4,691 for a BSc in Nursing programme: The cheapest countries and universities for aspiring nurses
International students often flock to Canada for their nursing qualifications. Source: Patty Brito on Unsplash
Why choose nursing schools in Canada?
Quality education
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.
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.
That quality shows up in licensing outcomes, too. National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) pass rates measure the share of nursing graduates who clear the exam required to register as an RN anywhere in Canada outside Quebec.
Ontario-educated RN graduates posted a first-attempt pass rate of 88.0% in 2024, a five-year high, per the College of Nurses of Ontario.
Among the schools featured here, the University of Toronto’s BScN cohort hit 93.5% first-attempt, McMaster University reached 92.5%, and Lakehead came in at 92.3%.
Fuss-free visa applications
It is relatively easy to apply for a Canadian student visa, which means less stress with your application process.
However, for those intending to settle down in Canada after their education, things may not be as easy, as the country has introduced changes to the federal government’s immigration policy.
Make sure to check out the terms and conditions here.
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Post-graduation work permit (PGWP) eligibility
Nursing graduates can qualify for a PGWP after completing an 8-month-plus programme at an eligible institution, full-time, with an application filed within 180 days of graduation.
Bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral nursing grads face no field-of-study restriction, but anyone applying on or after November 1, 2024 must prove Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB)/ Niveaux de competence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 7 English or French across all four skills.
Permit length matches programme length, capped at three years. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) confirms that a programme of two years or longer qualifies for the full 3-year permit, so the University of Alberta’s four-year BScN-Collaborative Programme clears that threshold easily, and master’s grads get three years regardless of programme length.
Quebec nursing grads can register through the OIIQ professional exam, not the NCLEX-RN, after the OIIQ suspended its planned switch to the NCLEX-RN indefinitely — though PGWP rules stay the same.
Cost of education
Studying nursing in Canada is considered quite affordable.
According to Statistics Canada, the average international undergraduate tuition fee for nursing is CA$26,627 (US$19,053.08) for 2025-2026.
If you require funding, check out the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships and Government Of Canada scholarships for international students.
Costs do vary by school, though. McGill charges CA$35,561.10 (US$50,028.24) for its international BScN in 2026-2027. The University of Alberta takes a different approach, locking in your total nursing tuition at admission under a programme-based model.
Flexible pathways
Nursing schools in Canada come with fun specialisations you could consider:
- Midwifery
- Critical Care Pediatric Nursing
- Emergency Nursing
- Community Health
- Global Health
- Enterostomal Therapy Nursing
- Gastroenterology Nursing
- Nephrology Nursing
- Medical-Surgical Nursing
- Nursing Administration
- Hospice Palliative Care Nursing
- Cardiovascular Nursing
Streamlined support for international professionals
The International Credentials Recognition Act came into effect on July 1, 2024, which requires regulatory bodies to reduce red tape and remove barriers across 29 professions to make it easier, more transparent, and quicker to pursue and achieve credential recognition.
One major change is eliminating unnecessary Canadian work experience requirements for those who have already received prior professional training. There was an existing catch-22 that individuals needed work experience to work in Canada, but couldn’t work in the country because of the lack of Canadian work experience.
Other perks include reducing fees, removing redundant English-language testing requirements, and additional accountability and transparency to the public through data connection and reporting requirements.
Interested to learn more? Let’s explore how you can apply for nursing schools in Canada.
What do you need to get into nursing schools in Canada?
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:
- Passport and student visa
- French or English proficiency qualification (eg. IELTS, TOEFL, CAEL or CAEL online, PTE Academic)
- Proof of funds for programme and accommodation fees as well as living costs
- For a bachelor’s degree in nursing, you will need to have graduated from secondary school with particular core subjects — Mathematics, English, Biology, and Chemistry — 12th level.
- To apply for a master’s degree in nursing, applicants need a bachelor’s degree and most schools require a registered nurse license and one year of clinical experience.
- For a doctoral programme, universities require a master’s degree in nursing or equivalent.
Here are some nursing schools in Canada that may be a good fit for you.
