The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) prepares nurses to be global citizens with lifelong learning skills. Our graduates practice safe, quality, evidence-informed health care grounded in humanizing the experience of health and illness.

Complete your UBC Nursing degree to prepare for a professional licensure as a registered nurse. As a professional nurse, you will be qualified to provide professional nursing services, deliver health-education programs, and provide consultative nursing services to promote, maintain, and restore patient health.

Registered nurses use critical thinking, problem solving and decision-making skills to provide compassionate and safe care. There are endless opportunities to learn and grow as a registered nurse, including graduate studies and certifications.

The program is reviewed by the College of Registered Nurses of British Columbia and is accredited by the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing.

Academic Advising 

UBC Okanagan’s Nursing program emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to developing the skills required to gain competencies in the context of entry-level registered nurse (RN) practice in British Columbia.

Sample courses:

• NRSG 113 — Relational Practice I
• NRSG 236 — Nursing Practice II
• NRSG 439(8) — Global Health Practicum

Browse Nursing courses and descriptions

The School of Nursing offers three programs:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)*: A four-year program that leads to a BSN degree.
• Licensed Practical Nurses Access Program (LPN)*: This program accepts applications from Licenced Practical Nurses.
  Admission to the LPN Access program is currently suspended. Students wishing to enroll in this program should contact the School of Nursing.
• Registered Nurse Access Program (RN)*: This program accepts applications from nurses registered in British Columbia.

* Note: Program options include possible summer terms starting after year 2, and three different trajectories to degree completion.

British Columbia High School Requirements

• English 12 or English 12 First Peoples
• Biology 11 and 12
• Chemistry 11 and 12
• Pre-calculus 11 or Foundations of Math 12

Did you know that UBC outlines admission requirements according to where you attended high school or university?

For general admission requirements and program specific requirements, all Canadian high school, international high school, Canadian post-secondary or international post-secondary applicants should visit you.ubc.ca/applying-ubc.

Refer to the Academic Calendar for admission requirements for the BSN, LPN, and RN programs.

Application Deadlines

Plan ahead to ensure you meet important deadlines and other target dates listed at you.ubc.ca.

Tuition Fees

UBC Okanagan’s fees compare favourably with universities of the same high calibre. See Financial Planning for helpful resources, and add up your first-year costs with our Cost Calculator.

Apply to UBC at you.ubc.ca—there are just five steps in the application process. Soon you could be studying at one of the world’s top universities.

Check out the steps to apply to UBC, and be sure to choose “Okanagan campus.”

Or contact our Student Recruitment & Advising experts

Student Recruitment & Advising

• Critical care nurse
• Emergency nurse
• Hospice/palliative care nurse
• Labour and delivery staff nurse
• Neonatal nurse
• Nephrology nurse
• Nurse educator
• Nurse executive
• Oncology nurse
• Orthopaedic nurse
• Perioperative (O.R.) nurse
• Psychiatric/mental health nurse
• School nurse
• Staff nurse
• Women’s health nurse practitioner

As a professional nurse, and a graduate of our program, you will be qualified to provide professional nursing services, deliver health-education programs, and provide consultative nursing services to promote, maintain, and restore patient health.

*Additional education or certification may be required for some fields and occupations (e.g., completion of association registration, a professional program, or other specialized studies).

• Hospitals and primary health care settings
• Regional health authorities
• Rehabilitation and occupational health departments
• Governmental departments and organizations
• Community, social, and correctional services
• Clinics (ambulatory, medical, dental and community)
• Nursing homes
• Home care agencies
• Large corporations and insurance companies
• Government services (for example, penitentiaries, outpost nursing, the foreign service, the Canadian Armed Forces)
• Educational institutions

The School of Nursing offers a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program and PhD program, in which students may have a School of Nursing faculty member as their primary supervisor.

• Global Health Practicum (NSRG 439(8)) provides opportunities to engage in an immersive global health experience in a variety of settings*. Students will practice in collaboration with global health partners. The focus is on application of global health and cultural safety competencies. *Dependent on availability and cost of travel is in addition to course tuition.
• See the world through Go Global, a UBC program that allows students to complete courses or conduct research at one of more than 150 international partner institutions in 45 countries worldwide.

