University of Lethbridge nursing admission requirements: one application, two schools, and a March 1, 2027 deadline

The University of Lethbridge's Faculty of Health Sciences offers the Bachelor of Nursing with Lethbridge Polytechnic. The two schools call it Nursing Education in Southwestern Alberta, or NESA. Lethbridge Polytechnic's own page says admission is granted by the University of Lethbridge, and that all application questions go to the university.

So you apply once, to ULethbridge, through ApplyAlberta. If you're admitted, you register at Lethbridge Polytechnic for years one and two, then at the University of Lethbridge for years three and four. The degree is four years, full time and in person in Lethbridge. ULethbridge says it can't be taken online or part time.

ULethbridge asks for five Grade 12 courses with at least a 65% average. Four are set: English with at least 60%, Biology, Chemistry (or Science), and a math. The fifth can be another eligible Grade 12 course. In Alberta that means English 30-1, Biology 30, Chemistry 30 or Science 30, and Mathematics 30-1 or 30-2.

Ontario students get a full list on the nursing page. Math is flexible: MHF4U, MDM4U, MCT4C or MAP4C all count. One list on that page prints the data management code as MHM4U, which looks like a typo for MDM4U. Map your courses with our course planner.

You must also meet a Spoken English Language Proficiency (SELP) requirement set by the Faculty of Health Sciences.

The ULethbridge nursing page accepts Chemistry 30 or Science 30, and for Ontario, SCH4U or SNC4M. Lethbridge Polytechnic's BN page lists Chemistry 30 only. ULethbridge's own Nursing Preparation Program page also ranks applicants on Chemistry 30, not Science 30.

ULethbridge makes the admission decision, so its program page is the one to follow. But to be safe, take Chemistry (SCH4U in Ontario). Then you meet both versions, and confirm with ULethbridge admissions if you can only take Science.

ULethbridge says admission to the BN is competitive. It ranks you on the average of your four required courses plus your best eligible fifth course. If you haven't finished a required Grade 12 course yet, it uses your Grade 11 marks in the required courses for ranking.

Neither school publishes a cut-off, a past admission average or an acceptance rate for nursing. Treat 65% as the floor only. Work out your number with our Top 6 average calculator, and push your science marks as high as you can.

ULethbridge opens Fall 2027 applications on September 14, 2026. Its Fall 2027 deadline chart lists the BN application deadline as March 1, 2027, with admission decision documents due April 1, 2027.

The two ULethbridge pages disagree on final documents. The deadline chart, updated June 10, 2026, says high school applicants have until August 15, 2027, and all others until June 15, 2027. The nursing program page says final documents are due by June 15. Plan for June 15 to be safe, and confirm with the university. Compare other schools on our Canadian deadlines page.

Year one at the Polytechnic mixes anatomy and physiology, writing, Indigenous studies, nutrition, psychology and your first nursing courses. Each course maps to a ULethbridge course code, such as NSG-1400 Becoming a Nurse (U of L NURS-1400).

Year two moves into practice with persons and families. In years three and four at ULethbridge you study community, mental health and acute care, ending with NURS-4922, a 15 credit professional preceptorship. You need at least a C- in every nursing course and in both anatomy and physiology courses.

Neither school lists co-op for the BN. Practice comes through required work integrated learning placements, plus simulation. Lethbridge Polytechnic says its Simulation Hub is one of only four centres in Canada accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare.

Placements may be in Lethbridge, nearby rural communities or other approved sites, and can run days, evenings or weekends. You pay your own travel. Placement rules may include a police information check, immunizations, CPR and mask fit testing.

You pay the Polytechnic for years one and two, and ULethbridge for years three and four. Lethbridge Polytechnic's 2026-27 estimates for the BN are $6,597 tuition, $2,364 fees and $3,275 books and supplies in year one, and $6,359 tuition, $2,389 fees and $1,700 books in year two. International year one tuition is $20,997.

ULethbridge does not post a nursing specific figure. Its general 2026/2027 estimate for domestic students is $6,822 tuition and $8,550.78 with fees for a year. Our estimate, years one and two only: about $12,236 in year one and $10,448 in year two, using the Polytechnic's 2026-27 totals. Fall 2027 rates were not posted when we checked.

ULethbridge's Board of Governors' Admission Scholarship is worth up to $1,000. Apply for admission before December 15 with a Grade 12 admission average of 80% or more, and you're considered automatically. High school entrance awards worth up to $6,000 need a separate application by March 15.

Because BN students spend their first two years at the Polytechnic, ask ULethbridge how its first year awards apply to you before you count on them.

ULethbridge runs a Nursing Preparation Program for applicants who don't qualify for competitive admission. You take university courses to raise your average, finish missing prerequisites, or earn credits that count toward the BN.

It does not guarantee a nursing seat. ULethbridge says raising your marks in the five ranking courses is the best way to improve a later application. Students already at ULethbridge can also ask to change into the BN, but they compete with all other applicants.

One application covers the whole degree, but your child will deal with two schools for fees and registration. Budget for books and supplies of $3,275 in year one, and for travel to placements.

If you'd like to compare with other Alberta programs, read our Mount Royal nursing guide and our University of Lethbridge guide.