UCalgary Nursing admission requirements: an 82% threshold, a lottery and the March 1 deadline

High school applicants need five courses. From Ontario that is English (ENG4U), Advanced Functions (MHF4U) or Data Management (MDM4U), Biology (SBI4U), Chemistry (SCH4U) and one approved course or option. From Alberta it is ELA 30-1, Math 30-1 or 30-2, Biology 30, Chemistry 30 or Science 30, and one approved course. UCalgary says Math 30-2 is preferred.

Only one of art, dance, drama or music can count in your average. Plan your courses with our course planner.

UCalgary moved its main campus BScN to a lottery so that every qualified applicant has an equal chance. To enter, you must apply with Nursing as your first choice, have the required courses, pay the fee, send your documents by the round's deadline, and meet the competitive average.

For Fall 2027 that average is 82.0% for high school applicants. UCalgary says it is set each year based on the applicant pool. Everyone at or above it is entered, and offers go to those drawn at random. A 95% average has the same chance as an 82% average. Work out your average with our Top 6 average calculator.

Extra documents aren't considered. The only thing you can do to improve your chances is to apply and send documents early, so you're in more rounds.

UCalgary reviews you each time new grades arrive. Early admission uses four approved Grade 11 courses. Standard admission uses five approved courses from Grade 11 or 12, with at least one from Grade 12.

To keep your offer, you must finish all Grade 12 required courses and stay at or above the competitive average.

Applications for Fall 2027 run from October 1, 2026 to March 1, 2027. You can change your program choices until March 1. Nursing can only be your first choice.

If you are drawn, you have 30 days to accept and pay a non-refundable deposit, which goes toward first-year tuition.

The lottery applies only to the main campus BScN. It doesn't affect the Collaborative Nursing Program at Medicine Hat College, the Indigenous Community Route or the Rural Community Route.

Indigenous students who meet the competitive threshold are admitted without the draw. Those with the required courses but a lower average can apply through the Indigenous Admission Supplementary Process. The Student Access Process adds a review, with a personal statement, for students who faced barriers.

UCalgary describes nursing practicum experience, not co-op. You learn in class, in simulated clinical labs and in small clinical groups in off-campus nursing settings.

UCalgary charges tuition per course, based on the faculty that teaches it. In the 2026-27 calendar, effective Spring Term 2026, a 3-unit nursing course costs $777.36 for domestic students and $3,078.21 for international students. Courses in most other faculties cost domestic students $738.66.

The BScN replaces UCalgary's older Bachelor of Nursing. It is still 120 credits with the same number of clinical practice hours. For students who enter straight from high school, it takes 3.25 to 3.5 years.

The shorter length comes from a required Spring term. Nursing Spring classes start right after the Winter exams at the end of April and run to the last day of June. You must finish the Spring term after second year to move on to third year. UCalgary also says to expect clinical placements in the early morning, in the evening and on weekends.

Year 1 has 11 courses, and you must pass all of them before Year 2. They include Introduction to Nursing (NRSG 201), Indigenous Health Studies (NRSG 202), Anatomy and Physiology II (NRSG 204) and Academic Writing (ACWR 303). You also take a statistics course (Statistics 205 is recommended), any philosophy course, and junior arts, science and open options.

Later years add practicum courses in aging adult care, acute care, mental health, perinatal and pediatric care. The program ends with a 12-unit final preceptorship practicum. Half the class does it in Spring and half in Fall.

Current UCalgary students apply through a Change of Program in the Student Centre. Applications open October 1 and close February 1. Nursing makes no early or conditional offers for these students and assesses them once Winter grades are final, so most admissions come between mid-June and mid-July.

With 9 units or fewer of post-secondary work, you are assessed on high school grades. With 12 units or more, you are assessed on your most recent courses, up to 30 units. With 33 units, including the listed prerequisites and NRSG 201, you can be considered for Year 2, which has limited seats. For Fall 2026, the lottery threshold was 82.0% on high school grades or a 3.00 GPA on university courses.

The Year 2 prerequisites are 6 units of anatomy and physiology, 3 units of statistics, 3 units of arts, humanities or social science, 3 units of science or social science, and NRSG 201. The faculty says few courses from other schools meet the NRSG 201 rule, so plan to take it at UCalgary. Change of Program applicants who are not drawn stay on a waitlist. If more seats open, a second draw takes place.

High school applicants aged 21 or younger are guaranteed first-year residence if they apply by May 1. Most first-year students live in Kananaskis and Rundle halls, and a meal plan is required.

You can open the entrance award application in your Student Centre 24 to 48 hours after you apply for admission. One form covers all competitive entrance awards. The President's Admission Scholarship needs no application and goes to students with a final admission average of 95.00% or higher.

Once your child is at 82% with the right courses, a higher mark won't help with the draw. Getting the application and documents in by November 1 adds a round.

Because the result is random, apply to other nursing programs too.