Follow your ideas and get a head start on your career:

• Become a research trainee at a research institute, centre, or lab such as the Institute for Healthy Living and Chronic Disease Prevention.
• Travel to a conference or competition with financial assistance available through the Tuum Est Student Initiative Fund, which provides financial support up to $3,500.

• The School of Nursing works for the communities it serves. Faculty, staff, and students work to strengthen an understanding of public interests in community service learning and take part in “action research” opportunities. The School’s priority is working with community partners to stimulate action for positive change.
• Second-year students have an opportunity in Nursing Practice in Community (NRSG 238) to practice alongside community health nurses working with community groups. Students will draw on principles of social justice and the social determinants of health to engage in evidenced-informed community assessments, health promotion/illness prevention activities, and health teaching.

• Fourth-year students from the School of Nursing are extending the walls of their classrooms out into the community with practicum placements.
• Learn through doing, create strong connections, and develop professional skills with a campus job arranged by UBC’s Work Study Program.
• Meet a community need and get practical experience by volunteering for a Community Service Learning project—a life-changing experience.

• Get a glimpse into life on UBC’s Okanagan campus at you.ubc.ca.
• Take a virtual tour of our state-of-the-art labs, modern facilities, campus residences.
• Visit the campus for a personal guided tour led by a student ambassador.
• Tour the campus, city and lake with this interactive 360-degree Kelowna From Above* video.
  * Best viewed in Chrome and Firefox 

On the first day of university, faculties offer “Meet the Faculty” sessions where you can get to know the Dean, professors, and the staff who provide student support. It’s all part of UBC Okanagan’s new student orientation: CREATE.

Attend an orientation tailored to your needs as an aboriginal student, domestic student, international student, or student living in residence. You can even register your parents for an orientation that includes a workshop and campus tour.

• Peer mentors are a great resource — ask questions and learn from students who’ve been there, done that.
• Use the library which offers print, audiovisual and electronic research materials, a leisure-reading collection and loaner laptops. It also offers research consultations, instruction and workshops.
• The library’s Writing and Resource Centre can help you articulate your ideas. Pursue your research in a range of subject areas and scholarly genres, including essay writing, grammar, presentation skills, punctuation, thesis development, and coursework.
• Familiarize yourself with resources designed to help you succeed. Student Services offers a variety of academic supports, from study sessions to tutoring and writing workshops.

Take advantage of the many opportunities to get involved and stay active—from workout space in the new Hangar Fitness Centre, to athletic courts, intramurals, fitness classes, and varsity athletics.

Learn more at Sports and Recreation, which includes links to fitness facilities, sport clubs, intramurals and recreation programs, as well as the nationally ranked UBC Okanagan Heat varsity teams that compete in the Canada West Universities Athletics Association.

• Make friends with similar interests, attend events, and explore career options with the UBCO Nursing Course Union.
• Branch out, get involved in student life, and have fun by joining various campus clubs.

Meet new people while living in a study-oriented environment with easy access to academic and personal support.

UBC Okanagan offers modern residence living surrounded by hiking and biking trails. One of the newest residences, Purcell, includes a rooftop patio that offers a panoramic view of the campus and the Okanagan Valley.

Find out more about living in residence at you.ubc.ca.

UBC’s Okanagan campus borders the dynamic city of Kelowna, a hub of economic development with a population of more than 150,000 people—the fourth fastest growing population in Canada. In fact, the Okanagan Valley is rated one of the best communities in Canada to grow your business.

More than 160 buses travel daily from campus to key locations such as Kelowna’s cultural district and thriving downtown waterfront. The campus is two minutes from the Kelowna International Airport, one of the Top 10 busiest airports in Canada.

UBC Okanagan is situated within the First Nations territory of the Okanagan Nation, whose spirit of stewardship for the land is reflected in the university’s respect for sustainability.

A diverse natural region with sandy beaches, beautiful farms, vineyards and orchards, and snow-capped mountains, the Okanagan Valley features sweeping stretches of lakeside and endless mountain trails for biking and hiking.

Explore the Okanagan lifestyle at you.ubc.ca.