It can be difficult to pick from the many nursing schools in Canada. Source: National Cancer Institute on Unsplash
The best nursing schools in Canada
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 2026: Nursing. Here are the top Canadian nursing schools and where they place globally:
| University | Nursing School | Location | Ranking |
| University of Toronto | Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing | Toronto, ON | #4 |
| University of Alberta | Faculty of Nursing | Edmonton, AB | #9 |
| University of British Columbia | UBC School of Nursing | Vancouver, BC | #22 |
| McMaster University | School of Nursing | Hamilton, ON | #24 |
| McGill University | Ingram School of Nursing | Montreal, QC | #50 |
As you may have noticed, these universities place within the global top 50. Impressive, to say the least.
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:
Nursing schools in Canada: the cream of the crop
The Lawrence Bloomberg Faculty of Nursing at the University of Toronto has an extensive history 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, two-year 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 for the 2025-2026 academic year start at CA$55,142.92 (US$39,456.14) per year.
Nursing schools in Canada: a bang for your buck
One of the cheapest universities in Canada for courses in nursing is the University of Prince Edward Island.
Their Faculty of Nursing Programmes charge CA$8,130 (US$5,817.22) a year, with an additional CA$9,718 (US$6,953.47) fee for international students.
This university also offers more than CA$5 million 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:
- University of Ottawa
- McGill University
- Stenberg College
- Lakehead University
- Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)
- Langara College
- Conestoga College
- Durham College
- Thompson Rivers University
- Georgian College
- Centennial College
- Fanshawe College
Students often enjoy the hands-on experiences they have at Canadian nursing schools. Source: Nappy on Unsplash
The easiest nursing schools in Canada to get into
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 important 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 82%, 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:
- Four-year BScN programme in collaboration with Confederation College
- Three-year compressed BScN programme
- Nurse Practitioner Programme
- Master’s in Public Health with a Specialisation in Nursing
- Indigenous Nursing Entry Programme (INEP)
Other than having faculty who publish their research frequently, this nursing school also gives students hands-on learning experiences with cutting-edge medical technology.
Students will engage in diverse clinical experiences, from community settings and hospitals to long-term care facilities.
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The hardest nursing schools in Canada to get into
Now that we’ve looked at the “easiest” nursing schools in Canada to get into, let’s take a look at the hardest — the schools with the lowest acceptance rates.
Amongst the schools ranked in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026: Nursing, the University of Toronto (40%) has the lowest acceptance rate, with McGill University (42%) and the University of Alberta (51%) following after.
The Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta opens doors to unique clinical placement opportunities due to its connection to the Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, a state-of-the-art health sciences teaching facility next to the University of Alberta Hospital.
Check out its programmes here:
The Ingram School of Nursing at McGill adopted a “strengths-based nursing” curriculum in 2017, which prioritises a value-driven approach to guide action. In fact, McGill nurses pioneered the patient-centred care model in the 1950s, proving that the school has always been ahead of its time.
Here’s what they offer:
What comes next?
If your goal is to settle down in Canada after graduating, your next step is to get a job.
First, you must register with the National Nursing Assessment Service (NNAS) to get your nursing licence. It costs around CA$845 (US$650) for the main application, and an expedited one will cost CAD$750 (US$525) extra.
Another good reason to work in Canada is that they offer competitive salaries for graduate nurses. For a 36-40 hour working week, the average base salary is around US$90,935.
FAQ
How hard is it to get into nursing school in Canada?
Part of it’s down to performance, and the other is down to luck. For example, there have been students in Canada with 94% grade averages rejected from nursing schools due to the limited space and lack of qualified quality. Simple answer: yes, it is difficult due to how competitive nursing schools are nowadays, with higher GPA requirements and more importance placed on the CASPer test.
What are the best affordable nursing schools?
With a curriculum that follows the definition of primary healthcare as defined by the World Health Organisation, the Faculty of Nursing at University of Prince Edward Island is one of the best affordable nursing schools. Other affordable universities for nursing include the Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN) and the University of New Brunswick (UNB).
What are some tips or advice to take note of before moving?
Here is a full list of tips to ensure a smooth transition to Canada as an int’l student. One thing to also take note is that while Canada is facing a labour shortage in healthcare, getting a nursing education abroad does not guarantee a job in the country either.
Disclaimer: This article was last updated on August 5, 2026.
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